WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS---FREDBIRD'S CARDINAL CAR

It's arguably the best time of year for the sports fan. Baseball free agency begins. College and pro football are more than in the swing with some teams already in the Leinart/Bush chase for the number one draft pick. In Mt. Vernon and Bureau County, high school football playoffs are in quarterfinals. Pro hoops just got started. College basketball teams are thrashing Washington Generals wanabees and are cover stories for sports magazines. Even the Benchpressers are riding high in the MVRL Fantasy Football League after whipping up on poor Hud in the annual Hud Bowl.

The possibilities in baseball with free agency are definitely food for thought around the old hot stove. Already I've read reports that the Cardinals are interested in obtaining Alphonso Soriano and David Delucci from the Rangers, Brian Giles of the Padres, Juan Pierre of the Marlins, Bret Boone and his newly dyed hair ostensibly to make him appear younger than 36, Ichiro Suzuki, Rudy Seanz, Braden Looper, just to name a few.

I really feel like, and Scott alluded to this in a blog entry recently, the Cardinals are tired of not hitting in the playoffs and are ready for some wholesale changes. And with the cubbies overpaying neifi p., it looks like the dollars for the Grudz just escalated, pricing himself out of Baseball's Best City. Because of another blog and some hilarious pictures, I think Reggie Sanders is gone, too. Along with Derek's pictures, I still have a mental image of the shot he hit off a hanging curve ball from Matty Mo in Arizona in 2001. What a blast!

So I don't know who's gone in trades or who the Cardinals will sign, but it makes for some good possibilites to ponder while the frost settles on the pumpkins. Although usually out here, our frosts don't come until after Christmas. Man, I hope we have Giles or Soriano by then. Or maybe we'll get Ichiro. Right after I get the Fredbird mobile.

CONGRATS TO A FLYING CHAUCER

Finally some sensible voting from the Baseball Writers. Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals and Flying Chaucers of the MVRL: a Cy Young Award Winner.

Unbelievable as it may seem, it's been 35 years since a Cardinal pitcher won the coveted award. What's up with that? No awards for Tudor or Andujar back when? C'mon.

But you know the worst was when andre dawson won the MVP. Or was it? I'm sure I overlooked some other malfeasences. Comment and let me know. (As Scott and Derek occasionally have to do to keep me straight.) Even this season when cussin' bobby cox gets the manager of the year award instead of Tony. All LaRussa's done is guide the Birds to 205 wins in two years. Bobby had a good year; just not the best year.

I seriously don't know what it's going to take to get the media to look at the midwest and west teams. Maybe an ESPN-M and ESPN-W.

But that's fodder for another day. This one's for celebrating veterans and veteran picher(s) who overcome serious arm injuries. And a biased media to win the Cy Young.

Now, if it could only have been the other Cris Carpenter.

SCORECARDS ARE SO GENERIC NOW

But to me, this one from 1954 is one of the best. And with all the printing hi-tech stuff available now, there's just no reason for a bland scorecard.

I know keeping score at a game is a lost art. But getting autographs on them is still in vogue. How good would a Scott Rolen signature on the bat look on this scorecard? Or how about a Yadier in Sharpie on the catcher's mitt?

And let's not stop there either. Let's return to the day when the lineups for that day's game were printed right there on the card. Sure, it was a little annoying when Reggie Sanders was scratched from the lineup because of a freak injury and So Taguchi was substituted and you had to cross Reg off. But hey, you didn't have to write in 17 more names. In the old days, their batting averages current to the day were printed on the scorecards, too. You can't tell me we couldn't/shouldn't do it today. The cost back then was a dime. Ok, I'd expect to pay a buck or a dollar and a half for this today, but I think it would be worth it.

Maybe this all came to mind because of a recent ebay purchase of mine: a Cardinal scorecard from the movie The Natural. The guy I bought it from, of course claimed it was an original movie prop (aren't they all?) and he sent a newspaper article verifying it. Heck, who knows? It looks good, it was cheap, and it's on display on Sunnyside Drive.

FORE
Why did I wait so long to write a golf entry? When that's all I do according to some.

Actually I do a lot of other stuff, mostly relating to church (gosh, I'm even playing golf today with our pastor in about two hours)or Bible Study Fellowship. But I don't miss too many chances to tee it up.

As far as ability, I'm a hacker some days shooting in the 90's and other days I can fire a good round. My scores this week have been a pair of 80's with a 37 on the back nine yesterday. But today we move acoss the county to play at a place called Sundance in Buckeye, AZ. Buckeye is a place you wouldn't want to live in AZ. There's nothing there. Except building. Houses are cheap and so people are filling up bergs like Buckeye, Apache Junction, Peoria, Avondale, Chandler, and other places not in hurricane, earthquake, tornado, rust type areas. That's where I'll be today hoping to break 90 on a long course with moderate desert that comes into play.

