2008 Season Preview: National League East

Can one player make a team? Better question. Can one player who only plays twice a week – on a good week – make a team? My answer, we’ll have to wait and see, but the Mets surely hope that’s the case. With the acquisition of Johan Santana, the Mets have pegged him to be the Savior of the Big Apple. The Mets suffered arguably the biggest collapse in Major League history last year by losing 7 game lead with 17 games to play. They played poor defense and lost important division games to the Phillies and Nationals. They must rectify this situation or they could see themselves mired in third place and on the outside looking in again in the NL East.

That being said, who is the team to beat in the National League? Better question. Who is the best team in the National League East? I believe this is as wide open as the league has been in years. I would have to say that the Phillies are the team to beat again, but who knows what will happen with pitching and injuries. Who’s to say that the tandem of Smoltz, Glavine, Hudson, and Hampton won’t bring the Braves back to the top.

Now…here is my preview of each team in the NL East and how I believe that they will finish this year, along with team MVPs and LVPs. Read on and enjoy!

1ST PLACE: Philadelphia Phillies (95-67)
The Phillies have the best chance to repeat as division champs of any of the three winners from last year. They also have the biggest challenge to repeat of any of the three winners from last year. The Mets and Braves are just as good and they want to win just as badly. The question, as always in Philadelphia, is how well the team gets out of the gate and how well the pitching holds up.

1B – Ryan Howard: poised for another MVP season, the newest $10 million man will have better protection in the lineup than in years past. He’ll probably also break his own record for single season strikeouts.
2B – Chase Utley: MVP 3-peat? Why not. The best second baseman in baseball, bar none. Hardest working player on the team and one of the leaders in the clubhouse.
SS – Jimmy Rollins: Last year’s MVP continues to make bold predictions for this Phillies team and will back it up once again as part of the best double-play combination in baseball.
3B – Pedro Feliz: The best third baseman to come through Philly since Scott Rolen will hit behind Howard and probably hit 30 HRs in the friendly confines.
LF – Pat “The Bat” Burrell: In his contract year, Burrell can only get better than he’s been in years past. His move to sixth in the order takes some pressure off of him.
CF – Shane Victorino: “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” finally gets to play the position that he is most suited for. He won’t put up the power numbers of the dearly departed Aaron Rowand, but the defensive upgrade will be remarkable.
RF – Geoff Jenkins: Proof that the Phils have to have a player named Geoff every year, Jenkins will provide some power from the 7 hole, even if he only plays in half of the games.
C – Carlos Ruiz: In his second full season as the starter, he handles the game well and has begun to hit more. Very little pressure on him as the 8 hole hitter in such a potent lineup.

Bench: Chris Coste, Eric Bruntlett, So Taguchi, Greg Dobbs, Jayson Werth: A deep bench with the best pinch hitter from last year in Taguchi. Dobbs and Werth will get a bunch of playing time at 3rd and in RF, respectively. Coste has proven to be a very steady backup for Ruiz at C. Bruntlett is a capable backup middle infielder with absolutely no pop in his bat.

Rotation: Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick, Who Knows?: When healthy, this rotation could be very successful. Unfortunately, all four definite members are question marks. Can Myers move back into the rotation seamlessly? Can Hamels stay healthy? Can Moyer make it another full season before breaking down? Can Kendrick duplicate his success as a rookie? And who is the fifth starter?

Bullpen: Brad Lidge, Tom Gordon, Ryan Madson, JC Romero, Chad Durbin: Again, when healthy, the deepest bullpen in the division by far. Lidge’s knee is a problem (of course). Gordon’s arm and age are problems (of course). But again, they are deep. The question is whether or not Durbin wins a rotation spot or if Adam Eaton or Kris Benson join this group.

Management/Coaching: Charlie Manuel’s extension should calm the troops and allow for more relaxation. Davy Lopes cancer could be a distraction, but I don’t believe too much. The question is whether Pat Gillick, in his final year as the GM, will be able to do enough in July to get this team what they need to succeed.

Phillies Team MVP: Chase Utley. He should win the league MVP this year as well. As I said before, he is the leader of this team on and off the field and deserves to be rewarded for it.

Phillies Team LVP: Either Eaton or Wes Helms. Probably both because somehow they will both end up making the team and causing a better player to be sent to the minors or released. If the team finds a way to get rid of one or both of these player, partial salaries will have to be covered just to get another team to take them and that will come back to be an excuse in July when the Phillies need that one player to put them over the top.

2nd PLACE: New York Mets (94-68)
Yep, you read it right. It’s going to come down to the last day of the season again, my friends. There’s no way that the Mets collapse the way that they did last year again. Their problem is that the Phillies are in their heads and that hurts them in head to head meetings. Billy Wagner will blow a save late in September and that will cost the Mets the division. And possibly the wild card.

1B – Carlos Delgado: If his arthritic hip holds up, he’s one of the premier slugging first basemen in the league. If not, there’s no one to take his place in this clubhouse.
2B – Luis Castillo: Having Luis for a whole season will be a definite upgrade defensively and it adds to the already phenomenal speed at the top of the lineup.
SS – Jose Reyes: One of the top three shortstops in the game (all in the NL), Reyes is the sparkplug of this lineup. When he goes, the Mets go.
3B – David Wright: Last year’s MVP if the team didn’t implode, Wright is the best 3B in the NL with no close competitors. He is also a gem defensively and will scoop up anything that comes remotely close to him on the field.
LF – Moises Alou: He’s just another year older and not what you fear coming up in the lineup. Alou is just keeping the position warm for when Fernando Martinez is ready to make the leap to the big leagues permanently.
CF – Carlos Beltran: The best centerfielder in the division with the departure of Andruw Jones. He doesn’t talk much, but he continually produces on the field. He’ll be key to the Mets success this year.
RF – Ryan Church: If he doesn’t have lingering effects from the concussions that he suffered in his collision with Marlon Anderson, he should be an adequate defender, but a definite downgrade from Shawn Green last year.
C – Brian Schneider: A downgrade as a leader from Paul LoDuca, but an upgrade defensively. The pitching staff will love his play calling and his handling of the game. Not too much power, but he’s a good clubhouse guy.

Bench: Ramon Castro, Ruben Gotay, Marlon Anderson, Endy Chavez, Damion Easley: If you don’t recognize the names on this list that weren’t former Phillies, you’re not alone. This is a weak bench offensively. If any of the regulars get hurt, it could be a tough road for this crew.

