Trivia Q&A: September 11

We had 17 teams for Trivia Night last night. There was a good crowd watching the Red Sox game, and the game went on for a long time, so we had to play with just four categories. I was worried before the contest as to whether I could hold up for it, as I had no sleep the night before, as I went to the Ground Zero ceremonies yesterday, and I thought I might not have enough energy for it. But I got a good second wind and everything went fine.

We got going at 10:15 PM, and had a fine contest. The numbers were particularly low for September Trivia, as it was a tough category. The numbers for IQ Trivia were higher than I thought, as I thought that category was even tougher. But previous champion, I Wish This Microphone.. came up winners again, taking the title by six points. (I also awarded teams in the final round six points on the Ludwig van Beethoven question if they said Joseph Haydn, as one of the contestants showed me video evidence that Haydn was also a teacher of Beethoven.)

It was good to see so many teams for the return of Tuesday Night Trivia. There will again be a Red Sox game on at 7 next week, so we may start late again then. See you all again next Tuesday.

Current Events
1. Roger Federer won the US Open tennis tournament on Sunday, his 12th grand slam win. How many US Open titles has he won in a row?
2. A team of explorers found the wreck of a freighter called The Cyprus from 100 years ago last month in which one of the Great Lakes?
3. Apple caused a furor last week when it dropped the price of its iPhones to this price in order to boost holiday sales.
4. Avaitor Steve Fossett went missing last week and remains lost after he took off in a plane from this state last Monday.
5. This new host of the TV show, "The View" last Tuesday offered a defense of disgraced football star Michael Vick that cause some controversy.
6. This controversial celebrity has a new book coming out soon and refers to Donald Trump as a "torn scarecrow" and a "slug."
7. This famed amusement park in Coney Island closed for the season on Sunday, and many fear it may now have closed forever.
8. This acclaimed remake film brought in $14.1 million at the box office last weekend to be the number one film in America.
9. This tropical storm made landfall Sunday in North Carolina, but it turned back to the Atlantic without reaching hurricane status.
10. This actress, and Academy Award winner and onetime wife of Ronald Reagan, died on Monday at the age of 93.

Answers: 1. four; 2. Lake Superior; 3. $399; 4. Nevada; 5. Whoopi Goldberg; 6. Rosie O'Donnell; 7. Astroland; 8. "3:10 to Yuma;" 9. Gabrielle; 10. Jane Wyman.

September Trivia
1. In September 1861, Confederate General Leonidas Polk invaded this neutral border state, and that state then asked for Union assistance.
2. This online auction and shopping web site, one of the Internet's most popular, started in September 1995.
3. The American Revolutionary War ends with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in September of what year?
4. This actor, who's most famous role was that of this title character in the classic western, "Shane," was born in September 1913.
5. The Viking 2 exploartion spacecraft landed on which heavenly body in September 1976?
6. This tiny European nation, the world's oldest republic, was founded by St. Marinus in September 301 AD.
7. In September 1935, Sir Malcolm Campbell became the first man to drive a car 300 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats in this US state.
8. Al Jardine, a guitarist and vocalist in this classic American band, was born in September 1942. 9. This football coach, a Brooklynite whom the Super Bowl trophy is named for, died in September 1970.
10. Australia celebrates this day every September, a day which is normally observed in the US in June.

Answers: 1. Kentucky; 2. eBay; 3. 1783; 4. Alan Ladd; 5. Mars; 6. San Marino; 7. Utah; 8. The Beach Boys; 9. Vince Lombardi; 10. Flag Day (I also accepted Father's Day).

General Knowledge
1. What Spanish queen commissioned the voyages of Christopher Columbus?
2. In a 1999 hit song by TLC, what nickname do they give to their freeloading boyfriends?
3. "Tin Lizzie" was a nickname for what classic car?
4. The Artful Dodger was a mischievous pickpocket from which Charles Dickens work?
5. What is a sextant designed for?
6. What pro sport's championship trophy lists the names of all the players who have won it since 1893?
7. In the 1999 movie, "The Straight Story," what vehicle does the main character ride in his long journey?
8. What does the initial "B" stand for in the name of former president Lyndon B. Johnson?
9. What hybrid animal results when bison are crossbred with cattle?
10. What film includes the classic line, "You had me at 'hello'"?

Answers: 1. Isabella; 2. scrubs; 3. Model T Ford; 4. "Oliver Twist;" 5. navigation; 6. hockey; 7. lawn mower; 8. Baines; 9. beefalo; 10. "Jerry Maguire."

