Staples Out...Reds Open the Season....

After 19 days of wearing a bit of the Boris Karloff look, I finally drove to Lima yesterday afternoon....and a quick snip or two later, the medal was out of my neck....just a nice gray hair cover over the 2 1/2  inch or so scar on the right center side of my neck.  Doc Dox says "no shaving" over that for awhile...."use a trimmer".  Mostly due to the Plavix blood thinner I am taking...damn I hate that stuff.   Frankly I hate all four medications I am taking, but for now, will stay the course.  Blood work coming early next month, then we will see how things shake out.  For now I'm just glad to be staple free.

Back to the ball diamond tonight, Garry and I at Van Wert for a Western Buckeye League game with Ottawa Glandorf as the visitors.  Then off Good Friday tomorrow, and then Sam, home for the Easter Break from Ohio State, will join me at Celina for a JV Double Header at the main diamond, with artificial turf at Montgomery Field on Saturday.   I will work my second game behind the plate that day....and hope for the best.  Once done there, we will join the family that is in town, including mom and Mike back from Florida, at sister Marty and brother-n-law Pat's place, for a Saturday Easter get together.

Opening Day, Cincinnati Style____

For many years the Cincinnati Reds would be alone in the National League on the Opening Day of Baseball Season.  Well alone, along with a rotating opponent....Cincinnati, being the oldest professional baseball team, would open the NL season at home on a Monday in early April.  In the American League, the old Washington Senators, would open, usually accompanied by the sitting President, who would, more often than not, toss out the first ball.  {Has anybody viewed that sissy in the White House today, try to toss a ball?...Gawd, what a pathetic piece of work}

But in the world of professional sports, Tradition be dammed!  After the bean counters and Cable TV got involved,   The Reds, still got to open on a Monday, and be at home,  but they weren't alone.  The Senators were gone as well, so the AL was SOL.  Then along came ESPN, and they insisted the opener be on Sunday Night...after one year in Cincy, it then rotated.  The Reds would still open at home on Monday....but now even that is gone.  After a few games in Japan, the official opener was in Miami last night, a Wednesday no less...Miami?  Now that there is a real traditional site for MLB {insert sarcasm icon}...and the Reds would wait until Thursday.

So now the Reds, still opening at home, but no longer alone, or even close to being the first game, will open late this afternoon, at Great American Ball Park, with Miami?  Who, after getting thumped in their new stadium by St. Louis last night, will fly to Cincinnati today and open at 4:05pm.  The good news is, youngest son Hal was given a early birthday present by wife Lisa, and they will be attending the opener.  

In years past, I attended the opening day game on a regular basis.  The first time was in 1975, when the Reds went on to win the World Series...the temperature was in the upper 70s if I recall.  The coldest opening day I remember attending was back in 1992 I believe, when I sat in the upper regions of Riverfront Stadium....looking out over the Ohio River, the neon sign flashed 35 degrees, as a mix of rain and wet snow came down.  I believe me and Bill Clem were seated one row from the top...talk about cold, damn cold it was.

I also attended opening days in Cincinnati where I was seated in the heated press box,  those being back in my broadcasting days.  It was always more fun however, to be out in the seats with the crowd, raising Hell and drinking $4, then $5, and now $8 beers...how stupid can a beer drinker be?    At least in the press box, the swill in the cups was free.....

I have not attended Opening Day in at least 15 years....maybe some day again, but really, opening day is for the young and foolish...those who still enjoy the crowds, the pushing, the yelling, and paying big bucks for watered down American Lager Beer.  Don't get me wrong, I still love baseball, still root for the Reds....but I am not so foolish to believe that those playing the game, or those paying the salary for guys like Joey Votto, just signed by the Reds to a tune of $252 Million for 12 years, really give a rat's behind about me, you, or Joe in the 53rd row up....

But Regardless....let's Play Ball!

back later>>>>

Photos-Metal gone, but the reminder of the surgery, and some gray neck hair will remain....and The Cincinnati Reds and Multi Millionaire First Baseman Joey Votto open up the 2012 Season today at Great American Ballpark.

MLB...The Wild, Wild Card Races

As Patricia was walking out to the garage this morning, and as we were talking, I looked to the west and saw a Rainbow...in the west, in the early morning....how rare is that?  I grabbed the camera, but as quick as it came, it was gone.  Rats!  No photo to share...

The unwelcome and unneeded rain that was approaching seems to by dying out as it hits the Indiana/Ohio State Line...however they are still calling for a 60% chance of showers, under cool, cloudy skies...if the rain stays away, I will get after mom's and our lawns.  Both are in serious need of a mowing.  Our lawn, just mowed last Wednesday, is particularly in a heavy growth spurt.  More like April or early May than late September...so hopefully the rains will not get here before I can mow...but as I look out the windows, it's getting pretty dark.

Baseball's Second Season, and the Wild, Wild Card showdown____

Any regular reader of this blog knows, my favorite sport, whether it be to umpire, as I do these days, watch, play or coach, is and always has been Baseball.  However with the Reds eliminated long ago, my interest waned.  Cincinnati, after a surprise showing to win the NL Central last season, fell on their faces this season, and sit in 3rd place, with the final two games looming.  This left me questioning who to follow in the post season, and who to root for and against.  It seemed pretty cut and dried just a couple of weeks ago.  The Yankees, Detriot, and Texas, would win their divisions in the American League, and Boston's Red Sox would be the Wild Card team.  Over in the NL, it would be Arizona, the Phillies, and Milwaukee, winning the divisions, while the Atlanta Braves would be the Wild Card representative.  