Rotation: Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez: This is a daunting rotation to face on a daily basis. Santana is the best pitcher in the game and will be a definite upgrade of the departed Tom Glavine. Pedro is still a question mark, but as long as he is adequate, he’ll still win 12-15 games with this lineup. Maine is an up and coming star and Perez still has some untapped potential. El Duque is just too old to be any help anymore.

Bullpen: Billy Wagner, Scott Schoeneweis, Aaron Heilman, Jorge Sosa, Pedro Feliciano: A decent pen, but there’s no replacement for Billy Wags when he implodes again. Rumors are that Sosa and/or Schoeneweis could be moved to keep Mike Pelfrey from going back to the minors. Stay tuned…

Management/Coaching: Willie Randolph, although a bit cocky, is still one of the classiest guys in the game and you know that he won’t let his team forget what happened last year. The Wilpon family and Omar Minaya will do whatever it takes to get this team to the World Series, so expect to see some changes if the team is lagging in July.

Mets Team MVP: David Wright. I can’t say enough about his defense and leadership. He’ll be an MVP someday, just not this year.

Mets Team LVP: Billy Wags. Since Craig Biggio hit the home run that knocked the Phillies out of the playoffs in 2005, Billy hasn’t been the same clutch guy that he was in Houston. Expect more of the same this year.

3rd PLACE: Atlanta Braves (88-74)
The Braves will give this division a run for most of the season until Mike Hampton slips on a banana peel and gets hurt again. Or Smoltz and Glavine start to act their age. The do have question marks at shortstop and in the outfield and the bullpen is lacking, but this is still a team with the best management in the division and 14 straight division titles still fresh in their memories.

1B – Mark Teixeira: Another slugging first baseman, he will be the key to the middle of Atlanta’s lineup for a full season. Expectations are high for this young star to replace Andruw Jones as the pop in the order.
2B – Kelly Johnson: Johnson has an average first season as the everyday second baseman, but he’ll have to produce at the top of the lineup to keep his job.
SS – Yunel Escobar: Escobar is a highly touted prospect charged with the challenge of replacing one of the best in Edgar Renteria. He has some pop, but he’ll need to consistent to stay in the big show.
3B – Chipper Jones: The old mainstay is hurt again this spring, but you can be sure that he’ll be ready when the season starts. He’ll need to have another MVP-type season for the Braves to contend.
LF – Matt Diaz: An adequate outfielder with some pop, he’ll get the everyday job vacated by Jones’ departure for Dodgertown.
CF – Mark Kotsay: The injury-plagued replacement for Jones is a huge downgrade when he’s in the lineup. Kotsay will have to stay healthy for the Braves to succeed.
RF – Jeff Francoeur: The best rightfielder in the division. He has a booming arm to go with his booming bat. He’ll be counted on heavily to make up some offensive ground left by Jones.
C – Brian McCann: The best catcher in the division. He’s a perennial All-Star and should continue to be. You don’t see too many great left-handed hitting catchers.

Bench: Scott Thorman, Omar Infante, Martin Prado, Clint Sammons, Josh Anderson, Brandon Jones: Again, a bench of nobody’s. Three are rookies who possibly could test for starting jobs in left and center field. The others are marginal middle infielders trying to save their careers.

Rotation: John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Tim Hudson, Mike Hampton, Chuck James/Jair Jurrjens: When healthy, this could be a fearsome rotation…the best in the division if not the entire NL. Smoltz and Glavine could get back to the good old days and Hudson could duplicate his success in Oakland. Hampton is a strong lefty when he stays out of trouble. James and Jurrjens will battle for the fifth spot.

Bullpen: Rafael Soriano, Mike Gonzalez, Peter Moylan, Will Ohman: Soriano will most likely be the closer until Gonzalez is healthy and can regain his Pittsburgh form. There isn’t too much depth here and that could cause a big issue if any of the big four spend extensive time on the DL.

Management/Coaching: Even with John Schuerholz out of the picture, Bobby Cox is still running the show in Atlanta. Until that changes, the Braves will always be in the picture with the most respected manager in the NL, if not in all of baseball.

Braves Team MVP: John Smoltz. He’s done everything possible for this team since coming over from Detroit in the late 80’s. He’s one of two pitchers in the history of baseball with 200 wins and 200 saves (joining Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley). There’s no reason that he won’t succeed again this year.

Braves Team LVP: Hampton or Kotsay. Both are injury prone and will inevitably spend more time in the training room than on the field, which will cause the Braves to have to use young, unproven players in their stead.

4th PLACE: Washington Nationals (78-84)
The Nationals continue to make strides in a very difficult division. They have a potential All-Star third baseman, an intriguing position battle at first base and a budding star in center field. As always on a rebuilding team, pitching is an issue and this team has a bunch of young starters that still need to develop. Barring a collapse by one of the big three in this division, the Nats are looking up from 4th place.

1B – Dmitri Young/Nick Johnson: The best position battle in the league will have a sure winner and a loser that probably will end up traded by opening day. Johnson’s broken leg has set him back and Young is the reigning NL Comeback Player of the Year.
2B – Ronnie Belliard: A good acquisition from the World Champion Cardinals a year ago, another full year as the second baseman in a new ballpark will be beneficial to the team’s success.
SS – Cristian Guzman: Guzman is way too old to be in the league anymore and he is injury prone. There’s a good chance that Felipe Lopez will win this job when Guzman gets hurt.
3B – Ryan Zimmerman: The best player on this young team, hands down. He’s slick defensively and has power from the right side of the plate. If his injury at the end the of last year haunts him, it could spell doom for the Nats.
LF – Wily Mo Pena: Wily Mo has gone from the Reds to the Red Sox and now will get a chance to start for the Nats. He has power, but his strikeouts are still very high.
CF – Lastings Milledge: The Mets castoff could succeed in this change of scenery. He’ll need to improve his clubhouse skills and showboating or he could be considered a cancer once again.
RF – Austin Kearns: the “Ear of Kearns”, as I like to call him is a very consistent outfielder with an above average arm. He’ll be hitting in the middle of this lineup, so production is crucial.
C – Paul LoDuca: On the tails of the Mitchell Report, LoDuca was spurned by the Mets and had a hard time finding a job. He landed with the Nats and will be pushed by Johnny Estrada and Jesus Flores for his job.

Bench: Estrada/Flores, Felipe Lopez, Ryan Langerhans, Willie Harris, Elijah Dukes, Aaron Boone, Rob Mackowiak: This bench has potential as all of these players have started for former teams. It’s good injury protection, but still not great for success.

