Joe

Classic AOR obelisk.

Proudly bald.

The rose supposes (plus hat).

Samurai!

Snowy street.

Artist, studio board (2).

You know the quote...

You say "tomato," I say "tormato."

More Native American chiefs.

Natural 'do capacious enough to contain pertinent discographical information.

More mail art.

Five somewhat surly,though oddly affable, musicians looking at you while the background becomes indistinct all around them.

Quartet, red, staircase.

Open shirt, white pants.

Yeah, it's part of the montage of "great moments" in Ranger history they run to, I think, give the fans a reminder of where we've been and where we are now. Myself, I think this last World Series renders that unnecessary now. As a buddy of mine put it, the culture of the team has been once and forever changed by this last turn of events. As for Nolan being able to hit 85, if the guy would lose a pound or twenty, I bet he could. Mrs. Ryan appears to be the type of lady who appreciates the hard heat, if you know what I mean... Director's Cut: Bringing It All Back Home / An annotated version of Tony Kornheiser's classic 1980 profile of Nolan Ryan @ GRANTLAND

Picturesque, reddish cloud(s):

I heard a report that Nefti was so distraught about blowing the save in the 9th of Game 6 that he was unable to come back out to pitch the 10th. Wash had originally planned on sending him back out, apparently. I hope he finds a way to forgive himself without forgetting and move on. so much talent...The kid's only 23, supremely gifted, but it seems that his head is not pressure-proof at this point. This might not prove to be the best choice of careers for him...dammit. Like I said earlier - no more Donnie Moores, please. I wondered about that. I full expected to see Feliz (or maybe Gonzalez, but not Oliver) in the bottom of the 10th. Crap crap crap. But, yeah, I'm thinking bigger picture here and hoping like hell this doesn't end up being the Donnie Moore-ing, Calvin Schirladi-ing or Mitch Williams-ing of one supremely talented, futures-ahead-of-him Nefti Feliz. On the upside... this being baseball, so I can't help but think of my dad (who passed away the year the Red Sox finally beat the curse, though he did not live to see that comeback) and how he LOVED the Cardinals. Were he here today, he'd be reminding me how, when he was growing up, they were the only team that really represented the Western half of the United States at all in the Major Leagues (somehow, the old KC A's did not count), at least until the Dodger and Giants moved. But the Cardinals were always there, and, for a kid growing up in Texarkana, AR, they were a team he felt to which he could pledge some allegiance. Small comfort that, but at least it's not cold. Congratulations to a great baseball franchise. Next time, amybe the Rangers will have the good fortune to face a truly despicable NL team.

When I was 9 years old just once I put a quarter into a fancy gumball machine that was full of baseball team magnets inside of clear plastic containers. The one that came out was this Ranger logo. At first there was a feeling of brief disappointment but then I realized it was probably the largest magnet, plus it was a big ole cowboy hat so all was well. A couple of years later the Rangers caught further attention because Billy Martin was leading the team in a charge against the Mustache Gang. Over the years I paid a little more attention to the Rangers than I normally would have had I not gotten that magnet. I noticed they'd end up with former Pirates like Richie Zisk or Al Oliver. They had a few future Hall Of Fame pitchers over the years like Jenkins, Blyleven & Gaylord Perry. Some of those teams had great offenses, one great pitcher and the rest of the staff couldn't hit a barn door. Like Berrigan the Cards were my regional team growing up (I was on the Cub/Cardinal line) though I defected when law & order Vern Rapp took over. I eventually came back when elements of Cubdom became intolerable, though the M's became my main team after settling down in the Pacific NW. So while it was hard to root against the Redbirds it I sure didn't wish the Rangers any ill will. That game 6 was as rough as anything any fan has ever had to suffer. But just as I still count the '95 series win over the Yankees as a type of title this year can be that and more for the Rangers. They fought the good fight. Let's try to file away that a team can lose its ace and still make the World Series, since both teams are examples of that. Thanks for sharing those memories. The Rangers started playing her in North Central Texas the year I was born (though several months before my eventual arrival date). So, yeah, I feel more than a geographic connection to this franchise. "Where did you go, Jeff Burroughs?"