Not so fast Kemosabe.... 

Both the Red Sox and Atlanta went into massive swoons the past two weeks, thus leaving the door open for Tampa Bay and St. Louis to take the Wild Card spots that were opening up.

After last nights loss, Boston finds themselves in a dead heat with the Rays of Tampa Bay, with two games to go....Boston is playing the lowly Baltimore Orioles, who thumped them last night, meanwhile Tampa Bay is playing the Yankees...who seem to be on cruise control, and not playing every regular...who can blame them?  After all, the aging New Yorkers need all the rest they can get....Boston has put themselves in this situation, and is now on the verge of paying the price.


Meanwhile over in the NL, a team that all Reds fans despise, the St. Louis Cardinals, have made a comeback, thanks to the Braves falling on hard times.   One game separates the teams...and if not for St. Louis choking in extra innings, they would be tied...as it stands St Louis faces the last place Astros in Texas, while the Braves are up against Philadelphia, who despite it's recent slump, is probably the best team in baseball, especially given their pitching staff.  Both teams have two games to go.


So, who to root for...?

My mom's family are big Phillie fans, always have been.....so I don't hate Philadelphia, root for that nasty cities Hockey Team, the Flyers, have for years.  Nothing against Arizona, wife if from Wisconsin and her family are Brewers fans.  Not a fan of Atlanta, but hope that they dispatch St. Louis.  When it comes down to the bottom line, in the NL, I really don't care.....with the exception of the Cards and Braves, I could support the other three.


Meanwhile over in the AL....I despise the Yankees.  I grew up a Yankee fan in the 1950s and early 60s while living in Florida...but Mantle, Ford, Berra, and Maris, were easy for a kid to root for....today, they are a over-hyped team with too much money to spend, and I can't stand them. They try to buy a championship every season, and when they lose, baseball wins.  No fan of Boston either....I like Texas, especially ex-Red Josh Hamilton, don't mind the Tigers, their manager is a Buckeye.  But if Tampa Bay slips in...I will be rooting for them all the way.  The family was in attendance in 1999, with video camera in hand, when Wade Boggs homered for his 3000 hit, in August of that year, in St Pete....still have the action on tape.  If the Rays don't make it, Detroit or Texas either one I could root for.


Regardless, I am looking forward to the next month....forget the NFL, or College Football, baseball is what will hold my interest, as far as being a fan.


back later>>>>

Photos-The MLB Playoffs begin this weekend...if the Rays make the Wild Card, I will be rooting for them, however, you gotta believe the Philadelphia Phils are the odds on favorites to take the World Series crown.

So much for my time off....Football is up next!

After getting back from Wisconsin, I planned on working or slouching around the house for a few days, getting the Nitro vehicle problems taken care of, and maybe taking some photos, drinking beer(nothing new there), and basically relaxing... well, so much for those plans.

Now my football schedule has been moved up...I will work with a crew that I filled in on at a Toledo City League game last season....that will be next Friday, August 12th at Lima Perry, a varsity scrimmage, working as the Back Judge, same as I did at Toledo last fall....so move my schedule up by 4 days.  Then this morning, the local Recreation Department informed me that the Youth League schedule was out, and would I find and assign officials for that?  Sure, since I do many of the games, I might as well get my fellow officials on board.

And here it is, almost Noon, and I am still working on the schedule, and getting e-mails around in search of football guys to fill the open slots...

Other than that, not a lot going on....some interesting things have passed my facebook account, and in the news(like the Stock Market taking a deep hit), but really nothing that is shaking my world up.   I grilled out yesterday, drank a couple of Guinness Extra Stout brews, while I did that...then sat and watched the Reds pull one out at Houston...but remain in 4th place, far out of the race, at 6 1/2 games behind Milwaukee.   The games Cincinnati pulled out last year, are the same ones they are losing this season....it appears not to be their year.

A welcome rain came through overnight, and the flowers, while not nearly as bountiful as last summer, are coming out, and the few wild Sunflower plants with multiple heads are going to save what would otherwise be a off season in the Sunflower Seed department.   The Mexicans and Fuzzy Teddy Bear variety are also making their faces shown, along with the Red Evening Shade type...

Like I said, not a heck of a lot going on folks...what you see/read is what you get...back later>>>>
                                                                                      Photos-Fuzzy Face of Teddy Bear Sunflowers have started popping out along and inside the fence in the back yard...Football is about to begin, while the Reds sputter through 2011....in the Kennel area the Wild Sunflowers are producing in grand fashion, while the Evening Shade, not as plentiful as last season have started to come out.                                                                             

It's a.......................!

More storms moving in from the west....as it's beginning to look like another wet period.  I know they are having a drought in the southern plains, and I sure wish this crap we have had for the past 4 months would head their way....so it's looking like storms through Wednesday at least, with heat and humidity to go with it.

Father's Day in Cincy____

Patricia and I headed south to Centerville at Noon Saturday to stay with youngest son Hal and wife Lisa.  The plans for the day included supper at the famous Montgomery Inn...there are now several, but we opted for the original location near Cincinnati on Montgomery Road:

 http://www.montgomeryinn.com/

The Ribs are melt in your mouth outstanding..... 

