Day 13

Today started out great.  This morning I watched the new episode of Entourage (which fucking ruled, I take back what I said about Vince's new agent, she is fucking HOT), and surfed the internet.  Then I went and worked out, which was cool.  I had a pretty good salad at the DFAC for lunch.  When I got back from lunch I had a new email from the ferry company in Greece telling me that they couldn't mail my ferry tickets to an APO address.  This fucking sucks.  I don't know why they can't just have the fucking tickets waiting for me at the dock. 

The more time I spend living overseas and travelling abroad, the more I realize that the one area that the U.S. is actually head and shoulders above most of the rest of the world is customer service.  We just know how things should be done.

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Raptors win.  Both their PG's got hurt, so they are F'ed for Game 6.  Barring a miracle, their season will end tomorrow night.

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Astros lose.  Roger Clemens will probably not pitch for the Astros this year.  You know what (and it pains me to say this), I'm starting to really sour on the Rocket.  I understand wanting to win, but fuck man, it's a team game.  You're either loyal or you aren't.

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It's really starting to warm up over here.  I  think we reached triple digits today.  I"m glad I'm getting out of here before it really kicks off.

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Ok, I gotta go, I have a new episode of Heroes to watch.

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In honor of Smitty, who continues to predict that my life once I get back home will closely resemble Lane Staley's last days:

Comments

[Aug Dogg]

Check out #4. Roy Rules! http://www.uber.com/digitalshort

[Ally]

I cannot believe I just started watching Entourage two weeks ago; at least the upside is that I still have an entire season to watch.

I suspect that in part U.S. customer service is better because we work longer and more consistent hours. In Spain, it wasn't unusual for a travel agency to be closed for an indeterminate amount of time after lunch, which meant everyone just waited outside, hoping the agent would come back from her siesta. As annoying as that can be, I loved the lazy afternoons and the slower pace.

[allbilly]

The Rocket is a joke who pimps himself out. I wouldn't want him on my team. Either get in the boat when it sets sail or stay on land. Plus he's out of gas. He can't get it done. Just RETIRE...you already have rings, a gazillion dollars...go drink beer and play golf.

BTW...your Astros are FUCKED...their ship is headed in the wrong direction...and moving downwind FAST.

[kb]

My brother that works at TMI told me this story last week...

TMI had an auction a while back to benefit this needy family. One of the items up for bid was a round of golf for 4 with Roger Clemens. The baseball coach at TMI won the bid and asked Clemens if he would rather come up to one of their practices and show the kids some stuff instead of playing golf. He was all over the idea and did it this week. My brother went to the practice. He talked to the kids for like 45 minutes and then he went through his normal workout with them. Rocket said the reason he is so successful is because of the way he approaches the game and takes care of his body more than anyone else in the MLB. My brother also said he was like a well oiled machine out there. He had
awesome control of his pitches and it was amazing to watch. He had the high school kids stand in the batters box and say "ok here comes a slider, or here comes a fastball." but he wouldn't let them swing cause he didn't want to take a line drive in the face.

Anywho...thought it was a pretty cool story. I think this type of story shows that Clemens is just a ball player from Texas that can't get rid of the competitive juices. I wouldn't blame him for going to pitch the last couple of months of the season for a team that is in the hunt for a ring.

[llogg]

I give props to Clemens. If I could work three or four months a year, doing the same job I would be doing if I were working all the time, and make a couple million for it, I would do it in a heart beat. Any of you who say you wouldn't are lying.

[tom]

Clemens may be an egomaniac, but he is also the best pitcher any of us will ever see with our own eyes. Smarter statgeeks than me have made an argument for him being a Top Five All-Time Pitcher as far back as 2000. Since then, he has compiled even more amazing stats and has even won the Astros second Cy Young ever (Mike Scott being the first).

I may not like his circus antics, but I can't find fault with his amazing abilities. If claim to like baseball and you don't appreciate Clemens as a player, you might be fooling yourself about the first part.

As for the Astros heading the wrong direction... One month out, it is hard to tell. We have the same record as the Cardinals and we're a half-game behind the Cubs. Don't let the small sample size fool ya.

I'm not sure that the Astros are going the right direction, btw. Just saying it is too soon to tell.

[allbilly]

I like Roger but the circus...i just don't get it. part of being great is knowing when to leave. Did I miss the Rocket doing super human things for the AStros? If I was Roy. O...i'd not like the Rocket factor. How's about not saving that money for the Rocket and getting someone that can hit?

I am not a stat geek and not a baseball fan. Clemens is GREAT. Hall fo FAme, maybe greatest ever, but this act is old.

I don't blame him for taking the money at all, but it's not like he needs money.

[Snake Diggity]

Aug: Roy does indeed rule. And of course I want to have sex with him.

Ally: Agree completely. Also, I'm glad you found Entourage. No life is complete without it.

Billy, llogg, tom: RE: Clemens, I certainly don't want to take anything away from his achievements nor his current ability. The guy is one of the best ever and still obviously has some juice. Nor do I begrudge him wanting to pitch 1/2 a season and make upwards of $10M for it. I also sort of admire him for his uncanny competitive nature. Truth be told, my problem with his current situation is 2 fold: 1.) I feel like his loyalty to Texas and his hometown Houston should trump his desire to win another World Series--meaning he should ONLY consider the 'stros if he comes back, and 2.) I feel like his attention getting circus act is old--baseball is a team sport, and because he doesn't care which team he plays for, it's all about HIM. That don't sit well with me. I guess in the end I just hold him to a higher standard because of where he came from, and he's not living up to my expectations from a character standpoint.