Technical Difficulties

The Grandstander is experiencing technical difficulties these days. Not sure what happened, but I clicked on something and the formatting has been all shot to hell.

I may need to call in a technical expert. (Dave Jones - do you make house calls?)

Bear with me. While the presentation may not be so hot right now, you will continue to receive the same excellent and sterling content!

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Back From Hiatus

Well, have you all missed The Grandstander? We returned Saturday afternoon after a week in one of the world's greatest places, North Carolina's Outer Banks, more specifically, the beach in Corolla, Currituck County, NC. I have included a picture of my lovely Bride and me on the last night of vacation with the Atlantic in the background. Have also included pics from the theme night that Marilyn and I hosted, "Rock and Roll is Here to Stay." If I must say, the playlist that I put together on the iPod for a soundtrack was dynamite!

We had one of our best weather weeks ever in 25+ years of traveling to the OBX. Very hot. I mean EXTREMELY HOT.

Note to Loyal Reader Big Poppy: please be sure to check out the logo on the green t-shirt that I am wearing. I know you'll just love it!

Some quick comments on some other topics:

** A belated 4oth Anniversary to Brother Jim and Lovely Bride Nancy. Forty Years is something to be proud of, indeed!

** As many of you may know by now, in the 2-3 weeks prior to leaving on vacation, Marilyn and I bought a new home, sold our current home (although our realtor tells us that never count on anything until you walk out of the closing with the keys in your hand; in other words, "it ain't over 'til its over." Yogi Berra really is a genius!), and now must pack up and move in the next four weeks. In other words, it's gonna be really hectic and Grandstander postings may be few and far between until after July 26. Be patient and understanding all you Loyal Readers.

** Welcome back from Florida to Bill, Ann, Kids and Grandkids. Hope it was a great week for all of you.

** Through the magic of XM Radio, I was able to keep up with the Pirates games. Lucky me. I am running out of words to describe just how bad the Pirates really are. Can this version eclipse the 112 losses of the 1952 squad, generally regarded as one of the worst teams in baseball history?

** I learned today that Dana Eveland was released while I was gone. At least GM Neal cut the cord on that disaster quickly.

** Glad to see that while GM Neal and Skipper JR have been renewed for 2011, the Buc management wasted no time in firing an insubordinate pirogi. Ungrateful bastard!!

** Speaking of the aforementioned contract renewals for GM Opie and Mr. Excitement JR, that news broke just as we were finalizing our house sale and packing for vacation, so I couldn't comment upon it. It is somewhat old news now, so I won't rehash it, but I will say this. Full disclosure: over the last few years, I have gotten to know Frank Coonelly, consider him a quasi-friend, and a good guy. So, it pains me to see him come up with such an implausible (to put the best light on it) story. As eloquent former skipper Lloyd McLendon might have put it, the whole episode flummoxes me!

** Neilspeil for today: I heard GM Opie say on his Sunday pre-game radio show, and I may not have the quote exactly here, that he and his team have achieved all of their short and long term goals that they set for themselves except for "wins and losses" on the major league level. Guess that's like the CEO of the White Star Line saying that except for the pesky little problem with icebergs, the TITANIC was one terrific ship!

** Am truly sorry to see the USA bounced from the World Cup by Ghana yesterday. I watched all of the second half and the overtime, and saw a total of three - count 'em - three shots on goal by both teams. Am getting used to the vuvazelas, though!

Good to be home!!

Alvarez Arrives

Well, we can all (and I include myself here) stop griping. Pedro Alvarez arrives in Pittsburgh today. Now the future is here. McCutcheon, Walker, Pearce, Lincoln, Tabata, and now Alvarez. All the minor league superstars are here.

Of course, the Pirates will now not become a team that will win at a .600 pace. In fact, I don't expect that the team, in terms of wins and losses will improve all that much, but at least now we are seeing guys who are expected to be the core of a winning enterprise down the road. No more has beens filling out the line-up.

The 2010 version of the Pirates may still lose 100 games, but at least now there is hope.

We hope.

More World Cup

In a post on Saturday, I made mention of typical "smart-ass" comments of some American sports writers and talking heads about soccer. The attached commentary from NPR frames it far better than I.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127829764

And to again clarify my position, while the sport itself may not be my particular cup of tea, I will be tuning in over the next few weeks, especially when the USA takes to the pitch, and hope that every afficionado of the Beautiful Game enjoys it to the fullest.

Tony Awards

A Loyal Reader, who prefers to remain anonymous, I think, hit a trifecta in handicapping last night's Tony Awards. He called it spot on in calling for wins for "Fences", "Memphis", and "La Cage aux Folles" as big winners in the Plays categories. He also made the call on Denzell Washington for his performance in "Fences."

Mucho congrats to our Loyal Reader back east for his erudite insights to what's happening on the Great White Way.

World Cup

The whole world is abuzz now that the 2010 World Cup Tournament is underway in South Africa. I will refrain from making the usual smart-ass comments that most Americans make when discussing soccer, but will instead wish for an exciting and enjoyable event over the next few weeks for those interested.

My interest in the event will be limited to following the USA and jumping on the bandwagon (yes, I will admit to being a bandwagon jumper) should the Red, White and Blue do well. My interest will also be tempered due to the fact that I no longer work in an office environment. During the '98, '02, and '06 World Cups, I was involved in promoting and participating in an Office Pool for the World Cup. Nothing like having a little cash on the line to make you become a passionate fan of Peruvian footballers. This year...no office = no office pool = little interest.

And by the way, speaking of being "abuzz", if you have happened to see any of the ESPN coverage of the matches so far, how do you like that constant buzzing noise produced by thousands of people blowing on those plastic horns? That would drive you crazy! Hope those don't carry over into American baseball parks and football stadiums.