Big Blue Huddle

Most know I have been a baseball umpire for well over 40 years now and always considered myself a good to very good knowledgeable person as far as rules go. So if anyone ahs any rules questions, ask away and I'll see what I can do to answer them.

During the season, the BBH has always tried to have a get together to watch a road game together and either have a sort of tail gate or venture to a sports bar for some eats and then a game.

For the past 2 years our own Tomeee has been gracious enough to offer his house as our place to hold this great event, and, if the dates are right, he has once again offered to host  this year.

Here are our choices for Tomeee's house
Sunday October 14 vs SF with a 4:30 game
Sunday Nov 11 vs Cincy with a 1:00 start.

The date we were originally looking at was October 28 vs Dallas with a 4:30 start. That date is not good for Tomeee, so if we choice that date we will find a centrally located Sports bar that would be convenient for as many as possible.

Tomeee's house is in Yorktown Heights NY.

So these are our choices as we do not want to get later into the season when the weather has a better chance of turning nasty.

Just for any who haven't been to one of these get together. It is great. For the past 2 years we have BBQ and sort of tail gated at Tomeee's and then settled in to watch the game.
In years past we also have gotten a nice crew together in Fishkill, NY at a sports bar and had some brunch and then watched the game. Either way, all who attend have a great time and if you are interested, please indicate which date is preferable, or which you cannot make. We will try and please as many people as we can, but we go the way of the majority.
If we use the Oct 14 date, it is only about 10 days away so we need to know ASAP to help Tomeee along.

This is different from our BBQ in Albany, in that if you want to attend at Tomeee's just bring some food you or others might enjoy, as you might do for a tailgate.

Again, please indicate if you would like to attend and which date is good.

As Ed has alluded to, we are trying out some NFT topics to get a feel for how they might be received, and maybe to start a new forum for them. Unlike the old Back Porch, this will be for topics that people would like to discuss, even debate, but in an intelligent way, and NO  references to politics allowed. This is a very slow time in the NFL, so we thought let's try out a few topics and see how they fly.

One of the topics I would like other opinions on, because there are many on this one is the George Zimmerman shooting of Trayvon Martin. I know we all have heard this case and we all must have opinions on it.
For starters, was George Zimmerman right in what he did?
Did he deserve the punishment, criticism and media blackballing,  he has received?
What does one think of the Florida Law of standing your ground no matter what?.

I have a good friend who is a criminal attorney. We talked about this case and he feels the prosecution will have a very hard time convicting Zimmerman of any sort of murder charge. He explained the Florida stand your ground law to me, compared to a state like NY. In NY, if you feel your life in danger and have the chance to run away, you MUST run away. If there is no other option and you cannot run, then you have the right to shoot. Like if some one broke into your house, you cannot run from that. But Florida is different, and Zimmerman had the chance to leave, but they do not require that, so he stood his ground and killed another man.
Does that make him a killer??

Evidence now seems to point to Zimmerman was telling the truth that Martin was assaulting him, beating him up, on top of him when he fired his gun and killed him. That part seems pretty clear. But the police said Zimmerman should never have gotten out of his car and confronted Martin.

So what's the verdict???

Top Ten World Series Moments

What do you think???

Did any of you baseball people take my rules test on the main board. Come on guys, let's see how much you all know.

OK guys you knew this was coming. With being the highest salaried team in baseball, I guess all that money just cannot buy a championship every year. While everyone annointed the Yankees a World Series berth from day one, I guess the samller market teams hadn't heard.

Now all you Yankee fans will be crying for all those new Free Agents to help you win next year.  Wonder how much Cliff Lee will e costing??

Sorry guys, wait till next year. 

 As most already know, this past weekend was out annual trip to training camp and BBQ. To say it was a huge success would be putting it mildly.

For myself, being able to see some of my old friends again, made the experience at camp so much more than what it usually is. And being able to finally meet the Drakester, and the wonderful Mr Weeze, well, my life in now complete.

Just for my time there, which was Saturday night dinner and the full day on sunday, it was just too great for words. Why others here just don't take the time to join us, well, is beyond me. We have such a magnificent group of people, that anyone, no matter who, would be instantly at ease with this group.

Dinner on Saturday nite was great. And to make it even better, when we arrived at the place and mingled at the bar, who was sitting in the booth right behind us, Spags, his wife and Jesse Armstead. We really didn't want to bother them as they were eating, but finally, Mrs Rocky went over and introduced herself, and several other went over to shake their hands. Spags was so cordial, and had a big smile for everyone. Sorry same couldn't be said for Jesse, but it was a great pleasure to shake their hands.

Sunday we all met and sat together for the AM practice, with Spider doing play by play. It was MY first time seeing our Giants since the SB, and the experience is just magnificent.

The afternoon was spent at the near by park, where our annual BBQ takes place. As usual, we had so  much food, and about 6 grills going at one time. My hats off to all the chefs, everything was worthy of the Food Channel. Weeze kept his word and brought his famous fish which the Drakester cooked up as well as Emeral could have done. When I finally got around to having some, it was gone, but what I did taste, just mouth watering. AND, on a side note, the Weezer did keep his word to me, and brought some of HIS famous clear liquid that shall go nameless here, because in Northern territories, it is STILL illegal. Mixed a bit with Drakes famous Hazelnut Java that was brewed right in his hotel room, and I was sure to enjoy the rest of the day.
After, we were surprised when our 'guest' came by. Ralph V from the Daily News said he might stop by, and he did, and stayed for 2 1/2 hours with some terrific insight into the giants and how they are doing and what they are thinking. The time just flew by.

The evening practice was also great and the Giants really look  deep in several positions--WR, RB and even safety now. As was said in another thread, a guy like Dahl, who made the team last year, will be hard pressed to make this team in 08. Forget what you hear from the media,. the Giants will be right there in January, ready to defend their title.

There is so much more you can say about camp, as you observe so many things, but anyone who can make it there, should attempt it. From the fan friendly atmosphere, to the players signing autographs, to just watching whatever part of the team that catches your eye, it is a wonderful experience, and to share it with some great friends, well, the entire time will be long remembered.


To try and thank everyone who had a hand in making this event such a great experience will never work because I know I will leave out several names, so I just wanted to thank EVERYONE who was there for making this the BEST   BBH   BBQ   EVER.

Guys, tip of my cap to you all.

 Anther great video about Phil McConkey and the 1986 Super Bowl.
Parcels is a riot. Can anyone ever see Coughlin saying something like that to a player????

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8008fb3d

 Jsut a great story from OJ.
I loved it when he says he ain't going over to see what Parcels wants. He already knows what Parcels wants.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8008fb16

From You tube, here is the entire Bills final drive of SB XXV and the climatic Wide Right kick that made our GMen Champs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJj5BZwNzKI