NOTABLOG MONTHLY ARCHIVES: 2002 - 2020

SEPTEMBER 27, 2007

Holy Cow, indeed! After a miserable start to the season, the Yanks came roaring back and have clinched the Wild Card in the American League. Post-season starts next week! Stay tuned!

Comments

Oh the Yankees... the cause of and solution to all of baseball's problems.

Posted by: david | September 28, 2007 04:57 PM

Even though I'm happy for the Yanks that they got in, I think it's a sad commentary on the state of sports that they had to do it via the Wild Card artifice.

Good luck in the playoffs!

Posted by: Micah Tillman | October 1, 2007 09:43 AM

Thanks for your comments, folks.

On the Yankees: Yes, it's true... they've encapsulated some of the best and some of the worst tendencies in the sport. But one of the things that I am most happy about is that the winning teams of the 1990s were known to balance the experience of veterans and the excitement of youth. I am delighted that the higher-ups finally decided not to give away the farm (literally) in their quest for a postseason presence. Since 2001, they've just not done the right thing with regard to the team's long-term stability and talent. They forgot that the success of the 1990s was built on so much homegrown talent.

So I can say: Even if the team does not go to the World Series, their success, this year, was terrific (and, for this fan, somewhat of a surprise). It is as much due to the youthful exuberance of Joba, Melky, Cano, Duncan, etc., as it is to the veteran greatness of A-Rod, Derek, and Posada.

Micah, in general, I agree with you about the Wild Card (though the Yanks and other teams have gone all the way to a World Series Championship on the strength of the Wild Card). But the sport has changed so much over the years (and some sports, like basketball, seem to provide a whole second season where every team seems to qualify). Nevertheless, I don't think there is any chance that MLB will ever turn back the clock at this point.

While we could go back to the way it was in the pre-division days of baseball, when the teams with the best season record in each league went to the World Series, it is also very clear that these playoffs are now big business and fan-driven, and more tiers of postseason competition have, no doubt, sparked lots of fan interest and team revenue.

It should be noted, however, that as long as we do have divisions in baseball, it's often the case that a second-place team in one division, which has won the Wild Card, might actually have a better (or equal) record than any of the teams that have "legitimately" won their specific divisions. The Yanks, for example, have an identical 2007 record (as a second place team in the East) as the first place team (the LA Angels) in the West.

Anyway, good luck to your Phillies, Micah.

While we're on the subject of the NL East: I'm quite astonished at the collapse of the New York Mets. Yankees fan though I am, I really took it for granted that the Mets would be in the postseason. But my brother and sis-in-law, who are Mets fans, were warning me for months, that the team just might not have enough to get to the finish line.

So, to all you Mets fans out there: My condolences!

Posted by: Chris Matthew Sciabarra | October 1, 2007 05:43 PM

Subsequent events have since shown that when the Red Sox take the express train to the World Series, they need no longer make a stopover in the Bronx.

Concerning the famed Boston-NY rivalry: Been there, done that, Red Sox Nations has since moved on.

Posted by: Jim Farmelant | October 22, 2007 10:43 AM

Agreed, actually; now, however, they must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that they can WIN the World Series, without going through the Bronx. :)

I'd say they are off to a good start and the Curse of the Bambino is long dead. :)

BTW, whatever one's views of Rudy Giuliani (and I'll discuss his presidential candidacy as the Election season matures...)... I'm SUPER-pissed at one of the Yankees #1 cheerleaders, who is now backing the Sawx for the World Series. WTF??? :)

(BTW, Jim, I know I promised to address the second edition of the Kevin Brien book... and I will. Promise! Very delayed in these parts. But I hope to get to it sooner than later, and to a new book by Theodore A. Burczak, called SOCIALISM AFTER HAYEK. Soon!)

Posted by: Chris Matthew Sciabarra | October 25, 2007 08:58 AM

Chris, why are you, a Brooklynite, such a Yankees fan? I have a few friends here in San Diego who are from Brooklyn; they hate the Dodgers for abandoning the borough, but their hatred for the Yankees remains. I understand your brother is a Mets fan.

Posted by: Mick Russell | November 6, 2007 02:07 AM

Mick, ironically, Rudy Giuliani, who grew up in Brooklyn, also rooted for the Yanks when the Dodgers were the darlings of Brooklyn... but I think it has been a little better for those of my generation---all of whom were born after the Dodgers left the borough---to root for the Bronx Bombers. We didn't feel the "sting" of abandonment.

Most of the former Dodger (and Giants) fans stayed with the National League, of course, and went on over to root for the Mets (who even took a little bit of the Giants [orange] and a little bit of the Dodgers [blue] for their team colors... see here).

