SportsFilter: Justgary's blog

A Prayer for the Tampa Bay Rays

justgary — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:49:32 -0400

While the Cubs fan has the pity of national baseball writers and the consolation of a fraternity of similarly deluded millions, Rays fans are seen as a possibly spectral phenomenon. Dick Vitale is the team's only celebrity fan; a great proportion of the typical Rays crowd shows up wearing a Manny Ramirez or Derek Jeter shirt. In enemy territory, even at home in Floridathat's the life of a Rays fan.

Sticks and Balls

justgary — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:03:01 -0400

We were able to enjoy bowling as a thread to a previous existence. An existence that didnt involve struggling with even the simplest of communication attempts. Bowling was a way to feel less lost.

Recalling Al Campanis' 'Nightline' nightmare

justgary — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:53:24 -0400

I turned to my wife, horror-stricken that the man I had invited to honor his old friend was committing professional suicide on live television, and predicted he might not survive this interview.

Making Time Stand Still

justgary — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:35:02 -0400

Today, for a few hours, he's part of the crowd, just another fan watching Tom Glavine paint the black, just another daydreaming kid picturing himself running hard from first to third.

The Day Innocence Died

justgary — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:37:52 -0400

justgary — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:34:51 -0400

The 4th Annual chicobangs Memorial SpoFi CFL Pick 'Em! DrJohnEvans has all the details in the locker room.

An Ode to Baseball Cards

justgary — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:32:08 -0400

Like the game itself, they enhanced your bond with your dad. There were few things that brought me more joy as an 8-year-old then when my father would return from a trip to the store with two packs of '78 Topps, and I still remember him sitting on the floor with me in my bedroom and helping me sort my cards so that traded players were with their new teams. Maybe I'm overly sentimental okay, I am overly sentimental but the memory is my version of Ray Kinsella's catch with his dad.

Top of the World!

justgary — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:19:56 -0400

Garnett has since left his losing ways behind and helped engineer the biggest turnaround in NBA history, turning the Celtics from a laughingstock to a champion. Tuesday night, it became clear thatjust like losing didwinning has made Kevin Garnett completely insane.

justgary — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:16:55 -0400

On like Donkey Kong, it's Sportsfilter Fantasy Football time in the locker room. Join now before it's too late.

Junior Mint: The enduring popularity (and ubiquity) of the 1989 upper deck Ken Griffey Jr. Card

justgary — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:23:06 -0400

When Griffey hits home run No. 600, don't look for the value of Upper Deck No. 1 to skyrocket. After all, there's likely a card in circulation for every person living in the city centers of Cincinnati and Seattle. That sheer quantity, though, does mean that the lasting image of Ken Griffey Jr. won't be anything he does on the baseball field. It will be a picture of an overjoyed teenager in an airbrushed Mariners hat.

Josh Beckett Won't Return My Phone Calls

justgary — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:43 -0400

Athletes don't trust reporters, reporters resent athletes, and readers don't know their heroes as they used to.

Boston Herald Should Name Its SpyGate Source

justgary — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:17:52 -0400

The newspaper and reporter John Tomase refuse to identify the unnamed source who burned them. Why the hell not? A column by sportsfilter member rcade.

Blind bowler, The Hammer, rolls 300 game

justgary — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:51:36 -0400

Do not run on Rick Ankiel.

justgary — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:48:28 -0400

Tejada Delivers on Promise

justgary — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:04:02 -0400

When he came to the plate in the sixth inning Friday night, Miguel Tejada wanted more than anything to keep his promise to 8-year-old Jacob Scott, a muscular dystrophy patient the Astros shortstop met at a luncheon hours earlier.