My love for Top Ten's came from him as during college as I became a big fan of the show during breaks from studying. His witty countdowns probably cost me a couple points off my GPA (back then GPA was more important than my batting average), but I gained so much more than grade point average . I gained laughter.
I went to his show once back in January 1997, Desmond Howard was on, he had just won the MVP for the Packers; It was cool. I actually met him on the west side highway when we were both stuck in late night traffic, he was very nice and we exchanged pleasantries during an unpleasant traffic jam. As his car pulled away on the Henry Hudson my friend Ed (notoriously frugal) turned to me and said "Why is he paying the Henry Hudson Toll?). I laughed.
He was brilliant till the very last Top Ten. - I've posted this boot leg youtube version of his final Top Ten Last night
Good Stuff
To make David Letterman cooler, he also has a Softball connection
as the Late Show has been a Top Team in the Central Park Performing Arts League for Years (They beat my Bravery in 2012 damn it. Missed that game because of work ...ughhhh)
Commission and Late Show Manager gave Dave the following Tribute on FB yesterday:
Hard to explain what kind of guy Dave is: I mean what can I say that hasn't been said, ad nauseum, over these last 33 years? But this comes close:
When Bill Scheft, a writer on LATE SHOW since 1991 (and a teammate of mine), had his decisive job interview with David Letterman, he recalled, “The last thing I said to him was, ‘I hear your softball team needs a center fielder.’ And Dave says, ‘We need everything.’ I got hired the next day.”
That’s the kinda guy Dave is ~ always keeping it real.
We won two Performing Arts Softball Championships (2012 and 2014) in the three years that Dave has been sponsoring us. We plan on bringing him a third one this year.
I'm happy to have been “owned” by Dave these last few seasons (see YouTube link), and to have been a small speck in the LATE SHOW time continuum.
Thank you and farewell, Dave. We hardly knew ye ...
I'm not going to write a Top Ten for Dave, but will do many more Sb Top Ten's going forward as Imitation is the Greatest Form of Flattery.
This blog is strictly for the Hardcore baseball and softball junkies. I usually don't alienate my audience that quickly (usually by the 2nd sentence), but today I feel like having a good old fashion SB strategy talk about the use of a designated hitter "D.H". The D.H has been debated and debated over and over again in baseball and many players are very valuable and famously served in that role
You No Big Papi
Guys like Martinez and Ortiz are probably Hall of Famers (difference makers).
Advocates Love the D.H as :
Offense - it creates runs, entertainment
Ability to let older players keep playing and earning
Hate seeing pitchers hit
Allows pitchers to stay in games longer
Detractors (Purists) argue:
It’s not traditional
Takes strategy out of the game – bunting, pinch hitting ,
intentional walks, pitching changes
Creates less emphasis on fundamentals (moving runners over, defense, small ball)
Personally, in baseball I like it the way it is.
Nation League No D.H;
American League employs a D,H.
This creates good old
fashion baseball talk and conjecture. Examples include:
"This pitcher stuff would be
better in the N.L than A.L” or vice versa
American League is Stronger
What do I do with my D.H in the World Series?
D.H do or do not belong in the Hall of Fame (I think they do)
Cool hardcore stuff that all baseball nerds love.
In Softball I am Pro D.H all the way all the time.
Simply put from a participation standpoint it allows more players to get in the
game. Over a long season this is very important as it gets people involved, at bats, and qualified. However, beware the D.H trap.
Common D.H Traps:
Having too many D.H/E.H heck even Catcher, 1B types on a team is a recipe for disaster. This is not a batting cage, Fielding and position flexibility counts.
Big Game D.H - When comes to the big games (mostly playoff games or position games late in a season), you should not use the D.H just to use a D.H. In other words, this hitter must be a good hitter AKA a difference maker. For example, Choice Parts D.H last year was John Miranda, we all know what he did in the deciding Game 5 of the Championship
A few months ago the Saturday Night Live 40th Year Anniversary show was aired and it was Excellent
Conspicuously legendary character SB Mr Bill Petey did not appear on the anniversary program and the insider recently caught up with him trying to find out why
600 a confident bold prediction by SB Mr. Bill. Hope he doesn't get hurt getting it done.
