Tony Ventrella's Pep Talk

Shed Negative Thoughts

2011-04-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we're tempted to see others in a negative light. We think of them as lazy, selfish, overweight, too skinny, too talkative or too quiet. As soon as you have a thought like this strike it from your mind immediately. Thoughts like these can bring nothing but bad results into your life. You are what you think. Remember the old saying, "if you can't say tomething nice about someone, don't say anything." Here's an extension of that rule. "If you can't think something nice about someone don't think anything at all." Often I hear people discussing their latest illness or surgery as if it's an old friend. Resist the temptation to talk about sickness. Hold in your mind thoughts of good health and don't fall victim to talk of "flu season" or some newly titled disease for which a new drug has just been approved.

Send Those Jobs Away

2011-03-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

I just found out the United States levies no tax on U.S. firms overseas earnings s long as those profits remain overseas. Let me get this straight, our government encourages U.S. companies to hire cheap labor overseas by not taxing them for doing it and we wonder why so many Americans are out of work.

On top of that the IRS allows companies that move factories abroad to deduct from their taxable income the cost of closing down U.S. factories.

Last fall Democrats in the Senate attemped to close those loopholes and create incentives to repatriate profits and jobs, but pro-business Republicans blocked their proposal. By the way the off shore strategy is working fine for employers and stock holders. In the 3rd quarter of 2010 U.S. corporate profits hit an all time high of $1,659 trillion, despite an unemployment rate of 9 percent. The greed of a few is working to destroy the morale of many.

Foreclosing on Soldiers

Morgan Stanley, the 6th largest U.S. bank by assets and other lenders are being investigated by the justice department for over charging soldiers and foreclosing on their homes without court orders.

Let me get this straight. We send our men and women off to war and then foreclose on their mortgages. You can't make this stuff up.

Seattle Sports Talk

2011-03-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

The fun is gone from sports talk radio in Seattle. You either get two guys bragging about how drunk they were in college or a really serious discussion of a .237 hitter making 2 million a year.

The most clever guy on 710 ESPN Seattle Chris Cashman is gone. Was he too funny? Did the humor go over the head of whoever the program director is? Seattle has had it's challenges on the field in recent years and now we've added to it by sucking the imagination and humor out of sports talk shows.

We do have some well prepared, professional men and women on 710 ESPN and KJR and I congratulate them for trying to make their shows informative and interesting. But there's still way too much of a frat boy mentality on the air and frankly it's the lowest and easiest form of humor there is.

Brock and Salk mix serious discussions of sports topics with interviews pretty well. They are obviously well prepared and not afraid to voice an opinion that might be unpopular with their listeners and each other.

Elise Woodward is the only woman in a hosting role on local radio and ranks very high in my book for informative interviews and well founded opinions.

Dave "Softie" Mahler on KJR comes closest to the "east coast" style of talk radio I'm used to. He's passionate, loud, tough on some callers and would work well in other markets around the country.

Kevin Calabro on 710 ESPN should be doing NBA games full time or maybe Mariner broadcasts next season. One of the best play-by-play men in the country should not be wasting his time or mine by doing talk radio.

As for everyone else, I wish them well. Talk radio is not an easy job. If it were easy everyone would be good at it.

My own general talk show on 710 am lasted only nine months in 2005. I refuse to defer the blame for that one. I will never point fingers, especially at the jerks who fired me.

Free Pep Talks

2011-01-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

"To whom much is given, much is required." That according to Luke in the Bible. A simple statement meaning if you have some good fortune in your life or a special talent you should willingly offer to share it with others.

I've been fortunate enough to be blessed with the ability to share motivational ideas with groups of people while making them laugh at the same time. I've done this for years and was paid a nice fee for my work. In light of the slow climb out of the recent recession I've decided to offer my 30 minute "Pep Talk" to companies and non profits "free."

Sounds crazy huh. It is but I'm doing it anyway. Is there a catch? Sure but only a slight one. If you group of individuals purchases 50 or more of my book, "Smile in the Mirror" at the event at a discount rate of $10, the "Pep Talk" will be offered t no charge to the company.

Recently some government agencies and onn profits have taken advantage of the deal by either purchasing the books in bulk and giving them as gifts to their employees, splitting the cost with employees or having the employees pay the entire $10 themselves.

Any way you twist it, I believe it's a great deal and I'm happy do offer it to your company during 2011. If you're interested contact my assistant Aryn McCarthy at this email address: airbear333@msn.com.

Elvis' Christmas Visit

2010-12-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

When Elvis came out with his only Christmas album in the late 1950s I spent $3 and bought the record. I loved Elvis but my sister wasn't much of a fan back then. As I was playing the Elvis version of "Here Comes Santa Claus," my sister walked past my room. She popped her head into the doorway and said, "how can you play that music at Christmas time, it's awful. You have to remember in those days Johnnie Mathis, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were among the most popular holiday singers. Elvis played and sang rock and roll so the Christmas album wasn't everyone's cup of tea.

The following year my sister went away to college and as a joke one day in early December I called her and as soon as she answered I turned up, ""Here Comes Santa Claus," full blast. It made her laugh and it made her feel a little closer to home.

The year was 1960 and I've been playing Elvis over the phone to my sister every year since. I haven't missed a single year. She now admits it really isn't Christmas until Elvis visits on Christmas Eve and sings, "Here Comes Santa Claus."

I've got the CD player all cued up for this Friday night. Merry Christmas to all, Elvis fans or not.

What We Must Do to Survive

2010-11-22T15:41:00.000-08:00

Neither our society nor our species can sustain itself until every person realizes that the gift of life comes not without some sacrifice and obligation to the well being of all mankind.

A company or business that outsources it's labor oversees for the single minded, selfish benefit on a few stock holders at the expense of hundreds and perhaps thousands of hard working citizens, erodes the very basis of the founding fathers concept of the American experience.

Some may call it liberalism, some may call it socialism, I choose to call it what it is, the very basic reason for man's existance on earth.

God put us here to glorify him. He gave us each this temporary gift of time in which to use our human resources not to enrich outselves materially but to celebrate all men, care for all of God's creations, the forest, the sea, the air we breathe and every living thing on the face of the earth.

Advice from Harry S Truman

2010-11-12T08:42:00.000-08:00

"It's amazing what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit."

Star Gazing

2010-10-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

Each time I drive from Seattle to eastern Washington over Snoqualmie Pass I stop and get out of the car and look up at the stars. It is spectacular. Without the influence of the Seattle city lights the billions of stars offer a show that cannot be matched by anything.

An effective way to minimize of eliminate entirely all the negative energy around us is to mentally block it out by looking for the stars or the positive elements of life.

For every negative political commercial on television or radio there are 10 nice things one could say about the candidates, but you will never hear them.

For each act of viloence you hear about in the news there are 20 acts of kindness you will never hear about.

Give yourself a gift by seeking out the "stars" ands avoiding the glare of city lights whenever possible.

Double the Budget

2010-09-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

I do a weekly commenmtary on the Harborstone Credit Union website and I'm so passionate about the topic this week I had to share it with you here as well. You could skip reading and just go to Harborstone.com to hear the audio blog if you'd like or you can let me explain it here.

I work for the Seattle Seahawks doing videos for their web site and every day I observe the way NFL teams do business. It's all very impressive and very efficient and in some cases very effective.

There are 53 players on the active roster every week. There are also 20 coaches on the staff not to mention trainers, doctors and equipment people. There's even a guy who's job it is to make sure everything runs on schedule.

What if we used that system with that ratio in our public school system. The average public school in our state has 25 students per teacher. By NFL standards they'd have 10 teachers for every 25 students.

Just think of how smart American students would be with that much help. Their chances of competing for jobs at the global level would be greatly enhanced.

Of course it would mean doubling the school budget and it's tough enough making it work the way it is.

My solution is simple if silly. Let's charge a fee to have fans come and see the teachers teaching the students. We'll sell hot dogs and drinks and print nice programs. We can also sell jerseys with the kids names on the back. Heck we can even sell television rights to ESPN, NBC and FOX and have the classes on "live" television. Then with all that revenue we hire a few thousand more teachers and bring our public schools up to par.

