The one commercial that didn’t make it was probably the funniest of the lot …

Keeping Peyton off the field worked marvelously … and that on-sides kick to start the 2nd half?  Guts and genius!

And I love it that the GOP favored the Colts.  Sorry, guys.  You still have Scintellating Sarah, though -- who is apparently actually considering a run in 2012.  And then you always also have Dick and Dubya and other dull-witted, despicable detritus.  I’m hoping that both smirky and snarly were sorely disappointed and went to bed with indigestion.

I’ll take this guy Brees … a breath of fresh air!

The City of New Orleans is back on track and partying down!

You’re back!  No more fly-overs by a distant, disingenuous and disconnected Dufus.

Congratulations, Saints, you did it … the bad taste is gone -- even though lots of work remains!

Good night, America, how are you?
Don’t you know me I’m your native son,
I’m the train they call The City of New Orleans,
I’ll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done.

Party on … party on!

Good night, America, how are you?
Don't you know me I'm your native son,
I'm the train they call The City of New Orleans,
I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done.

I also found, noodling around on Damallsvenskan Soapbox, another nifty site – Women’s Soccer Weekly – great to scan for soccer news (and will add it to the sidebar here)!  WSW is where I found this story about Jill Oakes, whose pregnancy is taking her off the Red Stars’ 2010 roster (where she was a defender).  Maybe that’s why they went for Whitney Engen in the college draft.  I know I’m hoping to see Emma Hayes make some things happen for the Red Stars this year … and yeah, hoping to see the same from Tony!

On the political front, there is, of course, the whole Tea Bagger Convention brouhahahahahaha and the Divine Ms. P’s increasing visibility.

At the same time, MSNBC has posted the searchable collection of Todd Palin e-mails – at least to the extent they have been released.  Wonder what this one is about … sounds fishy, doesn’t it?  It’s pretty cool … search away!  And here are some gems from MSNBC:

The e-mails that were released open a curtain on the behind-the-scenes preoccupations of the Palins, particularly the flash points of family and the media, personal finances and state finances.

• The governor coached her staff on how to disguise the $3,252.35 cost of electrical work at the mansion to hook up her new tanning bed.
• Palin and her staff stewed over the refusal of the state Public Safety Department to provide a plane so their children could fly to Todd’s family’s home in Dillingham; after all, they were going to attend a bill signing, so the travel requests could be justified. Sarah Palin called the decision “outrageous,” and an aide said it provides “a great excuse to privatize” the governor’s jet service.
• The manager of the Palins’ travel schedule searched for a public event to use as justification (“I just need one“) to charge the state for an airplane flight for Palin’s daughter, Willow, who had already made the trip but missed the event given as its justification.
• When Sarah Palin complained that the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner wrote a critical editorial after she did them the favor of meeting with the editorial board, Todd Palin advised the press chief to “take the news miner off the press release address list for a few days, see how long it takes them to realize their not on the list.”
• “Man, that gossip crap bugs me,” Sarah Palin wrote after the Anchorage Daily News wrote about mansion repairs in its Alaska Ear political column. “Any time it has anything to do with home or family, it’s irritating.” A press aide apologized, saying the columnist did not to call check out stories before publishing. The residence director added, “Reminds me of junior high school, where hormonal teenagers are always looking for the drama. … I’ll do my best to avoid giving them any news nuggets.”

And since Sarah is in the news, I want to share this brief snippet from Arianna Huffington … in case you needed further illustration of Sarah’s shallow hypocrisy.

On a MUCH more positive note, we celebrate JPE’s birthday today at the Canterbury Shaker Village (yummy brunch).  Happy B-day!

And here’s the Women’s B-ball schedule (Alice) for the next couple of days …

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Connecticut at Louisville……….11:00am……….ESPNU
Northeastern at Towson……….11:00am……….Comcast SportsNet/Comcast Network
Texas Tech at Texas……….1:00……….ESPNU
Ole Miss at LSU……….1:00……….SEC Network
South Carolina at Georgia……….1:00……….CSS
Tulsa at UTEP……….1:00……….CBS College Sports/Time Warner Cable
Kansas State at Kansas……….2:00……….Metro
Auburn at Alabama……….2:00……….Fox Sports Net
Drake at Missouri State……….2:05……….Mediacom
Southern California at Stanford……….3:00……….Fox Sports Net
Virginia Tech at NC State……….3:00……….Fox Sports Net/SunSports/Comcast SportsNet
Iowa State at Missouri……….3:00……….Fox Sports Net
Richmond at Xavier……….3:00……….ESPNU
Michigan State at Iowa……….3:30……….Big Ten Network