IQ Trivia
1. According to the title of his 1990 best-selling book, where in France did author Peter Mayle spend a year? (5 points)
2. The White House press briefing room was renamed in 2000 after which former press secretary? (4 points)
3. Around 500 BC, what title was given to the Indian prince Siddhartha? (5 points)
4. What famous composer was Ludwig van Beethoven's teacher? (6 points)
5. The most common form of color blindness is an inability to distinguish between which two colors? (5 points)

Answers: 1. Provence; 2. James Brady; 3. Buddha; 4. Antonio Salieri (I also accepted Joseph Haydn); 5. red and green.

A Quote For This Day

"It's been 233 days since September 11th. I've been to 28 funerals and memorial services and I should have gone to more, but some days I just couldn't face it. 233 days and in a few weeks it's going to be over. Everyone and everything that was going to be found will have been found. Won't be any place else to dig. And then we are going to have to walk away. And there will be a park with a marble monument with names that will slowly stop seeming like real people. There will be a junior high school named after somebody but soon enough it will be just us. We will be the ones who remember. That's what we can do to honor the people we loved and lost. We can be the ones who remember."

--Bruce Weitz, from the TV series, "Third Watch," Episode "233 Days"
May 6, 2002

Never Forget. Ever.

Today, September 11, 2007, is the sixth anniversary of the worst day in American history. It changed all of our lives as Americans forever, and mine in particular. My friend Joyce was one of those 3000 souls who was lost forever on that terrible day.

I have been at all five of the previous September 11 remembrances that have been held at the World Trade Center site, also known as Ground Zero. I will be there again. Today will be a special day, and a very emotional one as well. It will be the final time any of us can go down to the pit of the site, down to bedrock, and offer flowers and prayers for those we loved and lost. The construction at Ground Zero has been going at an accelerated pace in the past year, and by next year many of the construction projects, such as the Freedom Tower and the World Trade Center Memorial, will reach street level, and bedrock will be covered over forever.

We must never forget those brave souls who gave their lives for our freedom that day. Those first responders, the workers in the WTC, as well as those on the hijacked planes, are all heroes, as well as victims. But over the past few years, I've noticed a tendency in some parts for some people who want to "forget" that the 9/11 attacks ever took place. (And they obviously are people who suffered no loss that day.) I read an article today about something called "9/11 fatigue," about how the general public is getting "tired" of being reminded about what happened six years ago, and the commemorations of that day are getting "excessive, even annoying."

I don't know any people who really feel that way (although I read the occasional letter to the editor from someone so totally clueless echoing those sentiments), but if there was ever any widespread thinking along those lines, those people either need their heads examined, or a refresher course on exactly what happened on September 11, 2001.

It was a day America was attacked on her own shores, in a simply unthinkable way. It was a day America and New York City was tested, and it showed the best of us. Thousands of first responders came rushing to aid their fellow New Yorkers, and regular civilians in the buildings showed great courage getting their friends, colleagues and complete strangers to safety. Hundreds paid for it with their very lives. We know many great stories of the heroism of that day, but many more will go unknown forever.

September 11, 2001 was a great dividing line, not just in the history of America, but in the history of the world. We currently live in what is called "the post-9/11 world." For myself, something that occurred in my life in 1999 or 2000 will instantly remind me that it happened before the terrorist attacks. That's the way it will be for me forever. Anyone who thinks we go back to the way things were before September 11, 2001 is just kidding themselves.

September 11 will never be just "another day on the calendar" anymore. For many people, it may just be another day. But for me, it has a completely different feel to it than any other day. It is a sacred day for me, as it is for all those who lost a loved one. It will forever be one of the saddest days in American history, on par with December 7 and the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and November 22 and the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963.

There will forever be tributes and remembrances on the events of September 11, 2001. Those lost that day will forever be memorialized as heroes of our country, people who gave their lives for us. It's important we never forget them, and I'm sure we never will. For as long as there is a United States, it will be a special day. Those lost souls of September 11, 2001 have gained immortality.

So please say a prayer for all of them today.

Never Forget. Ever.

Earlier this week, I received a special email from the 9/11 support group, Voices of September 11th. In it, they included a special prayer that was read in a 9/11 remembrance service in Connecticut last week. I thought it would be fitting to share it with all of you now. It's called "We Remember Them." (My thanks to the Voices of September 11th for sending it.)

