On The Sly

I would like to add to the discussion regarding pro sports, specifically coaches and athletes who leave their teams without fulfilling their contracts. Maybe I am old school, but a contract is a contract (Nick Saban?) As a lifelong Red Sox fan, the thought of praising a Yankee player has never entered my mind, but I have to praise Hideki Matsui, who not only stated that he would not ask to renegotiate his contract but also apologized to each of his teammates when he was injured and would be unable to play. I wonder if Barry Bonds or Manny Ramirez would ever do that?

I just took my son to his first NBA game and while we had a great time the thought of paying $72 EACH just to go watch a game still repulses me. Sure, we got to see LeBron, but, really, $144 just to go watch a game?!

(Foxy's note: Welcome aboard, UPS Dave! I know you've been a reader of On the Sly for some time now, so glad to have you as a contributor!)

I agree that there is too much internet yak, to a point at least. I'm glad that we have the internet as I have several friends in other countries and those phone bills would be astronomical. Also, I couldn't be entertained by this blog without "cyber space".

As far as seeking medical attention if your erection persists for more than 4 hours.... what exactly are they going to do for you? Some of the visuals that I get, when I think of that, might make men shudder in fear.

But, most importantly, you asked if the squirrels were doing anything to make your life better. Ask not what the squirrels can do for you, but what you can do for your squirrels.

(Foxy's note: You borrow from history very nicely, Kathy, for your comment on squirrels. I say, "The only thing we have to fear is squirrels themselves!")

TELL UNCLE FRED THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE FRED HERE IN MB. ONE OTHER PERSON YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE, FRED, IS GEORGE STEZE. I BOWL WITH GEORGE EVERY MONDAY NIGHT. YES FRED I KNOW WHERE MY CLUBS ARE.

The Science Guy (Mr. Bordeau) did a great job in helping an English major understand the nuances of nature in Plattsburgh. However, another clarification needs to be made to a response below. Antibiotics are not prescribed for viruses. They are only used for bacterial infections. And yes, antibiotics are becoming ineffective for some bacterial-related illnesses.

(Foxy's note: Glad to have those two "science guys" on board at On the Sly. I hope you'll continue to keep this English major on he right track!)

Foxy, I seem to remember, it wasn't too long ago Major League Baseball tried to get rid of a couple of teams. The Montreal Expo's were supposed to break up, and not become a new team in Washington. I remember all the talk that the Minnesota Twins were one of the front runners, on the American League side to no longer exsist. What a GREAT year in baseball would have been missed if that had happened in 2006. I agree that there are too many teams, but say if a Dodger, Mets, and Twins team had a bad season, would it be fair to eliminate those teams who have been a part of World Series History?? I also believe the drug, insurance, cell phone, and even food commercials should be not eliminated, but not so often, and with a little better taste. Some of those medicines may have side effects worse than what the illness they are treating it for. I will say though, some commercials are very funny, and sometimes better than regular weekly shows.

I have no problem, now, with professional "sports", I just don't watch them. When "athletes" became entertainers, the whole premise of sports changed. I is the magic word now. Team ball has almost disappeared in professional basketball. Too many teams in every "sport" has diluted the talent pool and left us with average and below average "athletes'. Some of these guys, in professional sports, make more money than the gross national product of some countries of the world. Something is wrong with that. Oh well, guess who pays for their salaries? We do of course. Even if you don't watch the games, in person, you buy the products they endorse. Enough of this banter. I would like to ask Skip, that if I venture to M.B., could I get the Wicker to caddie for me? Just tell the Wicker that I'll bring his golf clubs from the pond. He'll know what I mean. See ya, folks.

All sports evolve- If there is money to be made. The media moguls create the "heroes", feed the egos, and promote the aberrant behaviors of these sports showmen juat as PT Barnum did. "There's a sucker born every minute." We BUY into this sports charade and fill the offshore accounts of these athletic charlatans and clowns.
I don't pretend to know the answer to return the professional aports scene to the "good ole days" but just tolerate it and take with me the best of it and complain about the worst of it.
Probably the most ironic of all commercials on TV are those that promote credit cards one minute then immediately after that a commercial that tries to help those who fell for the credit card spiel to get out of credit card debt that is ruining people.
I wonder if there were fewer insurance commercials and the companies took the money they saved, would our insurance rates go down?
Well, that's it for now. I'll be seeing some of you shortly down here in Myrtle Beach when the cold finally arrives up there. Foxy, the Bloody Marys down here are not as good as home.

(Foxy's note: Thanks for your perspective, Skip. As for the Bloody Marys, that clinches it! I'm staying here!)

1. I'm not sure we need less baseball teams but would love if we could ever go back to players having to stay with their teams that drafted them until traded or retired. Then the real good managers and general managers could show their stuff.
2. I have no problem with squirrels but would love the skunks to go south or whatever skunks do in January. Definitely should not see a skunk walking about the city this time of the year.
3. No problem with toothpaste except I'd still rather it be called teethpaste.
4. I remember the year or so that channel 22 went off the air. That was traumatic. Only the lucky ones with a rotorary antenna could get channel 8 from Poland Springs, Maine.
5. Not so sure about the medicines but I am upset by the health department encouraging people in recent TV advertisements to stay home if you don't feel well. Back in my day people were expected to be at work if they were alive.

Foxy, there haven't been elm trees in Plattsburgh since the 1970s due to dutch elm disease. The population of the USA has doubled since 1950 to over 300 million today so why not all those baseball teams? It gives all those young players hope and more chances to make it. All animals occupy their niches in nature, so all the "squirrels" are doing just what they are supposed to do.

(Foxy's note: Russ, I am going to call you "the Science Guy" from now on!)

Foxy,
I agree with you, there are too many baseball teams. The last expansion of Arizona and Tampa Bay was all about franchise fees going to the other owners. However, the players union will never allow teams to fold.
Also, too many people are addicting themselves to over the counter medication. At the first sign of a sniffle or ache, they pop something. To make it worse, they get antibiotics at the drop of a hat. All the viruses become immune to them.

Craig Mathews

Foxy, you are right on about major league sports. I used to know all the teams, their manager, complete starting lineup, pitching staff and who their minor league affiliates were, NOW, forget it. Way too many and the caliber of play in all sports has been watered down and the costs to go see a game is out of reach for the average person, especially if they wanted to make it a family outing. I can remember my wife and I taking our kids to see the Expos but by the time the late 80's to early 90's came, it was too costly.

As for TV, extended cable package works for me. I have to have AMC, TNT, USA, TBS, TCM, the Golf Channel and the YES network, ESPN and ESPN2 (that's enough.)
The Carver is right about the commercials, I am still trying to figure out how those two people sitting in separate tubs are doing. Maybe Bullet or the Old Timer have the answer to that one.

Get ready for this weekend, GO GIANTS!!!

fox I'm with ya 100%..too much of alot of things

too many cell phones and internet yak!!! like you mentioned before why not just stop and chat or wave to a friend or neighbor.

as for the Saratoga squirrels...I think that combo of bread and frank's hot sauce would do the trick

also I agree with you about major leagues... about 8 less teams would work

the tv channels... I'd like to keep those.. I'm a firm believer in the couch potato... don't want the nfl network though... let'em keep that- we pay the sports people enough thru our cable packages.

and lastly all the tv commercials for medical remedies gotta go.... the one I especially like is the one that states "if an erection lasts longer than four hours, see a doctor"...I got news for ya, if that happens to me I'm calling Grady at the press!