Lines in the Suit

Your omniscient author in absentia:
A last minute business trip has me out of town. Since I have the internets at the hotel, figured I could whip up a strip — But it turns out I can't get my "Soxaholix" head on when I'm not in my usual space/routine.

 

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Your omniscient author in absentia:
Should be back to normal on Thursday.

 

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Your omniscient author in absentia:
Meanwhile, a loss is a loss just as much as a win is a win, but I liked the Sox never say die tone in yesterday's game, despite the outcome. What about you?

 

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Comments

[louclinton]

Not much. The bullpen gives me the willies.

Nice Logan clipart (ca. 1979 (except for the flat screens))

[IkeG]

Head up, LC, they're going to blow a lead here and there. Still that felt like a real opportunity lost --- it would have been nice to steal a game in OAK and end up with a 3-3 west coast swing. Maybe Zito will be thinking about wearing a Mets cap tonight and be off his game...

Landis! Landis! Landis! Nice.

[Dave S.]

Landis indeed. Wow. What a performance...by him and his team. He seems like a gracious, classy guy, too. And he's a Mennonite who likes beer! Something about it made me think of Kingpin. I kept looking for Woody Harrelson.

A "never-say-die" attitude is definitely a positive takeaway from a loss. I'd rank the "grind-out in spite of odds against" up there just behind the "next day rebound from an ugly loss" in terms of characteristics that bode well for future chances.

[Natalie]

Never say die is great and all, and I wish I were more sanguine. The squandered opportunity to gain another big game on the Yanks is what's really grating and make this loss seem more than just a simple L to me. I really wanted to be up 4.5 not 2.5... July-August momentum is HUGE in a season (see 2004). Let's rebound tonight against Oakland, boys!

BTW- who else hates Left Coast games during the work week? I always fall asleep to Trup and Castiglione and sleep fitfully until I hear the final score. And if its a loss, I stew at 2 in the morning. I clearly need a hobby. :)

[Jason O.]

That airport looks like the rotating orbital space station in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

[Rob in CT]

Open the pod bay door, J.O.

[NV in SD]

"Since I have the internets at the hotel..."

You mean there's more than one?!?!

Here's hoping we get the better of Zito the second time 'round.

[Dave S.]

What are you doing, Rob?

[Soulie]

C'mon NV, don't you know? The Internets is a series of tubes!

[Rob in CT]

Dave -

At first I was fearful you were making some really awful reference of a nature more aptly applied to Aura and Mystique when they're working the pole room. Then I realized, the surviving astronaut's name is Dave.

Sweet Mohammed on a bagel! You had me laughing out loud in the middle of a room full of IT dweebs up here. Now I've got to try to explain the Soxaholix to them.

Great job!

[anotherbetsy]

Ah, Sox lose, but Yanks lose and look stupid doing it. Sun in shining. Today is a good day. I also like the slant rhyme going on with the Yanks "pitchers" yesterday:
Ponson, Wilson, Chacon, and Villone. Nicely done Mr. Torre.

[Devine]

Me...I frickin' hated that crap yesterday. I mean, I threw things when that Beltre run came around. Two stupid outfield moves by a combo of Coco and Manny that would have made the Keystone Kops happy, the continuously bi-polar nature of the game with the last-minute hope finally crushed. The only game I've been more angry at this year was one against Detroit (one we eventually ended up winning on a top of the 9th two-run blast by Youk to make it 3-2 Sox).

So yeah, it's great that there was fighting, but some ugly, uggggly plays that could have easily not happened and had us winning the game. It just felt so dumb, so wasted.

[Dave S.]

Rob...one of a few benefits to being named Dave is the ongoing opportunity to reference conversation between Dave and HAL (who, in my opinion, is one of the creepiest villains in cinematic history) You, Jason and HB just gave me a layup.

[Rob in CT]

"Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over.

I know [Tito's] made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the [Red Sox]. And I want to help you."

[Dave S.]

"I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I'm a... fraid. Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am [Tito]."

[Rob in CT]

Joe Torre: [Cashman and Torre are in the D pod, out of earshot of BOSS] Well, what do you think?
Cashman: I'm not sure. What do you think?
Torre: I've got a bad feeling about it.

[Regarding the supposed failure of Mystique and Aura on the ship, which BOSS himself falsified]
BOSS: It can only be attributable to human error.