We Remember Them

In the rising of the sun and its going down, We Remember Them.
In the bowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, We Remember Them.
In the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring. We Remember Them.
In the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer, We Remember Them.
In the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn. We Remember Them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends, We Remember Them.
When we are weary and in need of strength, We Remember Them.
When we are lost and sick of heart, We Remember Them.
When we have joys and special celebrations we yearn to share, We Remember Them.
So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are part of us.
We Remember Them.

--From the Jewish Book Of Prayer

And today, I would especially like to remember the victims from General Telecom, who worked on the 83rd floor of the North Tower. 13 people went to work on September 11, 2001 in that office, and none of them survived.

Helen Cook

Aisha Harris

Lashawana Johnson

Margaret Mattic
Tara McCloud-Gray
Curtis Noel
Elsy Osorio
Giovanna Porras
Juan Rivera
Fitzroy St. Rose
Darryl Taylor

And especially:
Harvey Gardner

and my dear sweet friend of 16 years,

Joyce Carpeneto

You're in all of our hearts forever. May all of you rest in eternal peace.

Tuesday Night Trivia Returns

Trivia Night at Professor Thom's has now officially moved over to Tuesday, starting this week, due to Monday Night Football. I hope that is not too much of an inconvenience for many of you regulars. The Red Sox are playing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays that night, so we should begin around 9:30 or so, depending on the length of the game.

We will have the usual categories, plus a special one called "September Trivia," questions about people, places and things connected to the ninth month.

The Sneak Peek question for this week:

"What hybrid animal results when bison are crossbred with cattle?"

Hope to see many of you on Tuesday night.

Vikings, Patriots Open With Victories

I watched the opening weekend of football at Professor Thom's yesterday, and there was a good crowd of fans taking in the games. I think many stayed away because the Jets-Patriots game was on national TV. (The bar gets many more Pats fans when they are not seen in NYC.)

Unfortunately, I was late getting to the bar, and I couldn't see the Vikings-Falcons game, as there was a large variety of fans from different teams, such as Eagles, Redskins, Bills and even Titans fans. So I had to follow the game via updates from the other games on the TVs.

It was a game the Vikings were supposed to win and did. The defense was the story for the Vikes, who had six sacks and returned two interceptions for TDs, courtesy of Kevin Williams and Antoine Winfield. It was also a fine debut for Adrian Peterson, who was thrust into fulltime duty when Chester Taylor injured his hip in the first half.

Peterson rushed 19 times for 103 yards, and made a great catch out of the backfield and scampered 60 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown to seal the Vikings victory. Tarvaris Jackson went 13-for-23 and 163 yards with one interception for the Vikes.

The Patriots had a relatively easy time with the Jets, winning handily, 38-14. Ellis Hobbs ran back the second-half kickoff 108 yards for a TD and set a new NFL record. Randy Moss had a big day in his Pats debut, catching nine passes for 183 yards and a TD, and Tom Brady threw for 297 yards and two TDs. The Patriots have now won seven straight against the Jets at the Meadowlands.

It was no better for the Giants, who lost a shootout to Dallas, 45-35. But they may have suffered a big loss in that Eli Manning hurt his right shoulder, and had to leave in the fourth quarter.

It looks like it maybe a long year for fans who support either team that calls the Meadowlands home.

Beckett's an 18-Game Winner

Josh Beckett pitched seven strong innings on Sunday, and allowed just two solo homers, and the Red Sox went on to a 3-2 win over the Orioles, and took three of the four in the series.

Mike Lowell singled in two runs in the third, and Coco Crisp singled in the eventual winning run in the eighth to give the Red Sox the lead. Hideki Okajima looked sharp after taking over for Beckett in the eighth, and Jonathan Papelbon got his 35th save.

Beckett is now the second 18-game winner in the majors, as Chien-Ming Wang won his 18th yesterday also. Beckett will go for number 19 next weekend against the Yankees. Today he allowed seven hits, struck out eight and did not walk a batter. He is now the leading candidate in the American League for the Cy Young Award.

The Sox now return home to play three with Tampa Bay, and then after that, the Yankees come to town.

The Magic Number dropped another number today (the Yankees won in Kansas City), and the picture is of a man, who if there is any justice in the world, will be elected to the Hall of Fame next year. He was the American League MVP in 1978, and that same year was the last man in MLB to get 400 total bases in a season.

Good luck next January to Jim Rice.

Notre Dame Sputters Again

It was another day to forget for the Fighting Irish on Saturday, as they were beaten soundly by the Penn State Nittany Lions before more than 110,000 fans at State College, Pennsylvania.