Sound silly? No sillier than putting professional football above public schools on our list of priorities.

Too Many In Jail

2010-08-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

The United States is good at a lot of things. We're a generous people, we give to other nations and citizens in need during natural disasters. We support women's rights in parts of the world that are hundreds of years behind the times in that area. We at least try to keep the air and water clean for future generations. We have a really good interstate highway system and an even better parks and national forest system. In all those areas we shine. Not so much in our prison system.

In the United States we have 2.3 millions people behind bars. That's more than the population of 15 of our states. We incarcerate more people than any other country in the world. We have five times the number of people behind bars than England, nine times more than Germany and 12 times more than Japan.

Thank goodness Congress is finally trying to do something about these disturbing numbers. They now realize that if we invest more in education and other obvious prevention programs, we'd be well ahead of the game.

It costs $50,000 a year to incarcerate someone in a California prison. It costs less thank $8000 a year to edcuate that same person for a year in the publoic school system.

Senator James Webb D-Virginia is proposing a National Criminal Justice System to take a close up look at the prison system in America. His bill passed the House without opposition but there is a procedural objection by Republican Senator Tom Coburn R-Oklahoma that could stall it in the Senate.

We need this commission and cannot worry about short term costs when we are already spending billions to keep people in jail who should not be there.

Guns in the Parade

2010-07-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

At the recent Renton River Days parade several candidates for local and national office showed up to wave to the crowd and pass out buttons and bumber stickers. United States Senate candidate Clint Didier took the parade to a new level with his "statement" about Americans right to bear arms. His representitves showed up wearing side arms. They had guns strapped to their hips at a nice family oriented summer parade.

With all of the issues effecting "real" people around the country the right to bear arms is at the bottom of that list.

Just a few weeks ago at Samammish State park two separate groups showed up for to "party" and between them there were 20 hand guns. Two people died. Gee hand guns and death, you wouldn't expect those two things to go together would you?

Get over this right to bear arms crap and concentrate on the real issues facing us in the USA like getting people back to work, helping new small businesses by actually getting banks to loan money again, and getting out of Afghanistan once and for all.

I'd like to go on with this but my grand kids want to go to the park so I have to find a hand gun so they'll be safe.

Slip N Slide

2010-07-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

What a day for a Slip N Slide. As a grown up I'd like to proclaim every day over 80 degrees to be Slip N Slide day. Adults don't run through the sprinkler enough on hot days. Adults don't eat enough marshmellows, chew enough "Big League Chew" bubble gum, especially the grape flavor. Adults are too mired in their own little worlds to take the time to run bare foot across the lawn with only half their clothes on. Little kids do it all the time and look how happy they are until some adult tells them to wipe that smile off their face.

As a kid I used to hit rocks into the woods with a baseball bat. I made believe I was every great Yankee hitters. I was Ruth, gehrig, Dimaggio, Mantle and Maris. I hit some monster home runs deep into the trees on Newsome Lane in Wilton, Conn. where I lived in the 1950s. I was in my own little world when I was hitting rocks. I also called play by play of every hit which convinced the neighbors that I had more than one loose screw in my mental mechanism.

Boy I showed them. I'm a grown up now and I still hit rocks, so there. I still make believe I'm Ruth, Gehrig or Dimaggio too becuase I can't bring myself to believe the over paid players of today would spend their time hitting rocks into the woods.

Good thing I don't live in Chicago. Some northside Cubs fan would probably throw the rocks back at me from behind a tree.

Yankee Heaven

2010-07-13T14:17:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I know. If you're not a Yankee fan or even worse if you are a Yankee hater this column will have no meaning to you. Sorry but I have to express myself. Within just a few days two Yankee icons passed away. Last weekend the best in stadium announcer in the history of sports Bob Sheppard died at age 99.

On my first visit to Yankee Stadium in the summer of 1956 his booming voice came over the public address system and etched itself in my memory forever. "Now batting number seven, Mickey Mantle, number seven." Bob Sheppard wasn't fancy but he was perfect. He never mis pronounced a single name to my knowledge because he made it ap ractice to ask each player how he would like his name announced.

After Sheppard stepped away from the announcers booth a couple of seasons ago, Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter asked that each of his at bats for the rest of his career be announced by a recording of Bob Sheppard. Thank you Bob for all those memories.

Then just today long time Yankee owner George Steinbrenner passed way at the age of 80. When he purchsed the Yankees in 1974 they were in dismal shape. He vowed to re build the dynasty and he did. He also rebuilt the tradition and mystique of the Yankees by calling back to the fold such greats as play by play man Mel Allen and Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra.

Not everyone liked George but no one could ever deny what he did for the Yankees and the city of New York by bringing them back to their championship level of the late 1920s, early 1950s and late 1990s. Steinbrenner was famous for hiring and firing Billy Martin but he was also famous for signing the big name free agents to turn the teams forturesd around. The first big move was getting Reggie Jackson rrom the Oakland A's. Reggie earned the title , "Mr. October" and helped the Yankees win the pennant in 1976,77 and 78 and the World Series title in 77 and 78.

He also had a knack for keeping young players being developed in the Yankees farm system. The best examples of that are future hall of famers Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera and long time catcher Jorge Posada.

As eight all stars represent the Yankees this week in Anaheim the baseball world mourns the passing of two of the most memorable Yankees ever Bob Sheppard and George Steinbrenner.

7 Keys to Happiness

2010-07-12T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. You're all invited to a "free" presentation of "7 Keys to Happiness," at the Longview, Wa. PUD building 961 12th Ave in Longview, Wa. July 20th at 7 p.m. I'll present my "7 Keys to Happiness" seminar and everyone who attends will get a "free" copy of my book, "Smile in the Mirror." There is no obligation, we are not selling anything and we don't want your contact information. This is "free" to all who attend and I know you'll enjoy it. See you July 20th in Longview.

Independence Day

2010-06-29T08:23:00.000-07:00

Millions of people all across the United States will celebrate the 4th of July this weekend. It is a celebration of an event that happened 232 years ago when a committee of five men led by Thomas Jefferson John Adams and Benjamin Franklin crafted the Declaration of Independence.

They knew that their actions would lead to months of sacrifice and blood shed. They also knew that no action would bring the greatest tragedy of all, a lack of freedom and independence.

Planted deep inside every human being is a "spirit of independence" crying to step away from the crowd and establish it's own identity.

I believe Independence Day has a two fold significance. As a nation we should always strive to remain free. We do that by registering to vote, by knowing who represents us in the Congress of the United States and in our local government and by staying involved in decisions that effect our cities and schools.

Too many of us struggle to name even our U.S. Senators let alone our state and local leaders. We are often quick to criticize state and local decisions without having any knowledge of why those decisions were made. It is far easier to repeat the "talk show" babble of your favorite host than it is to actually research a topic and discuss it intelligently.

Every time we utter a statement that simply mirrors someone else's opinion with no research of our own, we thumb our noses at our own declaration on independence.

I also believe this holiday should be a reminder that as individuals we enjoy a level of independence in this country that is un-matched anywhere in the world.

Every day of our lives we make hundreds of decisions. We decide what to eat, what to read, what to watch on television, what to say to our children, our spouses, our parents and our friends.

Hundreds of times a day we decide what to think and whether to agree with what we hear.

During the course of a day we will hear radio and television commercials, news and hearsay. We will see pop up ads on our lap tops and phones. We will hear office chatter and gossip.

Hundreds of times a day we will have to decide what to absorb and what to discard. In a split second we will have to decide what is "noise" trying to seep into our brains and what is useful information.

This is where our true independence is tested. Are we going along with the crowd or making a conscious decision to accept or reject what we've heard ourselves?

If your "human filter" is working properly you'll be free to decide for yourself what is good and bad for you. Those decisions will determine whether or not you have a happy and successful life.

I wish you all a fun filled 4th of July weekend. Find a family celebration in your town or city and enjoy the fireworks.

I am not a fan of the illegal and often over sized explosives I hear in the woods behind my house every July. I wonder if the thoughtless people who buy and use them every year think about the effect they have on pets or more important the effect they may have on the men and women recently home from war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I'll close with an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence.

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them to another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Libery and the pursuit of Happiness.

The Card Store

2010-06-21T15:40:00.000-07:00

It was a rainy Saturday in the pacific northwest. I spent most of the early part of the day cleaning the house, vacuuming, folding laundry, mopping floors and bagging up clothing to take to Goodwill. I know I'm a wacky funster with no limits on what I'll do for a good time. Just as I began to get bored I decided to take the two mile walk from my house to DJ's Sports Cards. It was like a return to the summer of 1957 for me walking to the baseball card shop with a couple of bucks in my pocket and big dreams in my head. It was almost like my boyhood friend Dave Appelbaum was right there by my side pounding a tattered baseball into his Spaulding glove. Dave taught to me to bat left handed when I was seven years old. I started as a right hand hitter but he convinced me I'd be more effective if I could bat lefty as well. It paid off handsomely in my teenage years when I became one of the better Wiffle ball players in the state of Connecticut.

So I'm walking to the sports card shop on a rainy Saturday thinking about the old days, Dave and Wiffle ball. Thinking about the hour I spent on our gravel road in my home town hitting small rocks into the woods with an old baseball bat. I'd call play by play like Mel Allen the Hall of Fame yankees broadcaster of the 50s and 60s. When Mickey Mantle came up I'd hit lefty if he was facing a right hand hitter and vice versa. I spent entire summers living an imaginary life as a big league ball player. The only thing missing was the chewing tobacco. I substituted Bazooka Bubble gum. I couldn't spit worth a darn but it tasted a lot better than tobacco.

My mind wandered to the time I hit a grand slam homer off Bob Feller at the old Yankee Stadium. Actually it was a rock I tossed to myself and it was on Newsome Lane. The rock flew deep into the woods, squirrels scattered, birds retreated to the neighbors yard, the crowd roared. It was the longest home run of my career. I think the rock I hit is in the hall of fame.

As I approached DJ Sports Cards on Saturday I realized that I am a grown up now, my child hood was decades ago, I really should face reality. On the other hand I think I'll go down to the river and hit some rocks. Bob Feller is 90 years old now I think I can hit another long one off "Rapid Robert."

Hopeful Solutions

2010-06-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

Check out the Monday June 14 Seattle Times article about a major mineral discovery in the Afghan mountains. In a nut shell U.S. Geologists and Pentagon officials discovered veins of gold, cobalt, iron and other minerals worth at least a trillion dollars in the Afghan mountains. This discovery could turn a war ravaged region in one of the great mining centers in the world.

There are people who spend their entires lives working on this kind of solution to the problems that face us. We should applaud their efforts and find ways to help them.

Complaining about everything from crime rates to poor public education to the price of health care is easy to do. Finding solutions to these problems is difficult and should be supported.

Living Wooden's Words

2010-06-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

Most of the talk about John Wooden immediately following his passing last week was about his character. There's a good reason for that. It can be found in this Wooden quote. "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, whilte your reputation is merely what others think you are."

The Wizard of Westwood won 10 NCAA titles as coach at UCLA including seven in a row. His winning percentage of .804 will never be surpassed. The numbers in the record books tell the story of a great career. The lives of the houndred of players and coaches he touched tell an even greater story.

John Wooden always had time for people. It didn't matter if they were from Sports Illustrated or a small newspaper in Yakima Coach Wooden had time for them. He listened more thank he spoke and when he spoke he didn't talk about himself he asked about you.

Remember the records if you wish but also never forget the lessons this man taught all of us. "Be prepared and be honest," he said. Let's all start with that one and go from there.

Memorial Day

2010-05-28T10:41:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for a new car Memorial Day is a good holiday for you. Every car dealership from here to Guam is having a sale. Car deals are good as long as it's not the only reason you're celebrating the holiday.

Please take a minute or two to remember the hundreds of thousands of men and women who've given their lives in the line of duty for this country. Please never take for granted the events that have shaped the freedom of America.

I am no fan of war. I think it is the worst of what we do as human beings but by the same token friends and family have died in wars they did not create and we must remember them fondly on this weekend.

If your town or city has a parade go to it and give a silent blessing in memory of our brave fallen heros.

We had a memorial day parade in my home town of Wilton, Conn. every year. Growing up in Connecticut we had a Memorial Day parade every May. It was so small my Dad used to tease us and say, "don't sneeze or you'll miss it." Inspite of it's size the whole town took great pride in the parade. Back in the 50s there were still World War I veterans marching in the annual event. They were followed by vets from WWII and Korea, then the local police, fire department, school bands and finally kids with decorated bicycles. We marched from Wilton Center up Ridgefield Road to Hillside Cemetary for the actual ceremony.

After the parade there was a softball game at the school field. The local Democrats played the Republicans in what was billed as the "Frivolity Bowl." Apparently a Democrat suggested a softball game years earlier at a town council meeting and a prominent Republican said, "we cannot spend our time on such frivolity. Thus the "Frivolity Bowl" was born. I was winning pitcher in 1971.

I urge everyone to have a great time on Memorial Day weekend. If you can find a Ford truck at a good price, go for it, but never forget why we celebrate this holiday. Never forget the brave men and women who served their country unselfishly so you and I could have a picnic on a nice weekend any time we feel like it.

Griffey Nap No Big Deal

2010-05-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

What's the big deal about Ken Griffey Jr taking a nap in the clubhouse during a game if that's indeed what happened? Most of his teammates have been napping at the plate all season so one more nap isn't going bother me. I've come to one conclusion, there are far too many talk shows on the air and bloggers on the web, including me and I'm tired of hearing and reading what these "experts" have to say. In fact I've written myself a nasty note about this column and promise to mail it as soon as I'm finished.

Who among all of you haven't thought about taking a nap under your desk during the work day?

This is not a big deal and I'm tired of hearing about it. Obviously Griffey's bat speed is slower than it was but I still believe he'll snap out of this slump and have a productive season. Unfortunately it may not come to that. The Mariners may be forced to clear a roster spot and talk Junior into retiring.

Here's my suggestion. The next time Griffey hits a home run the Mariners should called a press conference and announce his retirement, that way he can go out the way Ted Williams went out, with a home run in his last at bat. All we need to do now is get an opposing pitcher to set him up with fast balls right down the middle, sort of like Denny McClain did when Mickey Mantle was one homer shy of 500. Come on boys let's create a happy ending for this story. Griffey deserves it.

Ken Griffey taking a nap in the clubhouse is far less a problem than Milton Bradley

Mom Was Right

2010-05-05T15:37:00.000-07:00

I always thought the advice I got from my Dad through the years was pretty good. Most of the time he was right. He told me I should learn a trade so I learned the barber business and used it to supplement my income during my early years in broadcasting. He advised me to change the oil in my car every 3000 miles so it wouldn't wear out. He was right about that too. But it was my mother who gave me the spiritual advice I needed most. She was the one who told me to look within myself before blaming anyone else for my problems. She was the one who taught me the daily prayer, "This is the day the Lord hath made, I shall rejoice and be glad in it." She was always the one who told me the straight truth. I remember the first time she saw me on television. She had flown out from the east coast to visit me in Seattle. I went on the air for the 5, 6 and 11 o'clock news and when I got home at midnight she was still awake. She looked at me and said, "Dear, don't wear a brown jacket anymore you look better in navy blue." The next day I donated my brown jacket to Goodwill.

My mom passed away this last Christmas night and in her memory I put here in the sub title of my book, "Smile In The Mirror." The sub title is Dad was Right and So Was Mom.

On this Mothers Day do something memorable for your mom instead of just showing up for dinner. I leave you now with one of my favorite mom quotes. "A mother is someone who notices four pieces of pie for the five people around the table and suddenly decides she doesn't like pie."

Mom Was

2010-05-05T15:33:00.001-07:00

Cardboard Heros

2010-05-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

Michey Mantle lived in a shoe box in my closet when I was a kid. He shared it with Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Duke Snider and Jackie Robinson. They were the cardboard heros of my childhood. I used to imagine that they would come alive at night when I was sleep and play an all star game on the carpet next to my bed. For all I know maybe they did. I was a pretty hard sleeper in those days.

Baseball cards have been a constant in my life time and in fact for generations. I bought my first card from herman's Smoke Shop in Norwalk, Connecticut in 1953. I'm not sure but I think a pack of cards cost 10 cents and included a rock hard square of bubble gum whose flavor lasted less then 40 seconds.

Herman's sold tobacco products, candy, gum, Coke and Pepsi in bottles and baseball cards. Oddly enough the guy running Herman's Smoke Shop was named Herman. He was a friendly guy who used to point out which packs of cards had the best players inside them. I don't know how he knew but he was usually right. Following his advice I once got a Mickey Mantle in a pack of 1954 Topps and a Ted Williams in the next pack. That was years before kids even cared about the value of a card. In those days we traded them, flipped them or attached them to the fenders of our bikes with clothes pins to make it sound like a motor bike.

Baseball cards are still appealing to me though they cost as much as 3 bucks a pack now and don't come with bubble gum anymore. Herman's Smoke Shop is long gone and I live three thousand miles away anyway so it wouldn't be practicle even if Herman was still there. Now I buy my cards at a store that sells nothing but sports collectables. The guy who runs it is nice enough but he never tells me which packs have the best cards and I don't even think his name is Herman.

Seahawks Mini Camp

2010-05-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

Picture a jigsaw puzzle with 53 pieces. Sounds simple enough huh. Now what if you had to start with a 104 pieces and figure out which 53 make up the real puzzle. That's the task facing Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and his staff as they launch into a three day weekend mini camp.

With three over head cameras watching every move of every player for 90 minutes a day the coaches will be armed with enough material to figure out who belongs where when training camp begins in late July.

The team has a lot of needs, that's no secret but with a successful draft netting nine new players including at least two immediate starters, the Seahawks are one their way to a comeback.

Bird and Cash Return

Sue Bird and Swin Cash return to Seattle this weekend and will be on hand for Storm Media Day Monday at Key Arena. Lauren Jackson will be back in town next week. All three have been playing basketball in Europe which is commonplace in the WNBA. It's like the old days in major league baseball when players actually had to get jobs in the off season to supplement their incomes. The Storm open their home season against Los Angeles Sunday May 16th at Key Arena.

Alaska Makes it Tough

2010-04-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Last year I volunteered to skip an over booked flight on Alaska Airlines and received a $200 Bonus Travel Certificate. I forgot about it until 90 days ago when I received an email from Alaska reminding me to redeem it for travel. I tried, really I tried. I called the toll free number and got someone on the phone who had no clue about what I wanted. I went on line and faced further obstacles that made the whole process a chore. I have now decided to forget about the $200 and not make the mistake again of volunteering to postpone a trip on Alaska or any other airline.

NFL Draft

The build up to the NFL draft is a lesson in the genious of marketing. The league has figured out a way to make something that was going to happen anyway seem way more important than it really is. This is not a complaint, I admire what the league is doing. The NFL makes a celeration out of everything it does, including the Pro Bowl which is it's post season reward for its best players. Now the Pro Bowl precedes the Super Bowl in the same location. This way the league gets the full attention of the sports media and the fans for twice as long as before. That's brilliant.

Names on Uniforms

The Seattle Storm of the WNBA have a new agreement with Microsoft's new search engine Bing. Now instead od Storm on the front of their uniforms, its says BING. I have no problem with that either. It's another case of great marketing and besides I always loved Bing Crosby anyway. Too bad old Bing isn't alive to see his name on those jerseys, I'm sure he'd be proud.

The Next Great Idea

2010-03-11T12:30:00.000-08:00

I don't waste my time with reality, I'm a dreamer. Some of my friends think my head is in a cloud. It's actually above the clouds where the sun is shining. While some dwell on the idea that my "Boomer" generation is the last great gift to the world I'd like to remind them that no one thought the "Greatest Generation" could be equalled either, but it's been done.

Now it's up to the next generation to leave us in the dust. I've heard the predictions that our children will be the first generation to be worth less than their parents. That's hogwash, give them a few years, they'll catch up and pass us with ease.

A few thousand years ago someone invented the wheel. Now you have to buy four of them or your car won't go anywhere.

Sorry for the big leap but in 1887 Heinrich Hertz was the first to detect radio waves by causing a spark to leap across a gap that generated electromagnetic waves.

Guglielmo Marconi took it a step further when he invented the spark transmitter with antenna
in 1894.

He started the world first radio factory four years later and five years after that General Electric made a voice broadcast ove the North Atlantic. The first coast to coast radio program was "The Dodge Victory Hour" starring Will Rogers and Al Jolson in 1928. Radio golden age was from 1935-50 but it still thrives today.

GE began a regular television broadcast in 1928 and the rest is history. When we least expect greatness someone proves us wrong.

NASA started the Mercury Space Program in 1959 with seven original astronauts and in 1961 Alan Sheppard became the first American in space. John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth in 1962 and Neil Armstrong the first on the moon in 1969.

We've always found a way to create something new and exciting, something that baffles the mind and makes us say, "why didn't I think of that."

Dr. Martin Cooper took early cellular phone technology and invented the first hand held cell phone in 1973.

Thanks to German scientist Konrad Ruse' invention of the first programmable computer in 1939, Bill Gates and Paul Allen were able to found Microsoft in 1975 and take the idea of personal computing to a whole different level.

For every one who worries about the future, predicts woeful things around the next corner or collects canned food in a closet there's someone else with a vision, an idea, a dream that will lift us all above the clouds where the sun is shining.

We Need Government

2010-03-01T15:25:00.000-08:00

If I hear one more person say government is too big, government cannot tell me what to do, government should not be mixed up in our lives, I'm going to scream. This poses a problem for me because I've never screamed before in my life. I may have to hire a government official to scream for me, after all there are so many of them just doing nothing but scheming different ways to take our money. At least that's the opinion of the "tea party" movement which seems obsessed with whining about paying taxes for any reason whatsoever.

One day a long time ago our founding fathers decided to break away from an oppressive British government because we were being unfairly taxed without representation. We staged something called the American Revolution and formed out own government around something called the constitution of the United States.

Today the only document mis quoted more than the Bible is the U.S. Constitution and by many of the same people.

To all of those who believe our current administration is trying to take away our rights I say this. Where were you when the "Patriots Act" was crammed down our thoats by President Bush and company. Where were you when we invaded Iraq against the wishes of most of the American people. Where were you when the deficit was run up out of control long before the Obama administration took office.

I know many people in local, state and national government. Every one of them is decicated to making their neghborhood, region, state or country a better place in which to live. I know hundreds of people who are government workers including fire fighters, policeman and women, teachers, secretaries, accountants, maintenance workers and elected officials.

The fact is we need more policeman, more fire fighters, more teachers and more good people to run the agencies that hold our country together. Government is not the enemy, ignorance is the enemy. Americans should spend their energy being involved in the process not whining about others who are.

Our system of government is not flawless but it is the best system ever devised. It invites debate, new ideas and innovation. It is a system that must keep improving itself and that can only be done with the support of all the people.

We dont all have to agree on what ideas will help us move forward but we should at least agree that moving forward and getting better as a people is what we need to do.

Childish Behavior

2010-01-28T09:41:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one who noticed the childish behavior of most of the Republican members of Congress during the president's State of the Union speech Wednesday night. In all fairness the minority party never has led the cheering in any of the State of the union speeches I've seen since the JFK years but now it's geeting down right childish.

It's geeting so bad that the president's writers have to work passages into his speeches that force the opposition to show they at least have a pulse. President Obama is brilliant at this. He slips enough conservative fodder into his speeches to force the Republican minority to get off their hands and applaud at least for a few seconds.

The whole mood of the "opposition" whether they be Democrat of Republican makes me want to remove everyone from Congress and start over again.Aren't these people elected to work together to actually get something done on health care, the economy, education, national defense? Is this a class of 3rd graders or just a group of people acting like 3rd graders? Don't they realize how foolish they look when they refuse to acknowledge the president of the United States just because they're afraid of looking weak to their party leadership? I'm sick of it and I hope you are too.

Opposition Response

And one more thing. Can we please save four minutes of valuable television time by eliminating the "opposition's response" to the president. Or at least get someone who has a pulse and one or two hairs out of place.

Living Without the Cell

2010-01-26T14:49:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about tossing your cell phone into a drawer for a week just to see if you can function without it? The answer is probably no since so many people do so many things with their phones. The advertising should say, "oh by the way you can also make a call on this thing too." It's suddenly the least important function of today's phones. People are so busy googling, sending videos, texting and checking email they hardly have time to actually call anyone anymore. All the more reason to toss the thing into a closet and forget about it for a week. What would you do? Would you resort to actually meeting with people in person. An interesting concept but dangerous since you actually have to think about what you say when the guy is right there in front of you.

I did something odd the other day, I wrote a letter. That's where you take a piece of paper and a pen and write actual words onto the paper that someone else gets to read in a few days. The concept is lost on most people under 35 years old. Receiving a letter creates a real connection between people especially if it's written out and not typed on a key board.

I received an evite to a holiday party recently and decided not to go because the whole thing was so impersonal. Silly, I know but that's how I feel. You mean to say someone couldn't have taken the time to write out a few invitations and put them in the mail. Next year I'll probably get a letter from that person asking me not to come to their party. I'll text them this message, "Thanks, I'll be there."

Where's Johnny When You Need Him

2010-01-14T12:46:00.000-08:00

The fued between Conan O'Brien and Jay Leon is comical. It's the only thing about those guys that is comical. Okay so I'm starting to sound like a grouchy old man who thinks everything from the past is better than anything in the present. Not true. I think today's television sets are much better than the clunker I had in the 60s when Johnny Carson started on the "Tonight Show." The sets are better but the shows are much worse and no one ever really came up to the standards set by Johnny Carson who hosted the show from 1962-1992. From "Carnac the Magnificent" to "Aunt Blabby" to "Art Fern and The Tea Time Movie," Carson was just plain funny. So in the raging debate over whether Leno or O'Brien should have the better time slot I suggest NBC re-run Carson for the next ten years. They'll save money and the humor will be better.

McGwire Comes Clean

While I'm on this cranky kick let me get in a word about Mark McGwire's admission that he took steroids and he's sorry about it. I'm glad he came clean and I wish him well as hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. Now here's the shocker, I think he deserves a chance to be voted into the Hall of Fame. If and when he does make it I would only ask that his bust be made the exact size of his head during the performasnce enhancement years. Big head, big bust, it's only fair.

Bowl Season

I can't believe the college bowl season is over already. It seems like only six months ago it was just getting started.

A Book A Month

2010-01-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

I've set a goal the last few years to read one book per month. I picked up the idea from Mark Twain who once said, "The man who does not read books has no advantage over the man who can't read."

January is "Yogi Berra" month for me. February is George Carlin month and March is set aside for Warren Buffit. In my quest to read at least one book per month I've laid out my first three for 2010. Two years ago I set a goal of reading 12 books and read 16. Last year I fell short of my goal by two books, finishing the year with only 10.

Every educator tells you how important it is to read to children and to have them learn to read to themselves. Well it's just as important to keep reading as an adult. To be successful you need to turn off all electronic devices: phones, I-Pods, TV sets, chips implanted in your brain. Turn them off, tune them out and start reading. Soon you'll find that you're more interesting and more interested. Your curiosity will grow, your vocabulary will be increased and you'll feel like you accomplished something.

To keep it interesting I try to read a biography, followed by a motivational book, followed by a novel. The challenge for me is staying awake longer then 15 minutes after I start reading. If I'm the least bit tired I will fall sleep with the book in my hands after a few pages. I've also found that reading in bed is not a good way to get a full night's sleep. It's best to read on a chair in a room other than the bedroom. Experts say the bedroom should be used for only two things, sleeping and sex. I'm no expert in either one so I'll just say this. Enjoy a good book today, it'll make you smarter and you'll sleep better. As far as the sex goes there's another blog out there somewhere dealing with that topic.

Enjoy a book this month

Twenty-Ten

2010-01-06T13:24:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to report I've made the successful transition from 2009 to 20-ten. I've only written a couple of checks this year so far and I've avoided having to cross out 2009 each time. As far as what to call the new year I'm going with 20-ten because it rolls off the tongue easier. Two thousand ten takes too long to say.

A few days before January 1 I made a short list of resolutions for the new year. If I share them with you now it'll put pressure on me to actually achieve the goals I've set for myself.

Every year I set a goal to read one book a month and I'm doing that again. In the interest of honesty I can say I did not succeed with my lits in 2009. I ended up reading 10 news book in 2009 and now the 12 I'd hoped for. This year I'm going for 15. My first book this year is the story of Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra. As soon as I finish that I'll start on a book about the late comedian George Carlin.

My second goal this year is to learn Spanish. Many of the players on the SoundersFC soccer team speak Spanish and I'd love to be able to have a conversation with them without an interpreter.

My third goal is to get back to my running again. I used to run marathons and train 50 or 60 miles a week. I don't need to get back to that level but I would like to run between 15-20. I think my knees can take it. We'll see.

Goal setting is fun and rewarding. Start slowly so you don't get overwhelmed. List one of two achieveable goals, get started, achieve them and go from there. With each new success you'll find yourself moving to the next level with more ease and confidence.

Right There Before You

2009-12-29T12:11:00.000-08:00

My mom passed away Christmas night. She was 97. For as long as I can remember everytime we'd part she'd hug me and say, "God is right there before you." She taught us to be more understanding of people and ideas unfamiliar to us. She taught us to look upon every day as a gift to be cherished and not wasted. To my mother a blizzard was a beautiful white, fluffy blessing created to remind us of the power of things beyond our comprehension.

Every day mom read her bible and copy of Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy. Through her life she believed she was a spiritual being living in a human body and that allowed her to face life and death with no fear.

Her faith served her well when my sister died in 1956 and again when my dad passed away in 1998. She faced every day with a positive outlook and always found something good to say about every place she ever visited, every person she ever met, every situation she ever faced.

As recently as two weeks before her passing she sang Christmas carols and played cards. Every time I showed up at her house or the nursing home where she spent her final months she would say the same thing. "Oh my son, I love you, I love." Then as we parted she would remind me, "God is right there before you."

Today God is right there before her and she couln't happier with the company.

A Little Gratitude

2009-12-16T09:22:00.001-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came to see the Evergreen Family theatre production of A Christmas Carol. This timeless story is so much in line with the events of the past year or so. Too many people are looking at the holiday with an attitude of want rather than appreciation. I believe the more you think about what you do not have the more you will not have. As difficult as it is to do, it's a good idea to make a list of what's good in your life. As you think about it the list will grow longer.

Another holiday favorite of mine and many others is "It's a Wonderful Life," in which George Bailey discovers exactly how important his life really is and how many people it touches.

So take a minute today to express gratitude for the many blessings in this world. Doing that doesn't mean you should ignore the bad news or the great needs of others but before you help someone else you must get your house in order. A great writer named Dr. Wayne Dyer says in his book, "The Power of Intention," you cannot make yourself poor enough to help someone else who is poor. Do not fret over the situation of a person in need, just help them in any way you can.

Merry Christmas to my friends who celebrate Christmas and to those who don't, may you be blessed with wisdom , gratitude, health and happiness.

A Christmas Carol

2009-10-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

In the mood for a little holiday cheer? Our theatre group, Evergreen Family theatre will present the Dickens Classic, "A Christmas Carol," December 2-12 at the Redwood Family Church in Redmond.

I've spent a good part of my life in community theatre and always wanted to play Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, so this year I'm doing it. We've got a wonderful cast of local actors and we're committed to presenting a show that'll make you smile when you might need it the most.

Our show is "schedule and family friendly," in that we're doing it in one 90 minute act with no intermission. Curtain for our evening shows is at 7 p.m. the children can get home on school nights and the parents can just get home. We'll do matinee performances on both Saturdays December 5th and 12th along with evening shows. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children and seniors and are available at brownpapertickets.com. Look for A Christmas Carol by John Jakes in Redmond.

Spewing the Spittle of Suspicion

2009-10-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our wonderful United States Constitution fear and hate mongers like Glenn Beck get to spew the spittle of suspicion across our land every day. Thanks also to our U.S. Constitution true patriots such as the people who build our country instead of breaking it down, have the right to ignore or at least filter out every negative morsel exiting the mouths Beck and his comrades.

Beck, Limbaugh, O'Reily and the rest of their gang are described as "entertainers" by the network for which they work. What did I miss here? I consider the great actors, comedians , singers and musicians of my time and yours to be the real entertainers.

I'll take an evening of Elvis music anytime over 5 seconds of Beck babble. Let me hear Johnny Cash sing about "A Boy Named Sue," over Rush's constant notes of negitivism about everything President Obama says and does.

Entertainment should make us laugh, cry or at least feel some emotion designed to allow the mind and body to recover "reality" we're bombarded with every day.

All Beck and Rush and Bill do is make their closest followers feel even more bitter, cast blame on everyone but themselves and continue to erode our trust in the basic values of the democratic system of government.

Good government in America comes from well informed, selfless people who are not afraid to get involved with positive ideas and solutions to difficult problems.

Beck and his gang of "entertainers" have every right to do what they do and say what they say. We as a free people have every right to filter out what they say and base our own opinions and actions on research and common sense.

Hold Them Accountable

2009-09-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

It has never been more important to know the names and contact information of all of your local, state and U.S. representitives. The radio talk show babble will bring no results. Only your direct emails and letters to your public officials will bring results. On the health care issue we should all be writing our U.S. House of Representives members and our U.S. Senators with our opions and ideas. The time has come to stop letting the loudest voices of our society make the rules. Whether you support President Obamas health care reform ideas, which I do, or any of the other options, you must speak out now.

Every member of the U.S. House is up for re-election in 2010. Put the pressure on them now to let you know where they stand. Do not let them politicize or bash the opposition. Demand to hear their ideas for a solution. We live in a great nation but it loses some of it's greatness if we stand by and let a few loud voices on both sides of the political isle sway our own thinking. According to the U.S. Constitution our government only works if "we the people" speak our piece. We cannot be lazy and let the talk shows do our thinking for us. Check the facts, form your opinion based on the facts and contact your public servants to let them know how you feel.

Fear, Hate & Mis-information

2009-09-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

I have just named my "All hate and fear" team for the 2009 season and I'm happy to say Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity and Glen Beck have made the roster.

Palin makes it for writing on her face book page about the mythical "death panel" in President Obama's health care proposal. Her party used the term death effectively a few times when opposing "estate taxes" over the years. They called them "death taxes." What they really are is a fair way to spread the tax burden equally throughout our society.

Back to the "death panel" for a minute. There is no such thing, never was, never will be. Palin is a "fear monger" of the highest order and should ne ignored.

Glen Beck has used his spewing of fear and hatred as a road to radio talk show success. He is profiting from the mysery of others. On September 26th he'll be presented with the key to the city of Mt. Vernon , Wa. his home town. This might be a good chance for people to let Mr. Beck know what they think of his dangerous hate filled commentaries.

Sean Hannity recently targeted Obama "green jobs" expert Van Jones and has now forced a good man to resign using the same hate and fear tactics of the others.

Thank God we have freedom of speech in America. It is a double edged sword but I wouldn't have it any other way. Hannity, Palin and Beck have every right to spread fear, hatred and lies across this great land of ours but by the same token we have the right to call them out for what they are. They are self profiting entertainers spewing verbal garbage across our landscape for the rest of us to pick up and put into the trash can.

Ted Kennedy

2009-08-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

I made the mistake of listening to a few minutes of talk radio Wednesday, the day after the death of Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. It never ceases to amaze me how people are so willing to speak out on topics they know nothing about. Ted Kennedy was one of the most effective United States Senators in our history. Was he the best ever? Probably not, but he was one of the best at crossing the ever widening isle between liberal and conservative. Kennedy never wavered on his mission or his beliefs. He was not afraid to call himself "liberal." He worked for the rights of women, seniors, immigrants, the poor and the un insured. In 1969 a horrible error in judgement caused the death of a young campaign volunteer. Kennedy made serious errors in judgement 40 years ago on the island of Chappaquidick. He and his female companion were coming from a re union of Robert Kennedy staffers, both were drinking and Kennedy was driving. There were rumors that they were having an affair or at least a one night stand. While I will not attempt to justify either of those possibilities I will say this. Both Kennedy and his companion were distraught over the death of RFK. It is quite likely and not that unusual that in the heat of that emotional turmoil excessive drinking and a "one night stand" may have occured. Why is this such a shock to people? It happens and it probably happened that night, but to continue to condemn a person for stupid actions 40 years ago seems crazy to me. Especially when that person tried and succeeded in turning his life around and focusing on inproving the lives of un told millions of others in his career. Ted Kennedy was born wealthy, he could have spent his money and life on trivial things as many rich people do. Instead he chose to use public service to help others. He was simply a man with some flaws and some natural gifts. He managed his flws and used his gifts to help others for 47 of his 77 years. Not a bad legacy.

Recipe for Disaster

2009-08-18T21:09:00.000-07:00

In early 2000 the dot com bust was big news followed last year by the real estate bust and the bank bust. Let's face it busts are busting out all over.

It doesn't take a business expert to figure out why the busts happened. Values were inflated, people got greedy and everyone paid the price.

Recently most of the players picked in April's NFL draft signed their contracts. They all got huge signing bonues and "life time" pay packages. A few days ago baseball had it's draft. Same result. The top pick pitcher Stephan Strassburg signed with the Washington Nationals for 15.67 million dollars over four years including a 7.5 million dollar signing bonus. The second pick, pitcher Dustin Askley signed with the Seattle Mariners for 7.5 million and the third pick signed with San Diego for 6.25 million.

These are all fine college pitchers but do they really deserve this kind of money before throwing one pitch in a professional baseball game?

The idea of paying young people to play a sport is not new in America but it has gotten completely out of hand and I honestly don't know how much longer it can last at this level.

How much longer can television contracts and ticket sales sustain this kind of pressure? Is the bust just around the corner and if it is why don't the owners see it?

Recently at the University of Washington a beloved athletic department staff member was handed his walking papers as a "budget cut" just months after the new football coaching staff was handed a bag of money to rescue the dismal football program.

Am I the only one who sees a problem with this pattern? Maybe I am. I guess as long as people show up to the ticket window, purchase the game jerseys and the products they see on television game broadcasts everything will be fine. On the other hand if there's ever a dramatic slow down in the revenue flow professional sports franchises could be in for a rude awakening.

I just finished reading a baseball book called, "I would have played for nothing." In the case of some of the players in the book they practically did play for nothing. On top of that many of them served in the military at the height of their careers. Stars like Ted Williams, Joe Dimaggio and Joe Louis spent time in the service during WWII and the Korean War. They worked in the off season to make ends meet and ordinary people could easily identify with them.

I loved the games back then and I love them now I'm just worried that all this money up front for un proven players is a recipe for financial disaster.

Organized Murder

2009-08-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

Harry Patch died last week. So who is Harry Patch? He was one of the last surviving British soldiers to have fought in World War I. Patch was 111 years old. Born in 1898 he was drafted into the 7th Battalion, Duke of Cornwell's light infantry. He spent four months in Flanders in France but never killed a German. He shot at their legs to wound them. He spent weeks in mud filled trenches going without a bath and wearing the same clothes. He endured lice and rats as big as cats.

He was once quoted as saying, "war is nothing more than organized murder.

Patches death leaves Claude Choules as Great Britain's last World War I veteran. Choules is 108. There are still two other WWI vets alive, one in Canada and one in the United States.

Seahawks Camp Opens

2009-08-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

The short vacation is over, the Seahawks are back to work at VMAC in Renton preparing for the 2009 season. The first part of the first day is usually spent searching for numbers to see who's here and who isn't. There's not much mystery anymore since the public relations staff and head coach listed the missing players at at the first session. Marcus Trufant is on the PUP list with a sore back. PUP may be a cute dog to us but in ther NFL it means "physically unable to perform." It allows a team to replace that player on the roster temorarily. Baraka Atkins was excused to attend the funeral of a friend in Florida and top draft pick Aaron Curry isn't here and won't be until he signs his contract.

On the first day veteran offensive lineman Mike Wahl failed his physical exam and decided to retire. He had worked hard all during the off season but didn't quite get back to normal.

Everyone else who missed part of last season due to injury is back this year including 12 year veteran tackle Walter Jones, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and receiver Nate Burleson.

Training camp continues through August 21.

Angry White Men

2009-07-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

The Republican Party has become the party of angry white men. Any progressive ideas anyone comes up with are met with the same reaction. "No." Don't white men realize they have nothing to be angry about except maybe their inability to deal with the fact that they have nothing to be angry about.

Our president has been in office less than seven months and has been attacked more than any single American president in history. Let the guy govern, let him work, keep him on notice that we're all watching but let him work. Hey just for a brief moment there I think I became an angry white man myself.

Hall of Fame

Had a chance to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York last week. As I was walking through the Babe Ruth exhibit, I heard a young dad explaining to his pre-teen sons that the Bambino was the only "true" home run king. "He hit 60 homers in 1927 and then the "cheaters" broke his record. I had to step in and remind the guy that Roger Maris broke trhe Babe's record in 1961 and was not a cheater. He did have the advantage of a 162 game season to Ruth's 154 game season but he was no cheater.

Soccer

After watching the inaugural season of the Seattle SoundersFC in MLS I've decided to start playing the game myself. Let's face it if my grand parents hadn't imigrated from Italy in the early 1900s I probably would've grown up playing the "World's game" anyway. It's never too late to learn something new. Gotta go practice my headers.

Playing for Nothing

2009-06-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

Just finished reading "The Yankee Years," by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci. It's the story of Torre's triumphant seasons as manager of the New york Yankees from 1996-2000 and the less than successful years that followed. Less than successful means the Yankees didn't win a World Series under Torre after they beat the Mets in October of 2000. They did get to the Series twice only to lose both times. The book details the departure of such stars as Bernie Williams and Andy Petite and the arrival of Gary Scheffield and Alex Rodriguez. As soon as I put that down I started reading, "They would have played for nothing," which follows the careers of some of the greats of the 1950s and 60 like Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson and Stan Musiel. Though I enjoyed both books I felt like reading the second one was like taking a shower on a hot day. It was so refreshing after reading about all the nightmarish stories about George Steinbrenner's frequent tirades and torre's constant effort to keep his players and owner happy.

Reading the second book also got me in a mood to buy old baseball cards again. Seems like they're the only ones that maintain or grow their value. Anything printed after 1975 is too plentiful to make it worth anything.

Every Precious moment

2009-06-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

Who remembers that last day of school, the first day of summer vacation? Most of us have fond memories of stepping off the bus for the last time in late June without a care in the world. It's not that things in the world weren't a challenge, or dangerous, or frightening it's that we didn't know enough about it to care. The only thing that mattered was fishing and baseball and bike riding and friends. Summer meant 4th of July fireworks and a population of people who actually knew what they were celebrating on that day. Summer meant you were outdoors from dawn till dusk riding your bike with no helmet, making no contact with your parents until supper time and living every precious moment. We didn't have our faces on our cell phones all day because there was no such thing. We didn't waste hours on video games because there were none. We ran through poison ivy, got mumps and measles, went to the doctor and actually got treated without being asked how we were going to pay for it. I know, I sound like a baby boomer who's past was happier than his present. Not true. I'm very happy today but I think it's fun to point out that the "care free" season is here and for gosh sakes we ought to let our kids and grandkids enjoy it. Someday they'll write about the good old days when Twitter and Face Book will have gone the way of the Hula Hoop. By the way I bought a Hula Hoop on Craig's list the other day. Got a good price.

New title for FOX News

2009-06-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

Why is everyone on the FOX news network so ticked off? Every time I see one of the poor souls they're upset over something. Lately they're up in arms because President Obama had the nerve to reach out to the Muslim world and suggest that they may be people too. Hey FOX news, I've got news for you, your act is old, negitive, boring and irrelevent. I'll go one step further, you're hate mongers disguised as news reporters and anchors. I'm happy to live in a country that allows FOX news to do what it does but I'm also happy to have quick fingers and a remote. As soon as I see Sean or Bill or Ann on HATE TV, I switch over to something that makes sense, like Family Fued or The Price is Right.

Quiet I Can't Hear the Music

2009-06-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Growing up in the 1950s I had plenty of opportunities to listen to disc jockeys fill time between songs. When Cousin Brucie or Dandy Dan Ingraham made a funny remark in between Elvis or Beatles songs that constituted "talk radio." For me and my generation it was all the talk radio we needed. I still listen to Cousin Brucie on Satalitte radio and he still makes more sense than any of the "talk" people I mistakenly tune in to today.

How much talk is too much talk? That's an open question of course and the answer is si9mple. When I get tired of hearing about the same topic I change the station.

In my home market, Seattle a lot of people are changinbg the station these days. They're changing to music and away from talk. In times like these I guess people feel more comfortable not hearing about "times like these." Music soothes the soul, settles the nerves, evokes the emotions. Talk too often has the opposite result.

I tuned out of talk radio about ten seconds after the last election. I love the new president but I'm sure I'll disagree with some of things he does in the next three years. I'll disagree on my own however, not with any prompting from Rush or anyone else.

So what about sports talk radio you ask? There's too much of that too. Two hours before the game starts I do not need to listen to "expert" anlayists tell me why one team will win and the other will lose. And when the game is over, I'm done, let me go on with my life. Please don't bore me with post game analysis let alone sound bites that don't change from week to week.

Good luck to all the radio talk show folks out there. I know you work hard and I wish you the best, just don't talk me anymore it distracts me from the music I'm trying to listen too.

Running for Office

2009-05-19T15:46:00.000-07:00

I'm running for public office.
I've given a lot of thought to why I’m running for Newcastle City Council. It goes back a few decades to when my father Tony Ventrella Sr. ran for an office called “Constable” in my home town of Wilton, Conn. Dad was a barber with less than a high school education but a vast knowledge not only of national and local issues but of the wants and needs of people in his own community. My town was so small we had one police officer and he was on loan from the state of Connecticut. To fill the gap the town council created positions for four “constables” who would serve the public in various ways. My Dad performed such duties as serving subpoenas, directing traffic in construction zones and parking cars for town sponsored events. He loved people and was proud to work for the town. I feel the same way. “As Newcastle grows and welcomes new residents and businesses I want to be involved in its vision for the future.” To succeed as an individual, a family, a business or a small city you need a vision, a plan of action, a step by step climb into the future. I believe that “real political leadership can only emerge in a crisis.” I also believe that with every crisis comes opportunity. We are in a fiscal crisis in America that effects every one of us in big cities and small towns. We can only emerge from it by working together, unselfishly and without ego. I look forward to meeting every voter in Newcastle and because I have two ears and one mouth, I’ll listen twice as much as I talk. I look forward to serving my community.

Twitter or Not

2009-05-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

I admit it, I'm a baby boomer, born in the 1940s. My life was fine before lap tops, cell phones and GPS systems and it was certainly fine before Face Book and Twitter. I don't need Face Book or Twitter so why did I sign up for both? I'll answer that. I don't need a talking JFK doll or a 1968 rookie Tom Seaver card either but I have both.

At least I get some enjoyment out of pushing the button on JFKs lapel and hearing him say, "Ask not what your country can do for you," over and over again. I'm not sure if I get any enjoyment out of Face Book or Twitter. I really don't care what concert my friends went to last weekend. Unless it was a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons reunion it was a waste of time and money anyway.

I've been on Face Book for a month and Twitter for a week and I'm on the verge of leaving both. If I really want to send a message out to all my friends I'll call them or type a letter on my manual Royal typewriter to each one of them, spend $20 on stamps and drop them in a mail box. What a concept.

I have to go now. Just got Tweeted from someone who's interested in buying my talking JFK doll.

News about News

2009-05-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

Thursday May 7 was a painful day if you follow sports media. Not painful from the stand point of the actual news stories but painful because of the relentless repetition of those stories by endless numbers of talking heads.

Shut up already. That's enough about Bret's retirement, Manny's suspension and A-Rods hip. Whatever happened to the good old days when we were all scared to get Swine Flu.

I'm pleased that Bret Favre is staying retired, so is my cousin Jack who taught high school for 30 years. I'm happy for both of them.

Manny Ramirez finally got caught juicing and was suspended for 50 games. Lot's of guys at the local gym juice all the time and wish they were Manny Ramirez yet they're the first ones to call talk radio and denounce the former Red Sox and now Dodgers star.

Sometimes I long for the old days when you had to wait for your local newspaper or television sports cast to see and hear what was happening. In those days you actually had time to digest the story before beating it into the ground among your own friends. Now it gets beaten into the ground even before half the public hears about it.

Thank God we live in a country that recognizes the value of free speech. It's just that sometimes I long for silence and that's just as free.

Rookies, Red Cards & Seagals

2009-05-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

What a whirlwind weekend it was in Seattle sports. Seahawks rookies and veterans soent three days at the team facilities in Renton at the first full mini camp. Led by top draft pick Aaron Curry, the linebacker out of Wake Forest the Seahawks went through their paces under the upbeat direction of head coach Jim Mora.

This week veterans will work on red zone and two minute drills before the rookies return in two weeks for another mini camp. Full training camp begins in late July with the first pre-season game set for August 15th at San Diego.

On Saturday in Bridgeview, Illinois the Sounders FC struggled to a 1-1 tie with the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park. A red card on Fredy Montero in the 49th minutes gave Chicago a man advantage situation which they exploited for the go ahead goal late in the half. The Sounders salvaged a tie when Freddie Ljundberg set up Tyrone Marshall for his first goal in two years. Seattle has a 4-2-1 record with 13 points so far this season. They host Los Angeles on Mother's Day at 12 noon at Qwest field.

Sunday night at Qwest 61 perspective Seagals went through final auditions for the 2009 squad. Director Sheri Thompson chose 28 girls for the new squad excluding a couple of popular veterans Georgia and Kat from the new team.

It was emotional for the girls who didn't make the team as well as for Thompson who told all the auditioners after the event, "I wish I could take 40 of you but we're limited to 28."

The Mariners rounded out a big weekend in Seattle sports with a 15inning 8-7 victory over Oakland at Safeco field.

Welcome aaron Curry

2009-04-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

At 9:30 this morning the Seahawks top draft pick Linebacker Aaron Curry walked into team headquarters in Renton with his mother Chris and Fiance Jamilla. At 11 a.m. the former Wake Forest star will meet with the Seattle media for the first time in person.

Curry topped the list of seven draftees by the Seahawks in the 74th NFL draft which ended yesterday afternoon around 4:15 Seattle time.

The Seahawks did a lot of trading with other teams to select the players on their pre draft wish list.

In the second round they drafted center/guard Max Ynger from the University of Oregon. Deon Butler, a receiver from Penn State was chosen in the third round and quarterback Mike Teel of Rutgers was picked in the 6th round.

The Seahawks had three compensatory picks in round seven and chose the folowing players. Courtney Greene a safety from Rutgers, Nick Reed and defensive end from Oregon and Cameron Morrah a tight end from California.

All the new players plus several un drafted invitees will be here Friday for the start of a three day mini camp.

U.S. Open Cup

The SoundersFC host Real Salt Lake Tuesday night at Starfire Sports Complex in a play in match for the U.S. Open Cup. Any soccer team in the nation can enter this tournament . This reminds me of the way they used to do the state basketball tournament in Indiana. All schools no matter what sized student body were able to compete in one single tournament with one champion. That was the inspiration for the movie Hoosiers starring Gene Hackman and Barbara Hersey a few years ago.

Seattle will mix it's line up using some reserve players and some starters. Kickoff is 7 p.m. Tuesday night.

2009-04-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

Just came from the 5th annual Seahawks Draft Bowl Home Run Derby. Breaking news!!! The coaches beat the Scouts 24-23 on a walk off homer by Defensive Quality Control coach Tom Headlee.

The annual event serves as a much needed break from months of draft preview work by the scouts, coaches and front office.

The home run dreby was played on the practice fields in back of the Seahawks facility. It was a five inning affair with each team getting eights outs per inning. Anything that isn't a home run is an out.

Former Mariner great Jay Buhner threw out the first pitch and later commented on the slugging skills of the coaches and scouts. "These guys are pretty good, they use the old, swing in case you hit it method, I did that when I played."

The coaches started fast with nine consecutive homers in the first inning then after a 10th homer General Manager Tim Ruskell, captain of the Scouts team invoked the "ten run rule," calling for the inning to end.

Coaches captain Jim Mora argued the rule change but to no avail.

The game came down to the bottom of the 5th inning tied 23-23 when Headlee's home run ended it.

Tomorrow the guys really get down to work when the NFL draft begins at 1 p.m. pacific time. The Seahawks have the fourth overall pick and speculation is running rampant about their choice. They also have the fourth pick in the second round, 37th overall and there's been some interest among other teams in that pick but no indication that the Seahawks will trade down.

The draft continues Sunday with rounds 3 through 7. Overall the Seahawks have 10 picks in the draft.

Hello World

2009-04-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

“The only way to make some people you agree with speak is to support the rights of people you don’t agree with.”

Hi everyone, welcome to my blog. I know I’ve made fun of bloggers in the past calling them dangerous, mis- informed, un accountable for their actions and down right irresponsible, It is in that spirit that I join the ever growing world of people key board tappers.

I’ll try to be informed, well researched, polite, fair, inspirational and entertaining. At times I will come across as a left wing socialist and at other times as a moderate Democrat just trying to make sense of the world. Most of all I’ll try to coax a laugh or two out of my readers.

Writing in any forum is a freedom we sometimes take for granted in America. I will always be grateful for that opportunity and will never abuse it.

May you find something useful in this space and perhaps even share it with others.

Bouncing Back

The day offered bright sunshine and spring time temperatures. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 289 points Monday, 1400 people applied for one job in Tacoma and the SoundersFC soccer team has lost two in a row. Can we ever rebound from all this. Of course we can, of course we must, of course we will.

The opening of baseball season this year was a special treat for a lot of reasons. First of all Ken Griffey Jr. is back in Seattle where his career started 20 years ago. The Mariners won 7 of their first 10 games and host the Tampa Bay Rays for the next three days. The Rays are an inspiration for any last place team. If they can go worst to first so can the Mariners.

The NFL draft takes place Saturday. This is the most over hyped off the field activity in the history of sports. Entire careers are made on guessing which team will pick which player. Is it much ado about nothing? Of course it is, but it’s also a lot of fun for millions of people so why not?

The NBA playoffs started over the weekend and people in Portland are besides themselves with joy despite that 20 loss to Houston in Game one.

In politics the right wing attack team is out in force all over talk radio. They are relentless, mean spirited and border on treasonous but we will always respect their right to make fools of themselves.

Barack Obama is the best President of our lifetime and will prove it by the time his first term is over. By the end of his second term there will be a push by some to end “term limits.” I love the guy but even I won’t support that. We messed with the constitution enough the last 8 years, so let’s leave it alone for a while.

And finally on that 48 year old British singer Susan Boyle I have only this to say. Thank you for showing the world that a book should never be judged by its color although so many of us are quick to do just that. You have the voice of an angel and have

2009-04-14T14:35:00.001-07:00

"The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goals, the tragedy lies in having no goals at all."

2009-04-14T14:27:00.000-07:00

The tradgedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal, the tragedy lies in having no goals at all."

Daily Quote

2009-04-10T13:30:00.001-07:00

Treat yourself as if you already are what you'd like to become. Look for this blog every week.