After dining we would head for the Great American Ballpark and take in the Interleague game between the Reds and Toronto Blue Jays...the dining was great, the game?  Not so much...we had seats in left field and high up, but they were cheap($10 each for six of us that went), and under the roof, which worked well, since there was a steady lite rain for much of the game, which ended in a 4-0 shutout by the team from Canada.  This was the second straight game I had seen the Reds shut out, for Hal it was three in a row.  Considering they are the top hitting team in the National League, that is disappointing and rare.

Before all of that however, we, the parents and grandparents to be, all headed for a private salon that specializes in mothers-to-be...our Father's Day weekend event was to join Lisa and Hal in finding out the sex of the grandkid to be.  They have resident Ultra Sound Technicians on site, and within literally a minute of being "hooked up" Lisa and Hal found out that the baby-to-be will be a boy.  So now Hal can begin, not only his new job, started last week, but the painting and the arrangement of the nursery....and hopefully all will go well, and then in about 5 months, the line of Houseworth will reach another generation.  A pretty exciting time for all, to say the least.

After the game, we headed back to Centerville, stayed the night at their parents-to-be's condo, then up early, we headed back to Celina. 

Sam spent the weekend in Columbus, working a 13/14 year old baseball tournament, which they got all the games in, even with the rain and delays....Anissa stayed at her place in Celina..  Tonight Sam is scheduled in Celina, and I am assigned to Convoy Crestview, but at this point, that is not likely to happen...I've also got a couple of yards to mow, Mom's and Anissa's but those may be pushed back as well...for now, it's shower time.

back later>>>>

Photos-A River Boat chugs along the Ohio River heading west past Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati....and the parents in waiting, Hal and Lisa in our catbird seats near the foul pole in left field.  B-T-W...I'll still getting used to the new Nikon, and some shots selections that come with it...I had some good shots, usually with the portrait mode locked in...the landscape and night modes, I'm a work in progress with those..but will get better, hopefully~

Say a prayer for Joplin, Missouri...the bad weather beat goes on

After seeing the damage, death, destruction and reading about the same in Southwest Missouri, our little wet and cold spring doesn't seem so bad:

http://www.foxnews.com/

Watched the Weather Channel reports, while Fox and the rest of the lame 24/7 "news" outlets were doing specials with idiots like Geraldo Moronrivera about a 3 year old murder case in Orlando, Florida...good move Fox.  I don't know why I stopped watching???  24/7 of that idiotic wedding in Britain(who gives a rat's ass?), dumping Beck, and ignoring news for tabloid headlines...congratulations, you have caught up with MSNBC and CNN in the who cares category? Might as well waste time on the National Enquirer....

Anyway, the storms were something to behold...check out this youtube video from a convenience store as the storm hit...not much to view, but the sounds are chilling enough:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQnvxJZucds

As for this part of the world in West Central Ohio....we had a warm and mostly dry, at least considering what we have had the past 2 months, weekend.  Patricia and I got out in the yard....she bought 10 bags of mulch, and used 9 of them in the back yard fence edges to get rid of weeds and highlight the flowers...I replanted a row or two of Sunflowers...some just were not able to get out from under the thick mud and clay, left by the persistent rains, so I replanted and am hoping for the best.

I also got out the chain saw and trimmed the brush and cut back on the lower parts of the Evergreens around the fence...mowed our lawn Saturday, and Mom's on Sunday....in-between I drank plenty of beer and smoked a couple of cigars with Nick, as he stopped by on Saturday night....and listened to the Reds slump, getting swept by the Indians in Cleveland.  The traction they gained by winning 5 straight over the Cardinals and Cubs is gone, as they return the favor with 5 straight loses against Pittsburgh and Cleveland...now 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis, they head for 4 games in Philly, the scene of last seasons playoff disaster.

We had a shower early Saturday night, while Nick and I sat under the trees in the back yard...then last night a big storm front came through, we got some rain, but the majority of the first front hit north, and then overnight, the second batch went south....we lucked out for now.  However, the rain and storms are forecast for the next week, it appears this is going to be one of those years, where nothing much dries out...I hate it!

Garry and I are slated to do a final regular season league game down in Bellefontaine tonight...but that doesn't look likely, considering the forecast....regardless, I am done until May 31st when ACME kicks off.....enough for now, time to get out and walk...

back later>>>>                               Photos-A massive tornado rumbles through Joplin, Missouri, killing scores and destroying much of the city of 50.000. The Brush Pile from our yard, waits for city pick-up crews.  The Reds take a dump in Cleveland, seems that's about all that that city is good for.  And despite the rains that have played havoc with planting the Annuals....the Perennials and local Grand Lake Canadian Geese have no problem growing and reproducing for another year...guess the Guess didn't get the message from ODNR, to stay off and out of Grand Lake?

Wednesday....a couple of baseball points and some "I know Jack" tunes...

Damn, I gotta say things are pretty boring these days....

The weather, albeit early spring, sucks....after a day of much clouds, wind, and cold yesterday{we even had some flurry activity}...I headed north to southern Putnam County to umpire a Putnam League game between homestanding Fort Jennings and county rival Pandora-Gilboa.  Like many of the games reported yesterday, this one too, would be a pitchers duel.

With limited scoring opportunities the game remained scoreless after the regulation 7 innings...I was, like the last time I umpire a Jennings game, behind the plate.  The low scoring tie game got me to thinking about the Sectional final at Crestview last May...In that one the Muskies trailed Antwerp 1-0 with 2 out in the bottom of the 7th, when with a runner on 3rd base, the Fort Jennings coach decided to lay down a suicide squeeze...with 2 outs no less!  It worked, and we ended up going 14 innings, before Jennings plated a lone run to win the Sectional 2-1.  Last night it would not last that long...

