Let Freedom Ring

When it comes to nations smaller is better.

Europe seems intent on slicing itself up into ever smaller pieces. In the next month, Kosovo is likely to declare independence – making it the seventh new country to emerge from the wreckage of Yugoslavia. The Soviet Union has given way to 15 new states. Even in western Europe, there is talk of Belgium dividing in two, while a pro-independence party has taken power in Scotland...

But if the formation of new countries can be achieved peacefully, it is usually a cause for celebration. This is the age of the small state.

Sports Guy

I must say his tie sports an excellent knot. Nice job.

Rudy's Old Stomping Grounds

Are there still people out there that believe Government is in business to protect you?

Three Definites

For the Baseball Hall of Fame that is. I'm a Small Hall guy and for me to pick even three players is stretching it but there are some wrongs to be righted from past elections.

Bert Blyleven

Bert Blyleven was an absolute pitching monster. He featured a devastating 12 to 6 curve ball and a rubber arm that allowed him to log the 13th most innings pitched, strikeout the 5th most batters and hurl the 9th most shutouts in history. Playing for more poor teams than good ones throughout much of his career hindered him in his pursuit of three-hundred wins. He ended his career just thirteen short.

Marvin Miller

Marvin Miller is easily the most influential actor in the economic sphere of Major League Baseball in the second half of the 20th century. Miller served as the head of the Major League Baseball Player's Association from the mid-1960's through the early 1980's. In less than two decades Miller was able to transform the entire economics of the game through his winning of numerous benefits for the players through a series of collective bargaining agreements. When Miller began his tenure the players were slaves to the franchise that drafted them for their entire careers if the club so desired. By the time Miller had retired the right to free agency for players had been in existence for over five years.

Goose Gossage

When talking about relief pitchers three names immediately come to mind: Hoyt Wilhelm, Goose Gossage and Mariano Rivera. All three men enjoyed (or are enjoying in Rivera's case) remarkably long career peaks. Here are their ERA+ figures for those peaks:

Wilhelm (1958 - 1969): 157 - 173 - 115 - 168 - 191 - 132 - 173 - 176 - 190 - 229 - 184- 159

Gossage (1977 - 1985): 243 - 180 - 155 - 173 - 461 - 178 - 171 - 124 - 195

Rivera (1996 - 2007): 239 - 238 - 232 - 259 - 169 - 191 - 161 - 265 - 231 - 307 - 251 - 142

Why Gossage still hasn't been elected to the Hall after all these years is still one of life's great mysteries.

Junk Politics

From the new TV series Junk Food Lobbyists Don't Have Enough Money comes this exciting episode.

Federal lawmakers are considering the broadest effort ever to limit what children eat: a national ban on selling candy, sugary soda and salty, fatty food in school snack bars, vending machines and cafeteria lines.

Slow News Day

I've always wondered about this.