Many Thanks

Being Thankful in the Get Down Lounge......

*Is there anyone more thankful today than the fans of those frisky Auburn Tigers? What a finish! By the way, many moons ago I drove by Auburn U.  For those of you from NorCal, I remember driving through a town, that resembled Ryde California, then BAM, all of sudden there is this massive football stadium.  For you CenCal folks, use Traver for the imagery.  I remember thinking at the time, Auburn every country boy's dream school.  (Fans of Bama and the Georgia Bulldogs, perhaps not so thankful this year!)

*In a perfect world, I would have been in Palo Alto taking in the Irish and the Cardinal.  Maybe in two years--if anyone has tickets, I will drive!

*Since football takes first billing....oh my has it been a tough decade for Raider fans.  Tough, Tough, Tough.
Since the NFL is truly a QB's league, how many games would the Raiders win if Payton or Brady or Rogers was their QB?  I know, pretty good question huh?  One maybe two more draft Raider fans, then ideally things will turn around.  They need players--play ERS.  In order, draft an OL, DL, WR, RB, LB, DB, and then see what happens.  I am not sure about McGloin (I just can't help myself and call him McGroin!) and Pryor, but, this team needs more than just a QB.  Seabass has really struggled as well, and in a league with such parity, the Raiders brass may have a tough call on what do with the Polish Cannon!. Although Gruden is making a ton of cash in the booth, I just wonder if he might like to return someday and finish what he started?

*Isn't it eerie, how construction workers have died working stadiums for the Niners and the World Cup in Brazil.  Sad and eerie.  Someone brought it to my attention that I belive in conspiracy theories--and after some introspection on the topic....yes, yes I do!  I also believe in ghosts, and those stadiums, well, I don't want to say they are cursed, but... (whenver anyone uses but or however after a wishy-washy statement, it just can't be good!  Think breakups!!).

*With the Hot Stove cranking up, if you like me are an A's fans you have got to chuckle--or cry!  The A's big acquisition thus far, Nick Punto ladies and gentlemen, Nick Punto.  The A's are hoping for a Johny Gomes nose-in-the-dirt-leader type of guy on this one.  Time will tell, all I can say is BULLPEN BILLY, BULLPEN!  The Gigos made a splash with the signing of Tim Hudson and the recent signing of fan favorite Ryan Vogelsong.  Thus Giant Nation I ask the following question:  with essentially the same linup coming back, is the offense good enough?  Yes health is a concern, but the Giants were not very good last year and they are bringing back essentially the same time.  Minus Barry of course.  I would think Giants are feeling pretty good right about now, buy my question is should they?

*Yankees sign McCann, eh, no surprise, it would seem the Bombers might want some pitching?  Rangers and Tigers swap a pair of sticks in Kinsler for Felder.  Shouldn't both of those teams be looking at reliever?
How about the Twins, signing Nolasco?  Anything to get Detroit out of the playoffs.  The Red Sox are the new Moneyball--they have money, and they spend it wisely on ball players!  The Dodgers also added and another former Athletic in Dan Haren.  Lots of moves out there still to be made.

*So when I can't sleep, I watch my own edited version of Moneyball.  If you haven't seen it yet, (come on man, get over it) and watch it. Red Sox fans love it!   Next time you watch it, make sure you check out the  "deleted" scene with Art Howe.  Hilarious!  They should have left it in--I don't want to spoil it for you but I wonder if indeed Beane pulled that move?  Great lines in that scene with Billy talking about Bradford.  Watch it more than once, and your are going go laugh.  The section with the film makers also really struck a cord with me.  They referred to the Coliseum, as a piece of history, a character so to speak.  Which got me thinking, has any stadium seen more than the good old Oakland Alameda Coliseum?  NFL Playoff Games, World Series, heck even the Day on the Green concerts from the 70's?  (You with me old dudes?)  It was really cool and touching the way the directors described the coli. So cool it made my eyes water.  If you like Brad Pitt, and the dude is charming, the blooper scene with him laughing is pretty good as well.

*My new standard line which I have taken from the movie, "Pete, you're a good egg."

*Thus as some of you know, my family, has been dealing with people getting older, and all of the health issues that come along with it.  For those who have lost parents, I have a much greater empathy and sympathy with your experiences.  Mortality Reality I call it.  For those of you "youngsters," just remember to make time for the people that matter most.  Our world moves so fast--and it will keep on moving with or without us--just stop and not only smell the roses, but spend time with the gardeners.

*Thus, here near the end of this Thanksgiving Weekend 2013, I raise my glass to friends and family and foes and all of you around the world; to conspiracies, ghosts, and of course, my second home, the O.Co.  Finally, to that wonderful Raider fan who helped saved a woman's life by breaking her fall as she jumped from the 3rd deck at the Coli, you good sir will always have a spot in the Get Down Lounge!