It Is Our Time

If you a run across me today that bulge in my pants is not the side effect of a Viagra I took last week. It is simply there because today is opening day for this years World Champion Chicago Cubs. I know that sounds ballsy to come out and proclaim that this is our year, but I am going to stay positive this season.

That is a vast change for yours truly because I am what some might consider a bitter, pessimistic Cub fan. Really, after all the heartache and losing can anyone blame me? Why, the change in attitude one may ask? Simply put, what is the point in being a fan if you don’t have faith? Despite being burned so many times, I still have faith. Despite all logic and reason screaming at me to set the bar low, I dismiss it. I believe, because I have no other choice.

They say those that don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it. And, well if history is any lesson the Cubs will not only lose but do so in gut wrenching fashion. The Cubs have made the post season five times since 1945. Each time, the following season, the team with the expectorations set at a World Series level instead took a massive shit.

In 1985 the Cubs were coming off a NL East championship, only to have our hearts broken at the hands of Steve Garvey and the shit colored uniformed Padres. Still, we had the whole team coming back and we looked like a lock to win the division again. On May 31^st, 1985 we were tied with the Mets for first place. Then in June our entire starting rotation got hurt and we sunk to a fourth place finish.

In 1990 we were coming off a playoff appearance. We had a young ball club that had gained valuable experience the year before. Again, our hopes were raised and again, reality would set in, cruelly. Jerome Walton the 89 rookie of the year would hit .263 the following year. Mike Bilecki an 18 game winner in 89 would come crashing down to earth in 1990 with an 8-11 record and an era near 5.00.

It would nine long years between post season appearances but in 1998 we won a one game playoff with San Francisco to win the wild card. We then got our asses swept at the hands of Atlanta. But, still we had somewhat higher expectations coming into 1999. That would be a mistake. Instead of realizing we caught lighting in a bottle with some of our veterans Ed Lynch, rested on his laurels and re-signed them. Gary Gaetti, Micky Morandini, Lance Johnson, and Jose Hernandez all came down crashing down to earth and led the Cubs to a last place finish.

We all know what happened in 2003 so there is no need to re-live that horror. The 2004 edition of your Chicago Cubs might be my least liked team of all my years of being a fan. It was so hard rooting for a team like that. With a little over a week to go they had the lead for the wild card only to blow a tire. In New York LaTroy Hawkins blew a game in the 9^th which led to a complete choke job. We would proceed to lose one more to the Mets. Then we went home and lost three of four to the last place Reds who were playing a minor league team. Then the Braves came in and beat us two more times. It was a total collapse which Baker and the team blamed on Steve Stone.

With all of that evidence, I should be fearing the worst. But, today I am hopeful. I am hopeful that this team under Lou’s guidance can at long last bury those demons and ghosts of years past and bring us home a World Series. There is absolutely no reason barring injuries why the Cubs should not win the NL Central. And as we have seen in years past anything can happen once the playoffs begin. So, I say sit back and enjoy 2008 Cub fans it should be a hell of a ride.

Nick Food

I have always been loyal to certain foods and drinks. For example, you can thank me for the resurgence in Pabst Blue Ribbon. Pabst is proof that just because something is less expensive doesn’t mean it isn’t as good as higher priced competitors. I drank Pabst back in the day and never stopped. Even when no one carried it, I would seek it out and when I found it, I bought it. Then about five years ago, I noticed all the yuppie trendy bars in Chicago started carrying PBR again. It seems all the youngsters found out what I had been saying all along to be true. That Pabst is a pretty good beer.

So, with that in mind I give you five more food and drinks that are not really popular but should be. These are things, I still consume (or try to) but are not really favorites of the general public for whatever reason. It is my mission to make all five more popular then they currently are.

Green Sherbert – I have always been a fan of the lime green sherbert. Not only does it taste good, it is better for then you then regular ice cream. Dean’s makes a decent one that you used to be able to get at any Jewel or Dominick’s. I used to buy this stuff like mad, but suddenly for some reason, the cherry sherbert became the only one most stores carry. I like cherry as much as the next guy but the lime is my personal favorite. If you haven’t had it in a while do your self a favor and give it try. You will not be sorry.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake – Back in the 1970’s it seemed like you couldn’t go to a social gathering without someone making a pineapple upside down cake. Which, for me rocked because I really liked it. My Grandma used to make a mean version of the cake then for whatever reason, the cake went the way of 8-tracks and unicorn posters, which is a crime. I realize the rest of the world is in love with chocolate. Therefore, when most people eat cake it has to be from the cocoa bean. But, hey can I ask a favor and ask that the pineapple upside down cake make a comeback. I found that Panera has one in a bundt form and it is delicious. Don’t believe me, try one for yourself and come back into the fold.