Rotation: Shawn Hill, John Patterson, Jason Bergmann, John Lannan, Matt Chico: The most inexperienced rotation in the division will cause many setbacks for this team. There’s good potential in this rotation, though and it will be interesting to watch their progression.

Bullpen: Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch, Luis Ayala, Ryan Wagner, Jesus Colome, Saul Rivera: Good bullpen with an established closer. The potential of Cordero lasting the season with the team is unlikely, but while there, he’s a durable closer that will help this team for at least the first half of the season.

Management/Coaching: With the new ballpark opening, Manny Acta will have his work cut out for him with the increase in attendance and fans’ expectation. Look for him to have a relaxed team that will progress nicely for the future.

Nationals Team MVP: Dmitri Young. He kept the clubhouse lively and fun like last year. Assuming he wins the first base job, he’ll continue the trend this year.

Nationals Team LVP: Paul LoDuca. LoDuca worked with talented veterans in past years and it will be tough for him to keep his frustration down with youngsters that have not yet reached their potential.

5th PLACE: Florida Marlins (62-100)
The Marlins rebuilding process was dealt a huge blow with the losses of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. Since the 2003 World Series victory, the entire Marlins roster has been turned over. The team does have potential young studs in Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla, but they have a ridiculously long way to go to get back to that glory. That being said, two World Series championships in eight years is nothing to shake a Louisville Slugger at.

1B – Mike Jacobs: Jacobs is the power in the middle of this Marlin lineup. He must anchor this team in order for them to avoid a 100 loss season after making promising strides.
2B – Dan Uggla: A perennial All-Star backup to Chase Utley at second base, Uggla almost moved to third this year before the Marlins went in a different direction. Good choice.
SS – Hanley Ramirez: One of the top three shortstops in baseball with Rollins and Reyes. Brings up a reminder of the Jeter, Tejada, Garciaparra debates of the late 90’s. Must be a force at the top of this young lineup.
3B – Dallas McPherson/Jorge Cantu/Jose Castillo: This is the battle between two former second baseman and the fallen prospect from Anaheim. McPherson should win this battle, although Cantu has more power. Perhaps a change of scenery will be good for Dallas.
LF – Josh Willingham: A decent fielder with some pop, he, like Jacobs, will be expected to provide offense from the middle of the lineup. Veteran Luis Gonzalez could, or should, push him for the starting job.
CF – Cameron Maybin: The jewel of the Cabrera/Willis deal, Maybin will get a chance to play every day and become a star the way that Hanley did when he came from the Red Sox. If he performs as expected, he could be a mainstay at the All-Star Game.
RF – Jeremy Hermida: The starter in right field who should also be pushed by Gonzalez must perform consistently up to expectations for the Marlins to challenge the Nats for 4th place.
C – Mike Rabelo: The other major league ready prospect from the Tigers is, by default, the starting catcher after the team was spurned by the likes of Paul LoDuca. Rabelo, like Maybin, gets a chance to show that Detroit made a mistake in letting him go.

Bench: Luis Gonzalez, Matt Treanor, Alfredo Amezaga, Alejandro de Aza, Cantu/McPherson/Castillo: An experienced vet like Gonzalez can definitely keep the clubhouse together. They just need more talent and depth to be a player in the division again.

Rotation: Scott Olsen, Sergio Mitre, Andrew Miller, Mark Hendrickson, Ricky Nolasco: A more inexperienced group you will not find. Olsen is a bomb waiting to explode. Hendrickson is coming off of an injury. Mitre and Nolasco wouldn’t make most rotations in the league. Miller is the wild card here. He was a big prospect in Detroit and has a chance to become the ace of this staff.

Bullpen: Kevin Gregg, Justin Miller, Matt Lindstrom, Taylor Tankersley: Gregg enters his second season as the Marlins closer and remains a question mark. This could turn out to be one of the worst pitching staffs that we’ve seen in a long time.

Management/Coaching: The Marlins have one of the cheapest owners in the sport. They’ve won two championships in team history and imploded the teams in the following years. Freddy Rodriguez has a lot of work to do with this bunch, so we’ll see what the future holds. It doesn’t look too bright.


I believe that the Wild Card will indeed come out of the East, but the Phillies and Mets will not play each other in the playoffs.

Who will make it and who won’t? Stay tuned.

Textual Frustration?

For someone who always had a boyfriend (I’m the girl that goes from one boyfriend to the next)….I can’t believe that I’ve been single for 1 year now. Its crazy…I haven’t been single since I was 17 years old. That’s 11 years ago!!! Being single has been a very liberating experience. It’s like a weight has lifted off my shoulders; I can finally become my own person and not have to worry about this “other” person.

So, in my quest (3 year plan – don’t ask) to find a new boyfriend and potentially a husband, I started to think about how I met each one of my former boyfriends:
First one, I met in high school (lasted 2 years);
The second two, I met in college (lasted 4 to 5 years between the two);
And the last one, I met at a cousin’s wedding (3 to 4 years).

We were all at some common place that pulled us together and eventually turned into a lasting relationship. But ever since my last boyfriend and I broke up a year ago, I struggle to meet quality guys that may actually lead to something more. I find that at the age of 28, I’m still getting “played” by guys.

Not to say I don’t meet guys, but those guys are the random ones I meet at happy hour or during a night out. They seem to think I’m just chatting them up, and then throw one night stand proposals my way (remember I’m in the UK). I just don’t know how or where to meet a quality guy at this age. It seems if you don’t meet your one true love at university, you’re pretty much stuck. You may be lucky to meet “the one” at a bar or at work. But you have to admit, outside of the college world, it’s hard (maybe not impossible) to meet someone.

In the age where technology is all around us, the dating world has definitely changed. It started with video dating, and then it was chatting on Internet chat sites, and now it’s online dating (look at Match.com and Yahoo personals). The ways in which we connect and build relationships with each other have changed drastically from the time when writing love letters was a way to show affection.

But have you ever heard of meeting a guy and then having a relationship over text messages? Well if you think it’s weird, I have to admit it happened to me. Here’s my story.

A few months ago I met a younger guy during a night out with some co-workers. Long story short…I got drunk (figures) and ended up kissing him. I didn’t think too much of it, just felt it was a fun night out. “Happy Times” as I like to say. Apparently, I must have given him my phone number because later that week I received a text message from him telling me he had fun that night. I thought the message was sweet and noticed he ended the message with an “X.” I wasn’t sure what the X meant, but apparently in the UK, just like in the states, it means kisses (they don’t use the Os). And I found out later, if you get more than one X after a text message that means the person is really into you.

