Tennis Without Hot Chicks Is Borning

I like tennis a lot. Wifey got me interested in it when we started dating. At first I watched it with her so I could get in her pants, but I eventually grew to love the sport. I was pretty excited about this Wimbledon, but then the best looking women in tennis lost.
What am I supposed to do without them around? It's terrible, just terrible.
OK, OK, more pictures now.

RIP Dan Pires

Another loss
Standard Times Columnist, and Patriots beat writer Dan Pires passed away suddenly yesterday. Malach did not know him personally, only meeting him a couple of times, my Father knew him slightly better, but the little contact I had with him, and the stories I had heard, the columns I have read, he was a awesome guy, quick with a smile, always there to help, and damn good reporter. He was loved by not only his colleagues, but by many of the Patriots, other beat reporters, and sports journalism figures. There was a nice tribute to him on WEEI this morning, and a nice tribute from Standard Times reporter David Brown. I know I will miss his columns.

I am Malach, and I have another local death to report tonight

The Natural?

Has anyone actually read the book that the movie is based on? I liked the movie a lot, but I'm not sure if I should read the book. Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

The Finals Are Over?

Wait. I was in LA and I didn't see any celebration... HAHAHAHAHA.

Oh.

Sorry. Poised and unbiased. Ahem.

This series was a disappointment. Not for a Boston fan, obviously, but for a basketball fan. We were sold a bill of goods. And ESPN/ABC are still selling. They tell us The West is the tougher of the two and the Lakers were just worn out. No. The Lakers were not a good team. At all. They are one good player, Kobe.

The East is clearly superior. Cleveland and Detroit, hell even Orlando could have 'beat LA'. But people are still buying what they're selling. Utah, San Antonio, don't forget CP# in Nwarlins, y'all! BOYAAAHHH! Bullshit.

You want a team to watch out for? Orlando.

Sure, Boston has a nail on wood favorites chance of reaching the Finals again, but the east will get tougher (except Detroit. note to self, mail check to Flip Saunders for Pistons implosion and fall of Tayshauwnn Prince). Atlanta isn't going to sit still. Cleveland will make a few moves.

So, although satisfying, when a series ends in six with a 39 point blowout and the media favorite is on the losing end and LOOKS like losers, you have to wonder... did they sell me Boston v Los Angeles?

More From I Had A Hammer

"One time that relief pitcher for St. Louis, 'The Mad Hungarian', Al Hrabosky -- the one who was always strutting around the mound and talking to the baseball -- one night he struck out Hank in a big spot to win the game, and he was jumping up and down and making a big show. The next time we saw him, Hank hit one into the upper deck, and when he got to the dugout, he said, 'Let's see the son of a bitch find that one and talk to it.' " -- Paul Casanova.

"Not long after I got my three thousandth hit that year, Willie got his. It was the first time I had ever reached a milestone ahead of him, and, frankly, it felt good. But Willie was still more than forty homers ahead of me, and that's where the attention was focused. It was still mostly on Willie, and I'd be lying to say it didn't bother me a little bit, because the same thing had been going on for fifteen years. I had to work at not being envious of Willie. I always told myself that my time would come. I considered Mays a rival, certainly, but a friendly rival. At the same time, I would never accept the position as second best. I looked at Willie as my guideline. There were certain things that I couldn't do as well as he could, but I felt if I could do some things a little better, I should and maybe would be classified as the same type of ballplayer. I've never seen a better all-around ballplayer than Willie Mays, but I will say this: Willie was not as good a hitter as I was. No way." -- Hank Aaron.

Excerpts From "I Had A Hammer: The Hank Aaron Story"

This is a great read that I recommend to everyone. Here's what someone had to say about Hank Aaron and his status among the greats of the game:

Maybe we felt that way because guys like Hank and I didn't get the publicity we should have, due to the fact that we were playing in Milwaukee. Goddamn Winfield gets more publicity just arguing with Steinbrenner than we got our whole careers. Willie Mays, in my opinion, wasn't as good a player as Hank Aaron, but whenever Willie did something, the New York press and the skies lit up. I just felt that Hank was a touch better than Willie. Hank was a complete ballplayer. He never threw to the wrong base, never missed the cutoff man. Willie never hit the cutoff man. Christ, we had a standing rule with the Braves, keep running on Willie, because when he throws home you can go to second in a fox trot. Henry didnt steal bases like Willie, but goddamn, he could steal bases. He could run like hell, and he didn't even look like he was running. I'll be you in a footrace, Hank would have beaten Willie. But he didn't run like Willie. Willie was like Clemente -- when he ran it looked like he was coming apart at the seams. It was hard to eplain with Henry, but he could hit full speed in three steps and look like he wasn't even running. -- Eddie Mathews.

Stupid Mariners

Look, as a Cubs fan, I can tell you that promoting Jim Riggleman to be your manager will do absolutely nothing for you. In fact, I'm sure that just having him on the staff in the first place is a bad idea and that he's probably the sole reason you all have such a shitty record. Enjoy wall0wing in your own idiocy, Seattle.