Green River – Again when I was a kid it seemed like you could get Green River everywhere. Now, it is a little hard to find. I used to get it at MaryAnn’s which was a kind of hot dog stand on 79^th and State Road. Nowadays, Lindy’s Chili still carries it. My wife is not a fan but I still am. It is very sweet and is kind of like a lemon lime, with more of a lime kick to it. (Again, my lime fetish.) Maybe it has been a while, since you had one, or maybe you never have either way next time you see one give it a whirl.

Pudding Pops - Remember in the 80’s when Jell-O Pudding Pops were all the rage. There was a reason for this, because they rocked. Then all of the sudden for some reason they went away. I am still not sure why. I have not seen them in the store in forever. I saw that the Popsicle brand now makes them. So, maybe they will make a comeback because they were great back in the day.

Salted Nut Rolls – You can find them in the candy section of most stores and they rock. Basically salted peanuts with this white nougat in the middle that is pure sugar. The result is a sweet and salty treat. My wife had never even heard of them before she met me and I gave her a bite of one, and she liked it. They have been around forever, and again, because most people when shopping for candy crave chocolate, this desert lacks the popularity it deserves.

Some Netflix Reviews

Here is a brief synopsis of the last ten movies I rented from Netflix. By the way if you are a Netflix subscriber follow this link to become a friend.
http://www.netflix.com/BeMyFriend/P64Bcs4cgzPn8sXBn8jr

Deliver Us From Evil – Wow, was this a telling and riveting documentary. If you are Catholic, I implore you to watch this movie. It is the story of how one priest in Sacramento abused numerous children. The Bishop and Cardinal knew all about it and all they did was move him around. In my book, they are just as guilty as the pederast priest. Really, exposes the Church as the hypocrites that they are from the Pope on down.

Badasssss – Mario Van Peebles stars as his father in this re-telling of just what went into the making of Sweet Sweetback’s Badassss Song. Very interesting flick which was part documentary. A look back at gonzo filmmaking in the 70’s before there was really independent cinema.

Logon’s Run – I had never seen this movie and really wanted to. It is a bit dated and the story while interesting and different, did not deliver for me. Maybe, I would have liked this movie more if I had seen it in the time of its release. They are making a remake and hopefully it will update what is an interesting story.

Apt Pupil – I am a huge fan of the movie The Usual Suspects. So, I went out and saw this at the theater (which is also from Bryan Singer) when it first came out in 1998 and didn’t like it. It had been ten years since I saw it and thought maybe I wasn’t being fair. It turns out I was right in my initial viewing. While the premise was different the movie evolves into absurdity by the end.

Smokin Ace’s – A movie that could have been good, but sunk into complete shit by the end. Too cool for its own good, this movie is filled with good actor’s and just wastes all the talent it assembled. By the end, I just didn’t care who lived and who died. A complete mess.

Amazon Women on the Moon – A movie I originally saw in Dell’s basement in the 80’s. I remember really liking it at the time. It is from the same people who did the Kentucky Fried Movie, which is a classic. This movie is not in that league, but it is still pretty funny in spurts. My favorite is the Don “No Soul” Simmons bits.

For Your Consideration – From Chris Guest and his usual players comes For Your Consideration. I love Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show and A Mighty Wind. But, I think they may have run out of gas. This movie is not nearly as funny as their other projects. It has some moments, but overall it just kind of wandered off to absurdity.

In the Company of Men – After watching Thank You For Smoking, I became an Aaron Eckhart fan. So, I rented In the Company of Men based on no other reason. This turned out to be a very interesting movie. All I can say is man does Eckhart play a great dick.

Waydowntown – A Canadian film centering around four friends who have a bet to see who can go the longest without going outside. They all work in the same office building in downtown Calgary. Because of the severe weather they have there, it is possible to not go outside at all if you live downtown staying in the tunnels that connect the city. A good movie that lost me at the end.

C.H.U.D.- How did I make it through the 80’s without having seen this cheesy horror movie? Somehow, I had never seen it and after viewing it, I did not miss much. I love bad horror movies, but this was not gory or humorous enough for my tastes.