P-G got a two run blast of a home run to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the 8th....Jennings, who like Pandora could do nothing for 7 innings, battled back and scored 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the 8th to come away with the 3-2 PCL win.  Meanwhile my umpire cohort Garry was down south at Fort Loramie and text me that they had been no hit by Marion Local...but the defending D4 State Champs still came away with a 1-0 win, despite going hitless.  In another area contest Parkway defeated Crestview by the same 1-0 score, this one went 8 innings.  Elsewhere Celina suffered a loss in their first league game, dropping a 5-1 count to Lima Bath.  Not a lot of offense in some of those games...and I suspect the cold, windy, weather had much to do with some of that.

Meanwhile on the national scene down in Cincinnati, the Reds moved to 4 wins and no losses on the season, with a 8-2 pounding of the Houston Astros...how long can this run last?  The home stand continues tonight and ends with a day game at Great American Park tomorrow afternoon.  Tonight, if the rains hold off or don't drop to much moister(the fields and ball diamonds can't handle much more), I am at Lima Central Catholic, as they take on the team I have been getting canceled out on a regular basis...Delphos St. Johns.  Four tries, four rain/cold outs trying to umpire DSJ...I scheduled to be at their field again next Monday, and guess what?  Rain in the forecast....

Who Says I Don't Know "Jack"______?

I've been sitting here this morning listening to XM Channel 6.  That's the Sirus/XM radio station that plays 1960s and only 1960s music..Neil Diamond is singing in the background as I type.  I heard a couple of tunes from those days that have a "Jack" connection, and I like them both....

JJ "Jack"son and It's Alright....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RRx7UPbkNs&feature=related 

And Jumpin "Jack" Flash...by the Rolling Uglies...a great video from way back in 1968...damn I was 19 when this came out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxpfBWMOlOk 

And while on the subject of "Jack"....let me toss one from my favorite country artists...Alan "Jack"son:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mKkTm38w3E 

One of Jackson's early songs, with some great old time Cowboy and Western Video clips enclosed....

That does it for today....go out and enjoy

back later>>>> 

Just Another Opening Day in Cincinnati Reds Country......{not}

A haze covered the sun as I walked out to the car yesterday afternoon for my assigned game.  When I headed north to the Putnam County berg of Ottoville ...the clock on the Intrepid read 3:25 and the inside digital thermometer said 44 degrees.   Not a terrible day for baseball, but hardly near the "normal" high temperature of 56 for the last day of March.  I had been watching the Cincinnati Reds opening day game with their Central Division rivals from Milwaukee.

Opening Day is a celebration of the oldest franchise in baseball in Cincy...The Red Stockings came into being way back in 1869 as the current day Reds became the first "professional" team to play baseball.  Tradition for many years always had the Reds, along with a team situated in Washington DC as the opening day games...everybody else would begin the next day.  Of course that all changed a few years ago when MLB sold it's soul to television, especially ESPN.  The ABC owned outfit wanted to broadcast the opener on Sunday nights, while the Reds always opened on Monday afternoon at home.  Yesterday, Detroit at New York to face the Yankees kicked off first, Atlanta and Washington next, and then the Reds, who started their game with the Brewers at 2:10pm eastern time.

So the Monday opener is now Thursday, and the Reds no longer kick things off first, or even second.  However, they still get their opener at home....wonder when and if the head morons of the MLB will change that?  So baseball, opening day baseball, in Cincinnati is still something special, despite the best efforts of MLB and ESPN to pee in our teams oatmeal.

Yesterday, things didn't start off well for the hometown crew.  Edison Volquez the opening day starter gave up home runs to the first 2 Brewers he faced, and the Reds quickly fell behind by a 4-1 count as the game moved into the 5th inning.  Volquez is a sore spot for me as a Reds fan....Dusty Baker and the management traded the crown jewel of the organization, Josh Hamilton, for Volquez a few years ago.  In my opinion it was the worst deal the Reds had made since they traded Frank Robinson for Matt Pappas back in 1965.  I thought so when the trade was made, yesterday just solidified my opinion.

Volquez did settled down, but Cincinnati still trailed 5-2 when I left for Ottoville, having to listen to Marty and the Cowboy on radio...when I arrived 45 minutes later and began to don the plate gear for my game, the score was 6-3 at Great American Ballpark, and the Reds looked like they were destined to lose their forth straight opening day game.  So when my partner Jim and I headed towards the field....things did not look good in Cincinnati.

By the time our game ended, at around 7:10, the temperature at dropped to about 40, and the clouds had moved in, making it feel that much colder....I was glad I had the plate, the gear kept me fairly comfortable, even as the temperature dropped.  As I headed out from the parking lot, I turned on the Reds Flagship station, WLW out of Cincinnati, to see what had shaken out in the final innings of the Reds/Brewers game.

It turned out the Reds had entered the 9th, still down 6-3....but that's when the fun began:  Here are a couple different views of that fun...one .48 second clip that gives just the quick video details:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4hXGu0OScs&feature=related

and then this one from a Fan's Eye view out in deep left center field:  It takes about 2 minutes, but shows the celebration in the stands, at game's end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF5ZQHfjQek&feature=related

So the Reds begin the season, where it(the regular season) ended last year...with a walk off home run.  Last season Jay Bruce did the work, yesterday, after Bruce stuck out, Catcher Ramon Hernandez was the game day hero, with a 2 out, 3 run homer to end it at 7-6 Cincinnati..

