Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Monday And Tuesday Reading

Acts 9-16.


Getting behind on posting lately. Been playing too much Wii Sports Golf, I guess. That will change...once Skyward Sword is released. Looks like November 20th is the latest release date.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Sunday Reading

Acts 5-8.


I can't believe how much time was wasted on the news covering this hurricane. The media will jump on anything.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Saturday Reading

Acts 1-4.


Although Willie McGee is a shy person, he did make this hilarious commercial with Ozzie Smith after his return to the Cardinals in 1996.


Friday Reading

John 17-21.


Willie McGee will always be one of my favorites. Just a quite, humble, unassuming regular guy who happened to win two batting titles, three Gold Gloves and the 1985 MVP award. Nice to see him honored once again.

The 1980s Cardinals teams always had a lot of speed, and I think Willie was the fastest of them all. Willie McGee running the bases after hitting one in the gap turned in to one of the most exciting plays in baseball. It is speed that makes baseball exciting. Heck, it's speed that makes any sport exciting.

Which is why the game today is not as good as it was in the 1980s. Now the offense consists of getting a guy on base and waiting for a home run. It's a little boring.

Those 1980s clubs had constant action. Once someone got on base, every pitch was a cat and mouse moment between pitcher, baserunner and hitter. It was just very interesting to watch.

The thing about Willie was he looked so awkward playing the game (except when he was accelerating or running the bases). Watching him hit made me nervous. First of all, he always looked uncomfortable, like he really didn't want to be in the batters box. This impersonation says it all.

And he'd swing at balls out of the strike zone all the time, looking bad doing it. I think the reason why he did this is because a lot of times he'd hit them. But he sure seemed to be fighting an 0-2 count most of the time.

And it always seemed to be at a critical moment that this would happen. Which is why in the post-season watching him could reach the brink of unbearable.

But he'd come through.

It's no wonder the Yankees traded him for pitcher Bob Sykes at the start of the 1982 season. The Cardinals would have never won that year without him. That trade was perhaps a steal greater than Brock-Broglio, although certainly less famous.

Here is a nice website devoted to Willie, which has a link to a 1998 article that attempts to explain why Willie is Willie.

He's definitely a St. Louis icon.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Thursday Reading

John 13-16.


Go here to see what candidate you should support for President.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Wednesday Reading

John 9-12.


Wow. The natives are getting restless. Lots of interesting comments.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Tuesday Reading

John 5-8.


Interesting factoid from tonight's Dodgers-Cardinals game. It's almost hard to believe.

Since 1892, the Cardinals and Dodgers have played each other 2001 times. The Cardinals have won 1001 games and the Dodgers 1000.

That's hard to believe.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Monday Reading

John 1-4.


It's once again 8/22, one of the most famous days in Cardinals history. I get at least 3 or 4 hits a month from people searching for it.

And after 29 years, I found the video and the call, on MLB.com! Gotta love Mike Shannon!

Sunday Reading

Luke 21-24.


Nice article which explains the Cardinals position in the standings.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Saturday Reading

Luke 17-20.


I don't understand the attraction of Facebook or Twitter. What can it do that Blogger can't?

Friday Reading

Luke 13-16.


The Cardinals have been looking awful. Another late inning loss. If the Cardinals miss the postseason again, that will make 4 out of the last 5 years they've missed. Should never happen with their payroll.

Since the Cubs just fired their GM, maybe it's time for the Cardinals to do the same. He is not fielding championship quality teams. And I can't say the manager is helping that much, either.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Thursday Reading

Luke 9-12.


My favorite Beatles album is Abbey Road. My favorite part of the album is the final medley of "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End". Forty two years ago today, that last song, The End, the last song recorded collectively by all four Beatles, finished recording.

I never realized, prior to Wikipedia, that the last guitar sequence was played in rotation by McCartney, Harrison and Lennon. But it makes sense when you listen with this knowledge.

Per Wikipedia:
"The first two bars are played by McCartney, the second two by Harrison, and the third two by Lennon, then the sequence repeats.
[1] Each has a distinctive style which McCartney felt reflected their personalities: McCartney's playing included string bends similar to his lead guitar work on "Another Girl" from the Help! album; Harrison's was melodic with slides yet technically advanced; and Lennon's was rhythmic, stinging, and had the heaviest distortion. "

After the third repetition comes what I believe to be Chris Farley's favorite line: "And, in the end, the love you take/ Is equal to the love you make".




Wednesday Reading

Luke 5-8.


Brewers have won 19 out of 21. Which means their only 2 losses in 3 1/2 weeks were their 2 losses to the Cardinals. Why can't anyone else beat them?