So a few weeks go by and I realize that we are texting each other daily. It started off with reminiscing about our night out together to talking about how we wanted to see each other again. We weren’t just texting one liners; we were actually having full conversations with each other. I would spend a few hours a day texting him! By week 2, I started to get double Xs and triple Xs after each line. I also started receiving texts late at night and early in the morning asking how I was doing. I actually started having feelings for this guy and I didn’t even talk to him once on the phone! Was I really having a relationship via text messaging?

I told some of my friends about what was happening and they started asking me questions like “are you textually frustrated?”, “are you getting texted (fed) up?”, “Av, just take it one text at a time!”

After the fourth week (and especially after getting made fun of by my friends), I started to think this was kind of weird. The most I ever used text messaging for in the past was to let someone know I was going to be late. I’m not that knowledgeable about ‘predictive text technology,’ that would enable me to have an efficient, full text conversation with someone. Not to mention, my cell phone bill sky rocketed because I didn’t take into account that I would be texting more than 250 times in a month! I knew this needed to end…not only for the sake of my feelings but also for the sake of my pocket book.

However, before I could end this text messaging fling, I started to notice something. By week 3, he started ending his messages with a XX and then in week 4 ending them with just an X. By the end of week 4, I started to get no X after each text message. After seeing the X’s drop from week to week, I soon realized I was getting broken up with via a text message! Soon I received no text messages at all from him. WTF? Not only did I have a 5 week relationship with a guy over text messages, but I got broken up with by that channel of communication as well! Is this the new ‘post it note’ breakup? All I could ask myself was “is this for real?” Did I actually have feelings for this guy and am I actually really upset that I got broken up with. OMG – I was actually upset.

I’m 28 years old and consider myself to have a good head on my shoulders and sound enough judgment not to get caught up with something that isn’t real. I ’m still having trouble believing that I actually got sucked into this text messaging phenomenon. Is this the new thing? Could you have a real relationship with someone via text messaging? Or are people just getting too lazy to have a normal conversation on the phone or in person? Well whatever it is I know that I am not jumping on this band wagon anymore and if it means calling me old fashion in this day and age…then so be it.

For now, I’m going to stick with conventional mechanisms of communication with a potential guy: via a face to face conversation and/or a simple phone call. Hopefully, I don’t become outdated and will still be able to find a guy to have a real relationship with. No texting allowed!

Trotter Cut - The Axeman Gets Axed

As news broke this morning of Jeremiah Trotter's accelerated exodus from the annals of Philadelphia professional football, reactions ranged from sentimental musings about the linebacker that was to outright attacks on "that bum would couldn't tackle." While word of Trotter's release was a welcome respite from "all dog killing news, all the time," I couldn't get my mind off the first player I thought of after hearing the Trotter news. I'll give you a hint...first name "T"...last name "O".

Aside from being the player who Philly currently most loves to hate (no offense Pat Burrell), T.O.'s name is of relevance because Trotter's firing (and let's face it, generous parting words from Andy Reid aside, that is what it was) brings to light an ugly truth for NFL players of the modern era - there's no such thing as guaranteed money.

Come with me in the way back machine to a not so distant August of 2005. The "Iggles" are coming off a Superbowl loss and the city is abuzz about how the team and its star QB and WR will bounce back. "Was McNabb really hacking up chunky soup in the huddle?" "Will this be the year Andy fields an entire squad of fat linemen?" The questions were endless and the possibilities mind-numbing.Into this foray of 2005 NFL off-season nonsense stepped everyone's favorite anti-hero Terrell (alternatively "Tare-ull" and "Tare-el" depending on the year) Owens. After a spectacularly entertaining display of front yard ab exercises, Mr. Owens "throws McNabb under a bus" (thus lending national credence to an already annoying phrase), gets himself kicked out of practice and clubs baby seals at the Philadelphia Zoo. And you thought Ron Mexico was a jerk. To add insult to incredibly hysterical "injury," Owens then has the stones to suggest that perhaps he needs a new contract.

It was the last of those missteps that served as the proverbial straw that broke the fighting pit-bull's back. "A new contract? But this is Philadelphia! This is a "blue collar town" where everyone works in a union, lives in Sout' Philly and eats cheese steaks for breakfast. What kinda millionaire jerk can stand up and say he's not making enough money when he's only one year into his old contract? What kinda bum does dis T.O. guy tink he is? You wouldn't see Rocky pulling that shit!"

And so went the 2005 Eagles season...straight down the drain. T.O. became public enemy number 1 in Philadelphia, as even the casual fan would learn to hate him for trying to "get out of his contract." Sure, D-Chunky and T.O. awkwardly co-existed for a few games, but then D-Chunky's prosthetic leg fell off, T.O. got into a fistacuffs with the Eagles dance team and Andy Reid got so stark-raving mad about the whole thing that he started raising his voice when his kids waived guns at him.

Back to the present - what have we learned with two years of wisdom? Simply this...T.O. was right. Lost amid the circus of the lawn exercises and ridiculous press conferences of T.O. the lunatic was the fact that T.O. the player was standing up for the only person that the team didn't have to answer to, or care about, in the long run...himself.

NFL contracts are complicated, incentive laden and often times quite lucrative. They are not guaranteed. Ask Jeremiah Trotter. For that matter, ask Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent, Hugh Douglas, Duce Staley, or any of the other of a host of players that the Birds have unceremoniously axed in the past. Sure, a player can make alot of money for playing a game that you would "play for free," but you can't play - they can.

Basic economics dictates that teams can only offer ridiculously high salaries because they charge ridiculously high ticket prices and enter into ridiculously lucrative television deals. Dan Snyder fields a losing team almost every year - but he's not losing money. Put yourself in the player's position, or them in yours, would you take a "hometown discount" for the benefit of your accounting firm? Would you turn down a job offering triple your H.R. Management salary because you "already signed a contract"? Now imagine if you only had the ability to work 8-10 years - wouldn't you want to make as much money as possible in that time period?

This is not to say that NFL players have tremendous financial responsibilities. Though it is understandably hard to maintain and upkeep 10 cars and provide housing and salary for your entire extended family while still "making it rain" each week at the local gentlemen's club, NFL players simply do not live normal lives. That does not mean they should stand by and let their teams take advantage of them. The Eagles' actions are merely indicative of the attitude demonstrated by teams across the league - players are interchangeable and they will be interchanged. While we can't weep for the financial suffering of the players, we should be able to understand their desire to stick up for themselves...and to make as much as they can while they can still get paid. You would do the same.