Love the Classic Police Song "Message in a Bottle"
"I'm not alone in being alone" - very cool line
The bottles used by softball managers and commissioners to send out written messages to players include:
emails
Texting
website postings/notifications
social media.
SB commissioner and manager writing are different because of their audience.
Softball managers are actually "softball alone" as many players never respond or read any of their messages. 99% of players don't read anything a manager writes as it comes with the territory and quite frankly is such a 25 to life sucker loser topic that it disgusts and bores me.
On the other hand, a commissioners audience is mostly managers and nosy whiners/gossipers that read everything. Hell they:
Highlight
Bold
CAPITALIZED
Underline
Italics, and
ENLARGE
management's words to use against them at every opportunity it benefits them. It's like when you get arrested "Everything You Say Can and Will be Used Against You".
You know the SB party getting all Good Wife legal technical on the Commish doesn't read their 401k statements, mortgage, lease, or health insurance policy but they will read everything a Commish posted. Sometimes this is justified as some commissioners are shiesty, but overall its mostly people trying to win or just never being happy.
Commissioners have to clear when they write about:
Prizes - such a No No to put in writing.
Rules - shirt tuck, shirt rules, line up configuration, under wear size, Mother Fuckers don't care how petty something is, they will remember.
Schedules - Always an angle. Always a complaint.
Standings - Want them updated in between innings. Hurry Hurry Hurry
Promises - "Modified", "Game Times", etc
Hot line/Phone Numbers - Accuracy a must
Ban Lists - let's not even discuss. Not worth wasting our life force anymore.
Equipment - metal cleats, ASA bats, etc
Umpires - Complain Complain Complain
Protest - ticky tacky weak pussy shit. Play the game
Directions - Have you heard of google maps?
Pictures - People complain "that picture made me look fat."
Videos - people complain "You can't show me playing. I have a lawsuit pending"
Prior Year Postings - Mother fuckers can't pay their taxes or fill out a tax form, but they know league rules for 2005 and wonder why it has changed.
Etc
Some Commissioners are really good at softball messages and other are well.... you be the judge
Here's my List
Top Ten Writing/Communication Skills for Commissioners or Managers in Softball
Another beautiful spring day at Heckscher gave us some idea of the season it’s going to be: a great one. And here are the latest scores:
NOON WHISKEY TOWN downed SAG•AFTRA, 7-3; RJK PRODUCTIONS vacuumed up THE DIRTBAG CREW, 7-0; and BRONX PARADISE hit all the right notes over LOCAL 802 MUSICIANS, 7-1
2PM
LATE SHOW was on time with a 13-0 bleaching of BLONDIES; SPOTTED OWL feasted upon ActorsFCU PRIME TIME PLAYERS, 15-3; and the joke was on LOCAL 802 MUSICIANS PM as undefeated GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB scored three in the 7th to win, 10-9, in the game of the week
Writing Style: Direct. To the Point. Honest. Professional Top Tens and Interviews a plus.
One negative is in the past site was slow to be updated. That's my "Mea Culpa". We improved last year as I helped him more gather/post information quickly.
Writing Style: Jeff writes very clearly. In conversations Jeff sometimes he veers off course when you talk to him as he quotes obscure Big Apple trivia, but on the site he tells you what you need to know.
Too bad the website is from 1999 and is outdated basura. Time to come into the 21st Century.
5/4/3. Speaking of Terrible Websites - These two good leagues need an upgrade an:
Fucking outdated and boring. Gotham is probably the best of the bunch
How about some pictures at least? A picture is worth 1,000 words. Something. You get what you pay for on these free/cheap sites. Nothing. Unreadable....hmm.. Do they want it that why?
2. Tony Ferrazo - BMSL
Leagues 6/5/4 should please go to http://brooklynsbestsoftball.com/ for help. As for Tony. He's a self admitted terrible writer. At least he's smart enough to get help.
and the #1 Writing/Communication Skills for Commissioners or Managers in Softball
1. Noble Avenue
Writing Style: None.
Website? None
What is the Internet?
It's a neighborhood league.
This picture is the book they keep score with.
This is the Old Bronx!
They get a pass. It's a hangout. No rain out phone number needed as when it rains people still go to the park.
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