Friday, October 22, 2010

Cautiously Optimistic (In Some Cases)

Tonight, the Yankees play Game 6 in Texas.

I am cautiously optimistic.

I will not be watching most of it on television. East Brunswick High School, ranked Number 5 in the Home News Tribune Top 10, is hosting Sayreville, ranked Number 1, in the HNT Game of the Week. We're 4-1, and their quarterback is listed as day-to-day, and it's at home at Jay Doyle Field, home of the 1966, 1972, 2004 and 2009 Central Jersey Group IV Champions, and not at War Memorial Stadium, that shit pit down Route 535. (Cranbury Road in our town, Washington Road in theirs, Main Street on South River in between, it's all County Route 535.) And while they beat us at their place in the regular season last year, we beat them at their place in the Playoff Semifinal rematch.

I am cautiously optimistic. Anyway, I'm bringing my Walkman -- it's at my old school, so why not go old-school? -- and I'll be listening to John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WCBS while I watch Da Bears try to shoot down the Bombers. Maybe I should start calling Sayreville the Luftwaffe. I already call them Sewerville. Which is no joke: The Middlesex County Sewerage Authority headquarters is in that town, about a mile from the school.

The funny thing is, I work in Sayreville, and I have to pass Sayreville War Memorial High School every day on the bus.

I hate that fucking place. But not as much as I hate Old Bridge. Thanksgiving is a month and change away.

*

Rutgers plays at the University of Pittsburgh tomorrow afternoon.

I am completely pessimistic. Chas Dodd, you're about to be welcomed into the real Big East Conference. (No, I don't mean the basketball one.)

Arsenal play at Manchester City on Sunday. Arsenal are in 3rd place in the Premier League, Man City in 2nd, but both squads have injury issues.

I am cautiously optimistic. I can live with a draw if we don't let the greedy disloyal cunt Emmanuel Adebayor score.

Tbe Devils won last night, beating the Canadiens in Montreal, 3-0. Perhaps inspired by playing in his hometown against his boyhood team, Martin Brodeur got his 112th career shutout.

The Red Bulls won last night, beating the New England Revolution at home in Harrison, 2-0, avenging an earlier defeat in Foxboro, and clinching the MLS Eastern Conference Championship. They look good for the Playoffs.

*

Days until the Devils play another local rival: 2, this Sunday, at Madison Square Garden against The Scum. Under a month. Then the Rags come to the Prudential on Friday, November 5. The first game of the season against the Islanders is on Friday, November 26, the day after Thanksgiving, at the Nassau Coliseum, followed the next day by the first game of the season against the defending Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia Flyers, at The Rock.

Days until East Brunswick High School plays football again (after tonight): 7, a week from tonight, at home against Piscataway.

Days until Rutgers plays football again (after tomorrow): 11, on Wednesday night, November 3, at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Days until the next North London Derby: 29, Saturday, November 20, at New Highbury. Under a month.

Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge Thanksgiving clash: 34. A little more than a month.

Days until the next Yankees-Red Sox series begins: 168, Friday, April 8, 2011, at Fenway Park.

Days until Derek Jeter collects his 3,000th career hit: 235 (estimated: June 14, 2011, his “slump year” pushing it back by a month).

Days until the Rutgers-Army football game at Yankee Stadium: 386.

Days until the last Nets game in New Jersey: 548 (estimated).

Days until the 2012 Olympics begin in London: 604.

Days until Alex Rodriguez collects his 3,000th career hit: 952 (estimated).

Days until Alex Rodriguez hits his 700th career home run: 1,074 (estimated).

Days until Super Bowl XLVIII at the Meadowlands: 1,199.

Days until Alex Rodriguez hits his 756th career home run to surpass all-time leader Hank Aaron: 1,694 (estimated).

Days until Alex Rodriguez hits his 763rd career home run to become as close to a "real" all-time leader as we are likely to have: 1,808 (estimated).

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