Youth In Revolt

I just finished the sixth and final book in the Nick Twisp novels. About eight or nine years ago, my brother’s ex-girlfriend borrowed me her copy of Youth in Revolt by C.D. Payne. She mentioned I might like the book. I mostly read non-fiction. I usually limit my reading to left wing politics, baseball, true crime and pop culture. Sure, I’ve read fiction from time to time, but I just seemed to enjoy biographies and such a little more.

I am not what one would call well read. My brother collects books like I used to collect baseball cards in the 70’s. Thus, while my innate knowledge of baseball is better then his, he is much smarter and vastly more well read then I will ever be. Anyway, I was having a conversation with my brother and his then girlfriend about books and she recommended Youth in Revolt to me. The next time I saw her she borrowed me her personal copy.

From the first time I cracked the book open I have been a fan of the entire series. For those who have not heard of the books, the first was Youth in Revolt. In it, it contained the first three books. Then Payne released three sequels. Revolting Youth, Young and Revolting and finally Revoltingly Young.

The series centers around the love life of fourteen year old Nick Twisp. He meets Sheeni Sanders and his life is never the same. I don’t want to divulge too much about the books, as I want to try to encourage as many people as possible to give them a read. Like I said, when I first got it I was hooked. You know a book is good when you are reading it, you don’t want it to end. Each time I read any of the books in the series, that is exactly how I felt.

As I was reading the first novel, I could not put it down. It got so bad that I was supposed to go out one Saturday night. Instead, I stayed home shut the TV off and finished the thing as I was so curious as to how the story ends, I could not wait anymore. I do 99.9 % of my reading on the train. So, for me to go to the lengths I went to finish that book shows you just how much I liked it.

I guess reading these books, takes me back to my own youth. Not that the main character Nick and I have anything in common other then our first names. It is more, the thought process of what it was like to be a teenager with raging hormones. In those books you can escape for awhile and at least for me, it takes me back to simpler times.

I admit I am pretty nostalgic for my lost youth. I still like a lot of the movies and music from the eighties, no matter how silly, time has rendered it. These books take me back too how a young adolescent thinks. When all there is to care about is the love of your life and how to win girls over.

There is a lot more going on in the series then just that, and they are quite humorous. Needless to say I highly recommend the whole series. I am sad to learn that Payne has pretty much closed the door on there being a 7^th novel in the series. He did a pretty good job of tying up all the loose ends in the last book but, still reading about an adult Nick Twisp is interesting. As I am now also, in my thirties (Nick is about seven years younger then me in the novels) I would like to see the story continue. Still it was a good run.

I read that a movie is in the works with Michael Cera in the lead role. While I love Cera, I just worry that he might be getting a tad old to play the 14 year old Nick. The IMDB page has a release date of December 12, 2008. I am hopeful that the film does the book justice but we shall see. Anyway, if anyone wants to borrow my copy of Youth in Revolt let me know. It is all I can do to spread the joy that it has given me all of these years.

Dear Mr. Fantasy

I have been playing fantasy baseball for over fifteen years. I started when I joined a league with my room mate from my De Paul days. The next year I took his scoring system and stared my own league with my friends. It is kind of geeky, I admit, but I love it. I love the draft which is tomorrow. It is one of my favorite times of the year. I have always maintained winning the baseball league is a skill and winning the football league is luck. Maybe that is because I have won the baseball league four times and never won the football league.

You see in baseball you can’t be a lazy owner and win. You need to check the box scores daily and stay on top of injuries to your lineup. It is a two part deal. You need to draft well and make shrewd moves during the season. Football is basically once a week. You worry about it Saturday night, put your lineup in and you are good. On top of that football is head to head, so you can get lucky and win when you shouldn’t. Not to bitch but I was 2^nd in total points this year in our football league and finished 5^th. Sometimes, it just works out that way.

Anyway, here is a list of who has won the baseball league each year. I write this here on my journal, (I am banning the word blog from this point going forward, as I hate that term for some reason.) to preserve it. We really don’t have any place on the internet where we have posted the league winners. Also our league is so old it really kind of pre-dates the World Wide Web. Anyway here is a list of the winners from our first season in 1993.

1993 – Doyle
1994 - Bob
1995 – Nick
1996 – Tony
1997 – (No winner, league folded, but Chuck would have won)
1998- Nick
1999 - Bob
2000 – Wally
2001 – Wally
2002 – Nick
2003 – Bob
2004 – Nick
2005 – Bob
2006 – Mike and Ryan
2007 – Tony

Myself, Wally, Bob and Chuck are the only four that have been in the league from year one. Dell, Mike and Ryan, Rob and Tony have pretty much been there since the early days when I used to do all the stats by hand. Joe and Jeff joined later on.