Until next time - it's time for Tuesday night dogfights at STH Headquarters. Don't worry, we only cut the losers...

Beckham in America...Does Anyone Care?

The man who has been asked to make soccer mainstream in the United States has finally come to town. Beckham arrived in the U.S. this week with his former-Spice-Girl wife Victoria, and is scheduled to play his first game this Saturday night against Scottish Champion Celtic. And while an ankle injury (50/50 change of playing) may keep him out of the game, nothing can keep him from being the talk of the town.

Beckham is a worldwide celebrity. His picture is plastered throughout magazines as if he were a Hollywood big shot. From sports to modeling, this guy just seems to dabble in everything. You can find his picture in all of the magazines because he makes them sell. His picture sells, his words sell, and his name sells. But for a soccer star to come to America to attract the less-than-pseudo fans (ignorant fans if you ask me, but then again I love the sport already) of America, now that takes real selling power.

If Beckham is able to sell soccer to the sports fan of the United States, that would certainly be something special. This is a country of high scoring sports. Basketball teams score between 90 and 100 points per game; football teams put up points in large numbers too, although maybe if soccer gave out 7 points each time a goal was scored and 3 points for every possession that couldn't score then people would like it better.

Baseball teams are building new stadiums that are more like little league fields to enable their teams to hit more homeruns, and therefore score more. All the steroids the players take certainly puts up numbers too. The NHL took scoring to a whole new level. They actually changed the rules of the sport to increase the scoring in games in an attempt to draw fans to the arenas (personally, I liked the game better before the rules changed).

Soccer is a great sport, played by more people worldwide than any other. It combines speed, skill, toughness, and overall talent more than any other sport. A soccer player may not be as strong as an NFL lineman, but every soccer player has to have a combination of all of these abilities to play…not just excel in one area. But the people of this country don’t seem to care. Their attitude is of a hungry baby. I want what I want, and I want it now! They want the power (homeruns), the speed (wide receivers), and the talent (see the buzz over Kevin Durant)…so one would think they would appreciate a sport where the players have all of those qualities instead of just one.

David Beckham is here to change those attitudes, but will anyone notice?

Come On Down!!!

As the summer hits full swing, a plethora of complicated and important issues have come to the forefront of our daily discussions. Will the "War on Terror" ever be won? Are any of the numerous candidates on either side capable of being the next President? What can be done to help in Darfur? As we debate these profound and important issues, it is essential that we don't let slide another decision that will shape the lives of every man, woman and child in our country (and many others). You're already thinking it...I'll come right out and ask - who will replace Bob Barker?While the candidates are numerous and there is certainly alot of thought and money being spent on the search, it is imperative that each of us ask ourselves who it is that we want to be directing the adventures of the next contestant on The Price is Right. Bob Barker was a unique presence on television and not just anybody can step in and fill his shoes. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the possibilities:

10. Rosie O'Donnell: The first name to be raised in many media formats, Rosie fits the bill in many ways as she (1) is currently unemployed, (2) has a built-in daytime audience, and (3) seems to be interested in the gig. Unfortunately she is also constantly overbearing and consistently unlikeable. Thumbs DOWN.

9. Regis Philbin: If anyone can claim to rival Bob Barker's record run on daytime television, it is Mr. Kathy-Lee himself. Regis might be getting a little old for double duty, but you know he would go wild for those random kisses from the audience. He's loud, he's obnoxious and he probably wouldn't take the job. That, coupled with his love for Notre Dame gets Regis a Thumbs DOWN.

8. John Madden: Now we're talking. If there was anyone who is ready for a change of pace, it's Madden. For anyone who tuned into Sunday Night Football last season, it was impossible not to notice Madden's incoherent, incessant rambling growing increasingly more incoherent...and incessant...as the games dragged on. One can only spout so many "boom"s and "bam"s before the well runs dry. Given the tired nature of his act, what could be better for Madden's career then a complete change of scenery? Can you imagine the witty insight that Madden might provide on the price of Tylenol? Thumbs WAY UP (and that's without even discussing the awesome new line of video games).

7. Oprah: She seems to have dominated every other aspect of television, so why not give the Queen of Talk a shot at the game show genre? While the ramifications of the built-in audience would be impossible to deny, it's doubtful Oprah would be able to break away from talking about herself and her numerous charitable ventures long enough to acknowledge the next contestant. Thumbs DOWN.

6. Alex Trebek: A placement that would have to rate on the higher side of the unintentional comedy scale, Trebek would be hard pressed to mask his disdain for the contestants and the game itself during challenging mental exercises such as Plinko and the Giant Dice Throwing Game (does it need a name?). Sorry Alex, but you get a Thumbs DOWN.

5. Barbaro: Sure, you'd have to work around the fact that he's dead and all, but once you got around that is there any stopping the charisma of this horse? Everybody loves him, and that skinny microphone looks like it would fit just perfectly alongside his knowing horse smile. If the contestants could learn to sidestep the inevitable horse droppings, we might have a winner. Hoofs UP!

4. Jennifer Love Hewitt: In what is an interesting societal split, the women of America seemed to have accepted Hewitt (or Love-Hewitt, or J-Lo Hewitt or whatever she calls herself) as an acceptable face on the national networks. She has what is an apparently successful series at the present and women seem to see her as an acceptable "girl next door" type. Men see her more for her other...uh...assets, but suffice it to say that the acceptance is mutual. Can she walk and talk at the same time? Who cares? Thumbs UP!3. The Jack Link's Beef Jerky Sasquatch: Two animals in three choices? Hear me out. Aside from pumping out what I feel are the greatest commercials to come down the pipe in many years, the Sasquatch could provide a whole new entertainment aspect to the show. What could be more exciting than to see the fool who utters a nonsensical bid being immediately mauled into submission as we cut to commercial? Furthermore, who could you possibly be more inclined to listen to when you are told to have your pet spayed or neutered? Thumbs UP!

2. Al Sharpton: Nonsensical entertainment at its best, the combination of Al Sharpton and The Price is Right could be the greatest marriage of guilty pleasures since the internet and porn. Will he make any sense whatsoever? Of course not! But you'll be glued to your seat for every minute. Do I even have to tell you? Thumbs UP! Of course.