Freshman Jimmy Clausen (pictured) actually did fairly decently in his first college start. He went 17-for-32 and 144 yards, but could not get Notre Dame into the end zone. They have not scored an offensive TD in their first two games, and are 0-2 for the first time since 2001.

Once again, the ND offensive line looked inept, allowing 4 sacks. Clausen was on the run all day. The running game was non-existent, and they gained a grand total of 0 yards on 28 rushes. They are currently in negative yards in total rushing the first two games.

Notre Dame actually got off to a good start. They had a nice drive to open the game, but a 50-yard field goal attempt went wide right. Darrin Walls then intercepted a pass from Anthony Morelli and brought it back 78 yards to give the Irish their first lead of the season.

But it was all downhill after that. Penn State's running game took over, and their defense shut the Irish down, allowing only a third quarter field goal. The Irish committed 14 penalties, which added to their overall misery. It was another long game, and Charlie Weis and his staff have a lot of work to do with this young Irish team.

Next week should be interesting, as Notre Dame takes on Michigan at Ann Arbor. Michigan got hammered at home by Oregon yesterday, 39-7, so that makes Michigan and Notre Dame both 0-2 for the first time in the same season in history. So something has to give next week.

Today, the NFL gets going in earnest with the Giants, Vikings, Jets and Patriots all on the schedule. The Jets and Pats play each other, while the Vikings take on Atlanta and Giants are in Dallas tonight. I'll be catching most of the action today from my favorite watering hole, while keeping a close on eye on the Red Sox game in Baltimore.

Should Tito Rest Dice-K?

Daisuke Matsuzaka looked positively awful again on Saturday night, and got whacked by the lowly, slumping Baltimore Orioles, as he blew a 4-1 lead given to him and the Red Sox went on to lose, 11-5.

He could not control his fastball, and walked in two runs in the third inning. He allowed home runs to those "sluggers" Tike Redman and Scott Moore (both hit their first home runs of 2007), with Moore's being a grand slam. Once again, Daisuke had that one bad inning that cost him the game, as he allowed seven runs in the third before departing. (Jim Palmer tonight pointed out that this was his 8th time this season that he's allowed four or more runs in an inning. Not good.)

Daisuke has been simply terrible since his August 15th start at Fenway against Tampa Bay. Here are the brutal numbers:

Sep 8
@BAL L 2.2 innings, 6 hits, 8 runs, 2 HR, 3 BB, 2 K

Sep 3
TOR W 5.1 innings, 10 hits, 7 runs, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 K

Aug 28
@ NYY L 6.1 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs, 2 HR, 3 BB, 2 K

Aug 22
@ TAM L 6.0 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 HR, 1 BB, 8 K

Aug 15
TAM L 6.0 innings, 8 hits, 6 runs, 0 HR, 3 BB, 5 K

That is an absolutely abominable ERA of 9.62 in his last five starts. He was sensational in July and mid-August. But now he has come crashing down to earth, and you have to wonder if he has indeed hit a wall as I suggested after his last start. I really don't think he's hiding an injury, but the workload he's had this season may have finally caught up with him. The Japanese season is shorter, and he had more rest between starts.

So now Terry Francona has a big decision to make. Daisuke's next scheduled start is this coming Friday night against New York at Fenway. Even the Orioles announcers tonight suggested that it maybe time to give him a rest. The off-day this Thursday for the Red Sox could mean that they could move Josh Beckett to start the Yankee series, and also move Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield up in the rotation.

Daisuke right now does not look like a pitcher ready for the postseason. Watching this performance tonight, I was reminded how shaky Pedro Martinez was going into the 2004 postseason, as he had some lousy starts in September as well. But he wasn't getting hit this hard.

Francona has a tough decision to make going into next weekend. Matsuzaka looks like he needs a rest, and now. The Sox need him for the postseason. He simply can't keep giving them putrid performances like he's been doing the last three weeks.

Tempers Flare as Red Sox Roll On

Jon Lester pitched his best game since he return to the majors last night, pitching seven shutout innings in Baltimore as the Red Sox went 30 games over .500 (86-56) for the first time since late in the 2004 season. They won, 4-0, the club's 13th shutout of the year, but the story of the night happened in the fourth inning.

Coco Crisp was dancing down the line at third as the Red Sox led, 2-0. Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera stopped his windup as he was about to pitch to Dustin Pedroia, and was charged with a balk as Crisp scored. Cabrera really became unhinged, and fired a fastball at Pedroia's head. Luckily he missed, but it led to harsh words being said from both teams. The benches emptied, but no punches were thrown. The umps tossed Cabrera. (I missed it all as I was at KeySpan Park watching the Cyclones win their season finale, 5-4, over the Lowell Spinners.)

