EDITOR’S NOTE: Anyone want to earn my eternal gratitude and help dogsit for a few weeks?
Late last week, the neighbors put up signs for a yard sale they were holding over the weekend. After gauging the early street traffic, I decided to mooch off their marketing and throw some stuff out on the driveway. It turned out to be one the best things I’ve done during my moving preparation. By allowing complete strangers the right to take my unwanted items home, I was paid $160. What a country this is. I should have done this a lot sooner!
During this experience, I also worked the hardest I have ever worked to earn one dollar. Somehow, I acquired an old box fan that used to belong to someone my brother used to work with. The fan was even labeled with their name. I didn’t want it, so I added it to my collection of “equity” on the driveway. An older Indian woman expressed interest in acquiring the fan. Another woman (presumably her daughter), asked me how much the fan was. Feeling daring, I told them it was $5. After hearing the price, the old woman made a funny face and shook her head. She then countered (through her presumed daughter) the princely sum of one dollar.
At that point, I agreed and thought I had gotten rid of the fan. She then (again, through her daughter) proceeded to grill me with questions about the fan. Would it stand up if it was turned on? Did it still work? She even made me taken the fan inside to prove that it was still working! What the hell kind of person would sell an old, beat up, broken fan at a yard sale? Apparently someone, because through asking to prove that it worked this woman thought there was a chance I could be one of those people.
I’ve never really gone to yard sales and never understood what the fuss was until now. People love them. I have driven by hundreds of them, but never felt the inclination to pull over to see what kind of junk people were trying to get rid of. I always pictured bins full of old socks and VHS tapes that nobody would watch anyways. The thing is, people actually still watch VHS tapes! The craziest thing about my mini-yard sale is that people bought stuff that I never thought would be interesting to anyone.
One man’s trash really is another man’s treasure.
Anyone in the market for an old-school, pre-HD, 27″ television?
EDITOR’S NOTE: What an amazing win for the US Soccer team yesterday!
Almost exactly a year ago today, I was trading emails with my friend Allison when I mentioned my desire to move to San Francisco. Her response was that it takes some “serious gumption” to make such a life change like that. Those words have stuck with me over the past year. I often wondered if I would ever actually do it. Another thing that has stuck in my mind over the past year was this and this night in Fenway Park.
I’m here to tell you today that I’m moving to San Francisco.
Finally.
Last year, I wanted to move to San Francisco because I wanted to shake things up. Today, I want to move there not to shake it up, but because the desire to move to “The City” has never left. Actually, it hasn’t left over the past six years. It’s time to start a new chapter in my life.
I’ve mentioned this before, but the first time the thought of moving there was during my first visit for the Sox series in 2004. My soon-to-be-ex-wife and I walked through the tunnel at Pac Bell Park and the moment just hit me. It was spectacular and sunny day. The sight of the Bay behind the outfield wall and the vibe of the area simply overwhelmed me. At that moment, I turned to her and asked if she wanted to move to San Francisco.
The only other decision I have felt this strongly about was the decision to leave my wife. While it took a little while to get there, ultimately it was the right decision and one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. This decision has been very similar for a few reasons. Because of the craptastic real estate market, it has also taken a while to get to this point. More importantly, just like the decision to get divorced, this is a “me” decision. This is me sacking up and not worrying about what others will think, but what I think. I’ve learned the hard way that looking out for your own best interests is not selfish.
Even though I haven’t told many people, I’ve already been overwhelmed with the response to my decision to move. I’ve begun the process of filling up the calendar to see as many people as I can before I go. The plan is to pack up the car and just drive, chasing the sun. Save for a few boxes of clothes I am going to ship, I am only bringing what I can fit in my (small) car. I’m rebooting my life, my possessions, my home and my state of mind. As my friend Noah said Tuesday night, I’m living life without ever looking back. I’m living a life without regret.
In about a month, I’ll finally be off to San Francisco.
Friday night, Manny Ramirez returned to Fenway Park for the first time since he was traded on July 31, 2008. The response was mixed, with approximately 50% cheers and 50% boos. Save for that “Benedict Arnold” Johnny Damon, this was unlike the return of other 2004 Red Sox to Fenway Park. Apparently, people are so angry with the events leading up to Manny’s departure that they simply had to have their voices heard.
I get it, I really do. People are either angry that Manny pushed local hero and national treasure Jack McCormick (which is worse than Derek Lowe abusing his girlfriend apparently), that Manny did steroids (probably much like David Ortiz), or think that Manny tanked his way out of town (even though the statistics say otherwise). Nothing that happened before that doesn’t seem to matter to Red Sox fans anymore.
Here’s what really happened: 2004 and 2007 while great, also had a negative impact on the Red Sox fanbase. We’ve become entitled, “Red Sox Nation” membership card carrying, “Sweet Caroline” singing (I like this, btw) douchebags who think it is more important to claim they went to the game rather than actually watch it. Furthermore, doing the wave is apparently much cooler than showing appreciation for the 2004 World Series MVP.
