Friday, January 2, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year everyone !!! If many of you are like me, you certainly gave up on making new year's resolutions a long time ago. Now as for the New Year, I can only wish that all of us can make it through 2009 without any serious, or in many cases, any MORE serious economic windfalls. And we can only hope that CHANGE will happen starting the day after 1/19/2009. 2008 was for the most part pretty memorable for me in that I got to travel along the upper northwest part of the US and down the midwest toward Texas mostly by Amtrak. And as some of you may know, traveling and going to different ballparks or other sporting venues is what I really enjoy doing. Most of what I was able to accomplish was due largely in part to the travel certificates that many relatives gave me last Christmas. I really dont see myself doing any sort of long distance traveling this year, except perhaps staying local and maybe visiting some Minor League Parks this year. Heck, perhaps it would be a good change of pace as opposed to long distance cross country travel.

Oh yeah, 2009. Hey, so it's no secret we're in an economic recession . And yeah, many out there are probably beginning this first business day of the year searching for employment. And if that's the case, I wish you the best of luck. With the job market , or any market for that matter, being what it is at this moment, it's times like this that remind us that hey, our jobs , the ones we currently hold, are our main incentive to want to get up in the morning .

Now, changing gears to the outside world and one I never tire of, sports.... ( I'll admit it, I'm not always about reality, and its something that can heal the pain of reality if at least for 3 hours of my life a day, are you reading this Rich Rodriguez ? ) The NFL Wild Card Playoffs get under way this weekend, and there are some pretty intriguing games this weekend. Unfortunately for me, none of those games will involve my 49ERS for the 6th straight year. As crazy as it sounds, if only for a break here or a lucky bounce there, the Niners coulda been the ones hoisting the NFC West Crown, finishing only 2 games behind the Arizona Cardinals for the division. The Cardinals, a team that gave up over 30 points in a game 5 times this season. If the Niners dont blow a 9 point lead to the Eagles in October or have the right play call in the Monday night game at Arizona....If Shaun Hill would have been our starter from the beginning of the season... WHAT IF'S ..... And so, for the 6th straight year, the 49ERS are nowhere to be found in the month of January. I surely hope Jed York ( Officially the new GM) is right when he told his team after their season ending victory against the Redskins that this is the last time the 49ERS end their season in December because as a long time Niner fan knowing nothing but success from the 80s and 90s, I'm certainly getting tired of not watching my team in post-season play.

And now, my picks for this weekend...

Indy over SD, Atl over AZ, Bal over Mia, and Philly over Min. Wow, I'm picking the road teams to win it all this weekend. Oh yeah, they're all favored too. I guess there must be a lot of parity in the NFL this year.

Have a Great Weekend everyone, and a Safe, and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all !!!!