The New Randy Johnson

Michael Pineda is the new Randy Johnson.  I know he has had only 8 starts, but the feelings I get when he takes the mound are the same feelings I used to feel when the Big Unit would take the mound.  The anticipation of Pineda's start yesterday was killing me.  I just knew that playing a terrible Twins team that this was going to be the moment when he would get his first of at least 10 career no hitters.  This is how I always felt when Randy would go up against an inferior opponent.  As it was he only gave up 3 hits and no runs in 7 innings and struck out 7 (4 out of the first 6 were strikeout victims).  I can't wait for his next start already which should be this Saturday against the terrible hitting San Diego Padres.  I'm already licking my lips in anticipation.

Osama Bin Laden

Last night, I was having trouble sleeping.  I was lying in bed thinking about all of my problems when I heard my phone indicate I had received a text message.  Normally, I don't check my text messages once I go to bed, but last night I needed something to take my mind off of what I was thinking about.  I went downstairs to discover a tweet from a friend that said

"Obama to talk shortly on Bin Laden's death. I kinda hope he drinks BL's blood on live tv. Speculators leave commodity markets tomorrow???"

At first I dismissed it, but then I was thinking did I miss something.  I checked more tweets and sure enough that's what everyone was talking about.  I called out to my wife to wake up and come downstairs and witness history.  We tuned into CNN to watch Obama give his speech.  They cut away to a small crowd cheering at the Whitehouse.  I told my wife that I kind of want to join them and we laughed.  The itch though started getting stronger and stronger as they kept cutting away to the growing crowd.  As Obama started speaking I looked at my wife and she knew, she said go and be safe.  I was dressed and out the door in about a minute.  I hopped on the 66 and was in DC in about 10 minutes.  There was very little traffic other than a few empty taxis.  I parked in front of the Washington Monument and joined a small crowd heading to the Whitehouse.

The crowd continued to grow as I got closer to the Whitehouse.  Everyone was getting excited as people were half running half walking.  Cars were driving by honking their horns including taxis.  When I got there the crowd was pretty full, but I was able to move to the middle and get within 20 to 30 feet of the Whitehouse fence. 
 

People were chanting USA! USA! USA! and singing patriotic songs like God Bless America and the National Anthem.  Some people sang the song from Team America World Police (America, F--- Yeah).  The Nah Nah Nah hey hey good bye song was sung also.  I have some video I took with my cell phone that captured some of the singing. 

 Here are a few other photos that I took while at the Whitehouse:

I think my favorite part is that for the most part I didn't see anyone being too political.  Almost everyone there was unified as Americans rather than promoting one party or another.

Memphis vs. OKC

This matchup is probably the worst thing that could have happened.  The team I root for in the NBA playoffs is whoever plays the hated Oklahoma City Thunder, but now it's the team that was stolen from our brothers to the North.  It's kind of like the presidency for me.  I don't like either one and I don't know which one to throw my vote behind.  I'm definitely leaning toward Memphis, but I know how people in Vancouver feel about losing their team.  The other problem I have is that I can't just ignore the series because I miss NBA basketball so much and having a team to root for.  I miss the Sonics and want the Thunder to play poorly even though I love watching that team play ball.  They have great players, who were drafted by Seattle, in Westbrook and Durant who play basketball the right way.  I will probably still root for the Memphis Grizzlies (btw, it's silly when teams move and they don't change their name, I'm looking at you Utah) because it will pain me much more if the Blunder win the championship than the Grizzlies.  I just wish it wouldn't have come to this and it makes me sad that if we get another team we'll have to steal it from another city.  I just hope Sonics fans can be more respectful to the other city than the Blunder fans were to us.

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