Sorry I'm late with this one guys, but before I move on to other blogs I want to remember one of my all time favorites James Gandolfini
who died last week, on my birthday of all days, at the age of 51. Waaaaaaaay too young.
As everyone knows, Gandolfini brilliantly played Tony Sopranos on one the greatest TV shows of all time. The Sopranos
Beside his outstanding acting ability, what I liked most and found most interesting about him was that in real life he was the complete polar opposite of the vicious crime boss killer
he played on TV. He was known as soft spoken, humble, and low key. A mark of an excellent actor is diversity. He will be missed. Can't believe he's gone and what hurts most is that it was on my birthday. Crazy
Ironically, I've sometimes been called Softball's version of Furio Giunta from the legendary TV show the Sopranos for my legendary relentless collection skills up in Inwood. So as a last tribute from Softball Furio check out one of my favorite scenes from the show below
As Furio would say "Stupid fucking Game". It's not more than just a game
"No man is an Island,
entire of itself; every man is a peace of the Continent, as any man’s death diminishes me,
because I am involved in Mankind; and therefore never send to know
for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee." Ernest
Hemingway For Whom the Bell Tolls
"For Whom the Bell
Tolls" is one of the best
book I ever read.
Great
Writer
Written
mostly in Cuba
Main
Character bones a girl named Maria and earth moves
The
famous and pivotal scene of the execution of various fascist figures is drawn from events that actually took place in Ronda in 1936. In Ronda, some 500
people, allegedly fascist sympathizers were thrown into the
surrounding gorge by a mob. As most of you know my last name is Ronda,
without the H, and my softball mob follows me (and sometimes wants to throw me in a gorge) Cool coincidence. Do mistake coincidence with
fate.
Ultimate
Sacrifice
Hell
even Metallic named a song after it
(OK I admit I barely know who Metallic is, yes Blonde Metallic made
the Blog)
For Whom the Bell Tolls is the perfect theme for this softball analysis. If you
notice the song begins with the ominous tolling of bells followed by the
driving guitar riffs that suggest the end is coming soon. So I will begin
there, as when I consider the predicament of the Big Apple League,
I can’t help but hear the final lines of this song, suggesting that the reality
of the divisive effect of illegal pitching cannot be denied forever:
Now they will see what will be
Blinded eyes to see
For whom the bell tolls
Time marches on
The Bell is now Tolling
for the Big Apple Softball League. The league is experiencing its own version
of a Civil War as its well documented incidents of :
that are dividing and
destroying the league. This past weekend yet another incident that was based
and escalated on illegal pitching occurred. Insider sources have
confirmed the following transpired during the Cardinals and Sports NY
contest:
In the
5th inning of Game One, The Cardinals forfeited as Cardinals
pitcher Ramesh was ejected for excessively arguing balls and strikes. The
Umpire informed Ramesh he would now only talk to Cardinal Manager
and at that point Ramesh continued to argue. Forfeit called. Note: Ramesh was called illegal during the game while throwing a knuckler.
In the
5th Inning of Game Two Sports New York manager Larry
Bryan was ejected for excessive arguing and he and other Sports NY
players refused to leave the field. Forfeit called.
Sports
NY Pitcher Parker was called illegal in the first
inning and had 4 illegal pitches called. Parker by far leads the league in
illegal pitches called against. No action has veer been taken.
The
10 innings were played in 3 hours and 30 minutes and a player involved in the game
off the record told me "it was the worst 10 innings of softball of my
life"
This
was the 3rd forfeit called in the last two weeks of game
action because of behavior stemming from anger over illegal pitching. Coincidence or fate. Worse yet it is reality. Make no mistake the Softball War is here. War is ugly. It's
a goon fest, on all levels, regardless of A96 or B96 street macroeconomic or
social status.
This all remind me of
another famous Hemingway quote from the book " "Today is only one day in all the days that
will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come
can depend on what you do today…All of war is that way."
Message to the League : Do something today. Now will never come again. All the problems are based
on the pitching.
All the Anger.
All the Venom.
All the Lying.
All the Hate.