Like I said back before the internet, I used to do all the stats by hand. I would get baseball weekly, which had all the box scores and I would grab a calculator and every week, I would pour through them and create a word document with the standings. This was also a little before email was really prevalent, so I would have hard copies of the standings and hand them out when I saw the other team owners. It was kind of the dark days of fantasy baseball.

By 1997 I had, had enough of running the league so Rob took over in the ill fated 97 season. Chuck took over in 1998 and we moved onto TQstas. That used to be a great website but over the years it started to decline. Chuck ran the league from 1998 until he could not take it anymore and quit in 2004. So, I took over the reigns once again in ’05. Running the baseball league is not my favorite thing to do, but it keeps me busy. The website does most of the work nowadays, but I still have to check it daily for injuries and that includes when I go on vacation.

CBS Sportsline hosts our league now, and it is a very user friendly website. It is easy to customize it to our league’s scoring system. It is still no picnic to run the thing, but is much easier then back in the day. So, as a new season and new draft day approaches, I am pretty excited. Hopefully, I get a good draft pick and walk out of Rob’s basement with a pretty good team.

A Rare Political Rant

I wasn’t meaning to write about this today, but I have to mention the speech that Obama gave yesterday in Philadelphia. To put it simply that was one of the best, if not the best political speeches I have ever heard.

It takes a lot to move a cynical old bastard like myself. His speech yesterday did just that. And I will tell you why it did. In it he talked honestly and openly, which is rare for any politician. He gave a speech that preached hope and tolerance and acceptance. He spoke intelligently and didn’t speak down to us.

Let me just say, this right off the bat. I supported Edwards from the jump. Sure, I liked Obama but, I just felt Edwards message resonated with me a little more. As time went on, and Edwards dropped out, I found myself in Barrack’s camp. I was a little hesitant at first, but as the election went on, I found myself being a bigger and bigger supporter.

Hillary has run such a mean spirited and dirty campaign she should be ashamed of herself. It is all about the prize for her. Helping people and bettering our country are secondary. Deep in my core, I feel Barrack Obama wants to help you, the average American. You may not agree with all his policies, but know this about the man. He will look at both sides of an argument before he makes any decision.

He will not govern by fear or by playing on white Americas emotions like the current administration does so well. In yesterdays speech he showed that he has the backbone to stand up to the slings and arrows the right wing hacks will throw at him. One can have faith, because he is far smarter them they are.

You see all they can do is make biased personal attacks. That is all they are good for. Distorting the truth to somehow make the man out to be less than what he is. Has Barrack Obama led a perfect life? No he has not, but who has? If all they can do is criticize his church and pastor then they are desperate. They are desperate because they are scarred.

You see rich white guys have been in power since this county was founded. Now, they are all cowering in fear that their reign might finally be over. So, they drag out his controversial pastor. Mind you Obama didn’t say those things, his pastor did. Obama spoke out in his speech against what Reverend Wright said. Apparently this was not enough, for the Hannity’s of the world.

But, you see, Obama could cure cancer and beer goggling and that would not be good enough for the Limbaugh’s and the Savage’s of the world. They would still find something about him personally to attack simply because that is all they know how to do. The good news is that Obama has shown the courage and backbone to stand up to these vicious attacks. (Including those slung by the Clinton camp.) If that doesn’t give us a prelude onto what kind of a leader he will be, I don’t know what does.

I know I am stating the obvious but our next President is going to have a very difficult task ahead of him or her. Cleaning up the earthquake of disaster that eight years of Bush and Cheney have left us is going to take a lot of heavy lifting and thinking outside the box. Obama is the only candidate I feel has the smarts and knowledge to get our country back on the right track. Hillary certainly doesn’t instill me with a lot of confidence. Her true colors have shown and anyone that can still support her after the campaign she has ran is kidding themselves into thinking she will be a creative and effective leader.

While everyone bitches about Obama and his minister no one mentions McCain’s kind words for Pastor John Hagee. This man has said some off the wall things about not only Jews but Catholics as well. Yet, all anyone can wag their tongues about is Farrakhan and Rev. Wright. Still, that is not why I can not endorse McCain.

