We're sad the Rangers were eliminated, our love was not enough
to save them in OT last night...but we have faith in our favorite player,
Chris Drury's career, and believe next year will be the Rangers year! OoRah!As you know, KO love love loves hockey!

Last Saturday night KO went to the Yale v Clarkson Hockey game with RGO.They were up 2-0, then tied 2-2, but in the end celebrated a 5-2 victory. Yay.As per usual, we enjoyed cheering for the Bulldogs and getting into hockey
talk with Dad. It's the one thing we can really connect on! Yale's alumni game
was earlier in the day, and there was a special ceremony after the 1st period to
honor both the Class of 52 and the Class of 98, so there were more people in the
Schley room between periods and after the game than usual. Highlights included
talking to our friend Celeste's classmate (and hockey player from the 98 team)
Daryl Jones; meeting and talking to rad (90 grad) Bill Matthews; meeting and talking
to hot alot (05 grad) Nick Shalek. It was also ridiculously fun to walk over to Toad's
w/ Daryl and Bill for a night of partying with many good-looking hockey players. Our
friend Lauren met us at Toad's because we couldn't believe how many guys we were
surrounded by (and could do, ehem, nothing with, but, ehem, talk)! It was very much
reminiscent (except for the drinking and, being older than alot of them part) of our
youth. We spent many a winter night as a little girl wide-eyed and smitten swimming
in a sea of hot hockey players. Sigh. Here are the best from the unforgettable eve:Yale Whale & Toads, New Haven, Feb16, 2008

Special thanks to RGO, DJ, BM, NS...and Lauren

For me, this photo of Bart Giamatti and my mom (BCO) was a framed favoriteamong many fantastic photos in my parents' house. Growing up, I always
loved this picture. Bart was charming first and foremost, but he was also
famous in New Haven because he was the President of Yale University (he
was, notably, the youngest President of the University in its history) and then,
later, he was the seventh commissioner of Major League Baseball. Years before
his son Paul would be praised and awarded for his stellar acting abilities, Bart
Giamatti courted controversy by boldly and bravely suspending Pete Rose for 30
games after Rose shoved an umpire. He also suspended Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher
Jay Howell, who was caught using pine tar during the National League Championship
Series. (After succeeding Peter Ueberroth as Commissioner in April 1989) Giamatti's
most famous decision once again involved Rose, whom he suspended for life for
gambling. A few weeks later, Giammatti died of a massive heart attack. Undeniably,
Bart died way too young. He was only 51! Yet, still (and thankfully), we are blessed
with his living legacy in his Oscar-winning son Paul. RIP Bart. You are missed and loved.

Last night KO went to the Yale/Quinnipiac hockey game with RGO.
It was Quinnipiac's game for the most part, and their 1-0 lead became
a 2-0 lead with less than 5 minutes in the game. Then, to add insult to
injury, they scored a 3rd empty-net goal with 30 seconds left to play. Alas,
it was a great game, if only for Q-heads and die hard hockey fans like KO! And,
to boot, we ran into Bill! And Spodick and Tom! Overall, a fun night for this fan.Above, RGO is flanked by Bill, Jon and Tom; Below: KO crams into frame w/ JS, TT & BMYale Whale, New Haven, Jan 12, 2008

Ava, Maryland, 12.31.07

The day after Christmas Rob Z and KO took the train to NYC to see
the Rangers play Carolina (once the Hartford Whalers!)! It was blissful
perfection to watch our favorite hockey player Chris Drury play with his
new (closer to home) team. To boot, literally 2 seconds after KO said to the
very hockey savvy 9-year-old to our right, "Drury needs to do something
extraordinary right now!" Drury scored! He tied the game to make it 2-2, and
from there the Rangers took control, winning the game 4-2. Thank you RZ! Bliss!We couldn't afford the hefty cost of an authentic Drury Rangers jersey (above),
but we got a hat (below) that's even hotter! And, to add to the awesomeness, RobZ and KO met up with Maxie after the game! Victory, baby!We shared lots of laughter...took some pictures......and then KO and Maxie raged it up just a little while longer...It was a great, great night!!!