Actually, my mother and uncle, my sister, and others in my family were always Yankees fans... so I guess I had a head start!

Posted by: Chris Matthew Sciabarra | December 2, 2007 06:46 PM

I just read this in the NY TIMES:

According to census statistics, more than 85 percent of today�s 2.5 million Brooklynites were either not yet born or living outside the United States when the Dodgers packed up after the 1957 season.

Now that's very intersting, in light of Mick's comments about the Dodgers and Brooklyn!

Posted by: Chris Matthew Sciabarra | December 4, 2007 08:18 AM

SEPTEMBER 23, 2007

Song of the Day: Ride Like the Wind features the music, lyrics, and performance of Christopher Cross. An 80s hit, the song also boasts superb backing vocals by Michael McDonald. Listen to an audio clip here and take a look at this YouTube video clip and this one too. As we prepare to rake the wind-swept leaves of fall, a Happy Autumn to one and all!

SEPTEMBER 20, 2007

There are several essays out there discussing the forthcoming 50th anniversary of Ayn Rand's novel, Atlas Shrugged. One such essay, written by A. J. Vogl, editor of The Conference Board Review, was just published in the magazine's September-October 2007 issue. Vogl interviewed me, among others, for his article, and a summary of my own comments appears here.

I also note my fellow JARS editor, Roderick Long's recent post, "Atlas Plugged," which provides another example of Rand's influence on comics (something I discussed in my essay, "The Illustrated Rand").

There will be more on the golden anniversary of Atlas in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Also noted on Liberty & Power Group Blog.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2007

Song of the Day: Jeopardy (not that one) features the music and lyrics of Greg Kihn and Steve Wright. Listen to an audio clip of the original Greg Kihn Band hit.  And check out an audio clip of the Weird Al Yankovic lyrical twist on this song.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2007

Song of the Day: Jeopardy (Think Music), composed by the late, great Merv Griffin, is one of the most recognizable TV themes of all time, and one of my favorites too! Listen to an audio clip here. With tonight's showing of the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, we conclude our third annual mini-tribute to TV Themes!

SEPTEMBER 15, 2007

Song of the Day: The Flintstones features the words and music of Hoyt Curtin, Joseph Barbera and William Hanna. The show was inspired by another one of my all-time favorites: "The Honeymooners." Listen to an audio clip of the TV theme here. And check out the Jacob Collier and SuperMilesio renditions.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2007

Song of the Day: American Bandstand (Bandstand Boogie) features the music of Charles Albertine, Les Elgart, Larry Elgart, and Bob Horn and the lyrics of Bruce Howard Sussman and Barry Manilow. Listen to audio clips by Les Elgart and His Orchestra and Barry Manilow.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2007

Song of the Day: Brian's Song ("The Hands of Time"), music by Michel Legrand, lyrics by Marilyn and Alan Bergman, was the main theme from the poignant television movie of the same name, starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. Listen to audio clips of versions by Sarah Vaughan and Michel Legrand.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

Song of the Day: Secret Agent Man, words and music by P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri, was performed by Johnny Rivers, whose version hit #3 in 1966. Today kicks off the 2007 mini-tribute to TV Themes. Listen to audio clips from Johnny Rivers and The Ventures.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2007

This year, as part of my ongoing annual series, "Remembering the World Trade Center," I have posted the newest installment, a Notablog exclusive: "Charlie: To Build and Rebuild."

It tells the story of Charlie Pomaro, who, as a young man, helped to build the Twin Towers, and who, in 2001, helped to pick up the shattered pieces.

For those who would like to read previous installments of my series, I provide this index:

2001: As It Happened
2002: New York, New York
2003: Remembering the World Trade Center: A Tribute
2004: My Friend Ray
2005: Patrick Burke, Educator
2006: Cousin Scott

Cross-posted at L&P.

Comments

Chris, how did you manage to get in touch with one of the people who worked on it? Just curious.

Posted by: Nick Manley | September 12, 2007 09:53 PM

Nick, Charlie is a friend of the family. Alas, so many friends and colleagues were touched by that tragedy... and so many people we knew were killed.

I'm glad I continue to add to the roll call of remembrance each year.

Posted by: Chris Matthew Sciabarra | October 1, 2007 05:21 PM

SEPTEMBER 06, 2007

Song of the Day: O Sole Mio, music by Eduardo di Capua, lyrics by Giovanni Capurro, is one of the most famous Neapolitan songs ever written. I post it in honor of Luciano Pavarotti, the great Italian tenor, who passed away today. Listen to audio clips of renditions by Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, Placido Domingo, and, of course, Luciano himself. Rest in peace.