McCain is a crusty old man who is as original as a stale fart. He has shown his lack of understanding of the issues numerous times. After being the anti-Conservative candidate on the right he, now is going out of his way to court the far right wing of the party. The reason he is doing that is simple, he needs their support to win. But by doing so, he is showing the exact lack of political backbone needed to make a great leader. I respect the guy’s service to our country but, that doesn’t make him qualified to lead our nation out of the mire we are in.

I believe in this country again, and it is thanks to campaign of Obama. If you would have told me a year ago, that he would be leading the delegate count and on his way to the nomination, I would not have believed it. The fact that he is, restores my faith in the American voting public. Hopefully they can look past the bile and filth the hate mongers will throw at him in November and realize he is the candidate that will most help the average American. And, if that happens and he becomes our next President, that will be the first step in erasing the nightmare of the last eight years.

Who Is Your Daddy

For those that don’t already know, it seems I slipped one past the goalie and somehow impregnated my wife. When she first told me I was well, shocked would not be the correct term. Scarred shitless would be a better expression to describe my feelings at the time.

With the passage of time however, the fear has been slowly replaced by excitement and innocent nervousness. Still, I never thought the day would come. I always looked at having kids with utter ambivalence. If it happened great. If it didn’t it would not have been any skin off of my back. I never felt my life would be incomplete if I didn’t have any offspring. My life is full enough and I didn’t need a kid to justify my lot in life. However, I wasn’t against it either. Not to toot my own horn but, I am pretty good with kids, basically because I am one myself.

I generally like children. I like them when they are about 2-3 years old. That is when they become interesting. Before that, they are boring. I never got that gushy or longing feeling inside of me whenever I saw an infant. I would always think the same thing. Okay, it’s a baby. They shit, cry and take anything within arm’s reach and stick it in their mouth. I get it.

Still, I have nothing against babies. I get that they will grow and become people. It is just I find them kind of un-interesting. I also don’t get the whole miracle or special feeling that often gets associated with them. Making them is easy. It does not take any particular talent. Any IQ challenged, half drunk, toothless moron, can create one.

With all that said, as I now find myself in the position of having my own, I have been inundated with congrats and adulations. Which I truly appreciate as does Joyce. I still have some nervousness. And it is not about being a parent or having a kid. I just don’t want to become an asshole.

I hate, hate, hate when all parents do, is blather on about their offspring. No one gives a shit. I understand you are proud of them and all that. But, please most kids are just average who will grow to live average adult lives. When I ask how you are doing don’t tell me how your crotch fruit is. (Thanks, Vince for that term.) You still have a life. Don’t live it vicariously through your kids.

I also don’t want to become over-protective. These yuppie parents have safety helmeted our society to death. I remember when I was a child. If I saw a kid riding his bike with a safety helmet, not only would he have been made fun of, but he would have gotten a beating as well. Let them live already because all you do by insulating them is create a big pussy of an adult, who when they grow up will become boring.

So, if anyone sees me turn into the above please pull me aside and kick my ass. Seriously, both Joyce and I are excited and appreciate all the kind words we have received the last two weeks. I really don’t care if we have a boy or girl, (everyone says that but, I really don’t have a preference.) as long as it is not a hermaphrodite. So far Joyce has had a little sickness but, overall it hasn’t been too bad. Now, if anyone has any daycare recommendations please send them my way.

Nick's Yearly Baseball Predictions Continued

Here are my American league and post season predictions.

East
1. Boston Red Sox – The defending World Champs are loaded. They are the class of the AL. A great lineup, lights out rotation and a killer bullpen. That spells trouble for the rest of the East. Only thing that can stop them will be complacency or injuries.

2. New York Yankees – I do not like the way this team is made up. They are depending on two rookies in their rotation and over the hill Mussina. Any lineup with Alex Rodriguez is going to be good, but unlike years past they have some holes. I also don’t like the Girardi hire. Girardi is better with a young team that is up and coming like the Marlins were. I am skeptical of this club.

3. Toronto Blue Jays – Toronto is the unluckiest team in baseball in that they play in the division with the two big spenders. The Jays have a nice rotation and have some good hitters. If things break their way I could see them passing the Yanks for second.

4. Tampa Bay Rays – This club believe it or not is up and coming. A nice young nucleolus of hitters and a pitching staff that is getting better. They might need another year of maturity, to gel but they are getting their at long last. They could finish the season at .500.

5. Baltimore Orioles – A total wreck. This team is going to be bad, real bad. Very low on talent and they play in a tough division. They traded Bedard and Tejada who were their two best players. Having Andy McPhail run things is also a bad sign. This unit will lose 100 games.