KO, RZ,& MG, NYC, ko/12.26.07

source: ph

In the summer of 2006, when we were running 5 miles or more regularly,
we wondered if we might one day run the New York marathon. We were totally
inspired by Puff Daddy (our birthday brother) when he ran it for his 32nd birthday.
Yesterday, our 31st birthday, was this year's New York marathon. Name sista Katie
Holmes ran the marathon, averaging a respectable 12 minute mile. Finally, one of our
favorite sites (by one of our favorite writers, John Williams) highlights today the fun side
of partaking in the marathon, a most momentous accomplishment and tradition.
Check out John's wit, observations and really clever/funny photographs at his blog.
Maybe 2008 will be the year we finally attempt the challenge?!photo source: A Special Way of Being Afraid

KO and Rob lit by a news van's kenos, beat from the rally but still cute...Returning from Rolling Rally, Riverside T stop/Newton neighborhood, MA., 10.30.07

My favorite photo is this one of Papelbon rocking out to
the Dropkick Murphys with his World Champions Trophy.We also adore these as-close-as-we-could-get shots of Series MVP
(and cutie patootie) Mike Lowell loving the love from Red Sox Nation!!!Boston Red Sox Rolling Rally, ko/10.30.07

Tired Man, After the Rolling Rally, Boston, ko/10.30.07

My man Mike Lowell gives the love...Pap rocks out with the trophy and the Dropkick MurphysPapi is pure loveDustin is the man // Red Sox Rolling Rally, Boston, ko/10.30.07

Johnny Cakes!Remington's/Rolling Rally, Boston, 10.30.07

Boston Red Sox Rolling Rally, Boston, MA., ko/10.30.07

RED SOX NATION REJOICE!!!!!
RED SOX NATION IS THE 21st CENTURY!!!!!
RED SOX HAVE WON THE 2007 WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A SWEET SWEEP BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WORLD SERIES BABY!Mac, Kate, Rob & Patrick // Bill Hicks

Sox take a beating in the 11th!
After more than 5 hours of play,
the Indians spank the Sox with 7
yes 7! runs in the 11th. Final: 13-6.

To quote an announcer,
"The Series is even.
IT'S A GAME A PIECE."

Extras Innings...
The Red Sox are tied 6-6 with the Indians.
What a game!!!

Hoorah for Red Sox Nation!!!
The Indians came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat the Yankees
tonight (amidst swarms of bugs)...but beyond that, and better still!!!
The Red Sox took a torturous tie game to a 6-3 victory (!!!), clinching
their 2nd game of the AL division post-season series vs. the Angels!
We couldn't feel better...We feel so proud tonight...Yay! Go Sox!

To quote the Official Red Sox MLB site:

By the time the bottom of the ninth inning rolled around -- with the game tied at 3, two outs and a runner on second -- Ortiz drew his fourth walk of the night, and second of the intentional variety. Angels manager Mike Scioscia basically challenged Manny Ramirez, one of the finest right-handed hitters of this or perhaps any generation, to win the game.

With one sweet swing, Ramirez did just that, slamming a majestic three-run walk-off homer to left field off of elite Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez to snap that tie and deliver a 6-3 victory for Boston before the largest postseason crowd (37,706) in the history of Fenway Park.

The Red Sox now hold a 2-0 lead in this best-of-five series and will go for the sweep and a ticket to the AL Championship Series behind Curt Schilling on Sunday in Anaheim.

Ramirez was so taken by the moment that he broke his season-long silence with the media.

"In that moment, I'm just trying to see the ball and trust myself," Ramirez said. "I'm not trying to do too much. I've got a lot of confidence in myself. He's one of the greatest closers in the game and I'm one of the best hitters in the game. You know, he missed his spot and I got good timing on the ball, and that's it."

Call it another case of Manny being Manny. It was the left fielder's first home run since Aug. 28, the night he strained his left oblique and was forced to the bench for 24 games.

A tightly contested game that had been tied since Mike Lowell's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth came down to Ramirez, who struck K-Rod's 1-0, 96-mph fastball well over the Coke bottles that hover above the Green Monster and onto Lansdowne Street to end the four-hour, five-minute contest.

"When a guy hits a ball like that, you might want to pitch to the guy in front of him," quipped Ortiz. "That ball might have hit a car on the highway."

To Lowell, who was standing in the on-deck circle at the moment of impact, it looked more like a surreal streak of lightning.

"Oh my God," said Lowell. "I think I was just in amazement before I really realized the game was over. I mean, I knew the game was over, but he crushed that ball. He crushed it. It's unbelievable. It was one of the best bolts I've seen here. That was pretty unbelievable."

Ramirez's game-ender -- the type Ortiz has hit so many times the last few years -- set off a mob scene of white uniforms at home plate.

"That ball was crushed," said Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "He put a great swing on it. That's why he's one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all-time. He's inside the ball all the time, and he's so short and powerful [with his swing]."