Above/Left-Ramon Hernandez is greeted by teammates after his game winning, "walk off" Home Run defeated the Milwaukee Brewers on opening day.

Today, if the rains hold off long enough, I head for Fort Recovery for a game between the young Indians and visiting Waynesfield-Goshen...my partner will be Chuck Etzler, a veteran umpire, who worked a state tournament game last year.  Chuck is entering his final year of umpire work...rain and snow is in the forecast for late this afternoon, and a snow/rain mix for overnight.  Tomorrow I stick around Celina for a JV double header with Greenville.  That one, unless it is raining hard should be played, as it is scheduled for the artificial turf at Montgomery Field in Eastview Park.

Enjoy the Weekend...back later>>>>

Wednesday Wanderings....

Really not much to write about these days....

Baseball has gotten off to a cold start, but at least so far the games have gotten played.   Last night a Varsity game at St. Marys with league rival, Van Wert(although not counted in league standings, those start in about 10 days)...I did the bases again, and watched as the home standing Roughriders put 8 across the plate in the bottom of the 5th, and held on for a 11-8 win.  Temperatures hovered around 40 as the 2 1/2 game ran rather long.  Tonight, no warm up, in fact, some snow showers in the area, as I head north to work another game...in fact it appears that, despite the cold conditions, most, if not all games will be played this week.  A rare occurrence indeed for the first week of the season, especially when it begins in March.

On the other fronts, politics stay status quo...Obammy continues to lie like a sleeping dog about the situation in Libya...the Republicans and my Congressman, Speaker John Boehner, continue to cave to the Democrats on Obammy Care and budget spending.. "Just shut the gawd damn Government down, and be done with it".  We put you in to cut spending....not compromise with that Kenyan S.O.B.  Follow the Tea Party Freshman, or get the Hell out of the way....

The Major League Baseball season begins tomorrow...

For many years the Cincinnati Reds did the traditional opener for MLB...but since ESPN got their fingers in the pie, MLB has prostituted the opening day ceremony.  Sure the Reds still get to open at home, but no longer are they the first and only team to get an early start, and it's not even on Monday anymore.   One more thing professional sports has flushed down the crapper.  So tomorrow the Reds open against their division rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers at the Great American Ballpark at 2:10pm.  Glad the season is kicking off...now if the weather would just cooperate.

That's about it in my world....things are moving slowly but steady....come on 70 degree weather, I'm ready to get the Hell out of the house for more than just baseball....cigars and a few good beers in the sunshine do wonders for one's mental and physical outlook.

back later>>>>

Beware of the RINO,.........."Sparky Anderson RIP"

First off...Sad news from the world of Baseball.  My all-time favorite MLB Manager, Sparky Anderson, who lead both the Big Red Machine in the 1970s and the Tigers in the 80s through the mid 90s, has passed away at the rather young age of 76, RIP Sparky:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101104/SPT04/311040114/Reds-great-Sparky-Anderson-dies

On to Politics...beware the RINO!

The GOP kicked ass Tuesday, make no mistake about it....63 or more House Seat gains, 6 gained Senate Seats, and 30 or so Governorships now in Republican hands....and that doesn't count all the state Assemblies and legislative branches now in GOP power.  It was a good night, but danger lurks...not only from Obama and his Marxists minions, but from the likes of Lindsey Graham, and like minded RINOs(Republicans in Name Only) still clinging to power within the party, and all more than willing to work with the Kenyan and Thief who occupies the White House.                                                                                        

There is danger within and outside the party.  The lame stream media, both outside the Internet and on left leaning websites like Politico, HuffBlow, and The Daily Kos,  are already trying to spin the massive losses by Liberals and Democrats into a defeat of the Conservative Branch of the GOP:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704506404575592741788907712.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

Don't believe the Bullshit....The US House is now solidly controlled by the GOP, or will be come January...the Senate however still has a large number of McCain and Graham type RINOs more than willing to vote with Obama and Company to control you and your pocketbook.  In 2012 in addition to the Obummer up for reelection, you have at least 31 Senators, including 21 Democrats...if the right minded Republicans(a big IF), do the job they were sent to do, more massive defeats to the far left of both parties is in the cards....but we Conservatives have to be watching our backs, and those of the folks we elected to turn this country around.  The dyed-in-the-wool Washington insiders, like Karl Rove and Company, don't like the Tea Party members and other true Conservatives, they would love to go back to 2004 and the ways that got Obama and Pelosi in power in the first place...Don't let them have that power!

Cut spending, and stop the steamrolling of more government regulation and red tape...control the border, and get the Hell out of our lives...that's what we want from Washington.  More power to the States and more freedom for legal Americans, deport or jail the rest of the illegal bastards.

That is the Bottom Line...this battle for the soul of America, has just began, don't let your guard down now!

Don't let the lying left wing media set the agenda...and don't let Lindsey Graham and his ilk set it either:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704506404575592782619082478.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_politics

Back Later>>>>

Photos-Sparky Anderson, 3 time World Series winning Manager(2 with Cincy another with Detroit) dead of dementia at the age of 76....Lindsey Graham, the Face of RINOs in the GOP and Sarah Palin is the face of the Conservative Republicans.