It was the 11th straight home loss for Baltimore, a new club record. The Orioles continue their descent down the elevator shaft, as they've now dropped 15 of 17.

Tonight, Daisuke Matsuzaka tries to right his own personal ship as he goes against the other guy whose name is pronounced "Jon Lester," namely, Jon Leicester.

And today's Magic Number Picture belongs to the man called "Boomer" (no, not Chris Berman or David Wells), one-time Red Sox great, George Scott.

Buchholz to the Rescue

It was a back-and-forth game at Camden Yards last night, but the Red Sox ultimately prevailed over Baltimore, 7-6, when Jason Varitek singled in Coco Crisp in the top of the ninth. But the biggest story last night was again the pitching of Clay Buchholz against the Orioles.

He came out of the bullpen and pitched three solid innings. At first, he looked shaky, as he walked two and gave up a single to begin the sixth inning. But he got a 5-2-3 double play, and Kevin Cash made a great throw to nail Miguel Tejada at first. Buch then struck out Kevin Millar to end the Baltimore threat. He showed me some great poise under the pressure of a bases loaded mess, and it seems to be one of his great strengths.

Buchholz then breezed through the last two innings, and the Red Sox score in the ninth gave him his third win. Jonathan Papelbon got a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 34th save.

It was Clamapalooza Night at Professor Thom's last night, and I watched the game and doled out some chowder to the patrons. It was a fun and successful night, as there were seven different types of chowder for everyone to try and vote for the winners. I'm not big on chowder, but most of them were quite good.

Back to the game. Big night for Coco Crisp, who had three hits, a three-run homer, and stole a base that led to the winning run. David Ortiz hit a home run that tied the game at 6. Kevin Youkilis tied the MLB record for consecutive errorless games at first base with 178. On the down side, Tim Wakefield showed some rust after missing his start last weekend, as he gave up 6 runs in just under 4 innings. Wake got his first no-decision of the year after 26 consecutive decisions. But the bullpen did a fine job picking him up.

And J. D. Drew continues to be a lead weight on this team. He came up in yet another clutch situation, this time the eighth with the bases loaded and the game tied with one out. And sure enough, on the first pitch, he grounded into a double play to destroy the rally. More and more, you expect Drew to bomb out in these situations. The fact the Red Sox pulled this game out doesn't mask the fact of what a colossal failure this guy has been.

Today's Magic Number Picture is of one of my favorite Red Sox players of the mid and late 1980s: Kevin Romine, courtesy of Adam from NYC. I always thought he was a good little fourth outfielder. His numbers weren't anything great but he played with heart. Here is his profile: http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rominke01.shtml

Walk Off Balk?

The Cyclones won the McNamara Division title yesterday in a most unusual fashion. Their game with the Lowell Spinners was tied, 2-2 in the 11th inning, and they had runners on first and third with two outs. Spinners pitcher Ryne Miller than committed an obvious balk, and the Cyclones won the game and the division, and will host the Staten Island Yankees in the first round of the NYPL playoffs. The playoffs begin this weekend, and they will host games Monday and Tuesday (if necessary). The playoff rounds in the NYPL are a best-of-three.

"Walk Off Balk?" Sounds silly doesn't it? I never liked that term "walk off." Since when did it become unfashionable to say "game-winning" anymore? Whatever. Congratulations to the Brooklyn Cyclones on their division championship. I'll be there for the season finale tonight, even though the game has little meaning to either team.

Bring home the title, guys. Go Cyclones!

A Special Remembrance at Battery Park

I received an email today about a special event going on this weekend and into next week at Battery Park. A group called NYC911 Memorial Field is setting up over 3000 US flags in the park today in honor of the 9/11 victims, and it will be open to the public tomorrow. It will be available to the public until September 13.

There will also be a Semi Trailer there called The World Memorial, and it has the names of all the 9/11 victims there on the truck. The truck has all different types of remembrances on it for all the victims. Last year they did something very similar to this in Inwood Hill Park (pictured), and this year it will be in Battery Park.

The group has a web site about it you can check out: http://www.nyc911memorialfield.org/

I'll be down in Lower Manhattan this weekend, as well as this coming Tuesday. I look forward to seeing them. It should be something special.