You either follow
10 man modified rules or you don't. It's clear that virtually every team in
this league has lost any semblance of continence. There is no self-restraint, no moderation,
hell there is very little modified pitching anymore and that what is
causing incident after incident after incident.Recidivism to the fullest.
The league is dying and any league I play in that dies diminishes me, because I am involved
in softball kind; and therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; It tolls for all of us in this league."
With all the holidays, career and family commitments, plus bad weather it's been hard to get a softball game in the last couple of weeks. Well Wednesday night, I thought I had my chance as I had two teams that I'm on each playing at times where I could make both games. Cool.
Not.
Instead of an overdose of softball all I got was two hollow tasteless (no flavor) victories:
Hollow Victory #1: Charter Fabric wins by forfeit - as stated in my 2007 blog, there is No Honor in Winning By Forfeit. Better to lose in your cleats than win on a technicality.
Hollow Victory #2 : Weintruab wins 12-0 over a very underwhelming opponent. Blowout wins are part of the game and after a long layoff they are OK so you can get your work in and enjoy the rare good weather, but deep down in your heart you know you really proved nothing.
These type of victory have no honor, no flavor, no taste and leave you unfulfilled.
Recently in the real world another type of tasteless hollow victory occurred when Congress — caving in once again to the National Rifle Association — refused to pass sensible and needed reforms on gun control (yeah I haven't forgotten about you fake "quote unquote" defenders of the 2nd amendment).
Last month , at the biggest moment in nearly two decades
for those who seek to limit the spread of firearms in America, the U.S. Senate
chose to duck the issue. Even though 90 percent of Americans support those measures including many gun-owners who reject the NRA's extremism, Republicans, backed by a small group of rural-state
Democrats, rejected more extensive background checks for gun purchasers. Also
failing in the Senate were proposed bans on assault weapons and high-capacity
ammunition magazines. This is truly ahollow, and tasteless victory as the Senate came up six votes short of the 60 votes needed to extend federal background checks to almost all gun sales. Measures to ban the sale of rapid-fire military-style rifles and prohibit ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds also failed. I mean c'mon who needs automatic weapons? Answer no one.
The NRA and gun industry lobbyists got their way in another shameful display of political influence and hides behind democracy to fuel their capitalistic agenda at the expense of public safety. They follow the Archie Bunker "Guns for Everybody" philosophy on gun control
(fyi the late Carol O' Conner "Archie" was a brilliant actor, classic show)
They are bullies, liars, hypocrites and assholes. Am I goon name calling? You are damn right I am! I despise bullies. Despise. So how do you fight these bullies? With a rich intelligent bully of course.
As everyone knows I have been very critical of Mayor Bloomberg's bashing the little guy approach, but when it comes to gun control the man knows what he is talking about. He hates the N.R.A and isn't scared of them. Here are some Bloomberg quotes:
"President Obama and Vice President Biden deserve
credit for their leadership since the Sandy Hook massacre," Mr. Bloomberg
said about the campaign for gun control. "But even with some bipartisan
support, a common-sense public safety reform died in the U.S. Senate at the
hands of those who are more interested in attempting to protect their own political
careers — or some false sense of ideological purity — than protecting the lives
of innocent Americans."
"This is a disgrace"
"Criminals won"
"The only silver lining is that we now know who refuses to stand withe the 90% of Americans and in 2014 our ever-expanding collation of supporters will work to make sure that the voters won't forget"
I completely agree and Bloomberg he is to be commended on his stance versus the N.R.A.
Bully on Bully crime.
Love it
Unlike most politicians Bloomberg's outrage isn't limited to self-righteous press releases. He is taking matters on to his own hands, I mean his own deep wallet by launching an expensive national campaign going after 3 Democrats and 11 republicans who voted against the bill and are up for reelection in 2014. It always bothered me that Bloomberg used his money to buy a third term in NY, but in this case I am so proud of him. Who else can go dollar for dollar against the bullies of the N.R.A ?
Oh yeah, those N.R.A bullies fired back (bad pun intended) by criticizing Bloomberg on spending his money against them. How hypocritical is that? Like the N.R.A doesn't use all it's money to influence voters. How the hell do you think they beat a 90% majority opinion against them? Money, blood money, that's how.