Cigars, Smoke Rings, and "The(Cincinnati) Reds is Dead"

Bye-Bye-Cincinnati___

The professional baseball season, for all worthwhile  purposes came crashing to an end for this fan last evening...as the Cincinnati Reds were swept out of the National League Playoffs by the 2 time defending NL Champion Philadelphia  Phillies.  3 games to none, without much of a whimper...no hit last Wednesday, error prone loss on Friday, and the top hitting team and top defensive team in the National League got little hitting and another costly error in last nights 2-0 lost in Cincy to put the Reds season at rest.

We Reds fans should, I guess, take solice that they are young, with a bright young pitching staff and some up and coming players....hopefully they will be able to build on this season...after all it was the first time in years that Reds fans were actually paying attention after July 4th...Cincinnati is usually hopelessly out of the race by then.  So it's wait until next year....only this time, we actually have something to look forward to.

Sam, home from Ohio State(who kicked ass on an over matched Indiana team Saturday to take over #1 in the polls after Alabama was ambushed at South Carolina), after working the video for the Buckeye-Indiana game, and I worked the last regular season football double header in the area Recreation League....and headed home for supper.  Then I grabbed more than a couple of beers, a couple of hand rolled torpedo cigars and plopped myself out on the back steps.  I had decided to not watch the Reds and Phils battle, I would catch most of it on radio, by far the best medium for baseball...good broadcasters can paint a picture in your mind...so who needs the yapping lap dogs of WTBS telling you what you can already see?  I'd much rather listen to long time Hall of Fame Broadcaster Marty Brennaman of the Reds.  Marty has been pretty negative the past few years, but with the sad state of the Reds until this year, who can blame him?  He's still one of the best...so it was me, the radio, cigars, and a few beers last night...after all I was sore as Hell after 3 1/2 hours of football officiating, and needed some sort of support group.  Cigars and Miller Lite seemed to be that, and after the Reds fell behind in the first inning...they would come in handy.

Smoke Rings____

I never have been a cigarette smoker, nasty things.  I've watched them kill off and ruin the health of more people, friend, and family,  than I could count...and I watch in amazement at the dumbass young folks who still get hooked the expensive things these days.  Absolutely no reason on this green earth to get hooked on the poison that is contained in those things that cost $5 and more a pack.  Cigars, on the other hand, are something else...now don't get me wrong, I don't claim that Cigars are "safe" or healthy for you...but neither do the have the poisons that are included in their nasty little brothers.  For one, you don't inhale Cigars(unless you're a damn fool), and how many does a person really smoke?  I may partake in an average of 1 per week through out the year...50 to 75 tops...and I only smoke them in the warm weather months, and on our annual Salmon Fishing Trip to Oscoda, Michigan, I may smoke a handful.

So even though I'm not a smoker per say, I have learned to blow "smoke rings"...guess that's how bored I was with listening to the Reds get swept out of the playoffs last night...so Cigar in left hand, camera in right, I decided to see if I could get some "flash" shots of a cigar ring or two.  The results are in the top photos...not some of my best work...but hey, I was about 4 beers and 2 cigars into the evening when I decided to become "Rembrandt" with a camera and cigar.

So that finished off the weekend, which included a 75 mile(each way) trip north to West Unity, Ohio, to officiate a JV Football game on Saturday morning...beautiful weather through the weekend, which will continue today with another summer like day in the mid 80s with bright, intense, sunshine...after that the sun will stick around for the next 2 weeks they say, just a shower or two in the forecast mid week..but temps will drop to the more October-like mid 60s by Thursday.  Today a MRSI Board Meeting, then will help out with daughter Anissa this afternoon...JV game here in Celina was cancelled due to injuries in the whipping they got a Kenton Friday night.  The young Bulldogs were down by 38-0 at the end of the first quarter, en route to a 58-14 loss.  Celina falls into a tie with the Wildcats for first in the WBL...but with a 5 win 2 loss record overall, this team is much farther along than anybody could have predicted.

For the most part, I have a busy week of football on tap, including games on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Night, Saturday Morning, and a Rec League Double Dip in tournament play on Sunday.....after that, things will begin to wind down, and I can get ready for Basketball season and Winter....not sure I'm really ready for either.  But come they will...and I will get my legs in shape for a different sport yet again.

back later>>>>

Photos-Smoke rings from my 1876 Torpedo, while listening to the Reds season come to an end....and the Celina Bulldogs Cinderella season struck Midnight...now the young Dogs will need to regroup, still tied for first in the WBL.

Baseball Playoffs and Nutty Left Wing Politics

Fall is now in the air in western Ohio.   We did get some rain on Saturday, and that was replaced by winds, clouds, and cooler temps....after low 60s for today and tomorrow, the next week or so looks to be in the low 70s with sunshine and no hint of rain...perfect early Fall Weather.

Saturday I traveled south to Versailles for a JV game...and Sunday I worked a Recreation Football League double header here in Celina.....tonight back here for a Freshman game between Celina and Lima Shawnee.

MLB Playoffs are set_____

San Diego was eliminated on the final day of the regular season yesterday, and the playoffs will go on without needing a play-in game.  Atlanta clinched the Wild Card in the National League, while the San Francisco win over the Padres clinched the West Division for them....The Yankees fell to the Wild Card in the AL, while Tampa Bay won the East....Minnesota and Texas fill out the American League playoff picture.   The Cincinnati Reds will travel to Philadelphia on Wednesday to open the National League post-season:

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp

The Reds face a rough row to hoe, but anything is possible.  Manager Dusty Baker has picked 3 right handers, Edison Volquez, Bronson Arroyo, and Johnny Cueto, to pitch the first three games....Homer Bailey and rookie Travis Wood have been left out of the starting rotation....Woods a left hander had the Phillies no-hit in a perfect game going into the 9th inning earlier this season....I would have put him in, in place of Cueto...but that's why Baker gets the big bucks.  It's his choice.