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Tuesday Reading

Luke 1-4.


Strange reading about the Christmas story in the middle of summer. Which reminds me- it's only 4 months until Christmas and none of you has asked for my wish list.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Monday Reading

Mark 13-16.


Six games back with 40 to play. Difficult but not impossible. If Milwaukee just plays .500 baseball the rest of the way, St. Louis would have to play .675.

Despite all the injuries, with the lineup they have the Cardinals appear to have underachieved two years in a row. Kind of disappointing.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Sunday Reading

Mark 9-12.


Tonight's the finale of Food Network Star. I don't care who wins, really, as I like all 3 finalists.

But I think it will be Jeff. He would probably be the most interesting/entertaining.

Saturday Reading

Mark 5-8.


It was a wet spring. I should have known it wouldn't continue. As usual, there's been almost no rain since summer started. I'm sure my plants don't know what to "think" anymore.

I hope it gets wet again soon. And I can't believe I just typed that. Never content, I guess.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Friday Reading

Mark 1-4.


With the NFL season around the corner, I've been exercising my NFL uniform eye. One of the websites I follow is, of course, Uni Watch, which has an amazing page called White At Home In The NFL.

It is an historical record of every time an NFL team has worn white jerseys for home games since 1957.

Since the Bears have worn white at home only a handful of times (4 to be exact), I've naturally always been a fan of team wearing their colors at home. I've never understood, for example, why the Cowboys almost always wear white at home, when their blue uniforms give them one of the best, if not the best, uniforms in the league.

Only 1 team, the Seahawks, has never worn white at home. Which is a shame, because they have one of the ugliest uniforms in existence. They are the exception to the rule.

Each year there are uniform tweaks. I know the Bills have gotten rid of their hideous uniforms and gone to a more classic look.

I'm not sure who else has made a change, but I'm looking forward to the new season to see the winners and losers- in the uniform arena, too.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Thursday Reading

Matthew 25-28.


It's good to finally get a win, especially when it's a must-win.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Wednesday Reading

Matthew 21-24.


Another one drops. Man, why are the Cardinals players so fragile?

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Tuesday Reading

Matthew 17-20.


I was looking through the maps of my Lutheran Study Bible tonight, and I couldn't help noticing that the island of Kittim somewhat resembles the shape of the contiguous United States.

Monday, August 08, 2011

Monday Reading

Matthew 13-16.


Total surprise that Tyler went home on tonight's Design Star. I thought sure it would be Kevin. But that Cathy is the one who really needs to go.

Sunday, August 07, 2011

Sunday Reading

Matthew 9-12.


The offense is rolling but the Cardinals aren't making up any ground. They're not getting any help, so they'll have to do it themselves, which is as it should be anyway. Big series starting Tuesday. Better bring the A game, or it could be over by the end of the week.

Saturday, August 06, 2011

Saturday Reading

Matthew 5-8.


A great day for Bears fans as Richard Dent makes it to the Hall Of Fame. I haven't watched the '85 Bears for awhile.

What a fun year that was. The Bears might win another Super Bowl some day, but there will never be another year like that one.

Friday, August 05, 2011

Friday Reading

Matthew 1-4.


Too bad the Pirates are fading fast. I was hoping they could make a run at the division title, even hoped they would win if the Cardinals didn't. Since that isn't going to happen, at least they have a shot at being over .500 again.

Thursday, August 04, 2011

Thursday Reading

Malachi.


And so ends the Old Testament. Hold on to your hats, we're about to enter the New. Be prepared to be undone.

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Wednesday Reading

Zechariah 11-14.


Bubba Smith died. I remember him on the Colts, and that he was huge, but remember him best in this commercial. I can't remember if he was on the "tastes great" or "less filling" team.

That was one of the greatest series of ads in TV history. This one was one of my favorites.

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Tuesday Reading

Zechariah 7-10.


So, Busch Stadium is falling apart. What'd that take, 5 years?

I say tear it down and put the old stadium back up. In all the years it stood, I don't remember pieces of it falling to Earth.

Monday, August 01, 2011

Monday Reading

Zechariah 3-6.


Down now to the final four on Food Network Star. Jeff is the clear favorite. I was surprised Mary Beth survived this week, and think she'll be the next to go home. Then Vic will be next, and finally Susie, which will leave Jeff the winner.

I think this has been the most enjoyable group to watch since I started watching this show, which was the year Aaron McCargo won. I wouldn't mind seeing any one of the remaining contestants win. Good bunch.