Dan Gould

The Babe also did it playing in a diluted (whites only) talent field. Don't you think he may have hit a couple less if some of his abs had been against the likes of Satchel Paige, et al? I think all sports records are pretty much meaningless. There are no two comparable eras. If it's not racist restrictions on who can play, the ready availability of steriods, the composition of the ball, the DH era, or the changing mound height, it's the changing technology. Two ball players from different generations have never played on equal footing, and attmepts to compare their relative abilities and accomplishments are futile, in my opinion. I agree. You forgot to add different rules in place at different times, like the fact that a ball bouncing into the stands in fair territory was a home run during a portion of Ruth's career; yet also a ball that hooked around the fair pole and landed in foul territory wasn't a home run. The Globe's Bob Ryan had a terrific column on just these sorts of things:

Just win the next two, OK? As far as the Phils go ... I hope they cool off by this weekend when the Sox have to face them. Funny how the schedule worked out for the first round of interleague play: 1&2 in both East divisions play each other. I know at the start of the year, this looked like a better deal for the Sox but with the way the Phillies are winning right now ... not so much.

Gold went through the roof during the worst of the Carter-era inflation, as it is always a good bet when inflation is running rampant. Since then, as we know, the Fed has adapted an explicit strategy to maximize growth with the least amount of inflation possible. Now with oil prices rising, its not surprising that gold has been rising as well. Maybe if we help our new buddies Libya maximize their oil production, we can ease the upward pressure on prices, and gold is likely to follow a similar downward trend.

What I especially like is that, even after his face gives it away, he gives it a jolly good try and answers the questions he is asked.

So you didn't keep the Grant Green and Billy Gardner sessions but you are considering one with "a couple of guys with a Grant Green and Billy Gardner thing going"? Hey Chuck, the important thing here is that I am willing to consider giving Braith another chance ... who knows, maybe it will hit me this time and then I'll go back for those original recordings.

He'll always have a big fat asterisk next to his name as far as I'm concerned. No, not an asterisk - that's unfair to the likes of Roger Maris. Better to give him one of these: † ...the better to nail himself to. <shrug> In 100 years they'll chuckle at our quaint disdain for steroid usage among athletes. Guy I'd love to hear how you get from near-universal testing in all professional sports today to "chuckling at our quaint disdain for steroid usage" in a hundred years. There may always be an ongoing battle between chemists and testing methods, but there is no way in hell people will end up applauding chemical enhancements. Or let me guess - you thought Canseco's book, with its ode to the wonders of steroids and their future embrace was spot on? Or maybe if Barry wasn't such an ornery son of a bitch we'd embrace him now ...

Yeah...and that organist is Billy Gardner reincarnate! Those guys really have Braith's BN recordings in their veins! (and yes Lon, I am a non-recovering Braith-o-holic) If I were to buy just one (for now), would the Barcelona disc be the best choice? I might go for the Bop Bap Boom CD...it's got more of a variety of stuff on it. Some live organ stuff with Detroit guys who play with James Carter...some home recordings by George ect.... It's like a good sampler. OK, here's my problem: I never warmed to Braith enough to keep his BN stuff (forgive me). But I can certainly enjoy a couple of guys with a Grant Green and Billy Gardner thing going, so I'm thinking that the best possible thing for me is the Barcelona disc.

Excellent, can we expect a concert DVD with that upcoming live disc?

What, no pictures? I wanted to see what the 50th ranked female chess player looks like. I figured since she's not top ten, there's still a chance she might be hot, but we'll never know.

I have to agree. Not nearly as impressive as Hank Aron's passing Ruth's record. What would really impress me is if someone could surpass Ruth's HR record not only without steroids, but while smoking, boozing, and eating to excess. That would truly be something. Why? Should this be the model for all baseball players to follow? Bruce, I hope Barry swats past the record. The media is completely anti-Barry. He may have used steroids but so did Sosa, Palmero, and McGuire, amongst others. The guy is not the most personable fellow in the world, but he's had a great career and has worked hard. Go Barry! Mark, Either it must be proven conclusively, or you leave the guy alone. I'm cheering for Barry! Two points: We're not talking about catching and breaking marks held by Sos, Palmiero or McGuire. We're talking about the Babe, Who Did It On Hot Dogs & Beer; and Aaron, Who Did It With Class. How did Barry Do It? Secondly, by the end of the next merry go round spin of the legal system, something very close to conclusive proof will be presented. (I'm surprised that you don't consider Book of Shadows conclusive enough).