Central
1. Detroit Tigers – That lineup is scary good. They are going to score runs in bunches. The pitching has some questions in the bullpen but, they should be offset by a lineup with the potential to score over 1,000 runs. Not an easy out 1-9 and no one to pitch around. They will be good.

2. Cleveland Indians – They learned a lot last year and gained some nice post season experience. Still, they had Boston down and could not finish them. I like the team as a whole as they can hit and pitch. They will be up with the Tigers all year in what should be a pretty good race.

3. Chicago White Sox – The White Sox are a puzzling team. They have a nice middle of the lineup but, there are too many holes. Any pitching staff depending on a return to form from AARP member Jose Contreas is in trouble. Still, they should be around .500

4. Minnesota Twins – The Twins are in re-building mode but can still be a dangerous team. Morneau, Mauer, Young and Cuddyer form a nice nucleolus. They are a little thin in the pitching department, but with a few breaks will be back as soon as 2009.

5. Kansas City Royals – The Junior circuit’s answer to the Pirates. There at long last is a little light at the end of the tunnel. They will be better, and have some young players that look good in Gordon and Teahen. If some of their pitching comes around they might at long last be on the right track.

West
1. Seattle Mariners – This is a two team race between them and the Halo’s. I am going to go out on limb and pick Seattle. I like their pitching and I feel they will score enough. Adding Bedard was huge and with Putz in the bullpen they have a lights out closer.

2. Los Angeles Angels – The Halo’s are an interesting club. I like a lot of parts of it. Outfield will put up numbers but their infield has holes. They have pitching depth as well so, they will be good. Still, I just have this feeling Seattle beats them out.

3. Texas Rangers – A team that has no direction. I don’t get that Texiara trade they made last July. Pitching is brutal and even though they have some nice hitters it won’t be enough to offset the mediocre staff.

4. Oakland A’s – Truly a re-building year in Oaktown. They have a lot of good young players coming up the pipeline however, and Billy Beane will have this team competitive again by as early as next year. Still, in 2008 they will experience some growing pains.

Playoffs
NL
Mets over Dodgers
Cubs over Phillies
Mets over Cubs

AL
Indians over Red Sox
Tigers over Mariners
Tigers over Indians

World Series
Tigers over Mets

Nick's Yearly Baseball Predictions

Every year I go out on a limb and make some asinine baseball predictions. Last year I correctly picked Arizona and Philadelphia to win their divisions. I also picked Detroit to win the World Series, so hey no one is perfect. Anyway here are my 2008 predictions for the NL. I will do the junior circuit tomorrow.

National League
East
1. New York Mets – I hate picking the Mets but I can’t help it. The addition of Santana makes them the team to beat. They have a lineup that while old will still score some runs and now with Santana heading a staff with Pedro and Maine in it they should win despite Willie Randolph.

2. Philadelphia Phillies – I like a lot of parts of the Phillies. But, the back end of their rotation scares me and they have a couple of holes in their lineup. Still they are one of the best teams in the NL and should hang with the Mets all year.

3. Atlanta Braves – I like some of the Braves moves. They have re-tooled and got younger on the field. Their pitching however is looking old. Hudson will be fine but Atlanta is still counting on greybeards John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, and that scares me.

4. Washington Nationals – I feared this team would lose 110 games last year and they surprised me. While the pitching is still very suspect, they have some talent. Moving into a new ballpark will give them a boost and they should be better then they were last year but will get buried in a tough division.

5. Florida Marlins – This team on paper is a mess. A lot of prospects and could be great players. Ramirez at short ids great and Uggla is a nice player but that is it. Their rotation after showing some promise in 2006 regressed last year. Will be a long year for this team in perpetual re-building mode.

Central
1. Chicago Cubs – I just think they have the best team in the Central, which is a pretty weak division. Plus I don’t think Hendry is done tweaking this team. Should score runs and pitching staff is pretty good.

2. Milwaukee Brewers – The Brewers wilted last year under the pressure of a pennant race. This year they can fall back on that experience. I love their lineup but their pitching is a tad troubling. If Sheets can stay healthy, (a big if) then they will battle the Cubs all year.

3. Cincinnati Reds – I like a lot of the moves the Reds made in the off-season. I do not like the hiring of Dusty Baker. He is the wrong manager for a young team. Still, in this division they have enough to finish third.