1. Bob Barker: Perhaps the greatest "replacement" for Bob is the man himself. Judging from the set, the products and the aging models, Bob could have died ten years ago and been living on in rerun infamy all this time. Perhaps that is how the show should continue. They certainly have enough episodes by now, couldn't they just piece together some bits for new shows a la Brandon Lee in The Crow? While a dead horse and Al Sharpton are funny, Bob Barker on The Price is Right is just money [bad rhyme and bad pun alert]. Perhaps that is the way it should be. I think we have our...WINNER!

Off The Top of My Head - Jason - June 7, 2007

A sampling that is perhaps the most "blog-like" of any of our articles, "Off The Top of My Head" is a series of opinion pieces wherein the writers at STH take an opportunity to discuss their take on sports, work, politics, religion, or simply just life as we know it. Use these columns as an opportunity to get to know us. Use them as an opportunity to bash us. One thing you can't use them for is toilet paper...unless you print them out...and that's just sad.

Barry and the Bonds-Haters:

This is a topic that I've visited before, but it's one that's worth re-hashing. I had an opportunity to take in a Giants/Phillies game last weekend with a fellow TalkingHead. Bonds was penciled in as a starter. If I'm finger counting correctly, this is the fourth time I've seen Bonds play - all since the HR outburst started in the early 2000's. It was interesting to note that despite the hatred that 90% of Americans continually spew towards Barry, he undoubtedly has that "it" factor that few other athletes (and even people) possess. In the face of the fans' undying "hatred" for Bonds, camera flashes were popping and the entire ballpark was standing every time he came to the plate. Sure - people booed - but they didn't leave. They can say they were voicing their displeasure - that they were relishing the opportunity to razz him. Seems like alot of effort for a guy you have no interest in watching play.

Oh yeah - the game was sold out.

Iran and the Nukes:

With the news that the 8 G's are meeting in Europe again came more tough talk from the Bush Administration on Iran. The debate about Iran's nuclear energy/weapons capabilities has raged for years, and with each claim out of Tehran that Iran's nuclear science is not quite where they want it to be, there are looks of concern and fear painted firmly on the faces of various world leaders. My question, and my obvious ignorance, on this topic is as follows:

Why aren't they allowed to have nukes?

Seriously. From what I can tell they haven't signed a treaty. Last time I checked, we still have a ton of nukes. I understand that Iranian nuclear weapons can invoke thoughts of danger and fright, but does that fear really engender us with the right to tell a sovereign nation what it can and cannot do? Any wisdom on the topic would be appreciated.

Billy and the Magic:

Absolutely had to touch on this one. The sporting world has been on fire the last few days regarding Billy Donovan's decision to leave Florida for the NBA's Magic (the team, not the former player). Shockingly, the news of Donovan's departure from Florida was followed by news of an even more unexpected event - his return.
In the days that have followed Donovan's decis...er...indecision, members of the national sports media have been lambasting him for "going back on his word," "backing out on a contract," and generally being a wussy girly man. Call me what you will (like a wussy girly man), but I'm not really offended by Donovan's wavering. Despite the manly maxims about sticktuitiveness, keeping your word, etc., I think it is refreshing for a prominent name in sports to confess when he made a mistake, and work to correct that wrong before it is too late. Honestly - how many of us have been in Donovan's situation and simply went through with the option we didn't really want because we thought it was too late to turn back. Isn't it better to make the decision that is right for your? Don't you want to have that opportunity? I say we should cut the guy a break.

Hate-Rod and the Unwritten Rules of Baseball:

Speaking of universally hated girly men - is this guy on a mission to become unlikeable? Somewhere along the progression of his slap fight with Varitek, his slapping the ball out of Arroyo's glove, his ridiculous contract, and his constant obsession with making stupid comments to reporters, Alex Rodriguez went from being the next Ken Griffey Jr. to being one of the most hated players in the game. Not surprisingly, the public wasn't itching to jump to his support during this most recent "I've got it" gaffe. While I try not to jump to conclusions, I must admit it is disheartening that it is Rodriguez, not the aforementioned Griffey, who will have a legitimate shot at breaking what will soon be Big Barry's career HR record. Speaking of steroids - A-Rod is certainly looking alot bigger these days than he was when he played in Seattle...

Sheffield's Foot and His Mouth:

In an interview that was surprisingly under-reported, Gary Sheffield recently pontificated on race theory according to Gary - the results were interesting...to say the least. It's hard to decide which is more surprising - that Sheffield still has stupid things left to say or that he's always surprised when his comments are "misinterpreted." Perhaps CNN could slide him in as one of the 42 candidates in the Republican or Democratic debates they have been televising - talk about your automatic sound bites...


That's it for today folks - feel free to add. Let us know what's on your mind...

A Hole In What?

Did you watch him? Did he close on the back nine and wrap up the game with a masterful putt? Did the crowd roar while he celebrated with some sort of awkward fist pump and/or caddie hug? Did the ugly-ass green jacket fit perfectly yet look perfectly terrible in the way that only an ugly-ass green jacket could? Do you know who “he” is?

If you do, you’re one step ahead of me. In what will be THE single most unpopular article in the history of STH, I am now ready to publicly admit a secret I have long harbored in the deepest depths of my subconscious. This is a secret so terrifying, so embarrassing, that it would have me banished from every country club in the land and shunned by every self respecting middle to upper class citizen of America…

I hate golf.

That flushing sound you just heard was the complete decimation of my future earnings potential. Everyone knows you have to love golf to be successful…right? Or if you don’t love it, you have to at least pretend...don’t you? Isn’t the golf course “where business deals are made”? Isn’t the putting green where clients are won? Aren’t I required to have an “I’d Rather Be Golfing” t-shirt by the time I’m 42?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, I’m in for a very long and unhappy trip to middle-aged man-hood. I’m not sure when exactly it happens, but sometime during the throes of childhood every pure-blooded American male (and a surprising number of pure-blooded American females) are genetically encoded with a love for all things golf. It starts younger for some, later for others, but sometime between the keg-stands in college and that first real job, an inborn love for golf takes hold. Soon stories about wild bars and girls with “decent” faces are replaced with “great weather” and stories about handicaps, drivers, and mind blowing putts [feel free to replace my generic/imaginary boring golf drivel with your real-life boring golf drivel].