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8
UMES at North Carolina A&T ……….3:30……….ESPNU
Virginia at Maryland……….6:00……….Fox Sports Net/SunSports/Comcast SportsNet
North Carolina at Duke……….6:00……….ESPN2
Gardner-Webb at Liberty……….6:00……….Flames Television Network
Gardner-Webb at Liberty……….6:00……….SportSouth
Tennessee at Vanderbilt……….8:00……….ESPN2

So, there’s something else that I wanted to write about.  What the heck was it?  Something about a football game, I think.

If it comes to me, I’ll let you know!

How do you find that stuff, Boltgirl?

The Breakers, in addition to their dispersal draft signings (Stephanie Cox and Michelle Enyeart), re-signed Fabiana and added another international – Forward Laura Del Rio.

Looks to me like the Athletica are the hands down winners when it comes to off-season moves, though.  And I am still puzzled by the Red Stars’ choice to let go of Lindsay Tarpley.

Turning to politics, the tidbit that caught my eye has to do with the former First Dude’s influence up there in Alaska, as reflected in newly-released e-mails.  Are we surprised?  Not really.  Annoyed?  You betcha!

It’s one of those comments that comes along from time to time, and reminds me of the huge and crazy-making gulf that exists in this country.  Here’s what Noah said:

How can you call this grace? O’Bummer is scrambling and he has no idea what to do. Massachusetts a red state now?!? The Democratic Party is falling on it’s face. They had the house and senate majority for years AND THEY STILL CANNOT PASS THEIR AGENDA…epic fail.

Pull your head out of the sand and come over to reality. All of O’Bummers ideas might sound good, but they are fiscally impossible. I’m no history scholar, but I’m pretty sure one of the major reasons the USSR collapsed was because they flat out went broke. Wouldn’t it be a shame if the US collapsed because we ran out of money? Or maybe all of you progressives subconsciously want this…

Noah invites me to “come over to reality” – and that’s what always brings me up short.  We truly do live in different realities, I think.  Noah seems to truly believe that the world as he knows it is in danger … at the hands of people like me.  I am a threat to what he holds dear.  (Of course I don’t actually know Noah … but I do feel, from the tone of his comment, that he is upset with me .. don’t you?)

What feels tragic to me is that the Noah’s of this world appear to me to be passionately defending people who wouldn’t even deign to spit on them … meanwhile blaming the party that actually is trying to do something to make this country livable for classes other than just the wealthiest.  (And don’t get me wrong … I am probably almost as pissed at the Democrats as Noah is – but for different reasons altogether.)

Joining Noah with bizarre and disturbingly paranoid perceptions of Obama is a large percentage of self-identified GOPers, according to a recent poll.  Here are a few samples from the results … they leave me speechless:

• 39 percent of Republicans believe Obama should be impeached, 29 percent are not sure, 32 percent said he should not be voted out of office.
• 36 percent of Republicans believe Obama was not born in the United States, 22 percent are not sure, 42 percent think he is a natural citizen.
• 31 percent of Republicans believe Obama is a “Racist who hates White people” — the description once adopted by Fox News’s Glenn Beck. 33 percent were not sure, and 36 percent said he was not a racist.
• 63 percent of Republicans think Obama is a socialist, 16 percent are not sure, 21 percent say he is not
• 24 percent of Republicans believe Obama wants “the terrorists to win,” 33 percent aren’t sure, 43 percent said he did not want the terrorist to win.
• 21 percent of Republicans believe ACORN stole the 2008 election, 55 percent are not sure, 24 percent said the community organizing group did not steal the election.
• 23 percent of Republicans believe that their state should secede from the United States, 19 percent aren’t sure, 58 percent said no.
• 53 percent of Republicans said they believe Sarah Palin is more qualified to be president than Obama.

The powers that be at the GOP do not actually believe any of this (they are grown-ups, after all).  But they are what I would call evil, because they are perfectly willing to use fear, prejudice, and disinformation to block progress and recoup/retain power.  They do this in the service of the monied elites that own the party.

