Phillies are champs

Yesterday I read a blog entry by ESPN's Peter Gammons stating why he felt this was the worst World Series ever. For a moment, I completely disagreed with him.

Then I watched the final few innings of game 5 last night. And I thought, wow, this kinda stinks.

I was hoping for a game 6 and maybe a game 7. I wanted to see more drama, more excitement, and I wanted to witness Cole Hamels on the mound one more time. But that didn't happen. And I was left feeling kind of....blah.

Don't get me wrong - the drama created by the absolutely terrible weather in Philadelphia was cool. It made me hurry back from the grocery store last night just so I could turn on the TV at exactly 8:37, in order to catch the first pitch of the home half of the 6th.

And I enjoyed the remainder of the game. It was exciting, and it had a little bit of everything. A big hit by Geoff Jenkins, a home run by Rocco Baldelli, a heads up defensive play by Chase Utley, and insanely good pitching by Brad Lidge.

But after Eric Hinske struck out on a nasty slider thrown by Brad Lidge to end the game, I was left feeling empty. I wanted more. The World Series had once again left me feeling unsatisfied.

And as I think back to Peter Gammon's blog, I gotta ask myself...was he really that wrong? In my mind, I attribute this World Series to being what baseball has been in the past few years - unsatisfying.

So today (much like the Tampa Bay Rays) I'm left with nothing but the chiche' phrase "there's always next year."

NHL Report: Ten games into the season...give or take a few

*My apologies for the crappy lighting. Before my next video update, I'll be sure to fix the burned out light bulb in my room...not that any of you would care about seeing my face or anything.

Gary Gait returning to professional lacrosse

Earlier this month, the Rochester Knighthawks and Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League finalized a deal sending 41-year old Gary Gait to Rochester. Gait has not played professional lacrosse since 2005, and is currently the head coach of the womens lacrosse team at his alma-mater, Syracuse University.

When I first heard this story, two things went through my head. First, why would Gary want to play professional lacrosse again? He's won nearly every lacrosse award possible, including an NLL championship as a coach with the Colorado Mammoth in 2006. Heck, a full Wikipedia page is devoted to his accomplishments in the lacrosse world.

Before I continue on to my second thought, let me answer the first. Gary Gait is a legend. Gary Gait IS lacrosse. And, in this case, the perfect opportunity presented itself. Rochester's leading scorer and reigning league MVP John Grant is out for the season with a complicated ACL injury that may ultimately end his career.

So Rochester was looking for another offensive weapon, and who better to turn to than the legend himself. This leads into the second thought that entered my head - what impact will a 41-year old have after not playing for 2 years?

Gait says he's in incredible shape. Does that mean he's in incredible shape for a 41-year old, or incredible shape by NLL standards? Can he still absorb a hard check into the boards? Can he make a cross-crease pass with defenders draped all over him? Will his body hold up week after week?

Gary Gait is the Brett Favre of lacrosse. He's a legend that loves the game, and has devoted his life to the game. He's the lacrosse version of Wayne Gretzky. So how can we not pay attention to his comeback? The drama surrounding whether or not a legend can return to the game he loves is too much to ignore, even if he's 41-years old and multiple years removed from his last stint on the carpet (carpet meaning turf, for all of those non-lacrosse junkies out there).

Mikey Powell is the pop-culture version of Gary Gait. He has revolutionized the game in his own right, but even he credits Gait with providing the lacrosse foundation on which his own career has grown...



So we wait for December 27th (the Knighthawks season opener against the Chicago Shamrox) to see the legend return to action. Will the greatest lacrosse player to ever live fizzle out and tarnish his legacy by playing like an average 41-year old? Or will the awe and admiration of peers and fans alike heighten with another superhuman stint in the NLL?

We'll find out in two months.