As of right now, it’s the day after watching that 3 Ring Circus known as Game 1 of the World Series.  The Cardinals withstood (and brought on themselves) a major beatdown at the hands of the Boston Red Sox.  Of course, by the time I finish writing this they’ll probably be up in the Series 3-1, in which case – nevermind, it’s all good, you can stop reading my little rant now and just move on with your day.  Until then, I’ll continue my whine and my meal of sour grapes.  Also, a personal disclaimer,  I don’t ‘hate’ anyone, I wasn’t brought up that way.  A strong disliking – well, that’s another story.  I really ‘dislike’ the Yankees and the Dodgers, and the Red Sox run a very close third place.

Since they’re all complete strangers, for all I know they’re a bunch of great guys, donating a ton of their time and money to help sick kids when they’re not busy volunteering  at their church.  I think I’ll just keep pretending that they’re a bunch of pretty-boy prima donnas, it’ll make writing this a lot easier!

First of all, I’m feeling like I need a shave about every 10 minutes when I watch a WS game.  I’m already sick of seeing all of the ridiculously stupid beards all the players grew.  Johnny Gomes, their left fielder, looks like one of the dwarves from that movie The Hobbit  (not that I’m actually gonna see this movie.  I mean, C’mon.) or the Traveling Gnome from the Travelocity commercials.  And Mike nappy-beard Napoli is in those ‘Messin’ with Sasquatch’ ads.  He looks like one of the Duck Dynasty guys.  Some guys look good in beards and can pull them off.  Not these chowda’ heads.

Secondly, I realize that Fenway Park is rich in tradition and history and blah, blah, blah, but as a 21st Century ballpark it flat out sucks.  The only other park that comes to mind that was built way back then is also a terrible major league baseball stadium – Wrigley Field.  It features a solid brick and camouflaged wall in the outfield.  Could it be any more dangerous?  Unlike Wrigley, when the owners of the Red Sox built Fenway just after the turn of last century they didn’t want their neighbors to be able to peer in and watch the games for free.  Their solution?  Build an enormous 37’ wall in the outfield to block their view.  Apparently, the neighbors just beyond right field had little interest in baseball because they built a wall just tall enough for outfielders to either flip over or seriously harm their ribcage on when chasing down a fly ball.  Also, I’m not positive about this but I’m pretty sure that the other 29 ballparks throughout major league baseball don’t allow fans to sit in the ‘Batter’s Eye’ area out in center field.  Not Fenway though.  They managed to cram a seat into every available area, including the ones smack dab behind support columns that hold up the upper deck.  Can you imagine paying $750 for a World Series ticket only to find yourself sitting in a seat that doesn’t let you see the action?  What a stupid park.

And finally, this doesn’t have anything to do with Boston but it is World Series related, know what else hacks me off?  Tim McCarver.  For some reason that guy just gets on my nerves.  He always sounds negative about the Cardinals, it’s not the current team’s fault that he was traded away from St. Louis to Philadephia, in 1969.  Freakin’ get over it.  Know how I came up with that theory?  You guessed it – talk radio.  He reminds me of our local color guy, Al Hrabosky.  I’m sure that he too said one or two dumb things at one time.  Now he sounds stupid every time he opens his mouth, even though he’s probably forgotten more about baseball than I’ll ever know.  By the way, did you know that Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams went to college in Slippery Rock, PA?  Know why I know that?  Because Tim McCarver told me about it 17 times.  Who cares!?!  Did you also know that I went to UMSL about 25 years ago?  Great.  Let’s all move along now.  Tim has some more inconsequential tidbits of information he wants to share with us.

Whew!  (Deep breath.)  Do I feel better now.  Am I totally a hometown sports team fan?  Definitely.  Do I have a chip on my shoulder when it comes to either coast?  Yep.  Do I use this blog as my own personal soapbox so I can rant and rave about whatever is currently ticking me off?  Occasionally!