Bud Selig wins again! Phils annd Rays are all wet!

Last nights World Series game is just another example of the lack of leadership in America today. Yes, I'm going the whole country based on a friggin' baseball game.

You want to talk about examples of group think? Well, look no further. First, let's look at the decision that had to be made to even play the game:

Here are some of the factors involved:

Fans: How long do you have to tell them NOT to come to the stadium? Can you do that? What about reshceduling, or the back lash?

Employees: Food, Beverages, Merchandise, Parking... All of these were probably in place by 2pm in the afternoon if not earlier. How about getting them in place again if they do cancel and reschedule?

Teams: Rays probably had their hotel rooms checked out. Had their travel plans, etc... If postpone, where do we put them? How long before we even get them a place and out of this stadium? (they actually were moved to Wilmington, DE)

TV: Pregame shows, network schedules, ESPN, MLB.com, Revenue, revenue, revenue.

There is a ton of stuff that gets jammed up here if you decided to call the game LATE in the decision process. Which would have been the case, because it didn't start raining until after 4pm or so. So how do you make that call? What happens if you make the call and at 10pm there isn't a drop of rain on the field?

So what happens? He doesn't make the best decision based on the outcome, and integrity of the actual game. He makes the best decsion based on the surrounding factors such as ease of rescheduling, room availability, and most of all TV revenues. To prove his decision he lies about a weatherman telling him information that was already untrue when he got it. Or, in the very least believed something out of convenience that could NOT have been true. Christ, the Philly networks were showing updates all day about the likelyhood of this game NOT beig played.

Obviously he was pressured by someone representing every issue I state above. No doubt the networks had the largest input. But he failed in his duty to lead, and make the best decision that would protect the integrity of the game. Which again, would be to not eve play the game in the first place.

So, they play the game. And what happens? Lake Champlain in the infield. Rollins dropping pop flies. Infield fly rules being altered because of the weather. And a game that now needs to resume AFTER it is tied, in the BOTTOM of an inning.

SO, the Phils get screwed. How? The Rays don't have to field in a down poor. The infield fly rule will be in effect when they play. The point is it becomes an unequal playing field. Who knows if its unfair. Who cares. But the integrity of the game is lost now because one side gets to play in certain weather, and the other does not.

Now, if the game isn't tied, and they need to make a decision about calling the game, based on the rule, it is a complete game after 5 innings, and the Phils would be awarded the win. Of course this wouldn't happen, it's the goddamn world series. But Selig would have had to make the "whats best for the game" exemption. If he waits til the game is tied, even AFTER 5 innings of play, there is a rule, which he read directly out of the rule book, like a little bitch, all happy and giddy about not having to be the one to think independantly and actually LEAD, or do what his job demands of him. No, now he has a rule book to read form. See! This isn't me! This is the rule book! Pussy

Now, for the first time in WS history, we have a suspended game due to weather. What a great legacy!

This is the leader of the MLB and with his actions last night, he failed Baseball, the fans, AND the networks. His incompetence has once again been highlighted on a national , and this time global level, and I can't see how it goes unpunished.

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The rain does not seem to be letting up at all, and the weather people say that by 8 pm it should start to trail off. We'll see what they do tonight. In my area it is supposed to turn to flurries, and I'm only 30 minutes north and west of the city. It will be cold.

Hopefully, the Phils get it in good and we can celebrate here at home! Nothing would be better for Selig. The fans here won't remember anything other than the wins, and I doubt any Tampa fans have an issue with how it went last night.

In the least, it will be fun to watch. A two and a half inning game! Nothing better than T-Ball to decide on a 6th game of the world series or not.

Brett Myers received a standing ovation from the near-capacity crowd... *Whenever Myers receives a standing ovation, you know something earth shattering happened. For a guy who was sent down earlier in the year, and is now contributing like he is... Its stuff Philly fans go crazy for. They'll write you off in a minute. But if you show up and perform like you should, your the towns next hero.

...Myers pitched a two-hitter and the Philadelphia Phillies moved into a tie for the NL wild-card lead, and one back of the Mets, who faltered in the late innings against the Braves.

This guy left a comment about Philadelphia being the worst sports town. Like someone from the left, he drinks the coolaide. In realtity, Philadelphia fans are one of the countries best. However, we have the most absolute horrid media in the country. The worst is always portrayed. Always. All of these guys have the red- haired step child syndrome. Makes for better print and sound bites I guess. The fact of the matter is there are no other fans more loyal to their teams. Here is a classic example. I don't agree with the assesment of Forbes to determine the best. Houston in the top three??? No offense JJ!

Here are some other recent snippets from articles ranking top sports towns:

Just missing the cut, Cleveland needs somebody to win something. Ditto Philadelphia, which has pretty nice facilities, like Cleveland, and rabid fans to match the Dawg Pounders.

1. Boston2. Philly3. Chicago4. Washington 5. New York

The Mighty 99
1. Detroit + Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti 2. New York 3. Dallas-Fort Worth 4. Chicago + Evanston 5. Los Angeles 6. Boston 7. Denver + Boulder 8. Phoenix + Tempe 9. Philadelphia 10. Minneapolis-St. Paul

His remarks were pointed directly at the Eagles and Mcnabb. He tried his best to get out of town? What the hell were you reading? Nothing credible. Because Andy Reid will die with McNabb, and McNabb will die with the Eagles. Which is a good thing in most fans opinions.

ESPN ranked Top Football fans.

4. Eagles Consecutive sellouts: 71

Season-ticket waiting list: 70,000

No other team dictates a city's mood like the Eagles.

It's a loyal group of fans, but don't confuse it with blind loyalty.

When the Eagles play poorly, they face the wrath of the fans. That rattles some guys, but players such as Jeremiah Trotter and Brian Dawkins have thrived on that tough love. Fans of opposing teams should tread lightly in the Linc.

Tonight v Dallas. It is going ot be an awesome game. I think Dallas has the edge even if this game was played in Philadelphia. But its a close call either way, and will make for a very entertaining game. And if McNabb throws 3 interceptions, and the defense gives up 40 points, you're damn well told that the Philly fans will absolutely rip the team apart. But don't interpret that as jumping off the band wagon. The folks here just demand excellence. They will always give the team next week to gain back their respect.

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I was at the Borgata yesterday for the start of the Poker Open Main Event. The Borgata set a precedent by offering a $5mm guarantee for the $10,000 main event. 516 players is the official count and I think this made for an overlay of $40k. Not bad considering I was told by many pros and insiders that most of the big names were heading to europe.

You can read here and here and here for updates on that tournament. Some big names who entered... John Juanda, Gavin Smith, Eric Seidel, Kristy Gazes, John Gale, Roy Winston (defending champion), and others.

So much to talk about and read about today with the end of week 2 in the NFL, Baseballs Penant race, (congrats to Zambrano for throwing a no no), The financial markets meltdown, Lehman, Merryl, and of course, the ever pressing run for the White house. Content shouldn't be an issue this week for anyone.

Enjoy it!