People like Noah are being thoroughly duped by their craven machinations. And Noah will be angry and upset to hear this.  He probably won’t believe it … but if he doesn’t wake up, he’ll need to start constructing his ark (if he hasn’t already).  There ain’t a lot Obama (or the rest of us) can do in the face of this much blindness, greed, and dishonesty.

And most likely, when all’s said and done, he’ll continue to blame “progressives” – because that’ll be the lie he’s fed by the elites of the GOP – and why think beyond that?

Why, indeed?

At first I was horrified on hearing it -- PTSD from old WUSA days.  But the model is different (franchises) this time around -- so what happens with the Sol doesn’t drag on the league the way it would have back in the day.  And with two new teams we’re still up one from last year … and most teams (other than the Sol) have modest business models.

Breakers’ GM Andy Crossley weighed in on the situation and gave us some good news about the Breakers’ status:

Crossley is confident that WPS will continue to grow. He’s starting to see interest increase from last year.

“We’re up 20 percent in ticket sales,” Crossley said. “I feel, locally, interest is growing here. I would say the league has certainly picked up momentum from last year.”

“I can’t wait. I think we’ve got a really exciting team this year. Tony and Lisa are happy the way the draft turned out. I think now we have an opportunity to add quality players in the dispersal draft. It’s going to be very, very competitive in training camp.

It was actually that training camp that was my first thought when I heard about the Sol folding and the dispersal draft (2/4/10).  Feeling kinda bummed for the just-out-of-college players who were picked late in the 1/15 draft and were probably ecstatic to be coming into camp … who now may have to compete against the likes of Boxxy, Marta and Karina LeBlanc.  Yikes -- talk about a roller coaster!

Oh, and having just purchased 2 more season tickets from the Breakers, I can attest to the growing interest … as it was pretty slim pickings in the section I was hoping for!

So here’s the dispersal pick order … and the rosters of the Sol and the Breakers … (FA means Free Agent) …

Who do we want in Boston? And who do we have room for? Will this tip Lil into retirement? (Not yet -- one more year, Lil, okay?  We’ll need some warning before you hang up your boots.)

Anyway -- who do I want?  We need scoring.  Do I want Marta?  Oddly enough, I’m not totally enthralled with the idea.  She’d be fun to watch, don’t get me wrong … but a part of me would really like to see the Breakers do it without her … leaving a healthy Kelly Smith with the spotlight all to herself.  (Do I sound like an eldest child?  Worried about dispersal displacement?  Yup!)

Here’s the discussion (from the Breakers’ point of view) on BigSoccer.

Apparently Tony likes Dallstream.  Hey … we’d like forwards who can work with Tony and vice versa.  So, betweem Nikki Washington, Casey Nogueira and Kiersten Dallstream … oh, and Marta … we should be able to pick up something good for the B’s, I’m thinking.

I do wish that Camille Abily were still with the Sol (and therefore being ‘dispersed’).  I liked her a lot!  Gold Pride lucked out on that one!

Any way you look at it, the 4th should be interesting … and the Breakers will pick up some more talent … and the 2nd WPS season is getting closer and closer!

Here’s a bit of interesting advocacy work that Boltgirl (rained in as she is) totally beat me to.  Cindy McCain has come out in support of Gay Marriage.  A little late, but …

Of course the cynical part of me thinks she likes the photo … or is really, really mad at John about something … after all, as noted in HuffPo, “For many involved with the equal marriage battle, it will be difficult to square this glamorous, newly-liberated vision in the NoH8 ad campaign with the elegant, enameled 2009-edition Cindy McCain, cheering and clapping at Sarah Palin’s rallies and speeches.”

Hard to know another’s heart … so let’s just say “Good for you, Cindy – hope there’s more where that came from!” and leave it at that.

Meanwhile JD Hayworth … Arizona teabagger [sic] and talk show host … looks like he may be planning a run against John.  So it’s been a bad week for Senator McCain.

Oh, but take heart, John … at least your last name isn’t Edwards!  Bet John and Elizabeth can’t wait for Andrew Young’s book to come out.

If these were people of stature, this would have the trappings of tragedy.  As it is, though, sordid is the word that comes more readily to mind.  Mark Sanford must feel positively righteous!

