Fernando Nation
Tonight at the Stadium Club, we’re hosting a private premiere of the ESPN 30 for 30 series “Fernando Nation” which debuts on ESPN Deportes this Sunday night at 6 p.m. PT and on ESPN on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. PT.
Here’s a recap of the film:
“‘The Natural’ is supposed to be a blue-eyed boy who teethed on a 36-ounce Louisville Slugger. He should run like the wind and throw boysenberries through brick. He should come from California.” – Steve Wulf, Sports Illustrated, 1981. So how was it that a pudgy 20-year-old, Mexican, left-handed pitcher from a remote village in the Sonoran desert, unable to speak a word of English, could sell out stadiums across America and become a rock star overnight? In Fernando Nation, Mexican-born and Los Angeles-raised director Cruz Angeles traces the history of a community that was torn apart when Dodger Stadium was built in Chavez Ravine and then revitalized by one of the most captivating pitching phenoms baseball has ever seen. Nicknamed “El Toro” by his fans, Fernando Valenzuela ignited a fire that spread from LA to New York–and beyond. He vaulted himself onto the prime time stage and proved with his signature look to the heavens and killer screwball that the American dream was not reserved for those born on U.S. soil. In this layered look at the myth and the man, Cruz Angeles recalls the euphoria around Fernando’s arrival and probes a phenomenon that transcended baseball for many Mexican-Americans. Fernando Valenzuela himself opens up to share his perspective on this very special time. Three decades later, “Fernandomania” lives.
Inside the Dodgers 
Whew!!!! The red finds a way to spare some of us from an orange and black nightmare………at least for a few more days anyway.
Josh – that will be a great special on Fernando.
Way to go, Phillies!
Not exactly weeping that Bowa will be gone. Chemistry between coaches and players this past season was dog feces, to say the least. So if Hillman becomes bench coach, does that mean McGuinn and Crosby will be coming? Nancy Bea can play “Eight Miles High” between innings… Come to think of it, maybe that’s the key to enjoying this team next season
Each year Andre comes back with a little more intensity than the year before, and I expect him to come back this next season with even more. I would think he is not only going to be out to prove he belongs on this Dodger team, he will be out to prove he can be one of the best ball players in the league who deserves a nice, healthy contract (with the Dodgers or not) as he hits Free Agency after the 2011 season.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dodgers/2010/10/daily-dodger-in-review-andre-ethier-could-be-at-the-crossroads-of-his-career.html&ct=ga&cad=:s1:f1:v0:d1:i0:lt:e0:p0:t1287704631:&cd=Fcx8WbT2Dd0&usg=AFQjCNHRLhBFohXBRHcK9QbaK_VNzKPB9g
Hey Josh! I will be looking forward to watching ?Fernando Nation? come Tuesday! Oh, I remember Fernandomania and how it swept LA! That was an exciting time for sure!
And Kahli, I won?t be weeping much either if Bowa is, indeed, gone. I still don?t think that coaches should talk about his players in the media. Talk to them in person ? man to man. Not when a microphone is pointing at your pie hole.
And Nelly, I?m certainly with you when you say, ?Whew!? Now that the NLCS is going back to Philly, I?m hoping that this?ll be the trick for the Phillies to beat the gnats! That article on Andre, IMHO, is true to form. I too expect big things from both Andre and Matty. They will both be in their contract years. To this day, I still remember how tremendous Beltre was in his contract year ? it was his best season as a Dodger.
From USA Today………………….
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/dodgers/2010-10-21-mccourt_N.htm&ct=ga&cad=:s1:f1:v0:d1:i0:lt:e0:p0:t1287713511:&cd=BgtrpfhaFMk&usg=AFQjCNFtVtYGdZeiTHxwPkjnUidRcNbf7w
In addition to Frank selling the team, Ned really needs his walking papers.
Hey CP!!! I agree about Matt too.
Nelly ? Very telling article indeed. I still have NO idea why Ned says that the McCourt saga didn?t distract the team. Ned?s an idiot.
But one more thing I?m REALLY looking forward to next year is to see how much better Kershaw gets! This year he was phenomenal!!!
Yeah Nelly! Matty said in that article that he?s going to have a 40/40 year in 2011!!! I sure hope so!!! If Andre and Matty have the kind of years they are both capable of, 2011 is going to be very exciting indeed!!!
So Nelly, how are things up north? Is your family behaving?
My family is behaving for the most part. Tonight they were pretty quiet :)). Everything else is going well. How about you?
I am looking forward to watching Kershaw and Billz. Billz had a pretty good 2nd half so it would be great to see him have a good, solid, complete year.