Cyclones One Win Away

I spent last night at KeySpan Park watching the Brooklyn Cyclones take on the Lowell Spinners, who are the Red Sox' team in the New York Penn League. I went with buddy Alex, and as soon as we got into the park, some wiseass ticket-takers began giving us crap. Alex was wearing his Red Sox pullover, and I had on a Red Sox hat. One of them was a Yankee fan (the Cyclones, a Mets affiliate, hires Yankee fans? Not good, guys.) and I left him with just one thought, "7 games." (The lead as of last night.) I could have started in with "2004" but that's like shooting fish in a barrel...

We started out by sitting in the bleachers for the first two innings, and we bumped into Kyle, the fabulous juggler/beer vendor and now a KeySpan legend. There wasn't a big crowd last night (less than 2,000), so we decided to move behind third base.

I bumped into my friend Pat who came to check out the Spinners. Pat's a big Red Sox fan who was also listening to the Red Sox-Blue Jays game from Fenway. (It's amazing at KeySpan. I can get the Red Sox in Boston on the radio and they are over 200 miles away, but I have all kinds of trouble getting the Cyclones games on WKRB, which is a really weak college radio station, inside the ballpark. The Cyclones have to do something about getting on a stronger radio station.)

The game was a pitcher's duel, and Cyclones' Dylan Owen was very impressive, as he struck out 11 and allowed just three hits in seven strong innings. Both teams finally scored a run in the eighth, and something happened in the bottom of the eighth I've never seen before. The Cyclones had first and third and one out, and the batter laid down a safety squeeze. The Spinners' third baseman anticipated it, and grabbed the hard bunt, and tagged the runner out at the plate without flipping the ball to the catcher. An amazing play.

The game stayed tied until Matt Bouchard hit a game-winning homer with one on and two out to give the Cyclones a 3-1 win. The loss officially eliminated the Spinners from any post-season berth, but the Cyclones are now one win away, or Staten Island Yankees loss from winning the McNamara title and getting home-field advantage throughout the NYPL playoffs. They could wrap it up tonight, as they take on the Spinners again. I'll be back again tomorrow night for the regular season finale.

As last night's game progressed, I followed the Red Sox game on my cell for updates. The bullpen let one get away last night, as Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima gave up homers and the Blue Jays won, 5-3. Unfortunately, Okajima has looked very hittable lately, and the innings are taking a toll on him. They need Eric Gagne back and soon. The Sox lead is now at 6. Jason Varitek hit a two-run homer, but the bullpen ultimately let the game get away. And J. D. Drew continues to be a $14 million-per-year big time bust. He came up with the bases loaded in the seventh with one out and a 4-3 lead. A simple fly ball would have added to the lead, but he instead struck out, and heard the boo-birds in force. The Sox didn't score, and Toronto tied it the next inning.

The Red Sox are stuck with this guy for two more years, when they can opt out. When Manny Ramirez returns (hopefully soon), they would be wise to move Jacoby Ellsbury to right and relegate Drew to the bench. He's proving to be one of, if not the worst, Red Sox free agent signing in team history.

He Never Wanted to be a Barber

In honor of seeing the great Michael Palin last night, I found one of the funniest skits Monty Python ever did. "The Lumberjack Song" is one of Monty Python's classics. So above is the complete skit from the TV series, from 1970.

I bet The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are still miffed about it.

Oh, I'm a lumberjack,
and I'm O.K.
I sleep all night
and I work all day.

CHORUS:
He's a lumberjack,
and he's O.K.
He sleeps all night
and he works all day.

I cut down trees,
I eat my lunch,
I go to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays I go shoppin'
And have buttered scones for tea.

Mounties:
He cuts down trees,
he eats his lunch,
He goes to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays he goes shopping
And has buttered scones for tea.

CHORUS:
He's a lumberjack
And he's O.K.
He sleeps all night
And he works all day.

I cut down trees
I skip and jump
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars.

Mounties:
He cuts down trees
he skips and jumps
He likes to press wild flowers
He puts on women's clothing
And hangs around.... In bars?

CHORUS:
He's a lumberjack
And he's O.K.
He sleeps all night
And he works all day.

I cut down trees,
I wear high heels,
Suspendies and a bra.
I wish I'd been a girlie
Just like my dear papa.

Mounties:
He cuts down trees,
he wears high heels
Suspendies... and a bra?

...He's a lumberjack
And he's OKAY.
He sleeps all night
And he works all day.

Michael Palin at Barnes & Noble

Last night I went to Barnes & Noble to see one of my favorite show business personalities, Michael Palin, do a reading from his new book, "Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years."