Check out RobZ and my brother Rob crossing paths in a most
fortuitous moment. It's "My Two Robs!" And they are so fantastic!
Red Sox t-shirt, Ferragamo tie(!), and similarly abiding semi-smiles!
We Love!!! Amazing men looking amazing on an amazing night...Yay!RobZ and RobO at CMs, New Haven, 8.3.07

You already know we are die-hard...Tonight, we are "relieved" but,
like most Red Sox fans, we are also humbled and reluctant to celebrate.
We know to keep it real, but we want the World Series in 07! Go Sox!!!
***********************************************************************************
To quote the Official MLB Red Sox website:
"With the Red Sox assured at least the American League Wild Card, they'll switch their focus to winning the elusive AL East crown. The Yankees haven't made it easy for them, and New York pulled out another improbable win on Saturday in a 12-11, 10-inning win over the Blue Jays to remain within 2 1/2 games with just a week left on the schedule.

Because Boston has seen a 14 1/2-game lead over New York drop to single digits, now is the time to turn up the heat and collect as many wins as possible to prove this season's efforts haven't been in vain." (source)

Well, better late than never is a saying for good reason. It's taken a few weeks
to get this picture of Kelly, Bruce Barber (you may recognize the name from his
Smith and Barber morning show on 99.1 back in the day), my brother Rob, and Rob Z
posted, but it's a great picture taken on a gorgeous summer night. Aaahhhh, summer.Pilot Pen, August 2007

This promo video for Appalachian State University (featured on BWE) honors
ASU's historic win over Michigan this weekend and is hilariously cheesetastic!

Even when it's cold cold cold, ASU is HOT! HOT! HOT!

Been so busy, we forgot to post about the Pilot Pen last week.
We scored sweeter and sweeter seats as the days went on. Blake's
comeback on Thursday was insane. We've never seen such tennis. And,
our seats (thanks Justin!) were just ridiculously rich. Anyone for tennis?All eyes on Blake...Blake's triumphant comeback, Pilot Pen, Thursday, Aug.23

Associated Press via ESPN:

BALTIMORE -- Five runs in the fourth inning.

Nine runs in the sixth.

Ten in the eighth.

Six more in the ninth.

The Texas Rangers rounded the bases at a dizzying pace and became the first team in 110 years to score 30 runs in a game, setting an American League record Wednesday in a 30-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles.

"This is something freaky. You won't see anything like this again for a long, long time. I am glad I was on this end of it," said Marlon Byrd, who hit one of two Texas grand slams.

Trailing 3-0 in the opener of a doubleheader, Texas couldn't be stopped. At last, the last-place Rangers did something right.

"We set a record for something on the good side of baseball," manager Ron Washington said.

It was the ninth time a major league team scored 30 runs, the first since the Chicago Colts set the major league mark in a 36-7 rout of Louisville in a National League game on June 28, 1897, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"It was AMAZING in capital letters," said Travis Metcalf, who hit a grand slam after being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma earlier in the day.

Hours after announcing manager Dave Trembley would return for the 2008 season, the Orioles absorbed the most lopsided loss in franchise history and set a team record for hits allowed in a game (29).

The Rangers had totaled 28 runs in their previous nine games, including two runs on seven hits in their last two.

"I knew we'd get the bats going, but I never expected anything like this," Washington said. "When the faucet is on, you want it to stay on. You never want to cut it off."

The Rangers set a team record for runs scored in a doubleheader -- before the second game even started.

"You don't want to be the one to make the out. You feel like you have to get a hit every time up," Byrd said.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez, the bottom two batters in Texas' lineup, each homered twice and finished with seven RBIs.

"That was ridiculous. I have never been in anything like that in my life," said Saltalamacchia, who went 4-for-6 with a walk and scored five runs. He came in batting .179 and finished at .262.

David Murphy had five of the Rangers' 29 hits, the most by a major league team since Milwaukee had 31 in a 22-2 victory over Toronto on Aug. 28, 1992, according to Elias.

Texas had 57 at-bats, tying the AL record for a nine-inning game set by Milwaukee in its 1992 rout of Toronto.

The Rangers added five points to their team batting average, raising it to .258. They finished with more runs than outs made (27).

Baltimore went from seventh in the AL with a 4.39 ERA to 11th at 4.60.

Asked how to handle such a devastating defeat, Trembley replied, "You have a real short memory and you let it go."

Source: ESPN.com