I would imagine that they?re quiet tonight. I saw the last half of the game. As for me, same old same old. Still marketing my bookkeeping services and looking for jobs. How?s school for you? I forget; does your school district have fall breaks? Have you had yours yet?
My class is wonderful!!! We have Veteran’s Day off in November, and then the entire Thanksgiving week off.
Keep the faith that something will come up for you. It will happen when or is meant to be.
Thx Nelly. Speaking of prayer, pray for my mother-in-law. She?s currently in an assisted-living center in Ames, IA and come Monday, she?ll be moving to a facility that has full-fledge nursing facilities which she will eventually need. This facility is in Rockford, IL. Rockford is about an hour NW of Chicago.
And Nelly, I?m glad that you have a wonderful class! I seem to remember that last year was kinda tough. Do you have any budding Ethieraholics in your class this year?
Well, I’m getting tired Nelly. I’ll catch up ya later…
I hope that is the last time I see PAC bell park on TV this post season.
Congrats to the Rangers. They’re a likable team, as much as I loathe the Gnats and the Phils. Hope Texas buries the National League team.
And it looks like Logan White is staying. Hallelujah, brothers and sisters.
Hi Hot Stove Leaguers,
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It’s a nice coincidence that Josh’s comments at the top of this thread mention an old Sports Illustrated Story, because I came on tonight to post one of those.
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My grandparents gave me an SI subscription for several years in the ’70s, and I ate it up.
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My all-time favorite cover and article were publishe on May 27, 1974. The cover features Jimmy “The Toy Cannon” Wynn under the Headline “Those Rampaging Dodgers” and the story by Ron Fimrite is titled “No Mirrors Now, Sir”. Such a great read that 36 years later I sometimes knew what the next words were before my eyes reached them. For example Don Sutton saying “This is the culmination of something that’s been coming for a long time …”
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The article is available at: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1088598/3/index.htm
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It is also worth mentioning that SI has made EVERY story they ever published available online at: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/
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Really, it’s hard for me to imagine that there was ever a better time and place to be kid than in Southern California in the 1970s.
kahli-too bad the two Clark boys aren’t available, then they could sing “I’ll feel a whole lot better” for the owner.
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Interesting comments on Bowa in the Times Dodger Blog.
Yeah, knouffbrock, I have to admit I researched to see who was still living and was sad to see Clark and Clarke as having passed. Somehow, the Byrds and the Buffalo Springfield played our high school gym in 1966/67, though I was only in junior high and didn’t see the show. Can you imagine ANY band playing a nowhere high school gymnasium these days???????? Ahhhhh, the 60s.
Read where Ned and Logan have experienced friction throughout their tenures. How could anyone with baseball knowledge have disagreements with Ned?
Fernando Valenzuela made this Dodger fan way out here on the East Coast one proud Dodger Fan.
Hi ya everybody.
GO TEXAS RANGERS!!!!!!!
Shows you what I know. I picked the Yankees and the Phillies, with the Phillies winning it all. Plus my football team, Oklahoma, just got out played and out coached in BIG way.
I’m assuming the majority on here will definitely want Texas to beat SF, so here’s my kiss of death: The giants will win in four. They’re screwed for sure now.
Thanks Frank and Ned, the Giants just won the pennant.
Who needs enemies when Dodgers fans have FranK McCourt and effen Ned!
Ef U frank & jamie & ned!
This is a nightmare that the hated Jints are going to the W.S.
AGHHH! I am so sick!!
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My condolences to June and Tru that they have to put with Giant fans. I have to put up with one at work and he is enough for two.
If it were any other team representing the National League, I would be all for that team, but I just can’t cheer on the Giants. The main reason is if the tables were reversed, they would be cheering on my team.
Red pen – would NOT be cheering on my team 🙂
Collie, Northstateblues, Dodge16 and I believe Koufax, are in the heart of gnat country as well 🙂
Hi Lny4Loney, Thanks for the links. I did not know that you could read all those SI articles! That should be fun.
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As I mentioned before I became a big Dodger fanatic during the last three games of the season in 1980. Fernando came from the bullpen that day. I saw him pitch at Dodger Stadium every game in 1981. What a year that was!
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Hi Carol! Don’t lose the faith! EGBOK (Everything is gonna be OK).
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
Congratulations to Cody Ross for winning the Division Series MVP. It’s good to see a former Dodger who was treated so badly here go on to succeed big time for another team. And it’s probably sweeter still for him that the team was the Giants! And congratulations to Ned, too, as he played a big role in the Giants success. His leaving was a plus for them, then he signed several of their players to the determent of the Dodgers, wasted millions of dollars on ridiculous free agent signings, squandered Dodger farm talent in stupid, one-sided trades, all the time depleting the Dodgers and giving the Giants the chance they needed to forge ahead. So it’s appropriate that Cody Ross, an unappreciated Dodger, was the icing on the cake for the Giant’s success. Way to go, Ned!