I only found out about it yesterday morning when I saw a small blurb about his appearance in The New York Daily News. I have long been a huge Monty Python fan, and of Michael's post-Python work. His travel specials are simply a delight to watch.

Michael has put out a new book based on the diaries he's kept since 1969, just as Monty Python's Flying Circus was about to be unleashed. (And it's a huge book, just over 600 pages.) I have seen Michael three times before at different signings of the books based on his travel adventures.

I got to the Barnes & Noble store at Lincoln Center about 30 minutes before the reading and signing was going to start. And there was a big crowd gathered at the section of the store where they hold author readings. All the seats were taken when I finally got the book, but I was let in to some standing room that was available. Those people who could not get in weren't shut out, as there were TV monitors outside the room so they could follow along.

Michael spoke for just over 45 minutes, and he was great with his typical breezy and laid back style. He did different readings from the book, from the beginnings of Monty Python and up until the group hit megastardom with "Life of Brian." The funniest reading he did was of his appearance on "Saturday Night Live" in 1978. It was the show that he opened when he posed as his manager and did an act when he put seafood and two live cats down his pants. He said it went perfect in rehearsal, but live on the air, the cats got overanxious and did their "business" down his pants. Michael was absolutely mortified, but it was not seen on the air. It got roars from the crowd at Barnes & Noble.

Michael took questions after he finished the readings. One person asked him, "Is there a place in the world you would like to go to that you've never been to before?" This was asked in reference to his travel documentaries, as it seems like he's been everywhere. In typical Monty Python fashion, he came out with a beauty: "There are parts of New Jersey I haven't been to." That got big laughs, and applause, probably from the New Jerseyites in the audience.

Michael signed books after the questions, and I waited about 35 minutes before I reached him. (I entertained myself by getting updates on my cell from the Red Sox-Blue Jays game.) I chatted with Michael briefly as he autographed my book. He's always been a real gentleman with the fans at his book signings, chatting amiably with everyone, and he signs just about anything connected to him and Monty Python. (Before the reading, everyone who showed was assured that he would stay to sign everyone's book. And I'm sure he did.)

I left the signing and hustled down to the Village, to Professor Thom's to catch the conclusion of the Red Sox game. (I got there in the seventh inning.) It is for very few things that I'll pass on a Sox game, but a chance to meet Michael Palin is one of those things. Thank you for putting the book together, Michael. I can't wait to get going with it. I'll have a review of the book online when I finish it.

17

It was another big night for the Red Sox at Fenway, as they beat the Toronto Blue Jays again, 5-3, behind another splendid night from Jacoby Ellsbury. He had three hits and hit another home run, this time a two-run job. Dustin Pedroia also had three hits and continued his absolutely torrent hitting.

Josh Beckett pitched another tremendous game, going eight innings, and getting his MLB-leading 17th win of the season. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to get his third straight save in as many days.

Beckett gave up a three-run homer to Matt Stairs, but other than that was in complete command. It was a night that both David Ortiz and Mike Lowell went hitless (ending Lowell's hitting streak), but Ellsbury and Pedroia more than made up for it. Terry Francona would be wise to just leave Ellsbury in left for now, and rest Manny Ramirez for as look as he needs it. No reason to rush him back, as the Sox need a fully healed Manny for October. Ellsbury has given the club an incredible spark, and at just the right time.

The Yankees won handily in the Bronx, so the Magic Number drops another digit. Today we honor a Red Sox legend in the Magic Number Picture on the left, a man who dominated Mickey Mantle in his prime, and was one of the best reasons to come out to see the Red Sox in the dark days of the early 1960s. He was known simply as "The Monster." (And I guess that photo is of Fenway's two most famous "Monsters.")

The late, great Dick Radatz.

A Triumphant Return

I caught Pedro Martinez' return to the Mets yesterday. While he clearly isn't the same pitcher he was 3 or 4 years ago, he gritted out 5 innings and 76 pitches to get his first win of 2007. Pedro also struck out Aaron Harang in the second inning for his career 3,000 strikeout, as he became just the 15th pitcher in MLB history to reach that plateau.

It was quite the shot in the arm the Mets needed. He returned to the Mets after they were swept in Philadelphia, and they've looked like a different team since. They are now on a four-game winning streak. After yesterday's game, he said he felt good, and could even have gone on longer (but of course, the Mets wouldn't have dared do that).

Pedro didn't air it out, as his fastball hit the radar gun at a high of 90 MPH in his next-to-last pitch. In the first inning he looked a bit shaky as you'd might expect, giving up two runs. But then he settled in and toughed it out for five innings and got the win, as the mets beat Cincinnati, 10-4.