As a healthy antidote to all this sordidness, I read, quite happily, on BigSoccer that the WPS schedules this year have more games (24, I believe … official schedules will be posted in February) and will run into early September.  For season ticket holders in Boston who brave the April sleet, stretching out into an early September game or two sure sounds lovely!  (So lets get those home play-off games locked away this year, Breakers, okay?)

Here’s a snippet about Maggie Tomecka … Breakers’ midfielder and resident anesthesiologist!

And on the Phillies phront … here’s a nice piece from Crashburn Alley about where the team stands, personnel-wise, entering the 2010 season.  Sounds like Jayson Werth may be gone after next year.  His performance in 2010 will be all about winning for the Phillies AND putting himself in a position to command a HUGE contract going forward.  It’ll be interesting to see how that works out … he certainly seems a star on the rise, if he continues on his current trajectory.

Finally – here are some sites I was playing with last night – for your weekend noodling around:

Birth Records Search is free and lets you search for friends’ and family members’ birthdays with just a few pieces of info.  I couldn’t find myself … but finding myself has never been my forte!

On the flip side of the coin, the Social Security Death Index lets you search their database for dates-of-death, should you have occasion to need such information.  I searched for my great aunts and found both – and this database includes birthdates, too.

And last (really) Concord’s own Matt Bonner (of San Antonio Spurs fame) has a blog - The Sandwich Hunter.  Nice one, Matt!

While I don’t think that money was the issue for Coakley on Tuesday, truth’s comment on the race is telling:

Here’s the stat that brings it all home: After the primary, Scott Brown ran 66 events. Martha Coakley? 19 events.

Plus he saturated the TV with ads and she didn’t respond for almost 3 weeks.

Sheesh.

If Massachusetts can be convinced this easily to behave like a red state, can you imagine how the rest of the states’ voters will respond when infusions of corporate money start churning out slick ads?  Can you imagine how Exxon and the pharmaceutical and health insurance industries are salivating?

Good grief … what was SCOTUS thinking?  Talk about judicial activism … John Paul Stevens, writing in dissent, lays it out, saying, among other things:

The majority’s approach to corporate electioneering marks a dramatic break from our past. Congress hasplaced special limitations on campaign spending by corporations ever since the passage of the Tillman Act in 1907….We have unanimously concluded [in 1982] that this “reflects a permissible assessment of the dangers posed by those entities to the electoral process”…and have accepted the “legislative judgment that the special characteristics of the corporate structure require particularly careful regulation…The Court today rejects a century of history when it treats the distinction between corporate and individual campaignspending as an invidious novelty born [in a 1990 opinion].

And for those who have the stomach, here is the entire decision … right here … as the havoc being wreaked by Dubya continues … all created by the other terrible, terrible decision of the Court, in Bush vs. Gore.

On a more positive note, I guess you could take this as in some sense a reflection of the fear that Obama (and the idea of change) has struck in the hearts of the entrenched powers in these parts.  But it’s that much harder, now, for change to come.

And on another positive note -- let’s be grateful that the egoistic ambition of John and Elizabeth Edwards didn’t land him in the White House.  Can you imagine how this would be playing?  Yikes!  And no, you don’t get to play like victims who just want some peace and privacy.  This is the fruit of your selfishness and ambition -- both of you.  I feel like that other Edwards -- the firebreathing one -- Jonathan.  Shame!

And then there’s A-Rod.  No, not the one with the two paintings of himself as a centaur in his bedroom (now there’s an idea, John).  No, the A-rod who’s getting a second chance to show her stuff in Philly.  It’ll be fun to see her for the home opener in Boston in April.

The LA Sol have named an interim head coach and picked up some internationals … here’s a recap of the first round picks in the WPS draft (from USSF) … and here are the 2010 WPS kits!

The WPS draft took place this past Friday, and the Breakers seem to have done quite well for themselves, with two picks in the first round.  Meanwhile, as it was more or less business as usual for the Breakers, the LA Sol are going through a major shake-up … with Abner Rogers leaving as coach and the sale of the team.  Check out the comments that go along with the linked article.  Overall, it sounds like the shake-up may be good for the team and for WPS.

Anyway -- back to the Breakers.  They went for Lauren Cheney first (pick number two), and then Alyssa Naeher(with the 11th pick in round one). Hopefully Cheney will give them some scoring punch up top, and Naeher, a standout in goal for the Penn State Nittany Lions, will be a great addition between the pipes.  Both Ali Lipsher and Kristin Luckenbill did good work for the Breakers in the 2009 season, but Naeher could add some heft — and certainly some strong competition — in that very important position.