Let me say that again:
Manny Ramirez was the most valuable player of the playoff series that changed everything for me. Without him, Red Sox fans would undoubtedly still be hearing “1918″ chants from obnoxious, hair gel-crusted, greasy/shiny guidos from Yonkers. Manny Ramirez was partly responsible for probably the greatest month in Red Sox history. Without a hint nor a sniff of exaggeration, Manny Ramirez LITERALLY changed my life.
In response, someone might say that they appreciated Manny while he was here and they don’t have to do it now. I can somewhat see the logic in this argument. My contention is only with his first at-bat back in Fenway Park. In my humble, often-shared, and unsolicited opinion, he should not have heard any boos during that first at-bat. If someone booed him after that, I could somewhat understand. Friday night, if you couldn’t cheer Manny during that first at-bat, then you should have stayed silent.
I went to the game last night and felt physically ill as Manny was booed again. It didn’t used to be like this. Fenway Park used to be filled with knowledgeable fans who hung on the edge of their seat with every pitch. Fenway Park used to buzz even at the hint of a possibility of a two-out rally. During the really exciting moments, the joint used feel like it was shaking.
Not anymore.
Last night, people seemed to stick around for Neil Diamond and then quickly headed for the exits as soon as the song ended. This happened with the heart of the order coming up in a two-run game. They happily booed one of the men who changed it all and left as soon as they couldn’t yell “So good, so good!” anymore. As Dustin Pedroia rounded the bases for a triple, I wondered who was moving faster: Pedroia, or the people heading for the exits.
1) I close on my house exactly one month from today. This whole process has been bittersweet for me.
2) If you are an animal lover, you have to watch this video.
3) ESPN is doing a series of 30 documentaries celebrating “events that transformed the sports landscape from 1979 to 2009.” I can’t recommend these documentaries highly enough. The latest one was about the events on June 17th, 1994. This was the day of the infamous OJ White Bronco chase. It is replaying on ESPN now, definitely check it out if you can. It is really well done.
The events of that day also produced the greatest phony phone call of all time:
EDITOR’S HOPE: Please do not boo Manny tonight, Fenway Park.
It was right there for the taking.
For 43 (or so) out of 48 minutes, the Celtics outplayed the Lakers. Their defense was stifling and caused LA’s two best players to have horrible shooting nights. I didn’t have a good feeling going into the game (or the playoffs, for that matter), but the Celtics won me over.
The well-known reality is that in basketball (as in life), it is not how you start but how you finish. The Celtics did not finish the game in the manner in which they played for most of the night. Some folks are blaming the officials, but it is not their fault. The Lakers manned up and grabbed the trophy last night. Don’t get me wrong, NBA officiating sucks (and I often question if it is on the level), but the refs are not the reason a parade will be held out west rather than out east.
I am not sad that they lost. I am sad for three other reasons. The first reason is that our 18th NBA Championship was right there for the taking and they let it slip away. Secondly, I am sad because last night was the last time that Celtic team will take the floor. The team will look very different next season. Kendrick Perkins said it himself in one of the pregame interviews, we may never see them back in the Finals. You just never know. Most importantly (and this feeling intensifies with every tough loss), I’m sad because a loss like this disappoints so many people I know and love.
Here’s where I am with sports right now: Save for a Stanley Cup, I’ve seen it all. Other than that, if I never see another Boston championship, I’m good. The best part about sports for me these days is sharing the experience with the people that mean the most to me. When you look at sports this way, the best days are even better; Unfortunately, the worst days are even worse. Today is a “worse” day. I hate hearing, seeing, reading, and feeling the disappointment my loved ones feel as a result of sports. It hurts me more than anything I can ever see in a game.
All that said…
If you’ve been a fan of Boston sports over the past decade, you have no right to complain about sports. We’ve been on an unprecedented run. Many fans would kill for one championship. I thank my lucky stars every day that I am not a fan from a place like Cleveland. It is bad enough you have to live there, but those fans haven’t experienced the joy of their teams winning anything since 1948.
Here in Boston, we’ve been fortunate enough to see six championships in the past eight years. The fact of the matter is that the 2010 Celtics exceeded expectations. This is all we can ever ask of the teams we follow.
1) I simply cannot believe the Boston Celtics are one win away from winning their 18th NBA Championship. Everyone counted this team out, yet here we are. After Game 3, I tweeted that the Celtics will win the next two games. When the Boston Celtics are up 3-2 in the NBA Finals, they are 11-0 in those series. Come Wednesday morning, they will be 12-0.
2) Almost as important: I sold my house. Finally!!! When I close on July 19th, it will be exactly thirteen months and two days from when I put it on the market. Everyone has been asking what the plan is, but I’m not exactly sure just yet. The house inspection was last Wednesday and I’ve been pretty much in shock since then. I can’t believe this wicked long process is finally coming to an end. I’m happy, relieved, hopeful, nervous, unsure, and most of all excited that the next chapter in my life is about to begin.
This should provide some good blog entry material, especially if a cross-country drive is involved. As some of you know, the job in Santa Monica fell through. Maybe this is a sign that I should head where I’ve wanted to go all along.
