The Year That Was Going, Going...

"And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne."

Here we are at the end of yet another year, a time for remembrance and a chance to look forward to a better year ahead. Financial problems aside, it will be hard to top the year of Ought-7. Let's take a look at some of the highlights:

Jan. 1: I give my notice at EFI with no real idea of what I am going to do. My best leap of faith EVER.

Feb. 13: 13 years after first looking for a job in this field, I finally begin a career in baseball, joining the Potomac Nationals. Despite very low pay and very long hours, I could not have made a better decision. It's a decision I might not have made without Staci's support and urging. No wonder I married her. Speaking of...

Sept. 2: The big day is finally here, as Staci and I get married on a baseball field in front of our loved ones. It's a day that I think everyone will remember as one of the funnest weddings they have ever attended.

Sept. 23: Two emotional goodbyes, as we attend the final baseball game ever at DC's RFK Stadium, and later pack up and move from Virginia to Quakertown, PA. It was most definitely past due getting out of Northern Virginia, but between meeting and marrying my wife there, and starting my baseball career there, there will always be a significant part of my life that took place in NoVa.

Dec. 12: I finally get my second job in baseball with the Wilmington Blue Rocks. A nicer stadium aside, my hope is that I can create the same type of great memories I got with the P-Nats.

On a baseball note, I added 4 more Major League stadiums(the 2 Chicagos, San Diego & Anaheim), plus got to see Dodger Stadium again. Over 100 baseball games attended this year between Minors and Majors- not too shabby.

2007, for all of its faults, was a life-defining year for me, the kind of year that you look back on as a turning point in this wild ride of life (much like 1997 and 1987- must be Lucky Sevens..). So raise a glass- here's to hoping that you had as memorable a year, and wishing that Ought-eight is a healthy and fruitful year for all. Salut!

Christmas 07 in Pictures

The long journey across 100's of miles was much fun. 2 states (or 6 if you drove like me), and 2 broken-down cars later, here are the pics that defined a holiday.

Driving through New Hampshire:



Staci and the folks:



Mindy enjoying her present:



Jeremy and Josh being funny:



Staci & Mary:



The whole Kenney clan:



Abby & I on our Christmas:

Happy Christmas!

Just a quick message to wish all a great holiday today. Major car problems aside, Santa has been very good to all of us already here..I will be posting pics of all of the festivities as sson as we get back to Q-Town. Hope all have a great Christmas with you and yours...

2007- The Year in Pictures

Here's a little slice of the year that was 2007- enjoy! Make sure you have your speakers on so you can hear the accompanying music...

Baseball's (2nd) Darkest Day

The first darkest, of course, being the cancellation of the 1994 World Series. But today's announcement of 76 steroids users by the Mitchell Report was a damn close second. This day has been a long time coming. Whispers of steroids use began in 1988, were ignored for 15 years by everyone in the game, and now everyone is to blame. But as much as I, and millions of others, had heard rumors of names bandied about, today's list made it real. There were many "fringe" no-name players, a couple that I had even forgotten about. But it's the big names that really make you sick. MVPs (Miguel Tejada). Postseason MVPs (Andy Pettite). The greatest pitcher since World War II and 7-time Cy Young winners (Roger Clemens). Big Head (Barry Bonds). And my worst fear, two of my favorite all-time Dodgers (Eric Gagne and Paul LoDuca). And this is only the tip of the iceberg. This information basically came from two people! How many hundreds more know something that will eventually come to light?

So many records are tainted, wins, home runs and strikeouts alike. So many awards given to people who did not deserve them. How do you feel if you're a clean player who finished second to one of these chumps? NINE members of the "World Champ" 2000 Yankees were in this report- that's over ONE THIRD of their roster! How many teams won championships they did not rightfully earn? I am starting to feel that ALL records should be wiped clean from the books from 1994-2003. That may be the only way to put the real records back to their rightful owners.

Finally!

It appears that my next destination in baseball will be with the Wilmington Blue Rocks. By driving to Wilmington yesterday for a second interview, and adding another 120 miles to the already-driven 1700 to go to Nashville, I sealed the deal. I will be (once again) be in an almost no-pay position, working as Assistant Director of Merchandise, but how sweet it is. What a long 3 months it has been, waiting and wondering if I was going to find anything in baseball again. Hopefully, this will lead to a long and fruitful career with the Blue Rocks. Now, let's score some runs!

A special shout-out to those of you (and you know who you are) who have truly had my back and given me encouragement and words of hope these last three months. It has been a very difficult time both financially and emotionally, and once again, the people that I can always count on have been there. A Christmas miracle indeed.

Notes From Nashville

Boy, what a wild and crazy week it has been. Never before in my life have 2 sides of my brain been in such conflict. Remember the old Frosted Mini Wheat commercials? Well, the adult in me and the baseball fan in me definitely conflicted in Nashville:



I spent alot of money that I didn't have, and drove 13 hours and 900 miles to Nashville to find a job in baseball. The Job Fair was pretty much a complete joke. Trying to find a team hiring close to where we moved was supposed to be fairly easy; instead, of the 8 jobs that I applied for, 5 of them never even scheduled interviews with anyone! And it wasn't just me, as most of the 450 job seekers that were there were as completely frustrated and baffled as I was. It's not all bad news, as of the 2 interviews I had, I got a second interview scheduled with Wilmington next week, albeit for another barely-paying job as I had with the P-Nats. One more job fair in Philly in a couple weeks, so we'll see what happens...

As for the baseball fan in me, it was a virtual nirvana. There were dozens of baseball players, managers, and TV personalities roaming the same hallway as the Winter Meetings were taking place as well. The two biggest thrills for me was bumping into Tommy Lasorda my first day there, and then seeing and nodding to Cal Ripken as he walked into the hotel bar. Also got to watch live broadcasts of ESPN, XM and MLB.TV, as well as the live announcement of the Vets' Committee on who they are sending into the Hall of Fame. So it wasn't a complete loss, but when you spend money you don't have to further your career, the adult in you invariably wins out.

Some pics from my adventure. Jerome Bettis. Wrong sport, but I'm not gonna tell him:



Cal Ripken:



Former Dodgers GM Fred Claire interviewing Astros manager Cecil Cooper. This also was a big thrill for me, as he is the architect of the last Dodgers Championship in 1988, unfortunately he came and went so quickly that I didn't get a chance to speak with him:



Ravech, Kurkjian and Gammons live on Baseball Tonight:

Sheryl's New Video!

My girl Sheryl Crow's awesome new song & video, "Shine Over Babylon." It should give you even more respect for her talents. Enjoy: