The thing about Doc

So there's a new kid in town. Name is Felix Hernadez, pitches up in Seattle. I've yet to see him pitch but everything I read mentions his name along side Doctor K's. 19 year old, with an arm that paints like Picasso. And every time I read about it, it's like a punch in the stomach. You can't understand unless you're a Met fan. No, I know every team has had some phenom who didn't reach his potential. But Doc was different, and still is.
Royals fans had Saberhagen, who had this quirky thing about having big seasons every other year. And sure he came up a young age, like Doc, and had great success early in his career. But his highs weren't as high, and his lows weren't nearly as low. Cub fans right now have Kerry Wood, but he's looking more like Sid Fernandez than Doc. Showed flashes of brilliance right away but never for an entire season, let alone his first 3 seasons. Sports Guy was right, the closest thing is LeBron. But not really. LeBron didn't win a MVP his second season, as Doc won the Cy Young. Then a title his third year? That's how great Doc was. What's so painful about it, is to see the career Roger Clemens has had. One of the best ever. Shoulda/coulda/woulda been Doc's career. Was it injuries? Or the drugs? Too much success too soon? Too much hype? Yes, it was all of that. And so many people like to bring up the drug use. I can't deny that it played a big part in ruining a great career. But this wasn't a selfish jerk like TO. Or a shameless self promoter like Sosa. Or someone who everyone thought was a big jerk like Bonds. He was this shy kid from Florida who said yes sir, and no sir. (well he could have said no a few more times) He just wasn't all that's wrong with sports. He was all that was right with it, but he just couldn't handle it. And the Mets of the mid 80s to the mid 90s, should/coulda/woulda been the Yankees of the past 12 years if Doc and Darryl had lived up to expectations. So now I hear about the new kid, the "next Doc" and if you know me, you know I love to throw around the term "the next" But I don't care to see the next, I'd like to rewind the clock. Before free agency went crazy. When teams brought up their own, and built around them. To when I was 8 years old and just started to love baseball. There was nothing but excitement about the future. The future of the game, and of my favorite players. This is why it stings so much to hear about the new kid on the block. Who will surely have a nice career, and when he's 22 he'll be shopping himself on the free agent market, probably to end up in NY with either the Yankees or the Mets just to tease us of what could have been some more.

A lil Free Poker

So tonight I decided to hit a free poker game at an area bar. Tune up my game if you will, before hitting Vegas next month.

The scene: The Roxy on 75th and Metcalf
The marks: Well, they all knew each other by name. All in all, 44 of how can I say this nicely, the biggest idiots I've ever played with. And one of them is a Met fan, and he was an idiot too.

How it went down: Well to start, theres some chick at my table who also works for the company that puts these games on. Some how she thinks that makes her the poker goddess of KC. I've never heard this much table talk since Starlas birthday game and I had to help teach a friend how to play. Example: First hand of the night, she flops a nut straight. Theres $200 in the pot from blinds, shes first to act. Bets $300. Everyone folds. She states thats how you play at the casino, not like how everyone slow plays at these games. I cant think of anyone I've ever played with that would make that play and think it was smart. Maybe a feeler bet. But to bet more than the pot? The worst she can do is split the pot. Now don't forget, she's a genius in her own mind. Later on I bet $200 with KJ suited preflop. Flop comes with crap, all low cards. So now I bet $500, and she puts on this big production of how she wants to call me cause she knows I'm full of it. Finally lays it down, then the last guy left also lays it down. She shows her A-10, so I showed my KJ. She tells me well, now she's got a read on me and info is worth more than few chips to her. Then proceeds to question my raise. Told her I'll play it the exact same next time. And I think she believed me.

Anyway, after that I just played pretty tight and saw other players get knocked out. Leading up to my biggest hand of the night. With the blinds $500-1000, I limp in with pocket 8s. There's 4 players left pre-flop. And the flop hits 8-8-K. Fargin quads. This guy bets $3000 into me, I acted like a 17 year old girl unsure if she should keep it or hit the clinic before I called. Turns a 7, he bets another $3000. um, yeah I guess I'll call. River? like a 4, some stupid card. What does he do? Yep, another $3000, so now I raise him the rest of my stack which is about $6500 and he calls. He had a king and a 5. Thought his Kings and 8s would hold up. That pretty much set me up.

Got lucky once, and it was at the end when we were heads up. Holding Jack 9, flops comes J-7-10. both check, turn comes 3. I got all in and he calls. Crap, he has Jack-3. Two pair. River comes and its a 7, split pot. At the time we had the same exact chip count. From there on out, I got great cards and pushed. Leading to my first place finish. I'm waiting to hear back from my agent, you know him. Arti Gold, to find out if PokerStars is gonna come correct.

XBox Poker update

Well it pains me to write this. But its time for an update to the XBox poker standings. Porqchop ended his drought last night and at one point ran off 3 straight W's. Myself on the other hand, reverted to form. 3 second place finishes and 3 third place finishes. While Gavin won 3 more. Currently Gavin has 8 W's, to Kendall and myself having 3 wins each. But as we all know, MU doesn't win titles, and neither can their alumni.