Late Winter Training

It has been a long week.  That’s not particularly an excuse, but it’s hard to think when you aren’t feeling/breathing too great.  I was more than a little excited to sit down and watch my first spring training game yesterday.  My balloon, however, quickly deflated when the broadcast was a White Sox one and I had to put up with Hawk Harrelson, the worst broadcaster in sports.  Even though he is partnered with Steve Stone, it’s still a constant kneading of the forehead, furrowing of the brow, a quick, point me to the aspirin.  Or the beer.  I don’t think even three Steve Stones could cover up all of the worn out catch phrases and gibberish that spews forth when tuning in to watch Chicago’s American League baseball team.  You’ve got to be fucking me.  Yes.  [I wish] he [were] gone.   It gives me hope in Chicago baseball fan relations when both sides can sit down and agree on at least that one thing (two things:  Steve Stone knows what he is talking about).

So it should come as no surprise when I fell asleep in the middle of the third inning and woke up during the evening news.  Oh, well, I thought, at least I had a taste.  Besides, the Blackhawks have a real game tonight against the East-leading Rangers.  Of course the Hawks found themselves down in the first period for about the twentieth consecutive game (I’d really like to know how many games in a row they’ve given up at least one goal in the first period), and I fell asleep again during the first intermission.  I woke up at about 3:30am just in time to see the Hawks’ latest acquisition Johnny Oh do ya? being interviewed as the first star of the game.  I caught some highlights and kicked myself a bit for not watching what appeared to be an exciting affair, particularly in the five-goal final period.

Now that I can breathe at about 90% again and am well on the road to recovery from whatever nastiness invaded my head and lungs, it’s time to start my own spring training, warming up, doing some stretches, breaking out those 8 Minute Abs VHS tapes.  Thinking about new things to say, new ways to type, and perhaps a little redecorating.  April 5 is right around the corner and I’d at least like to be up to the conditioning of your average first base coach.  Right now, however, it’s the ol’ Lou Piniella paunch.  Time to get into a more svelte-like Dale Sveum by the end of the season.  If I really wanted to put some pressure of myself, I’d throw out some numbers to keep track of, but I don’t feel like putting that kind of pressure on myself, so I won’t throw out any numbers.