Bloomberg is not alone as the White House and other supporters of responsible gun laws aren't giving up on gun reform. "I see this as just Round One, If this Congress refuses to listen to the American people and pass common-sense gun legislation, then the real impact is going to have to come from the voters."
Enjoy your hollow tasteless victory for now N.R.A as the real competition will come in 2014 as
The White House and other supporters of responsible gun laws aren't giving up on gun reform. "I see this as just Round One," said Mr. Obama, flanked by relatives of Newtown's victims and former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head in 2011. Looking ahead to the 2014 congressional elections, the president said, "If this Congress refuses to listen to the American people and pass common-sense gun legislation, then the real impact is going to have to come from the voters."
When I pass my vote next year I won't forget, neither should you. That victory will be sweet and meaningful.
but not satisfied. Let's breakdown the Aftermath decisions that have ensued:
Disciplinary Action
(1) Two Highlanders Suspended & (2) One Highlander warned, One Ranger warned (me) Insider Analysis:
Yawn.
(3) Highlanders remain in League have a bye June 2nd, Play again June 9th Insider Analysis:
Good Move. Highlander manager Dio Jackson should be given a chance to re-focus his troops and make a run for a championship. The long layoff is a blessing as it will somewhat subdue the blood fever and make everyone want to play softball
(4) Highlander-Ranger double forfeit game two verified. Insider Analysis:
Stupid. A continuation with all suspensions in effect should have occurred. The umpires who made that decision were morons and should be the ones punished (fired), not the players. No make-up game between the Rangers and Highlanders has been rescheduled. Mistake
From a player's note, I have asked the league commissioner to play the Highlanders again. Yes a request game. One thing about the Highlanders that I admire is that they duck no one as they "request games" against top competition all the time. The Rangers need to emulate that attitude and re-play a high quality opponent like the Highlanders before the playoffs begin. We are willing. A crossover game is imperative not from a win-loss standpoint, but from a sportsmanship and more importantly from a Ranger diamond credibility perspective. Next time a real softball game will happen and everyone will be able to release all the venom before the playoffs. Who knows we might get lucky and play two good games.
(5) No Disciplinary Action for near brawl in Brother Jimmy - Highlander game Insider Analysis:
Guess the League never got the umpire report on the near brawl between the Highlanders and Brother Jimmy's? Umpire report? Really? No warning? No suspension? Nothing? Mistake. Someone fucked up. The blood fever will not ease on this one.
Big Apple League Policy Changes
(1) Effective Immediately if your ejected in game one you are automatically ejected game two. Plus your are subject to further disciplinary action Insider Analysis: Better late than Never. Never late is better. Good move
(2) Pitching Changes - None Insider Analysis: This was their chance for change. Instead nothing but self serving interest talk about next year. Wack. So fucking Wack. Everyone knows that most likely everyone except one or two "grandfathered" pitchers (fill in the blanks) will be banned next year. This whole situation reminds me of the quote from the new Kanye West song "New Slaves:
"You see it's leaders and it's followers But I'd rather be a prick than a swallower"
(incredible performance)
Kanye image is that of an asshole, but his passion, talent, and originality is undeniable. He isn't afraid to tackle difficult subjects and his "New Slaves song" does just that. I admire that.
Sometimes I can be an asshole, but I am not afraid to address a difficult subject like this pitching situation because in this we are all softball slaves in chains
to both
An establish that is simply failing to address this issue and
All our desires to win
More on this beat a dead horse topic below
West Remains in Big Apple League, for now
The outcry for West to remain has been both sincere and hypocritical from throughout the softball constituency. It is clear that when forced by the opposition they will also join the ranks of non modified by using Softball Hall of Famer and Legend
Carlos Contreras.
(Editor's Note: That as was Carlos picture from the 80s when he played pro ball - love that picture great stuff. Also, it is ironic that Carlos is one of the few that can pitch both open and modified and know the difference)
Insider Analysis:
Can you blame them? Answer No you can't. This will lead the league down a path of further arguing, whining, lying, and manipulation.
Sadly, it could have all been avoided and the Mob will not be happy as they remain slaves to the modified versus non-modified pitching issue.