While this is obviously not an editorial calling for a new version of Golden Tee, I’ve never been one to lay down insult without reason. While you might not care and you’ll certainly disagree, allow me to present you with just a few of the reasons I look to when people ask me why I don’t golf…

1. For the Love of Nature...

I enjoy great weather as much as anyone, but when the sun peak through the clouds on a beautiful day, I think about going for a run, relaxing at the pool, or (especially in the fall) playing a game of football. For some reason the thought never enters my mind to dress up like an old man and go to a place full of actual old men who are dressed worse than I am. While I appreciate mother nature as much as the next guy, I don’t gaze upon a beautiful natural landscape and secretly hope that someone would crop the grass to half an inch, dump mountains of sand in assorted piles, and randomly place flags and small holes throughout. Golf courses might be green, but they are oddly designed and rarely do they come close to even imitating the natural beauty of the world.

2. Golfers Are Not “Athletes”!

On no…he didn’t! Sorry - it must be said. Though golf might be entertaining, challenging, and wildly competitive, golfers are “athletes” only in the way that poker players, bowlers, and NASCAR drivers are “athletes” (oops…there goes another audience). While Tiger Woods is an athletic ambassador for the game, Michelle Wie was better than you are when she was 11 and John Daly is…well...John Daly. Look around the links the next time you’re skipping work. Would you want 55 year old Eugene from accounting on your pickup basketball team? Could your great Aunt Millie run the anchor leg of a 4 x 100? Golf may be frustrating and it may make you look stupid, but it doesn’t make you an athlete.

3. All The “Cool Kids” Are Doing It…

Actually, ALL the kids are doing it. How many people do you know that DON’T golf? How many of them can walk? When the popularity of a game swells to epic proportions, the quality of that game, at all levels, is diminished. Baseball, football, basketball, and hockey avoid this pitfall because they really can’t be played consistently once one passes a certain age. This time restraint on participation adds to the ambiance and the reminiscing often associated with those sports.

In golf, there seems to be no recognizable age limit for participants, particularly amongst non-professionals. With such an absurd population of golfers, isn’t the game destined to be a bit over-hyped? Were you really aching to be the 5 millionth person to get a belt holster for your cell phone a few years back? Would you have died if your family didn’t get a mini-van in the 90’s? Have you read every Harry Potter book? Perhaps it’s my inner rebel dying to get out, but sometimes I think it’s a breath of fresh air NOT to do something that everyone else is doing.

The list could go on, but I digress. As you can see, I'm one of the few who has not been sold on the bills of goods that is golf. The next time I have a free Saturday afternoon, you might find me at the park, or perhaps with a group of friends playing a rousing game of bocce. One place you won't find me is at the country club, lacing up my sweater vest. Golf might be the way of the future, it might be a tradition of the past - but it's not a game for me.


To those who I’ve offended…you’ll get over it. In the meantime, feel free to drop a line and convince me of why I’m wrong. I might not be easily pursuaded, but I’d love to hear what you have to say.

NBA Picks - East Finals

As we get closer to the NBA Finals, I am hoping to finally have some more plays. I have been undefeated so far in the playoffs, and tonight I look to continue my streak. Aren’t you glad I’m nice enough to share my winning ways?

Tonight’s game between Cleveland and Detroit should be a very tough, hard-fought game. The Cavaliers are looking to close out the Pistons and advance to the Finals. The Pistons meanwhile are looking to just stay alive and get the chance to play Game 7 back home in Detroit.

If this sounds familiar to some of you, that’s because this same scenario played out last year…Cavs up 3-2, coming home for Game 6. If you remember, it was the savvy Pistons who won Game 6 on the road, and then returned home to finish the job. This year though, things look a little different. Why? LeBron James, that’s why.

Bottom line here is that Cleveland is going to close this series out today. Detroit has had their time, and now it’s time for LeBron and co. to step up. I say they do it today. My money is going on the Cavs (-1.5) today. I would suggest doing the same with yours.

When I Grow Up...

Roger Craig. Aside from having two first names, this former all-pro NFL running back sports a dubious distinction that only a proud few can cram onto their resumes - for several months in the late 80's he was my number one hero...bar none. Nevermind that I was small, slow, untalented, six or seven years old...and white - I was going to be the next Roger Craig...and there was nobody who could tell me otherwise. While the Niners weren't necessarily my team, they were the team at the time and it seemed that everywhere you turned you caught a glimpse of the high stepping running back who made a home 5 yards behind Joe Montana. While Montana was the star, it was to Craig that I deferred when I stumbled upon that inevitable question that every seven year old faces after someone finds out the important stuff like how old they are and what grade they are in...what the hell was I going to be when I grew up?

Unfortunately, in between the Pro Bowls and Super Bowl rings, Roger's glamour eventually faded in my eyes. It could have been at the time when I was contemplating a career change, as the next Ultimate Warrior, or perhaps it was just jarred from my subconscious during an aggressive turn on the seesaws. Regardless - somewhere amongst the endless days of milk cartons and single file lines, Roger became an afterthought and I moved on to bigger and better. But didn't we all? Aren't we supposed to?

While the characters can change from year to year and child to child, every kid at some point has (or at least deserves to have) someone or something that they want to be when they grow up. Perhaps you were the young astronaut in training, the fashion designer, or the police officer. Perhaps, like me, your dreams of joining the professional wrestling circuit were delayed along with your continually promised growth spurt. In any event, the aspirations of a child provide the opportunity for creativity, development of tangible goals, and conversation starters for unimaginative adults. While somewhere in our subconscious we likely all knew that we wouldn't be the first President of Mars or the next He-Man, the audacity of those goals allowed room for significant achievement should we fall short.

Roger Craig high stepped back into my head last week - somewhere between my brown bagged lunch and a daily check of the calender for the day that would follow. Leaning back slowly in my pleather chair and staring at the unwavering excitement of "Thursday", the feelings of self doubt began to creep in. What is Roger doing today? Have I really gotten that far off track? How long will it be until seven year old me saunters through that door, whispers softly to beckon me closer, then violently knees me in the groin? I was going to be an NFL star for crying out loud - what the hell happened?

What happened indeed. Rare are the few who live out each day fulfilling what has been their lifelong dream of being a certified public accountant...or a human resource manager. For the rest of us, the life we lead is a far cry from the life we once dreamed. It's not lesser, or even lower...it's just...different. So for those of us who have reached that realization, where do we go next? When we stop idolizing Roger Craig and start idolizing Greg from accounting, what are we to expect of ourselves? Sure, perspectives change and lifetime goals are adjusted - a house on the beach might become a two year old with a good car seat and that's certainly as it should be. But does that mean we should stop dreaming about what could be? I'll never be Roger Craig, but isn't it important that I continue to test myself by setting goals that I might never achieve? Are you really ready to say you're all grown up?

