Random Thoughts
Well, March is here and for me that officially marks the end of Winter. It puts me in a much better frame of mind when I know that more daylight, pitchers and catchers, the NFL Draft, the Masters and the NCAA Tourney are all on the horizon. I'm overcome by many random thoughts.
1. I'm torn over the release of Joey Porter. By no stretch was he worth a $1 million roster bonus and $5+ million dollar salary. All in all, it was the right business move. However, with last year's retirement of Jerome Bettis and this year's retirement of Bill Cowher, I fear that this team has lost its identity. No fiery leader to be found. Hines Ward doesn't piss anyone off with pre-game remarks or mid-field flexing. Clark Haggans and Casey Hampton, although excellent performers, don't strike fear in the hearts of their opponents. And I'm afraid Ben is so lacking in leadership qualities that this may prove a long season for the offense under a new coordinator etc. So who's it going to be? It pains me to say it, but I'm terribly afraid of a repeat of 1984-1992. Remember those years in Steelers history? Exactly.
2. I went to a charity function on Saturday night and due to a shaky turkey burger from TGIFriday's in the afternoon I opted to stay away from the alcohol. I guess you know you drink too much when all of your friends and even casual acquaintences notice that you're not drinking! What's wrong with you? Did you give it up for Lent? Is your wife mad at you? One buddy even asked if turned gay. I didn't share with anyone the details of my pink turkey burger, but instead just shrugged off the questions. The behavior of this group of adults (many of whom were close friends and even some relatives) was somewhat astonishing. I would have expected the razzing from a group of 17 year olds in someone's basement, but a few months removed from my 40th birthday party? Do people associate me that closely with beer? Am I that boring when I'm sober? Are others afraid to drink without me? I wasn't quite sure how to take all of the comments I received on the issue, and frankly I was surprised that anyone bothered to notice.
3. Not to poach off of Peter King and his weekly quirky coffee stories, but I must say that I had one this weekend. We elected to stay at the hotel that hosted the charity event on Saturday night. Go figure . . . on the one night of the millenium that I don't drink, I have a $240 hotel room 12 minutes from my house. Anyway, being toxin free, I was up bright and early. I went to the lobby where they had a nice Stabucks spread, complimentary for all hotel quests. It was pleasant. I had my coffee and read the actual newsPAPER (something I never do anymore, at least in hard copy). So what does this have to do with coffee? . . . Well when my wife joined me for breakfast (in the same hotel lobby), I was charged $3 for the same cup of Starbucks that was free just across the foyer. I could spit on the free setup from where I was seated, and it still cost me $3. The waitress couldn't offer a reason. Really irked me.
4. Few things can make the NFL season more enjoyable for me. But one of them is Peter King's Monday Morning QB. What a great read.
5. Despite CoffeeGate, the Renaissance Hotel is a great place to stay when in Pittsburgh. I suggest Room 923, or anything on a high floor on the Allegheny River side. You can actually go the bathroom and watch a ballgame at PNC Park at the same time. Great design feature, eh? In fact, they should offer a package with Pirates tickets and call it their Pee-n-See Park Package. Just a thought.
6. Speaking of PNC Park, I have a feeling that this is the year that the Buccos crack the .500 plateau for the first time in 15 years. If not . . . well then the $300 I just dropped for Opening Day tickets is the last money they'll see from me in a while.
7. I'm also planning on taking my oldest son to Yankees Stadium in June to see the Pirates play there. Should be fun. He loves the Yankees, just like any other innocent 9 year old, who can still appreciate a team and its players for how they perform on the field, without paying attention to or being jaded by the discussions of greed, lousy ownership, salary caps and steroids. Wouldn't it be great if as a adults we could have that viewpoint again? Nah. Then I'd have to like the Patriots, Peyton Manning and Martin Brodeaur. That ain't happening.
