R’s – Blowin’ It
One lousy game can change everything. The Royals were looking good Wednesday afternoon. They got another strong performance from a starting pitcher. Alex Gordon finally got off the schnide, getting two hits including a home run. Billy Butler had gone deep for the second time this year. The bullpen was nails for six innings. And there they were, going into…
Yay Indiana!
For the next month or so, the Indiana High School Athletic Association is holding public hearings around the state to discuss multi-class basketball. Even if there is an overwhelming outpouring of support for going back to the old system, no one really expects the tournament to change. The final decision is in the hands of the state’s principals, who are…
On Two Wheels
A follow-up to the 3 Things post from the weekend: M. has mastered the art of riding a bicycle. Early Saturday she was doing a great job of riding with me just barely guiding her, but was more interested in doing other things and cut the practice short. In the evening I made a quick trip to the grocery store and…
Three Things
Some things I’ve enjoyed about my daughters over the past week. M.: M. is always talking. Even if just to herself, her lips are always moving and sounds are coming out. We catch her whispering things to herself all the time. We’re working on bike riding. A week ago we took off her training wheels. She made some great progress…
Beisból 2012
The off season is over; baseball is back! I’ve activated my MLB.TV subscription, loaded up At Bat on my iPhone and iPad, and am ready to go. It’s been an extra-long off season for Royals fans. After the solid finish to the 2011 season and encouraging results from the next wave of the youth movement, there was a sense that…
The Morning After
Since I remember things like this, a good time to look back at how I felt on four mornings that were similar to today. April 5, 1988. Exhilaration, amazement. April 2, 1991. Disappointment, sadness. April 8, 2003. Depression, anger. April 8, 2008. Relief, pure joy. April 3, 2012. Proud, at peace. One last deficit that could not be wiped out.…
All The Marbles
Monday night, for the fifth time in my life, my alma mater will play for the National Championship in men’s basketball. 1988. 1991. 2003. 2008. And now 2012. If this year, in which I’ve pulled back my obsession for the Jayhawks in order to find a better, healthier way of following them, has meant anything it’s appreciating that fact more…
Against The Grain
I find myself in the uncomfortable position of defending John Calipari. With the long week before the National Semifinals, columnists around the country have been laying into Calipari, saying if Kentucky wins the National Championship with their Rent-A-Star system, it’s going to somehow destroy college basketball. I don’t get it. What is Calipari doing that every coach of an elite…
The Cherry
KU’s Midwest Regional championship was the cherry on top of both the basketball season and our trip to Kansas City. Oddly enough I never felt nervous Sunday. Not before the game, not during the game. I was at peace with the season and satisfied with how far the team had advanced in the tournament. I was just hoping they would…
Good Times
If we had to put a letter grade on our trip to Kansas City over the weekend, we would give it an A-. We had a great time seeing and catching-up with old friends. We hit a couple of my favorite eateries, although again with the kids present, I can’t go quite as nuts as I used to. And, obviously,…