Oh, and I sure hope that whatever happened between A-Rod and Tony doesn’t repeat itself in 2010!

Tobin Heath was taken with the number one pick, by the expansion Atlanta Beat. Can’t wait to see her in person when the Beat come to Boston.

Here’s the breakdown on everyone that the Breakers picked. It’ll be fun to watch BC and BU play together on the Harvard pitch!

Meanwhile, the Chicago Red Stars made a puzzling move (to my mind) when they started off draft day by trading Lindsay Tarpley to the Athletica.  Meanwhile, it looks to me like the Athletica did very well for themselves … getting Tarpley and replacing their back-up goalie (like they NEED one) with the UNC keeper, Ashlyn Harris.

In other sporting “stuff” I am very much looking forward to watching the Vikings send the Cowboys home with their tails between their legs. While rooting for the too-oft-retired Bret Favre is not exactly my favorite thing, I will do it in the service of avenging the Eagles!

And for your Sunday viewing pleasure, check out this old Monty Python bit of craziness -- one of my all time favorites!  (I picked it up in Todd Civin’s interview with the Breakers’ Alex Scott (also worth a look):

Here’s a piece from the chat with Alex (a very interesting/witty woman -- not to mention a wonderful player):

Civ: Give us three words in “English” that amused your US teammates.

AS: Oh my God. I really could not give you three words. I think my teammates find my whole vocabulary quite amusing. I can not think for the love of me why. Either that I speak too fast, either that I am very Cockney or they just have no clue what I am chatting about half the time. I think this last one applies to Lil (Kristine Lilly). Kelly Smith translates for Lil when it comes to my speech.

The 2010 season gets underway in April.  The Breakers’ home opener is Sundat, 4/18 at 6PM against the Philly Independence – who’ll be bringing Heather Mitts, Kelly Schmedes, Sue Weber, and Amy Rodriguez back to Harvard Stadium for their first game against their former team … pray for an unseasonably warm evening (hey, it could happen)!

There’s lots of news!  Here’s a quick run through:

• The WPS has surpassed 200,000 followers on Twitter … are you one of ‘em?  Give it a try!
• Here’s an interesting article about Jen Nobis and the upcoming Breakers’ season:

Nobis’ performance during the latter half of the 2009 WPS season impressed Boston Head Coach Tony DiCicco and his staff so much that they put Nobis on their list of protected players for the WPS Expansion draft, meaning that the two new teams, the Philadelphia Independence and Atlanta Beat, could not select her in the draft. Nobis also wasn’t declared a free agent, indicating that the Boston coaching staff have big plans for Nobis in 2010.

“I was surprised they saved me, but I’m glad they did,” Nobis said. “They see something in me for this season. I know what’s to be expected this year. I’m ready.”

But to earn a spot on the pitch, Nobis said she has to put in an extra effort. That’s why she’s training six days a week, working on ball skills every day, and conditioning herself to the point she knows her body will be 90-minutes fit.

“It’s awesome to be here and getting prepared for the season,” Nobis said. “I’m working really hard with my training and practicing different things. You’ll definitely see a different Boston Breakers team. I think it will be a good improvement.”

• The WPS draft will be held this coming Friday (the 15th) at 10AM with the Breakers’ having the #2 and #11 picks (that’s 2 picks in the first round).  They (the Brakers) have invited fans o take part in a mock draft … if you have the time and inclination.
• I’m surprised to see that the LA Sol have traded Camille Abily to FC Gold Pride.  She was one of my favorites in the fledgling league … glad I’ll still get to say her name … and hope she’ll help the Pride to realize their potential.
• Here’s a nice installment in the “Getting Silly” series.  This interview is with the Breakers’ (and USWNT’s) Secretary of Defense, Amy Lepeilbet.

And speaking of the USWNT, Pia has called players into camp to prepare for The Algarve Cup, which kicks off February 24th.

It’s nice to see Pia again!

In response to events, some are taking the opportunity to make bad jokes.  Others are pausing to debate the direction of women’s sports.  I like that.  (And on the bad, bad, bad “jokes” front – someone should do a dissertation on the comments people write on YouTube videos – and what they reflect about our culture.  Pretty disturbing stuff.)