4. Houston Astros – A lineup that could lead the league in runs scored and a pitching staff that could lead the league in giving them up. Baseball is pitching and if you don’t have it you can’t win. Roy Oswalt is an ace and he is all they have.

5. St. Louis Cardinals – How the mighty have fallen. This team is in serious trouble. They will have trouble scoring runs and their rotation is a colossal question mark. A number of things are going to have to go right for them to compete and I just don’t see it all happening.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates – Someone wake me when this team gets a clue. Don’t give me the small market excuse either. Sixteen consecutive losing seasons is the definition of bad management. This year, things don’t look much better, but I do like some of the young arms the Pirates are collecting.

West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers – This is a very tough division with four teams that could wind up winning it. The Dodgers have a nice mix of young and old, and I like the Joe Torre hiring. In a tough race that should go down to the wire the Dodgers pitching depth wins it.

2. Arizona Diamondbacks – The young D’Backs surprised many by winning the division last year. They added some pitching with Haren and if Randy Johnson is healthy this team will be tough to score on. However, I don’t like their bullpen as much and their lineup leaves much to desired. I think they lose out to LA in the end.

3. San Diego Padres – A nice team but one with some holes. Pitching rotation and bullpen are solid. However, like most years this team will not score enough. Gonzalez is the only hitter in the lineup that you fear. They will be in it until the end but like last year will come up short.

4. Colorado Rockies – This prediction could come back to haunt me as I could easily see a scenario where they win the division. However, in reality they got on a hot streak at the end to squeak in to the playoffs. If you look at their season up to that point they were a little over a .500 team. I like this team but, I just believe things even out this year and they come down to earth in a very tough division.

5. San Francisco Giants – A mess. The front of their rotation has some nice young arms in Lowrey and Lincecum. Zito can’t be as bad as he was last year either. However, when you have Bengie Molina hitting fourth you are in some serious trouble.

Top 10 Who Records

The Who might be my favorite band of all time. If there is a bad Who song out there I have yet to hear it. Of the three lists I made this one was by far the hardest. For my money there may not have been four better musicians. Daltrey simply has one of the best voices in Rock and Roll. Ask any bass player and they will fill you in on the greatness of John Entwistle. Keith Moon was an amazing drummer who was pure mayhem and energy. Then you have Pete Townsend. A musical God, if there ever was one. Like I said a perfect band. Anyway, here is my list. Again this was a very tough one to narrow down.

1. A Quick One While He is Away – This is just an amazing song. The performance on Live at Leeds of this song may be one of the greatest live renditions of a song ever. Words can not do justice to it. I will never get tired of hearing it.

2. My Wife – I have always loved this song. Entwistle didn’t sing lead on many tunes, here he shows that he had the chops. Released originally on Who’s Next it is about a man’s fear of his wife’s fury for saying out all night.

3. Won’t Get Fooled Again – Another track from Who’s Next. Yes, it has been beyond over-played but it still rocks and carries a powerful message. Meet the new boss same as the old boss, is a statement. Townsend verbalized a message that still resonates today.

4. Love Reign O’er Me - If you have any doubt about the vocal ability of Rodger Daltrey just listen to this song and all matters should be cleared up. The man just has an incredible set of pipes. Closes what many consider to be the Who’s finest work, Quadrophenia.

5. I’m Free – Tommy, is to me a perfect record. I could probably recite it word for word. When, I’m Free, comes on with that great riff from Pete, I am in heaven. Tells the story from Tommy’s perspective when he regains his sight and hearing.

6. Baba O’ Riley – Is there a better opening to an album? Again I know it has been overplayed but just try not to do a Townsend air guitar windmill when listening to it.

7. We’re Not Gonna Take it – The final song on Tommy and what a perfect capper it is. A seven minute opus, that has the Who playing in all their Rock God’s glory. Almost a perfect song.

8. Sally Simpson – A silly little song on Tommy that I have always liked. Appears near the end and tells the story of Sally, a devotee of Tommy who is forbidden to see her idol by her father but escapes anyway with disastrous results.

9. Eminence Front – My favorite post Keith Moon song. Released on 1982’s It’s Hard. Townsend has told many he wrote the song about cocaine addiction. A very good tune on a kind of lackluster Who effort.

10. 5:15 – Another track from Quadrophenia that I enjoy. It shows that Keith was not just a frantic drummer but could rein it in when needed. A powerful jam that never gets old.