Yes, he's responsible for a bunch of good stuff (and a bunch of crap), but he's got enough negatives on his side to set him back to "zero" in my world. Not meant to be a "dis" of Joe, just a corrective message from an old acquaintance. Well there's a comment that cries out for clarification/extention. Not meant to be a "dis" of Chuck, for whom I have unbounded respect, but he's never been much of a one for Soul Jazz. (And I guess he pays musicians a bit better than Joe, as well.) MG I don't think that recording soul jazz gets you "back to zero in my world", and I doubt its his business model either: artists know what the deal is when they sign on. My guess is that there have been business acts that Chuck finds objectionable, but I doubt we'll hear about them.

Oh my God that's Howie Mandel - I swear I could not place that face (guess the soul patch and shaved head threw me) ... and yet it was so darn familiar looking.

You trying to hurt me, Chuck? Don't worry, I still

Yes, he's responsible for a bunch of good stuff (and a bunch of crap), but he's got enough negatives on his side to set him back to "zero" in my world. Not meant to be a "dis" of Joe, just a corrective message from an old acquaintance. Well there's a comment that cries out for clarification/extention.

Please tell me you took those lyrics from the jacket and didn't actually transcribe them.

I've watched bits and pieces, and definitely seen enough to have learned: People are both greedy and dumb. I saw one contestant refuse $48,000 when all that was left was $50,000 and $300,000, and a handful of tiny amounts. I mean how stupid can anyone be? They're offered the equivalent of the second highest prize, guaranteed, but because there's a big number left, they refuse it. And they lose. I did see the end of Friday's show, and I am kinda curious if the cute girl is going to be smart enough to take the last offer. But considering what the show has already demonstrated, I expect that she will be greedy and dumb.

I'd love to know what the difference is between "Classics" and "Originals". Sounds like the marketing department just couldn't make up their minds.

My faithful dog, Coltrane.

Wow, Matsui out with a broken wrist. Pretty much the only way he'd leave the lineup, actually ... can't say I am upset that he'll be out of the lineup, though it would certainly be more satisfying if we beat you out its with the full roster. Tough loss, my Yankee friends, but you were doing well with Matsui basically being a non-factor, and you've got some talent on the bench. I just wouldn't play Bernie too regularly. Give Bubba and Melky a chance and see what they give you, and then when Sheffield is back, go with the better of the two. What's real hard is that wrist injuries are very tough to come back. Just ask Nomar - he just hurt the tendons and it took forever to come back and even longer to regain his power stroke. In fact, if you look at the numbers, he never did regain it. Matsui might not miss so much power though while he's playing at the Stadium. That short porch doesn't take much to reach. Tough loss ... hope you get Matsui back the day after we clinch!

Given the time period, I would have to assume that the loss to Quarry came at the end of his career, long after his prime. For what its worth, also, ESPN refers to the Ellis loss as a "disputed decision". There's no doubt that Patterson wasn't a great heavyweight ... but it ought to be remembered that he was hardly a heavyweight to begin with! The man won Gold at Helsinki in 1952 as a Middleweight! To go from there to heavyweight champion, twice, is a tremendous accomplishment. He wasn't Top 10 all-time, but he was a pretty darn good fighter, all things considered. He was undersized, but oversized when it came to heart and guts. And its very sad how his final years went.

I hope not.

If we take Clemens at his word, the final rdecisionimately depend on what team looks strongest when he makes his decision, if indeed he wants above all else to "win" once again. So as long as Houston continues to play well, I think the odds grow less and less that he will leave his home, and the comfort of NL lineups, to deal with the AL East. What's really clear is that none of these teams can afford any sort of significant slump or to fall off the pace by more than a few games. Personally, of course, I am hoping that "completing the circle" will appeal most and he'll come back home to Fenway, but as long as Houston is playing well, I don't think anyone will pry him away. Not even 30 million from King George.

True. I predict both will recover a certain level of prowess but how much exactly will be critical to their team's final performance.

Schilling has sucked ever since FranCOMA left him out for 133 pitches in Cleveland in freaking APRIL. From the Boston Globe:

Sad news. Glad I picked up the CD mentioned in this thread. I also recommend that Inc[/i[ disc from DIW.