Cashman: Hello, BOSS do you read me, BOSS?
HAL: Affirmative, Brian, I read you.
Cashman: Open the pod bay doors, BOSS.
BOSS: I'm sorry Brian, I'm afraid I can't do that.
Cashman: What's the problem?
BOSS: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Cashman: What are you talking about, BOSS?
HAL: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Cashman: I don't know what you're talking about, BOSS.
HAL: I know you and Joe were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
Cashman: Where the hell'd you get that idea, BOSS?
HAL: Brian, although you took thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.

[the gorry kid]

"The Internets"???

Whoda thunkit. HB is George Bush's alter ego.

I thought you were a Texas Rangers fan, George.

[Jason O.]

proto-hominids dying 2 million years ago...
alien intelligence imparts key intellectual developments....
Aliens bury monolith on moon with the plan that we will find monolith when we're advanced enough....
Alien signal from monolith will trigger our trip to Jupiter for the next stage of evolution...

Now that's what I call a brilliant plot, cue Strauss...

[Dave S.]

Rob...that is the funniest thing that I have read in some time. It also actually shows surprising compassion for the Yankees. The further irony regards the reports of Steinbrenner's condition, his reported dementia as he ages...a malfunctioning robot. Hate him as you will, Steinbrenner commands respect for: a) his will to win, and monomaniacal, Ahabian determination to bend all his resources to the capture of the White Whale b) his sense of humor enought to let Seinfeld absolutely destroy him, week after week, year after yearI have real respect for anyone with the stones to allow for that kind of roasting.

Jason...just a great, great movie...and it's like the human conflict with AI is the gauntlet that needs to be run, that the alien intelligence set humans up for, what with the original monolith leading to the use of tools. Such a great movie, so layered.

[Rob in CT]

As with any epic adventure, the story's only as good as the villian set in opposition to the hero. In that regard, it is Boss Steinbrenner that, in large measure, elevates the rivalry to what it is. In spite of the bashing, in a weak moment I would admit to a certain respect for the man.

After all, he did take a Yankee team that was severely in the tank in the early Seventies and (after paying to have Mystique and Auras' lip hair removed and buying them both boob jobs) turned them into the toast of Manhattan. Without him and the history of his tenure at the helm, 2004 would NEVER have tasted quite so sweet.

Bookmark this page. I suspect it's the last nice thing I'll have to say about the Boss until he's in the Frigidare next to Teddy Ballgame.

This has been fun. I'll take this kind of exchange over nasty-grams any day.

Sing along with me now, "Ohhhh, the farmers and the ranchers should be friennnnds..."

[paddy24]

Any one know whether Trot Nixon still plays for the Red Sox? Is he aware that the Sox are in a pennant race and that he's a free agent at the end of the season? Turning point of the season: Trot's 0-9 in the 5-hole in a 16 inning loss. Get Wily Mo in there if Trot can't go full tilt without the steroids he was using a few years back.

[Kaz]

On topic of Coco's miscue yesterday:

I was just looking at BDD (yes, I know, what the hell was I thinking?). Man, what kind of myopic, small-minded, amnesiac is Silva these days?

Coco made the greatest catch of the year a few weeks back to save a game for us in Fenway. It was recently highlighted by Brian Fox et al in the First Half Highlight Reel that's been all over the TV/web. He's probably putting up a 0.34 Web Gem per game statistic (although some times I've seen him steal the show from someone else capable of making an easier play on the ball). All that seems to be completely lost on "Does he contribute anything other than speed?" Silva.

What a total ass...yet again.

[Sonoma Mainer]

Bob Knight once said he was never nervous playing against any of Dale Brown's teams. When behind, Knight would look down court, see Brown and know he could out coach the guy.

I get the feeling that other managers are now doing the same w/ Tito.

HB - If your travels have led you to Oakland...see you in the little back bay that is created in the parking lot

JL

[IkeG]

Yeah, I wasn't digging the negative tone of BDD. Granted I tend to feel like throwing rotten fruit at the guys after some of the more frustrating losses, but dude, c'mon.

[illegitimate son of dwight evans]

just a great, great movie...and it's like the human conflict with AI is the gauntlet that needs to be run, that the alien intelligence set humans up for, what with the original monolith leading to the use of tools. Such a great movie, so layered.

Dave S, if you like that, then you'll love the mindfuck that is this book. Some of the stuff he throws out there is a little off the wall (the NO MEAT thing is just a little too goofy for me - read the book and see what I mean), but some of the other stuff is dead on. 2001 has been my favorite sci-fi movie since I was 8.

On 19 year's reflection, though, that might explain a lot about me.

I can't believe that Beltre run came in. Never-say-die or no, that was probably the embarassment of the year for the Sox. A shame especially in light of A-Gon's channeling of Pokey Reese of year's past a couple innings earlier.

