Really, Really, Really Random Thoughts

Long time no blog. Just a quick look about what's going on around the majors and in pop culture.

1) So Barry got number 715 out of the way. I'm conflicted on this. As much as I dislike Barry Bonds I have to admire this accomplishment due to how great of a player Babe Ruth was and Barry Bonds is. Ruth supposedly cheated with a corked bat. Many players have been found to have cheated throughout history and yet only two players have hit as many as 715 HR's. I think this is a testament to just how great Hank Aaron was in his career. I hope the media instead of talking about Bonds and Ruth start talking about that more.

2) X-Men 3 opened to the highest box office during memorial day weekend in history I believe bringing in 130 million dollars. I hope this doesn't lead the studio to actually believe it's good. It was alright, not as bad as I expected it to be, but no where near as good as it should have been. I blame this mostly on Kevin Feige. He's the executive producer and after original director Bryan Singer left to direct Superman the Feige went through directors until he found one who could get the movie finished by the date he wanted the movie released. Brett Ratner was the director who agreed to do despite not having any time or a good script. But still it made money. What I hope Hollywood releases is that it would have made even more money if they had produced a good movie that would have attracted return viewers instead of the crap they put on the screen. I read comic books as a kid and I know those deaths didn't happen the way they were portrayed.

3. Looks like the Rocket is returning to home base. Is this really a surprise to anyone? He was working out in Minute Maid Park and pitching to Astros minor leaguers. Was this really in doubt given all the perks the Astros give him? If I where Clemens I'd try to come up with a long term contract with the perks like Tim Wakefield signed with the Red Sox a few years ago with a life time series of extensions.

4. Look out! It's Milledge time. This young Mets prospect is GOOD! With a capital GOOD! Having seen him play some spring training games and followed his career through the minors I know this kid is going to be a star. If you had any doubt why then was Milledge the name the Red Sox would have needed if they traded Manny this offseason. This kid has all the tools: hit, hit with power, run, throw and field.

5: How great is it to see Nomar having such a great season? I totally that he had leave in 2004 for the Red Sox to go as far they did but he was never disrespectful of the Red Sox. The Nomar I'll always remember was the guy who after the Red Sox were knocked out of the playoffs by the Indians came out and appalled the Fenway Faithful. Just a class move. Now he's hitting .362/.427/.606 with five homers. Good for him.




6. Matt Clement is starting to be a big problem. It's tough to blame him though. Right after he signed his free agent contract in 2005 he was a world beater. Going into the All-Star break that year Clement was 10-2 with an ERA of 3.85. After the All-Star game Clement's ERA began to climb. But it all changed on July 26th, when Carl Crawford lined a pitch off of Clement's face. Since then there have been a number of balls hit back through the box that have sent Clement to showers early. It's good that he's working with a sports psychologist is a good sign. I wish him the very best. But unless he improves this Sunday in his start against the Tigers the Red Sox may have to sit him down.

7. Coco is back! I'm happy to see the Red Sox are currently hitting lower in the order for the time being until he gets himself back into playing form. But no matter he's not going to be as good in the leadoff spot as Kevin Youkilis is.

8. Spiderman 2 is currently playing on HBO this month and I'm amazed that I have never realized just how awesome a soundtrack that movie has.

9. Congratulations to Animal House for being voted the funniest movie ever on the Bravo channel this past week. As a fraternity member and someone whose nickname was Bluto in college, I have to admit, this gave me undeserved pleasure at seeing this movie get recognized. But come on....what other movie had a chance. This poll however was biased for movies that had come out within the last ten years as movie's like Old School, Anchorman, and Meet the Fockers finished well higher then they should of. The worst pick of them all was rating Meet the Fockers ahead of it's predecessor Meet the Parents.



10. There is nothing to watch on TV these days. I'm amazed that some network doesn't take advantage of the brilliant marketing ploy used by Fox a few years ago in which they used to present their new show,The O.C., to a pretty much captive audience during the summer. It worked for that show, which has never been great, so it could probably work for a number of the crap shows the networks are currently pushing.