As Roger Craig galloped from my mind's eye once again, I returned my thoughts to "Thursday". While the realities of life would not be forgotten, the vague plan of a future career began to formulate - cruise ship captain. I would sail to only the finest destinations with the pleasantest of passengers - and I'd have a kick ass hat to boot. There's a chance this career change may never materialize, but the idea is still there and I won't act quickly to banish it. Besides, nobody ever asks me how old I am anymore...

The Avett Brothers - Good Guys Finish First

“So you want to be in love like the movies/ But in the movies they’re not in love at all/ And with a twinkle in their eyes (ohh ahh ohh)/ They’re just saying their lines/ And so we can’t be in love like the movies.” This song was my first introduction to the Avett Brothers. A friend was visiting me in New Zealand and while road tripping around the South Island she played me this comical and catchy number. We were driving through Marlborough’s vineyards - drinking Sauvignon Blanc, eating olives and conspicuously dancing both in, out and on top the car. Needless to say, I became an instant fan after only hearing one song (admittedly, this new found love might have been attributed to the alcohol). But just as soon as I was introduced to the music, my friend and her iPod returned to the states and it was back to Neil Finn and Flying Nun bands for me.

Fortunately, upon returning home I was reunited with the band on coincidently, another road trip. I had two full weeks of cross-country driving to become versed in the Avett Brothers music and as each day passed my fondness for the band grew. From their early albums (Live at the Double Door and A Carolina Jubilee) to the more recent (Four Thieves Gone: the Robbinsville Sessions), the songs had staying (and driving) power. I was quite impressed that three men could make such intoxicating music with simply a standup bass, acoustic guitar, harmonica and banjo. Expressed in the Avett Brothers music are the sentiments and emotions we all feel but have difficulty articulating. It is the saccharine combination of words and instrumentation that makes the music so convincing. As many fans will attest, this North Carolina band is not to be categorized. Their mix of bluegrass, old-time, honky-tonk, Americana, folk and rock make for one hell of a musical cocktail!

I’ve heard nothing but praise about their live shows and recently had a chance to witness not one, but two performances in one week. The first took place in Philadelphia at the Trocadero and the second at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster. Since I only made it for half of the Philly show I can’t elaborate too much. But I distinctly recall a single Air Jordan sneaker being passed among the crowd. Now that’s punk rock! I entered the venue on what I think was the song “Pretty Girl from Chile.” I had to do a double take as I thought maybe I walked in on a hardcore show. The guys were electrically plugged in flailing erratically on the guitars and drums. I was unaware that the Avett Brothers even owned electric guitars and for a second it felt like I was witnessing Bob Dylan at Newport…minus all the disdain. The crowd loved the new amplified sound and the energy was contagious. It was a great, if brief, introduction for me.

After the foretaste, I was pleasantly surprised (and a little shocked) to learn they would be playing Lancaster. It takes an adventurous band to play an out-of-session college town on a Sunday night. Thanks to a friend (cheers - Caroline and Dane), my buddy, Janelle, and I were added to the guest list. Upon arrival I was skeptical that a significant number of people would even show. I think the last band I saw there was Boy Sets Fire back in 2002 and even though Lancaster has an affinity for hard-core music I recall the turnout to be most disappointing. But the opener, Jersey-born Nicole Atkins and her band, the Sea, helped draw a semi-local audience. While schmoozing, I learned that the tri-state crowd was well represented with hippies, punks, farmers and professionals of all ages. I knew I’d enjoy Nicole the second she sauntered on stage. Her onyx black baby doll dress was PJ Harvey meets Joanie Mitchell, accented with hot pink tights and knee high boots. Her music oscillates from catchy pop ditties to depressing pensive ballads – a definite treat for all the manics in the crowd.

Then the Avett Brothers took the stage. They were dressed in their characteristic suits, ties and sweaters. The first thing I noticed was Seth had shaved his chest length Civil War beard, making him appear a few years younger. They opened with the song “The Weight of Lies” from their newly released album Emotionalism. As a transient individual the lyrics of this song really strike a chord with me: “The weight of lies will bring you down/ And follow you to every town/ ‘Cause nothing happens here that doesn’t happen there/ So when you run make sure you run/ To something and not away from/ ‘Cause lies don’t need an airplane to chase you down.” The song has a gentle folksy feel complete with fluent guitar and tender humming. The night continued with classics intermittent with new songs. Janelle was excited to hear her old favorites: "Distraction #74, Traveling Song, and When I Drink" and I was eager to experience their latest material. Janelle informs me the addition of Joe Kwon on cello is fairly new direction for the band. Since the cello is one of my favorite instruments (next to the mandolin – which Scott, I think would nicely add to your repertoire), I was immediately excited to see Joe take the stage. It really complimented "If It’s the Beaches," making it an even more moving number. The combination of the cello and Nicole Atkin’s voice on "Swept Away" also proved a success.

As the title would suggest, the new songs are full of vulnerability, passion, and conviction. The crowd was treated to "Go To Sleep, Will You Return?" and "Paranoia in Bb;" as well as Scott tearing up the drums on "Die Die Die." I was a little disappointed in the absence of the allegorical "The Ballad of Love and Hate," but they had enough quality material that I quickly forgot. However, don’t let their boyish charm and gracious demeanor fool you. These boys can rock with the best of them! You know it’s an Avett Brothers show when throughout the set Scott breaks half dozen banjo strings and Seth ends up on his knees and back while shredding it up on the guitar. Add a little head sweat wiping and Elvis-esque gyrating and you’ve got a show to remember. With the exception of the rare NAPs (Non-Active Participants), the crowd was fully immersed in the music. I especially enjoyed watching a few couples contra dance in the middle of the floor.

If it’s not obvious enough, I’ve developed a real penchant for the Avett Brothers. They are the kind of charming country boys the girls want to date and the guys want to be. The music simply speaks for itself. The brothers produce rich harmonies and Bob strums the bass like it’s nobody’s business. They are the quintessential “good guys finish first” story. They’ve put out an album every year for the past six years with each one expanding on the talents of its predecessor. With an exhausting touring schedule, they continue to produce high energy shows without getting piss-ass drunk and always stick around to acknowledge their fans. Heck, their t-shirts are even American Apparel! Therefore, I strongly urge you to immediately start listening to their music and attend a show. They will be on tour all summer (www.theavettbrothers.com) and chances are they will be returning to a stage near you. But be sure to bring your dancing feet because once this machine gets rolling it is full speed ahead until the very end.