Quote For The Day

All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don't discover why.
- Danny Thomas -

Red and Blue

After being known as the Redmen since the beginning of time, or at least the mid 1800's , it appears that the townspeople of Natick have reached a compromise on a new name for their high school sports teams - Red and Blue. I know it's boring, weak, bland, lacks imagination, and certainly doesn't sounds very intimidating. I emailed my suggestions to the Natick Board of Selectmen - Big Red, Big Red Machine, Red Devils - yet, they were all rejected. I have been associated with Natick sports, in one form or another, for 58 years, and never heard one negative reference to the native indians until this controversey. To the kids, it's just a name they use for their sports teams, without any thoughts of actual indians. To make matters worse, not one member of the current Natick Board of Selectmen actually went to Natick High School. I believe there is still a non-binding referendum on the ballot on March 25th to keep the Redmen name, and I think it will pass, but it sounds like the Selectmen will agree with the proposal from the Natick High School Logo Task Force to change the name to Red and Blue. For myself and thousands of other Natick diehards, they will always be the Redmen.

Quote For The Day

The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.
- Thomas Szasz -

Another Black Eye For Baseball

A story broke this morning in the Cape Cod Times about a trademark dispute between Major League Baseball Properties and the Cape Cod Baseball League. MLB is threatening to withhold their $100,000 yearly donation to the Cape League if the six teams named after Major League teams don't agree to purchase their uniforms from MLB "approved vendors" rather than local businesses, which would cost the teams much more money. They also want the teams to pay an 11% royalty on all merchandise sold with the teams name on it, which also must be purchased from their vendors. Non MLB made items like coffee cups and teddy bears can not be sold. The Cape League is a volunteer organization; there are no paid positions. In addition to the Major League donation, all other revenue is generated from a small admission fee, raffles, merchandise sales, and clinics. No teams make much of a profit. The six teams involvoled are The Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, Chatham A's, Bourne Braves, Hyannis Mets, Harwich Mariners, and the Orleans Cardinals. Also, the Mariners have had their name longer than the Seattle Mariners.

The Cape League has two choices; it can cave in to MLB and pay their ransom, or it can change the names of their six teams, forfiet the $100,000 donation, and keep making and selling their own merchandise. There are currently over 200 formers Cape League players in the Major Leagues, and the games usually attract a large number of scouts who get to sit right behind home plate. If we cut our ties to MLB, that privilage will probably end. The story has been picked up by the Associated Press, The Boston Globe, and hopefully ESPN, so maybe the bad publicity will cause MLB to back off. I'll keep you updated.

Quote For The Day

The unexamined life is not worth living.
- Socrates -

Minuteman Historical Park

This is a song that was sung at the completion of the Concord Monument on April 19, 1836. The first stanza is on the minuteman statue at the Minuteman Historical Park in Concord. If you haven't been there, plan to go this year. We are very fortunate to be living near such a historic site.


By the rude bridge that arched the flood
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world.
*
The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream that seaward creeps.
*
On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set today a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem.
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.
*
Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.
*
- Ralph Waldo Emerson -

Thought For The Day

Winners have formed the habit of doing things losers don't like to do.
- Albert Gray -

OFFICIAL College Basketball Rankings

Men's Division I
1. UCLA - Pac-10 Game Of The Year Thur. vs Stanford.
2. Tennessee - Looking for a #1 seed, at Florida tonight.
3. Memphis - Also a possible #1, @ SMU, UAB this week.
4. Texas - Bad loss at Tex. Tech, host Ok. State Sunday.
5. North Carolina - Duke on Sat. will tell us how good they are.
6. Kansas - Close out reg. season at A&M Saturday.
7. Xavier - 11 straight wins, Sweet 16?, Final Four???
8. Stanford - Close out the reg. season @ UCLA, @ USC.
9. Wisconsin - Solid Big Ten co-leader with no super stars.
10. Georgetown - I'll rank them ahead of Pitino for now.
11. Louisville - at Georgetown Saturday. Must see TV!
12. Connecticut - 3rd best team in Big East? Wow!
13. Butler - Horizon League Champs, have won 11 of 12.
14. Purdue - Big Ten co-leaders will be tough to beat.
15. Vanderbilt - Unbeatable at home, but lost at Ark.
16. Marquette - Finally playing well, @ Orange Sat.
17. Drake - Maybe they should be ranked higher.
18. Indiana - Coaching mess might mess them up.
19. Michigan State - Hillary Clinton of hoops, they're back.
20. Davidson - South. Conf. Champs, I love the Wildcats.
21. Gonzaga - Zags have overtaken Saint Mary's.
22. New Mexico - Fear the Lobo's in the Big Dance.
23. Brigham Young - Leading Mountain West, Wy. next.
24. Clemson - Just a hunch, they are rolling in the ACC.
25. Cornell - The Ivy League Champs are in the Big Dance.
Also: Miss. St., UNLV, Pitt., Wash St., St. Mary's, Miami

Men's Division II
1. Saint Anselm - Young team will be very good next year.
2. Bentley - Squeaked by Le Moyne in NE-10 first round.
3. Grand Valley State - Lake Superior Friday in league semi's.
4. Winona State - Powerhouse, Semis Fri., Finals Saturday.
5. Northern State - 30-1, but same league as Winona.

Men's Division III
1. Framingham State - 5 sophs, 5 frosh., wait 'till next year.
2. Newbury - Nighthawks are building a winning program.
3. Amherst. Lost to Bowdoin, waiting for at-large NCAA bid.
4. Brandies - Plays Lasell Friday in league semis.
5. Washington Univ, St. Louis - Plays Wooster in league tourney.

Women's Division I
1. Connecticut - Clear #1, lead by Frosh. Mya Moore.
2. LSU - Moving up! #1 seed in SEC Tourney.
3. Tennessee - They would love a rematch with LSU.
4. North Carolina - Great team. ACC quarterfinals Friday.
5. Rutgers - Played UConn tough, will not go quietly.

Thought For The Day

A lot of people approach risk as if it's the enemy when it's really fortune's accomplice.
- Sting -

Poem For The Day

The Road Not Taken

*

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

*

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

*

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

*

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost (1874-1963) -

Thought For The Day

The only winner of the War of 1812 was Tchaikovsky.
- Solomon Short -

Election 2008

On we go in this crazy but interesting "year of politics". Tomorrow we have primaries in Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island. When the "Super Tuesday" system was announced, the states with primaries after that date thought their votes wouldn't matter. Most experts thought that both parties would have chosen a candidate by now. Even though it appears that Obama has the momentum, nobody dares to count out Hillary just yet - including me. I would be surprised if Clinton won Ohio or Texas, but I wouldn't be shocked. If she wins either state she will be re-energized and it's a whole new ballgame. Wins in Rhode Island and/or Vermont would be nice but there are not enough delegates to make much difference. However, if Hillary loses both Texas and Ohio, the pressure will be on her to quit the race and allow the Democrats to rally around Obama and take on Papa McCain. Do we really want a President older than me? - I don't think so.

Thought For The Day

Look to your health, and if you have it, praise God and value it next to conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing money can't buy.
- Izack Walton -