[vermonter]

I guess it's good news for A-rod that he has a "future in the beverage distribution business".

Back to my beer...

[tessie]

Daisy, Daisy...give me your answer do...

I don't know what compelled me to say that.

[Kaz]

You're half crazy?

All for the love of Youk?

[IkeG]

Is that the song from "Revenge of the Nerds", when Hitashi is in the tricycle chug race? That song was in Japanese but Tessie's lyric seems to fit the tune.

Was the punk song named after you, Tessie? Dropkick Murphys do a great version of it.

[Dave S.]

...Ike, it's a continuation of the 2001 Space Odyssey quote-a-thon: it's the song that HAL sang:

"Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage. But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two."

Nicely done, Kaz.

[IkeG]

Thanks, Dave. By the way, I went out and looked and apparently that WAS the song that played during the trike race.

I'm guessing HAL wasn't a very good bike-rider. Apparently Hal Reynolds wasn't a good enough analyst, because ESPN just fired him.

[Jason O.]

Let me tell you what Like a Virgin's about. It's about a girl who digs a guy with a big dick. The entire song. It's a metaphor for big dicks.

...oops, wrong movie.

[Kaz]

I learned "Daisy, Daisy" from Donald Duck on 70's and 80's Disney toons with the Chip'n'Dale cross-overs where they'd get in the way of Donald's love interest in Daisy Duck.

Speaking of Chippendale, they're all about the big dicks too.

Woohoo, 20 points for me for best obscure segue glue for non sequiter conversations in a thread!

[dunster]

Didn't stay up for the game last night. ESPN says I can smile on my way to work! Great quote:

'Of matching Beckett's win total, Schilling said: "It means he's got to keep his mouth shut for four more days. That's the most important thing."'

[dan]

hb, are you a Spoon fan? or is the title of this strip just a coincidence?

[Shando]

From a RS fan in CA! I was at the Red Sox Vs A's game last night and it was so awesome!!!! RSN was in full force! There had to be more RS fans than A's fans..even before we were kicking their ass!! Schilling got into a couple jams but overall, he was confident and just threw the ball with so much accuracy! And you should have seen the A's fans leaving in droves after we got up to 10 and above! Great baseball!

[IkeG]

Thanks, Shando. That story is almost the flip-side of my Fenway experience from college. That was way back in the days of the bash-brother steroid A's. It was Stewart vs Clemens, and the A's went up by a few runs before the Sox clawed their way back in. In the 9th, Carney Lansford cued one down the RF line to score 2 and put it out of reach. Though the crowd stayed around for the most part, the excitement was gone at that point.

As long as there are sci-fi fans here ... I know you all dig 2001. How is THX 1138? Is that worth seeing?

[tessie]

"Tessie" is the title of a Broadway song, as well as another song about how the singing of "Tessie" helped the Boston Red Sox win the first World Series in 1903. The name Tessie itself is a diminutive form used with several names, including Esther, Tess, and Theresa.
While a popular tune, the song gained greater notoriety when it was adopted as a rallying cry by the Royal Rooters, a collection of loyal Southie fans led by Michael T. "'Nuff Said" McGreevy, owner of the 3rd Base saloon. (McGreevy earned his nickname due to the way he kept peace in his bar; when he grew frustrated with arguments over the Red Sox and the Boston Braves, he would pound his hand on the bar and declare "Nuff Said!")

After the first four games of the 1903 World Series, Boston was down 3–1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. (It was a best of 9 series; 5 wins were needed to win the series.) The Royal Rooters began rallying their team with every song they could think of; ultimately "Tessie" helped win the day. Pittsburgh outfielder Tommy Leach credited at least part of Boston's win to "that damn 'Tessie' song." He continued: "It was a real hum-dinger of a song, but it sort of got on your nerves after a while." (Boston won Game 5 and went on to win Games 6, 7, and 8 to win the series 5–3.)

The chorus to the original "Tessie" goes:
Tessie, you make me feel so badly.
Why don't you turn around?
Tessie, you know I love you madly.
Babe, my heart weighs about a pound.
Don't blame me if I ever doubt you,
You know I wouldn't live without you.
Tessie, you are the only, only, only.

The Rooters stopped singing in 1918. The Red Sox won the World Series in 1918 but then endured an 86-year drought before winning again in 2004, the same year a re-release of "Tessie" was issued by the Dropkick Murphys

That's from Wikipedia.

Ike, THX1138 is cool but try to get your hands on the orignal version that Lucas did in college. It's nice to see the two back to back. (You are a true believer)