Anyway – as for the direction of women’s sports – I was a big celebrator of Title IX back in the day.  But having watched how things have evolved, I have to say it’s a mixed blessing.  The biggest loss it has propogated so far, in my estimation, is the dearth of opportunities to be a three-sport athlete in school.  It’s well-nigh impossible at most colleges – and is becoming unusual in many high schools, too.  This is a big loss.

I see it as indicative of a trend in our culture to focus on outcomes.  “Measurable outcomes” is the catch-phrase these days.  Everybody is striving to put up numbers – be it in healthcare, education … sports.  There are winners and losers.  Success is what everybody wants, and it’s clear to everyone what it means.  You’re hard pressed not to teach to the test … and certainly, you’re gonna coach to win … and play to win.  There’s too much at stake.

Lost are “nuances” like what you can learn from sports … win or lose.  Character-building?  That’s for losers.  Your coach’s job and your scholarship depend on how you perform.  There’s money on the table and you are being measured.

This doesn’t excuse anything that happened on the pitch the other day … but man, are we ever on the wrong track!

I am glad to see that New Mexico suspended this player, but even so, ya gotta think this kind of match play didn’t suddenly arise out of the blue.  How does a player come to think that this is even remotely okay?  She says … “This is in no way indicative of my character or the soccer player I am.”

I am sorry -- and this is said with your best interests at heart, Liz -- but you can’t behave like that and then walk away and say that it’s not indicative of your character.

It happened.

You did it.

It sure as hell indicates SOMETHING … and right now, I’d say it indicates something about your character.

What you do next also indicates something about your character.

It’d be really good for your character if you did some soul searching right about now.

It’s a big burden, keeping those guys on a winning path.  Clearly, JordanCornblog wasn’t up to it.  Not this year, anyway.  Next year.  Next year!

Had it not been for Matsui, the score would have been 3-1 … a Phillies win.  JordanCornblog comforts herself with that thought.

In addition, there’s that whole payroll thing.  And that $1.5 BILLION ballpark.  JordanCornblog finds that kinda comforting as well – that it took millions to put away an upstart team with a fraction of the bucks taking the field!  Of COURSE the Yankees won.  Good grief.

On the positive side, between Boltgirl’s excellent modeling and these last two World Series games, JordanCornblog has gotten some exercise under her belt.  That’s never a bad thing.  Next year she’ll be in better shape … and ready to bike for the Phillies OR the Cubbies!

And DaddyCornblog?  He’d have loved to have seen a Phillies repeat … but he has a much broader perspective on these things than we mere mortals do.  Any words of wisdom, Dad?

One plus that he’d be sure to remind us of … more sleep.  Now we can all get more sleep!

;>)

Bold prediction time …

The short rest is gonna catch up with Andy Pettitte, as the Phillies bats will chase him out by the 3rd inning … and it’ll be an even more precipitous downhill slide for the Yankees from that point on.

Meanwhile a rested and highly motivated Pedro will pitch himself a shut-out … one for the ages.  It’ll almost be a no-hitter, but Derek Jeter will ruin that scenario in the 8th with a single.

After that, no more hits and it’s on to Game 7.

Wow – did that ever feel great to write.  (I’ll have to pedal hard to make it all true!)

Other news this sunny November morning?

Sadly, the Belmont girls’ soccer team lost a heartbreaker to Campbell in the second overtime yesterday.  The final score was 1-0.  Well done, BHS.  Congrats, graduating seniors.  The rest of you?  Your high school soccer future is looking very bright!

PS  One more bold prediction – a two-parter:

• Ryan Howard shaves his beard and gets his mojo back!
• Ryan Howard doesn’t shave his beard and gets his mojo back!

Oh, yeah – and I’ll try to pace myself so that I’m not on the couch for those late innings … allowing the evil-ones to catch up!

And how about Chase?  Awesome job!  Now, if Ryan can just get his bat going these last two games, it’ll be awesome.  Just awesome.

Did I say awesome already?

Awesome.

I’d write more, but these late games are leading to late mornings … gotta rush out the door!

PS:  Go Belmont girls’ soccer today!  You can do it!!!!!  You and the Phillies.  Awesome!

Cliff Lee’s on the mound today.  Can we turn this thing around and get back to NY?  Stay tuned.