Very well said Redfox!!!!
Thanks again Lny4Loney!
I am reading some old articles by Roger Kahn! Reading all these articles is a real treat for me!
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
The Bandwagoneering is alive and well here in Northern California.
Silent since the Angels smacked ’em down, now they all come out of the woodwork.
Redfox, other teams take our castoffs and turn them to gold.
We take the Giants, Red Sox and Yankees garbage, and let it compost til it’s all frothy and wormy.
I bet Frank McCourt couldn’t be bothered one way or another that those [expletive]s are in the Series, doing what he wouldn’t.
I bet he even congratulated Ned. And Ned probably thanked him while shinning off his stupid Cracker Jack sister-kissing ring.
Go Texas Texases. And wear blue when you thump ’em.
The giants will win.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAFFY!
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I want the Ranger to win also but, I have this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that the Giants are going to do it. If that happens, I don’t think I will recover until Spring Training starts. It will be interesting to see what kind of “big” moves ol’ Neddy will make…..perhaps, I may be ill all season!
Nelly, yes I am deep in gnat country, thanks for thinking of me. Got the abuse first thing this AM, all I could say to these halloween fans is “I wouldn’t want to be you during the bottom of the 7th, 8th and 9th innings” referring to the phils being one hit, pehap a fly ball away from tying that game. GO Texas, if the gnats win the WS, Ill have nothing left to say.
My congratulations to the Giants for a job well done. While Ned was out acquiring the Ortizi, Carroll, Anderson, Dotel, Theriot and Pathednik, the Giants built a solid foundation based on pitching, then went out during the last offseason and at the trade deadline and filled holes with CAPABLE players, led buy a manager that was able to draw out a sum total greater than the individual components that went in.
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In contrast NedCo, including its JoJo The Clown Division, adheres to the FORD (found on road dead) philosophy where it relies on worn out parts lifted off old junkyard Edsels. Hence it runs like a pieceofshit, gets no milage, and emits more pollutants than a hippo at the L.A. Zoo.
Philly Phans are crying in their cheese steak in their own blog land. Welcome to the Dodgers, circa 2008/2009. As for our beloved Blue, it’s on the players in 2011. They can nut up, come together, and play with fire, or they can roll over because ownership is a couple donkeys’ a**es and their GM is an ignoramus. If the Gnats can do it (ouch), then they can.
A reluctant congratulations to the Giants. A less reluctant congrats to NLCS MVP Cody Ross.
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From the point of view of a pure baseball fan, last night’s game was superb.
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Jonathon Sanchez’s early troubles and obvious anxiety on the mound immediately reminded me of Burt Hooton’s meltdown in “The City of Brotherly Love” 33 years ago in Game 3 of the NLCS. I don’t know what, if any, motive Chase Utley had in tossing the ball back to Sanchez after the HBP, but the mini-melee added to the drama. It also allowed Jeremy Affeldt to get fully warmed up. And so Sanchez’s mental instability actually helped the Giants. I despise Utley, but I would probably love him if he were a Dodger.
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The Giants flukey third inning rally was good viewing too. Victorino’s near great catch and Sanchez’s horrible baserunning on the same play led to two Giants runs. It also led to the poor decision by Andres Torres/3B coach to try to score on a shallow single right at Victorino. Just to add a little more spice to the inning, the Giants scored another crucial run when Posey got aboard on what was ultimately ruled a Placido Polanco error, but which should have been the third out based on Posey’s interference with the throw; he was running inside the baseline. I guarantee Bochy would have been out there arguing, but Charlie Manuel didn’t say a word
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Manuel did contribute to the game with some crappy managing decisions like letting players swing away early in the count against pitchers who couldn’t find the strike zone, using pitchers for two innings who had never gone that long all season, and not running guys when they should — especially Rollins in the eighth against Lincecum who is terrible at holding runners.
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Although it was arguably “by the book” for Manuel to have Ruiz bunt after Ibanez opened the Philly sixth with a double, I didn’t like the move. I didn’t think the Phils pen is lights-out enough to rely on a one-run lead. Ruiz executed beautifully, but the Phils nevertheless failed to score Ibanez.
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Then Juan Uribe lived up to the Dominican creed that
“you don’t walk off the island” by nudging a first-pitch homer over the right field wall, thus setting off euphoria in Frisco and fear in Philly.
