It's My Lucky Day, May 4 2013

"The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky Home,
'Tis summer, the people are gay;
The corn-top's ripe, and the meadow's in the bloom, 
While the birds make music all the day."

First verse of My Old Kentucky Home, by Stephen C. Foster


Oh what a glorious day! Just like A.J. Griffin last night A's fans, I will be crooning this wonderful little toon around 6 p.m. EST.  The Derby, the Kentucky Derby is finally here.  Break out your hats, adult beverages or two (Mint Juleps if that's how you roll!), grab the kids and grandparents and settle in next to the flat screen.  It's Derby time, and all is right in the world!

Drama, intrigue, story lines, 160,000 people going bonkers, mammals that run like the wind, I am getting giddy just writing about it!  Man this race has it all--a female jockey, a black-american jockey, a horse owned by National Championship Basketball Coach Rick Pitino who is himself is no stranger to drama (he had some issues with faithfulness to his spouse!), Calvin Mr. Ride the Rail and come from behind Borel in the saddle, did I mention I was giddy?

So who am I predicting?  Well in honor of Cinco De Mayo manana, I have got to go with Normandy Invasion, running from the 5 hole.  (I don't know if that is customary vernacular to use a batting order term, but hey, give me another mocha or slurpee, I am keyed up people!)  You all know how loyal I can be, well, when I am not driving bandwagons anyway, so I am still pulling for my horse, Itsmyluckyday!  With a driver named Elvis, you know that horse will rocking and rolling--hah hah!  Man, though, no way I can go against Calvin Borel--in 2009 Borel rode Mind That Bird, a 50-1 longshot, 50 to o n e, to victory--from the back of the pack mind you! Goldencents, Verrazono, and Orb are the morning line favorites.  There has got to be a perfectly swell exciting grandeous mesmorizing explanation for that artistically creative name of Orb. 

(Man my thoughts are so all over the place, I feel like Ray Fosse announcing! Fosse is the one-time A's catcher who is most famous for getting plowed by Pete Rose in the 1970 All-Star game.  Ray is a bit of a homer, who, well, has unique and distinct oratation style! He turns answers into questions, which even the SF Chron writers in the Sunday Pink Section have noticed!)

So settle in people, settle, post time is 6:24 EST. 

NorCal sports, are you kidding me?  A's shut out the brittle Bronx Bombers who have just been hammered with injuries.  Does not matter, a win is a win is a win. The A's, Angels, Mariners, and Rangers all pitched shut out's last night.  Perhaps the AL West is the Best?  Think these teams are glad that Commisioner Selig actually made a decsion and moved the Lastros on over?  Does Calvin Borel like the rail baby!

The Warriors.  Who had them in the Final Eight of the NBA?  Oh, I see a lot of hands up out there wearing those yellow t-shirts.  You know what, and you heard it here first, the W's can beat the Spurs.  The matchup with San Antonio should be a great one.  Who saw the Warriors and the Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals?  Yes, I know, I am getting ahead a little.

The Gigos--Giants fans are stilling grinning from the Bus going down town in the bottom of the ninth to knock off the D$dger$ 2-1.  So if the Dodgers miss the playoffs by a 5 games or less, think that Greinke tackle of of Carlos Quentin comes into play?  Classic boneheadedness.  See Gigos, I CAN make you smile.  People always think I am Dodgers fan--is it the Davey Lopes style mustache?  Kills me.

Then, just after the Bus goes deeps, the Sharks, the Shaaaawks, the future home of the A's Sharks, scoreeeeeeeeee in OT to stun the Conucks.  (What's a Conuck, is it like a Conoli, um yum.)  My ojos are so bad and viejo, I can't even tell if the puck goes in. Remember when ESPN did the orange puck, I love that?
So, I just watch the reaction of the goalie--when the puck goes in, the goalie drops the head with that "ah man" look.  2-0 Sharks.  It ain't over, but the way I look at things, (if you have ever seen my run you would know why!) I would always prefer to be in front.  Sure there is more pressure out in front, sure the team or opponent coming from the back gives all the haymakers, but I will always take a wire to wire win. Always.

Is this the best year ever for NorCal professional sports?  The 70's were great for Oaktown, you know Super Bowl win, 1 2 3 World Series wins in a row, consecutive style; NBA title for the W's.  I mean had the Niners just ran the ball one of the last four plays of the Super Bowl, just once, well, San Franciscans would have been going nuts.  Regardless, I would contend that yes indeed, the past 12 months has been pretty golden. With that, cue Lights by Journey, and have a wonderful weekend.

There is even a compelling boxing tilt  this evening in Mayweather vs. Guerrero, for you old school types.

Did I mention I was taking my favorite son Noah and his buddy to see Iron Man 3 today.?  I know what you are thinking, great parenting.  You are probably asking just how old the boy is aren't you?  Like I tell my household, I ask the questions, and I do the jokes!  Now cue the Black Sabbath version of Iron Man, and it's on. Yeahhhh baby, it's my lucky day!