On a happier note .. congratulations to Boltgirl, who is sharing tales of her inspiring (and yes, nauseating) return to the gym after spending weeks laid up with the flu.  It’s way more than 67% good … keep it up!  (I’m inspired and will be joining you shortly … yup … tomorrow … definitely!)

HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew visited the lake this past weekend and fired up the newly re-installed woodstove.  Sounds like the newly insulated floor is really helping a lot on the warmth front … maybe winter visits won’t be out of the question!

They got in some kayaking … got soaked … and came into the cozy house for cheesesteaks and beer.

It’s looking great, guys … all your hard work has certainly paid off!

Can’t wait to see it in person.

As I wait to get myself back on the exercise track, though -- there’s nothing better than watching the USWNT run around on the pitch.  Want to watch?  How about that recent 1-0 win over Germany?

Here it is, in “chapters” on YouTube.  If you double click the video below (where it says You Tube) and move over to YouTube to view it, you’ll be able to access the rest of the segments of the match.

Enjoy!

Here’s the segment with Abby’s goal -- @ the 34th minute … Pia looks so happy!

Oh yeah -- and in some good Philly news (on the phootball phront) the Eagles took it to the Giants and moved into first place in the NFC East.  Now THAT’S the way to play a NY team.  Are you paying ttention, Philllies?

In plain English, his talented upstart U-13 team toppled the mighty U-14 Concord Express Team 2-1 on a windswept field where the Merrimack River meanders through Concord and soccer aficionados gather, hoping for just this sort of contest.

The Lightning struck first (according to my intrepid reporter) and then the Express came back with the equalizer.  The action was furious as each team tried to push through and score the go-ahead goal … in the teeth of two staunch defenses and a howling Halloween wind.

But the game was deadlocked as the final seconds ticked down.

It’s starting to look like this will end in a tie.  Then the Lightning win a corner.  One more chance.

The kick goes up – a nice cross into the box.  Rapt fans watch.  The screaming wind blows. Out of nowhere, in comes a flying SirHitsAlot.  He leaps into the air, surrounded by defenders on every side.

Suddenly time slows down.  Everything goes quiet.  Even the wind seems to stop.

Thunk!

Head connects with ball.  Ball careens into goal.  Make that 2-1 Lightning!

The final seconds tick down … and the fans go wild as humble SirHitsAlot strides off the field to celebrate this sweet victory with his marvelous marauding minions from the Upper Valley!

Wish I could have seen it … and wish the Phillies could have done, last night, something like what the Lightning did yesterday afternoon.  Ah well – tonight will be different for the good guys, I am sure.

Meanwhile – congratulations to the Lightning and to you, SirHitsAlot.

Savor your win, Mo … because you are going DOWN in FFootball!  The 2 Blitzen’ Babes have your number!

;>)

And I’m liking that 1-0 score this morning, as the Bates Bobcats (that’s the women’s soccer version) ended their season on a high note, beating the Colby College Mules 1-0.

Meanwhile, here in NH that 1-0 score was the result in an upset of Hopkinton by Belmont in the Class M Girls’ Soccer tournament.  It’s the first time (in my recollection, at any rate) that Belmont has beaten Hopkinton in soccer.  It’s also the first time since the State Championship run of 2005 that the Belmont team has made it to the final 4.  Keep it going!  (Next up, Campbell at 4PM on Tuesday!)

I’m superstitiously hoping that all these good results will spell a Phillies win tonight, as the World Series moves to the home field … and hopefully the Phillies bats come alive!  Come on, guys … wouldn’t it be sweet to close it out at home?  But one game at a time … one game at a time.  So be there tonight … first pitch, 7:57 PM (ET).

Oh, and guys?  While a 1-0 win is absolutely acceptable … I would greatly prefer a wider margin, okay?  MUCH wider, actually.

And in other women’s soccer, news, here’s the FIFA Women’s World Player 2009 shortlist:  Nadine Angerer (Germany), Sonia Bompastor (France), Cristiane (Brazil), Inka Grings (Germany), Mana Iwabuchi (Japan), Simone Laudehr (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Kelly Smith (England), Abby Wambach (USA).  A good showing by the WPS — and nicely done by the Breakers’ very own Kelly Smith!

Other news?  How about this correspondence out of California?

Well, personally, I am in awe and admiration of the creativity of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s staff, who were apparently able to compose the above letter to the California Legislature … in which the first letters of each line combined to spell: “F— you.”  This is an accomplishment to be celebrated, not denied, IMHO.