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Bochy mostly managed great, but going to Lincecum in the eighth was a mistake that nearly cost him dearly. You gotta dance with the girl you brought. The Giants bullpen was great all year and great in this game six; Bochy should have stuck with it. Fortunately for Bochy, after he brought in Brian Wilson, Carlos Ruiz smoked a line shot right at Aubrey Huff who threw out the straying/unfortunate (you pick) Victorino.
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Then the top of the ninth brough a nice little managerial chess match when Manuel’s failure to use the double-switch put Wilson in on deck with two men on and Buster Posey at the plate. Bochy sent Fat Panda out to the on-deck circle to see if Manuel would then pitch to Posey, but he didn’t, and Bochy let Wilson hit for the sixth time this year. Wilson actually had a decent AB, but grounded out to end the inning.
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Bottom of the ninth. One out walk to Rollins. Impatient AB by Polanco leads to Rollins out on fielder’s choice. Utley walks. It finally occurs to Manuel that Polanco represents the season?s lifeline, and he sends in Wilson Valdez to run for him. The freak show that is Brian Wilson battles the struggling and much-maligned (by Philly fans with very short memories) Ryan Howard to a 3-2 count. Wilson throws a gem of a pitch that may or may not have caught the bottom of the strike zone, but was way to close for Ryan to take. Tom Hallion rings up the stunned Howard as Buster Posey sprints to the pile-up on the mound.
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Now that, my friends, is a great baseball game. Even if I hate both teams.
BTW, apparently I signed in on my primary account. The long post above is by lny4lny aka martinloneykemp. Actually, the only thing I use my “martinloneykemp” account for is this blog.
Wow…MatinLoneyKemp and Jhall are back! Good to see you both 🙂
Hey Jhall!!!! How ya doing?
Philly Phans are crying in their cheese steak in their own blog land. Welcome to the Dodgers, circa 2008/2009. As for our beloved Blue, it’s on the players in 2011. They can nut up, come together, and play with fire, or they can roll over because ownership is a couple donkeys’ a**es and their GM is an ignoramus. If the Gnats can do it (ouch), then they can.
By kahliforni on October 24, 2010 3:47 PM
Yep, it is time for our young core to “Nut Up”. They are out of excuses. Management (I use that term loosely), spend the money on pitching!!! No mystery, Pitching and Defense win championships!!!!
My congratulations to the Giants for a job well done. While Ned was out acquiring the Ortizi, Carroll, Anderson, Dotel, Theriot and Pathednik, the Giants built a solid foundation based on pitching, then went out during the last offseason and at the trade deadline and filled holes with CAPABLE players, led buy a manager that was able to draw out a sum total greater than the individual components that went in.
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In contrast NedCo, including its JoJo The Clown Division, adheres to the FORD (found on road dead) philosophy where it relies on worn out parts lifted off old junkyard Edsels. Hence it runs like a pieceofshit, gets no milage, and emits more pollutants than a hippo at the L.A. Zoo.
By enchantedsunset on October 24, 2010 2:16 PM
Well said my brother!!! I totally agree!!!
Great to see you MartinLoneyKemp!!! Nice post!!!
GO Texas Rangers!!!!!!
I see Nellyjune and I are in a time warp.
YAY…I’M OUT!!!!
lny4loney – wonderful post!
enchanted and Kahli – well said 🙂
Koufax – you are most welcome!
Like I said, it’s really not the true Giants fans are the bothersome ones. They have either always been jerks or they have always been respectful of us Dodgers fans living up here. Like Northstateblues said, it’s the bandwagoners that think they have the right to flaunt the orange and black and pretend they know what they are talking about. I bet if you asked them when was the last time they Giants won a championship, or even how their MVP even became part of their team?
I am out too!!!!!
Oh……………and Messagebear ~ It wouldn’t be ITD without you 🙂 We have a wonderfully unique group, with varying perspectives on every issue, and THAT is what makes ITD so much fun to read.
Hey guys,
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I think I might become more active on this site as I was a couple of years ago.
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Unfortunately, the powers-that-be for reasons beyond my comprehension at some point changed everybody’s names (eg. I went from “martinloneykemp” to “lny4lny” which was a very good choice if you insist on changing my name). I never quite figured out who was who after that.
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If somebody could give me a translation of who is who, I would appreciate it.
The reason Philly lost was because they were missing an important piece, a player that was responsible for their past playoff victories, Broxton!
Good Day everyone……….
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Back when the Padres looked to be running away with things and everyone said that we were out of it ( which proved to be true. ) The Giants manned up and overcame the deficit. They went into the post season as a hot team with adequate pitching.