Nick's Top 10 Stones Records

I have always had a love-hate relationship with the Rolling Stones. While, it is impossible to dismiss their legacy and their contribution to rock and roll they have become a parody of themselves. They haven’t made a good record since Some Girls in 1978. Plus the fact they keep charging exuberant amount of money to see their sixty year old asses just screams greed. Anyway, here are my top ten Rolling Stones records.

1. Monkey Man – If you want to get Nick’s pasty white ass moving, just put this song on. Impossible not to at the least tap a toe to. Also, will be forever associated at least in my eyes with the scene in Goodfella’s where Ray Liotta is cutting up the cocaine at his girlfriend’s house.

2. Dead Flowers – First released on Sticky Fingers, Dead Flowers is a simple little song with a countyish beat that just works. Mick on acoustic mixing with Keith’s electric arrangement just makes for a beautiful piece of music.

3. I am Waiting – Released in 1966 on the Stones Aftermath album. I first realized my love for the song from the film Rushmore. Whenever I hear the song, my mind races back to the scene where Max jumps the wall to the cemetery.

4. Mother’s Little Helper – Another track from Aftermath. Simple enough song about the demons of valium. A rocking tune that has some mean likes by Keith thrown in.

5. Paint it Black – One more from their Aftermath release. (Can you guess which is my favorite Stones album?) Charlie Watts lays down a simple yet contagious beat. A rocker from beginning to end.

6. Under My Thumb – Yet one more from Aftermath. I will admit this song is a bit chauvinistic, but you not beat the arrangement. Brian Jones put in some of his best work on this track.

7. Wild Horses – Another track from Sticky Fingers, finds the Stones at their mellow best. There are a couple of stories out there about what and who this song is about. No matter, it is a good song and might be my favorite vocals from Mick.

8. Bitch – Okay, another track from Sticky Fingers. Here the Stones threw in a some horns and created an infectious groove. Not a song about women as many would think, but about drug addiction which Keith knew a lot about.

9. Tumbling Dice – My first selection from Exile on Main Street which most Stones fans will cite as their favorite LP. A good song about a man who is more faithful to gambling then women.

10. 19^th Nervous Breakdown – Originally released in 1965 as a single. The Stones did not feel it was strong enough for Aftermath. Still, a pretty good song that Mick came up with around that title.

Nick's Top 10 Beatle Records

The Who, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles are the big three British rock bands. (Apologies to the Kinks, who many will argue were, better then each of them.) I will give you each bands top ten songs in Nick’s opinion. I will do the Beatles today and will follow that up with the Stones and Who in the next couple of days. Again this is my two cent opinion. I am sure there will be agreements and disagreements.

1. In My Life – I have always loved this Lennon opus. I liked it so much I convinced my non-Beatle fan wife to use this song as our first dance at our wedding. A really beautiful song from one of my favorite Beatle albums Rubber Soul.

2. A Day in a Life – A groundbreaking song for it’s time. It starts out one way has the break in the middle and then ends with a sing songy little number. A bit of an odd placing on Sergeant Pepper’s but it worked.

3. Octopus Garden – I welcome and expect to get nuked for liking this song so much. I know for a fact my brother hates it. Still, I am a Ringo fan and well, I like this silly little song that places its tongue fairly in its check.

4. The Ballad John and Yoko – Another kind of silly one that I am big fan of. The telling via song of John and Yoko’s famous Bed-In. Released as a single in 1969, this is more of a Lennon single then a Beatles record.

5. Something – George Harrison’s beautiful ballad that appears on Abbey Road. John and Paul pretty much controlled every recording session, with George having to force his songs to get through. Thankfully, George got this one onto Abbey Road.

6. Everybody has Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey – I guess you can tell I kind of like the silly Beatles songs. Lennon wrote this one again, about his relationship with Yoko.

7. Michele – Yes, it is sappy as all hell, but I still like it. McCartney basically penned this one as sort of a joke that he would play at parties. Lennon then suggested he make a serious effort at the song and this is what they came up with.

8. Ask Me Why - Probably my favorite of the early Beatles recordings. Released on Please, Please Me and as a “B” side at that, the song is catchy as hell. Just try not getting swept up in it when you hear it.

9. Get Back – My love for this one is, basically based on the rooftop concert. I can not hear it without thinking of that live performance. A catchy little number that was aided by the keyboards of Billy Preston

10. Paperback Writer – Another kind of meaningless silly little throwaway tune that is catchy as hell and filled with hooks. Released as a single this is a McCartney sang and written song.