Score that:  Schwarzenegger 1, Legislature 0.

On the Dickish front, I see that the former VP is suffering from some memory problems when it comes to the Plame Affair.  Indeed, according to Mother Jones, when he was interviewed by the FBI (info recently released under the Freedom of Information Act) there were 22 things that he could not remember … just a year after the events.

I continue to have the sense that, even now, a wee bit of water-boarding might bring a few things back.  Why are we dithering?  Let’s do it!

And speaking of dithering ditherers, I love this bit of hypocrisy from our friend Joe Lieberman, who in 1994 came out strongly against the filibuster.

“The whole process of individual senators being able to hold up legislation, which in a sense is an extension of the filibuster because the hold has been understood in one way to be a threat to filibuster — it’s just unfair.”

Time to strip him of his chairmanship and kick him out of the caucus, folks.  Seriously.  Why are we dithering?  Let’s do it!

Somewhere I read that the payroll differential between the Yankees and Phillies is in the vicinity of $80,000,000.  (Wonder what that comes to per strikeout?)

Anyway – let’s see what Pedro can do tonight.  If the good guys prove Jimmy Rollins wrong and take it in 4, I won’t mind. (I could use the sleep!)

In other news, the USWNT faces off against Germany … some places I see it listed as 12 Noon ET and other places I see 1PM.  Either way, it ain’t on TV … but you can follow it on MatchTracker (I believe) at the USSF Site.  Here’s a tidbit about the coaches … which is interesting but appears to be off by at least a decade … shame on you, USSF!  (I’m sending you an e-mail.)

SUNDHAGE AND NEID MEET AGAIN: The international playing careers of U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage and Germany’s Silvia Neid ran somewhat parallel courses with the Swedish international and German international crossing paths on more than several occasions. None was bigger than in first round play at the 2005 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sweden. In its first game of the tournament, Sweden had been upset, 1-0, by Brazil and was on the verge of elimination in its own country when it fell behind Germany, 2-0, after 42 minutes. The Swedes mounted a furious comeback in the second half, scoring three times, including an 80th minute penalty from Sundhage that tied the score. Malin Andersson scored the dramatic winner in the 86th minute. Both Sundhage and Neid played the entire 90 minutes. Both teams would eventually advance out of the group, but Sweden fell in the quarterfinal to China in penalties and the Germans advanced to the championship with consecutive wins against England and China, only to fall to Norway 2-0 in the title game. Sundhage and Neid both played in the 2006 Olympics, which marked the final international matches for both players, who then launched what have become extremely successful coaching careers.

Oh, and Levi continues to go after Sarah … a squabble being played out in the press.  I am thoroughly enjoying it (I know, very unChristian of me).

My new liberal fantasy involves a Hell House centered around the Palin’s – and occasionally visited by the likes of a drug-crazed Rush Limbaugh, an eating-disordered and nasty Ann Coulter, various and sundry licentious GOP law-makers, greedy Wall Street tycoons … you get the picture.  I think it could catch on!

Ah well – on to the day.

Alice – are you rooting for the Phillies?

In other news, I see that the BHS girls’ soccer team won their first tournament game (yesterday over White Mountain) and face off against Hopkinton on Friday.  (The Gilford girls lost their opening match-up and are out of the tournament … an unusual (character-building) ending for that squad.  The Red Raiders team is trying to recreat the glory days of the 2005 State Championship season … good luck ladies – you are off to a great start!

On the political front, how irksome is Joe Lieberman?  Really!  Self righteous twit – I wonder who is lining his pockets.

“Is the heavy concentration of the insurance industry in Connecticut influencing his vote?

“It has nothing to do with it,” he said.

Yeah, Joe … and we should believe you because … ?

Did I say self righteous twit already? It feels good.

And I love hearing that George Will has gone after Dick for his “dithering” comment – noting that a little “dithering” by the Bushies might have been helpful before invading Iraq.  Nicely done, George!  It’s a long clip – but kinda fun – and the salient part starts at @ the 11-minute mark!

What else?  The USWNT are in Germany preparing for their 10/29 match vs. the German National Team.  That’s at 1PM (ET) … and no TV from what I can tell.  Why not?????  We’ve got the US Under-17 men on TV … no offense to the guys, but WTF??!!!