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My position is and alway’s will be that the Giants are our biggest rivalry. So in saying this, I trust that everyone that laced them up in Dodger Blue last season and plans on lacing them up in Dodger Blue this season is having a difficult time digesting the fact, that our rival bested us. Plain and Simple!!!!
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If your not, don’t bother showing up at Camelback in the spring!!!
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I would like to all the blame on Frank……along with a falling piano!!!……I’d settle for the falling piano!!!
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Enjoy your Monday 🙂
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GET ~ R ~ DONE…..TEXAS!!!!
Good Day everyone……….
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Back when the Padres looked to be running away with things and everyone said that we were out of it ( which proved to be true. ) The Giants manned up and overcame the deficit. They went into the post season as a hot team with adequate pitching.
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My position is and alway’s will be that the Giants are our biggest rivalry. So in saying this, I trust that everyone that laced them up in Dodger Blue last season and plans on lacing them up in Dodger Blue this season is having a difficult time digesting the fact, that our rival bested us. Plain and Simple!!!!
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If your not, don’t bother showing up at Camelback in the spring!!!
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I would like to all the blame on Frank……along with a falling piano!!!……I’d settle for the falling piano!!!
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Enjoy your Monday 🙂
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GET ~ R ~ DONE…..TEXAS!!!!
To Fernando……I Love Ya!!
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As much as the 88 championship meant to me…..
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81 was my favorite!!!!
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Thanks
The one benefit I have seen with the Giants being in the playoffs is it has made my class much more aware of baseball, the playoffs and now the World Series. They came in this morning after Saturday’s game not only talking about how the Giants won, but how the Phillies played as well to the point they were talking about all the things that went wrong for them. You know what this means though?…………………….alot of Dodger Blue brainwashing during the hotstove league and throughout spring training.
On top of all the Giants/Phillies talk this morning, one of my little girls comes in all decked out in Cowboys colors from head to toe, including hair ties that had Cowboys written all over them, cheering Cowboys are going to win tonight. She looked adorable, but she was definitely wearing the wrong colors. I won’t try to change her mind. She said her dad hates the Redskins so I will leave it at that – LOL!!!
lny4loney – I believe the only writer that has a changed name right now is Messagebear (mostpissedoffbear). I believe all the other names you are seeing are new to you. I am sure if I am mistaken, they will let you know 🙂
It’s great to see you Dodger4life!!
Thanks Nelly 🙂
Nelly,
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Thanks for the response about the names. Where.Who is dodgereric?
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I hate to tell you this, but I am a Cowboys fan. I hope you’ll understand. My best friend of 30 years is a CRAZED (and not in a good way) Cowboys fan, and needless to say I and everybody else he knows have been annoyed by his outlandish act for decades. But he is a GREAT friend. So for his Christmas present a few years ago, I donned a Cowboys t-shirt and hat and (a bit painfully) gave him the gift of my lifetime fandom. To many people, that may soound like a lame gift. But to the sort of loyal and enthusiastic Dodgers fans here, I think they understand what an awesome gift it was.
It’s okay lny4loney. Kahli and Boblee are Cowboys fans too. Actually, I kind of want the Cowboys to win tonight since it will help us in the division 🙂
As for Dodgereric, he is still Dodgereric at night and weekends, but he has a different name during the day (when he is at work), and I believe it is blueteapartymember1. He actually hasn’t been on in some time. However, I know for a fact that he and his wife, Chris are doing well. At least that is what my daughter and his son are telling me – lol!!!! I just saw the kids this weekend. If you have missed this part our ITD history, my daughter, Mariya, and his son, Matthew, have been dating for over a year and a half now (they will tell you almost 21 months – lol!!). A truly crazy story that will make a great Dodger fan story someday I am sure. I am pretty sure he reads ITD most everyday/night, so I am sure he will be back when his home schedule allows the time again. He will be happy to know you are back 🙂
Kahli – great post over on ZoZone the other day. In reading some of their comments, they sounded so reminiscent of what we were saying a year ago………….and then the year before that as well. The big difference between us and them, is they got to the Championship round those two years (and one it one of those two years) and were a series away from going again this year. We can’t even say we did that.
With that said……………..
110 days until pitchers and catchers report (Who that will be is to be determined)
123 days until spring training games begin.
red pen – (and “won” it one of those two years)
For all of you Dodger historians………….
Jon Weisman’s, Dodger Thoughts from ESPN Los Angeles, asks the question…………….Should the Dodgers retire more numbers?
http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-thoughts/post/_/id/9128/should-the-dodgers-retire-more-numbers
I went to Dodgerthoughts and voted for non non-Hall of Famers. But I would be in favor of putting up a “V” for Vin Scully.
Correction: “no non-Hall of Famers”