Obama The Nazi?

 I've never made it a secret that I believe that Barry Soetoro(Barack Obama) is the absolute worst President in history....Marxist, commie stooge, sock puppet of left wing financier George Soros, etc.  The guy is not up to the task....he is as dumb as a rock(where the Hell are the College Transcrips?), and basically a useless tool of the American left, and Islamic terrorists.

Now it appears the big eared Bozo has taken a page out of the Adolph Hitler handbook:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT0qgjxJyRA

These clowns will do anything and everything to stay in power and attempt to persuade  the gullible public...whether or not the gutless GOP takes control of the House and/or Senate next January, the left still own the courts, and have the lap dog media in their corner....things will get worse before they get better.

Meanwhile the Obummer's ratings continue to bottom out:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/obama_approval_index_month_by_month

All-in-all Americans appear to be sick and tired of both parties...the losers in the Democratic Party are in power, and they likely will get the heave-ho come November 2nd.  But will the GOP be able to govern from the right, or will they get to Washington and find they like the spot light, and fall into the same trap as they did in 1994 and again under Bush2?.

back later>>>>

Cincinnati Reds~Hangover after the Clinching?

The off again on again trip to Centerville to hook up with youngest son Hal, was eventually put back on yesterday afternoon.   Even though the Reds had clinched the NL Central with the dramatic Jay Bruce "walk off" home run on Tuesday, we decided to go, and see if the Reds would continue to push towards opening the playoffs at home, or be content to(in all likelihood) face the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round.  Once we saw the starting line-up for Cincy, we knew that latter was probably in the cards.

The Cincinnati starting lineup looked like a hold over from the Louisville Bats Triple A team, the Reds affiliate.  But the weather was perfect, clear, no wind, and about 72 at game time.  The traffic was reasonable, and with Hal driving from their place in Centerville, we arrived in plenty of time...after stopping at Skyline Chili for  supper and a beer, much cheaper than Ball Park fair, we headed out looking for a 'scalper' to secure good tickets.  Since the division was clinched, we figured to get decent seats for a good price...it didn't take long.  Without much wheeling and dealing, we secured seats right behind the Reds first base dugout, for $25 each....about 2/3rd of face value.

The Reds started Johnny Cueto on the mound, but other than that, Cincinnati went with subs and minor league call ups....it showed, and despite getting the starters in late for some pinch hitting efforts, Cincy fell 2-0.  That loss, while not guaranteeing a road opener in next weeks first round, made it likely that they will open in Philadelphia next Wednesday.  That will be a tough series, but the Reds have shown a penchant for making things happen....I am looking forward to it, especially since my Mom,  Uncle Jack DeVore, and their late brother, my Uncle Bill, grew up in the shadow of Philadelphia...Jack as was Bill, is a rabid Philly fan...making it even more interesting.

The game went fairly quick, so instead of spending the night in Centerville, I decided to head home and sleep in my own bed...I arrived well before 1AM, and got up early this morning...just in time to take old Reagan in for a trim and bath.....the Airedale is now 12 years 3 months old....and this may indeed be her last grooming before she leaves Planet Earth...but she has defied the odds thus far, and continues to amaze us with her continued "hanging in there".

Soccer...Ohio State ties Number #1 Ranked Akron_____

While Hal and I were in Cincinnati, oldest son, Sam was working the video for the Ohio State Men's Soccer game with top Ranked Akron.....The Zips had not given up a goal in over 1000 minutes this season. The Buckeyes put an end to that string, and after losing the lead, they tied the game at 2-2 with just 2 seconds remaining in regulation.  The game ended tied...the video(which Sam shot, and wasn't happy when the crowd blocked him out after the tying goal) is here:(takes a few seconds to load)

 http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&db_oem_id=17300&id=725459&DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=87752&SPID=10409&DB_OEM_ID=17300

The crowd was well over 7200 fans, and the story is on the OSU Athletic Website:

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87752&SPID=10409&ATCLID=205003540&DB_OEM_ID=17300 

All-in-all it was a busy night for the Houseworth guys.....Junior High football double header tonight at St. Henry....busy weekend of football as well. 

back later>>>>

Photos-At Cincinnat's Great American Ball Park...the Division Crown is showcased.  The view from our seats...Cueto starts for the Reds, but the rest were subs and minor league types.  Hal and the Old man in our first base seats...at bargin prices.  And Ohio State Soccer does something that nobody has done in 10 1/2 months..scores on top ranked Akron in a 2-2 tie...the video attached is oldest son, Sam's work.

The Cincinnati Reds Hoist The NL Central Crown!

For the first time since 1995 the Reds win the Division...for the first time since 2000, they actually have a winning record.....being a long time Reds fan(since I moved to back to Ohio in 1962) this season has been a joy for Cincinnati fans everywhere:

Jay Bruce hits a monster 'Walk Off' Home Run to put them in the playoffs, 3-2 over the Houston Astros:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QExZqmWsr3s


Now, they need to take care of business to secure a home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs...

back later>>>>

UPDATE Wednesday Morning September 29, 2010___

Here is a better Video of the Jay Bruce  "Walk Off" Home Run to win the NL Central Division...compliments of MLB.COM

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12554775 

The win gave the Reds their first division championship since 1995...this young team is hardly the "Big Red Machine"...and maybe their playoff run will be short, however, the way they have won in the clutch, you never know.