His pitching line for the day:
5 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, 76 pitches (47 strikes)

Everyone around the Mets, and especially Pedro, was very pleased with his first outing of 2007. He's come all the way back from his rotator cuff surgery.

Good to have you back and effective, Pedro.

Is Dice-K Hitting the Wall?

I expected to see a baseball game at Fenway last night, but what did I see? A score reminiscent of many NFL games.

A 10-1 laugher in the sixth inning over the Toronto Blue Jays turned into a game that made just about all of Red Sox Nation do a collective sweat. This looked like a game the Sox could coast to a win, but that didn't happen.

The Sox haven't scored runs for Daisuke Matsuzaka lately, as it seemed like he would always go out there, pitch seven solid innings and have nothing to show for it, as it seemed the offense would always give him two runs or less.

But last night, the Sox gave him 10 runs after just four innings, so it seemed like a victory was assured. But Dice-K did everything to make it interesting. He was raked over the coals in the sixth, as he gave up six runs in the inning, including a three-run homer to Troy Glaus. Terry Francona finally came to his senses and got him out of there, but Javier Lopez allowed two more runs, as he couldn't find the plate. Manny Delcarmen finally got the Sox out of the inning, but Toronto scored eight runs, and a nine run lead was suddenly a one-run lead. And if not for a sliding catch by Jacoby Ellsbury, it actually might have been tied.

The game was one of those "nothing ever comes easy with the Sox" games. The Yankees had lost to the Mariners this afternoon, so a golden opportunity to put some more distance between them looked like it was rapidly evaporating. Watching the last four innings was pure hell last night.

But the Sox offense answered back the eight runs with three more of their own, and the Red Sox bullpen shut down Toronto the rest of the way to gain a 13-10 win. It took over four hours, and probably took about five years off my life watching that lead drop.

Getting the Ws is most important, but Dice-K looked horrific in that sixth inning. He pitched five good innings before the roof caved in. In his last two outings, he's given up 12 earned runs in the last 11+ innings. You have to wonder if the longer American season has taken a toll on him. In Japan, they play 140 regular season games, and Dice-K pitched in a six-man rotation.

Coming down the stretch, it will be interesting to see how the Red Sox use Dice-K. I would bet Tito will try to get him more rest, especially when the postseason rolls around.

The Red Sox are now 7 up in the American League East, and with the Yankees loss at home, the Red Sox Magic Number is now at the number of the man pictured in this post. Can you remember him? He played on some Sox teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s. I always liked this guy....one Carlos Quintana. (Thanks to my friend Adam in NYC for the photo.)

Yes, I could have used Dice-K's pic, or that guy who wore his number before him. (His name currently escapes me.) But I don't write about Carlos Quintana every day on this blog.

Trivia Postponed

The final night of Monday Night Trivia didn't happen last night, as we didn't have a big enough turnout because of Labor Day, so we decided not to have the contest. So, for those of you looking for Trivia Q&A from last night, stop looking.

Our next night of Trivia will be on Tuesday night, September 11, at about 9:30 PM, or when the Red Sox-Tampa Bay Devil Rays game concludes. (Actually, the Red Sox game ended after 11 PM tonight, due to the slugfest that went on. But we would have started during the game if enough players were able to take part.)

I will roll over General Knowledge, IQ Trivia and True or False Trivia questions and answers to next week's quiz. There will be a new set of Current Events questions and a special category to be named.

Hope to see you next Tuesday at Professor Thom's.

Pedro's Back

The Mets are getting a big shot in the arm today as Pedro Martinez (shown here with his good buddy Mr. Ortiz) will make his first start of the 2007 season, and first in over a year, as the Mets take on the Reds in Cincinnati. (It is also where he made his Mets debut in 2005.)

The Mets are just coming off a sweep in Atlanta over the Braves, a nice bounceback from the four-game disaster in Philadelphia. Just Pedro's mere presence back on the pitching staff should be enough push for the rest of the club to keep it going and get to the playoffs.

Originally it looked like Pedro was going to make a rehab start with the Brooklyn Cyclones today, but the Mets decided that Pedro was ready to go with the big club. (That's a shame, as I would love to have seen him pitch at KeySpan Park.) I heard over the weekend that the Mets have Pedro on a pitch count of about 75 pitches today, but if all goes well, I wouldn't be surprised to see him go a little bit longer.

Good luck Pedro. Nice to see you back. You were definitely missed.