Miscellaneous Thoughts

Some thoughts and observations while I have my morning coffee...

Yesterday was 4/20 - a stoners holiday - check here if you're not familiar with the term... Yesterday was also (as Daryl pointed out in one of the comments on my Cinco de Mayo post) the anniverary of the Columbine shootings.... May 5th is not just Cinco de Mayo but also the anniversary of the Battle of the Wilderness Forrest in the Civil War (some of the most bloody fighting in the history of the country) and also the day that Bobby Sands died after his hunger strike against the British for not recognizing him as a political prisoner... Please note that I'm not supporting 4/20, pot smoking, or Bobby Sands and the IRA and I'm not trying to belittle the Columbine shootings - I'm just pointing out that there can be reasons that bring down people on just about any holiday..... Independence Day? There is always the Howard Zinn wannabe who points out that July 4, 1776 meant little independence for slaves in the south or women in general who still didn't have the right to vote.... Christmas? There is always the Wiccan mother earth wannabe who points out that the Christian holiday was co-opted from the Pagans and that the Christians later burned tens of thousand of people at the stake for being Pagans (i.e. witches)... 4/20 also is the anniversary of Marie Curie discovering radium and Edgar Allen Poe releasing the world's first detective story (Murder in the Rue Morgue).... People are free to celebrate what they want to celebrate... Me? Today I choose to "celebrate my love for you" (I just hope that now for the rest of the day you will have Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack singing in your head)...

Pedro Martinez looked good last night in his win against Toronto. Pedro is now 2-1 for the season and his ERA lowered to 3.81. All those "Pedro is done" naysayers should realize that last year Pedro had a 3.51 in April - and he finished the year with a 2.22 ERA. Anyone who would trade Pedro Martinez in their fantasy baseball leagues is being foolish... If the NHL season is cancelled due to lockout next year - then indoor lacrosse will step in and take hockey's spot without missing a beat. And no - I'm not kidding about that. Consider that the arena football opener got the same TV ratings as the NHL All-Star game and you would have to think that hockey can't afford a lock-out. Unforntunately - the only people who probably don't realize this are the owners and players... The Blue Jays are hitting just .212 as a team and the pitching staff ERA is 5.08. That's not good. I know it will change but I hope they can wait until after the Red Sox leave town... Count me as excited about the Corey Dillon trade. The Patriots offense is all about ball control and Dillon will be a very effective weapon for them... Jim O'Brien was named the new coach of the 76ers - I therefore predict the 76ers will finish last in the East next year...