I covered the Reds on Radio and TV for about 15 years, through the bad years and the later good ones(1990-95)....they have been my favorite pro sports team through thick and thin....and I even got to rub elbows with a few of the folks, players, broadcasters, managers(Rose and Pinella), and a certain owner named Marge.

  Photos-Reds Logo, Jay Bruce, and bottom, Reds owner, the late Marge Schott, and me, back in 1991......

My Morning Reflections/The Big Red(Cincinnati Red) Surge and Making the Big League

It was a little less humid this morning when I began my morning walk around 7:45....the City of Celina remains virtually dead and void of traffic and business, at least in the Downtown.  I wonder how many of the small shops and businesses will survive this ill planned fiasco of making wider the Main Street?  All that supported it should be fired and/or denied re-election at their next turn...it is a minor disaster and yet, like Obama and Company in DC, our local elected officials and their hired guns, continue to spend like drunken sailors, and ignore the will of the majority of Celina residents...while businesses will fail and residents pay through their wallets for the mistakes of the current city administration.

Meanwhile on my hour walk through to and down by Grand Lake, I snapped a photo of a train slowly moving through town.  Celina is void, for the most part, of train traffic these days....maybe the Gorman goes through locally 4 or 5 times per week...other towns to the north especially, still see dozens of trains run through and by their bergs on a daily basis.  Hicksville and Deshler come to mind....Celina?  Not so much, and things are much quieter because of the lack of rail traffic.

As I hit Lake Shore Drive, I heard a horn honk and a hand wave out of a old Ford Pick-Up Truck...I looked and noticed it was my old friend "Whitey Klosterman"...Whitey the man with the classic Buick's from the late 40s and early 50s.   I had not seen him since the spring high school baseball season, when I would talk with him at the Fort Jennings games I umpired....his grandson was a star on that team and the Muskie basketball team as well, and is heading to Ohio Northern University to play round ball this winter.  I have known Whitey for over 35 years, and coached his son Jeff in Little League when I first got out of the Air Force.  Whitey, his wife, and I talked for about 15 minutes, before I resumed my walk...our conversation of course was about sports, and the deep seeded problems of the City of Celina and it's Administration...seems I'm not alone in my disgust.  Regardless it was a good walk and a good chance to talk with him.

The Reds take command of the NL Central_____

Despite playing, or at least running the bases poorly, last night, the Cincinnati Reds pulled out a 5-4 10 innings victory over visiting Milwaukee to move 6 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals in the Central Division....as Reds fans,  this is the latest in the season we can actually say we are paying attention to what the guys are doing.  Dusty Baker(and I've never been a big fan of his) has this young squad(with veterans in the right spots) playing as well as anybody in baseball these days, and if they can keep or even increase the lead over the next 5 games with the Brewers then on the road at St. Louis, it appears the Cincinnati Boys will find themselves in the playoffs for the first time since 1995.  The Reds have not had a winning season since 1999, and this year has been a treat.

Cincinnati is bringing up a Cuban refugee named Chapman tonight to put in the Bullpen....the kid has been clocked at 105 MPH with his fastball, and is something to see...just his being in the dugout, should bring out the fans hopeful of getting to see his heat at work.

Local Kids in the "Bigs"____

While Chapman is the talk of Reds baseball, a local kid it appears, will be called up to the San Diego Padres.  Cory Luebke toiled at Ohio State for 3 years before being drafted in the first supplemental round by San Diego a few years ago.  He has found his groove in the minors, and the Marion Local product from nearby Maria Stein is on the verge of getting the call.  Cory will mark the 3rd MLB pitcher that I have had the opportunity to work behind the plate when they were pitching in their high school, ACME, or American Legion days, before the made it to the big show.  My youngest son Hal, also had a chance to coach Luebke back in his summer ACME days a few years back.

The other 2 hurlers, Chad Billingley(LA Dodgers) and Jonathon Niece(NY Mets) graduated from Defiance High School, and I worked a few of their games back in the early and mid parts of this decade.  Another area product, Craig Stammen, from Versailles, is with the Washington Nats...I didn't get the chance to work any of his games in high school, but he makes 4 that I am familiar with from the area.  On a side note, Stammen has joined The MacOnline, and will soon be writing a blog about his experiences, "View from the Dugout"....you can find a link on my "Riff Reff" The Official View blog, which you can click on the right side of this site. 

Quite a lot of local flavor to watch in the National League for the remainder of this baseball season....

Meanwhile the heat and humidity will continue for a few days at least....I need to get off my duff and take a trophy from last season's Dartball Campaign to Wren and get it engraved...that should have been weeks ago, guess I'll find time today...

back later>>>>>

Photos-A rare site in Celina these days, a train slowly rolls through the city as I approach the Buckeye Street crossing about 8 this morning.   The Reds try to take a strangle-hold on the NL Central, and local product Cory Luebke, it appears, will be joining fellow Western Ohio hurlers, Chad Billingsley, Jonathon Niese(both from Defiance), and Craig Stammen(Versailles) in hurling in the National League this final month of the regular season.