I've played golf with some of the greatest people I've ever known, and I've played golf with some bad guys, too. I've played in Canada, England, Spain--where I told a guy who was trying to hit my ball, "Este es mio."--poorly translated >this is mine,<. Who knows what I said; it certainly wasn't idiomatic. Also, in Mexico and Hawaii. Tons of golf at Indian Hills and Green Hills in Mt. Vernon. And about 65 different courses in Arizona. Still, the best greens I've ever played on were at Green Hills.

If you're not a golfer, you will be. So just plan on getting out to the golf course next spring or even this fall when weather permits. It's a game that will grab you. For life.

MORE ON HELMETS

This Ottawa Roughrider helmet made me think. Are there any logos of teams with moustaches on them? Certainly none that I know of that are less intimidating that this one. He looks like he'd be wearing a kilt. But since it's from Canada, probably not. None of that cold wind blowing up his skirt. Another sidebar: At a mosque I was visiting this summer in Turkey I had to wear a scarf that covered my legs since (imagine that) I was wearing short. That seemed to offend muslims. One of the ladies on our cruise took my picture and then announced on ship that she had a picture of me in my skirt. Lots of puzzled looks by those within earshot who weren't at the mosque.

And what kind of a weapon is he toting? A fleur de lis? A frog gigger? Or is it one of those trash pick 'em uppers used in the H-Building parking lot?

Plus, he's wearing a scarf or kerchief. Now that really strikes fear in the hearts of opposing linemen.

We've had much better logos in our leagues than the poor Ottawa Roughriders. Except for the now defunct Travis HertenSteins.

I NEVER WANTED THE STALLIONS

Back in the day of expansion in the NFL, there was a poor ownership team put together to try to return football to St. Lou. Even a last ditch effort to include Walter Payton in the ownership group failed to curry a team to the Midwest. But the talk was about what to name the new franchise. Some sentiment was held for the Archers, others the Cardinals, "and let Bidwell change the name of that team he's taking to the desert," but what was decided upon by Those in Charge was the Stallions.

And you know what? I never wanted the Stallions. Or any expansion team. I wanted an existing franchise so I wouldn't have to wait so long for a winner. I didn't realize how successful parity or big bucks could equalize things. (I could have said level the playing field, but that's such a cliche.) So I got what I wanted. The RAMS. The storied RAMS would move to St. Louis! I was so happy, having followed the football Big Red for all those years. Now I would have a real team to root for.

Of course I jumped at PSL's and the chance to watch a winner. And it really didn't take too long either.

One thing I really liked about the RAMS was their helmets. The horns on the side were just the best. I also liked their colors. I'm not quite as pleased with the change after the Super Bowl Champs' year, but I realize the yellow pants may have been a little gaudy. But that's not my focus today.

I say the Mt. Vernon Rams need the horns on the helmets, too. That would be so cool. Even the green with gold horns looks good on Colorado State. And with classic orange horns on a solid black helmet, well that would be the bomb! (No cliche there)

Now if I just knew someone of influence from MTV High who could affect such a change. And maybe even throw some money their way. Some money that the football team has brought in this year due to big crowds and playoff games. Some money that couldn't go to the AD who is also the basketball coach who may have other ideas. (Horns on the shorts of the basketball unis might suggest something else., though.)

Horns on baseball hats, golf visors, cross country unis, cheerleader unis. Naugh. Just football helmets. Maybe even in time for the state championship game this year. Any ideas who I could talk to?

WHEN'S IT GOING TO STOP?

How in the world can the University of Illinois football program be that bad? Year after year after year?

Change coaches, no diff. Change offenses, change defensive schemes and coordinaters, no difference. Even changing ADs doesn't matter. Michigan and Ohio State can't cheat that much in recruiting, can they? What about Michigan State and Wisconsin? What about Northwestern?

It can't be academics. At least not at Michigan and Wisconsin. And it can't be about climate in the Big Ten. It can't be about co-eds. I'm mystified as to how Illinois football could be so bad. For so long.

I know bad programs have a cyclic way of duplicity. (Hey that almost sounded like an Illini alum.) (I wish.) A regenerative problem common to all losers. Breaking the mold and starting over. It reminds me of the old USSR and it's 5-year plan(s).

Anyway(s) I hope the U of I gets it turned around. Hey, maybe they could recruit some of the 2005 MTV Rams. Or Cahokia Commanches, or Althoff Crusaders. Naugh. They can't even recruit out of football hotbeds like chicogo.

40-2. Don't get me started.