Rudy and Kermit.

Yours truly is about to make an admission. It pains me to say it but it’s true. The old noggin isn’t what it used to be as I find myself having occasional moments of forgetfulness. Being off by a day on a particular birthday, missing an anniversary date by a day or three has me a little frazzled. It used to be the cranium ran like a steel trap. Now I must recheck my sources to make sure I am correct. The process of aging is beginning to take it’s toll.

The reason for making mention of this is the fact that a friend of mine has lent me a book that spoke of a horrific night. December 9th, 1977 at the L.A. Forum. A basketball game that took place between the Lakers and Rockets.

It was a game Houston won handily. It was what happened during the game that fans will never forget. Two names forever connected by way of a punch and a bloody broken result of thrown punch. Kermit Washington and Rudy Tomjanovich the two culprits. The two have since made up after the 2002 release of ’The Punch’ written by John Feinstein. Currently reading the book and getting a refresher in what 1977 was all about compared to how I remember it.

This is one of six books that my friend has lent me. Also in the mix are bios on golfer Payne Stewart, Yao Ming, Phil Jackson, and Michael Jordan. My friend is quite the basketball connoisseur. I dare say when I am through with these booklets I will be very versed in hardwood lore.

Curious to see which Dallas Stars team shows up in Los Angeles tomorrow. It has been a horrific month of March 2008. With the culmination of a back to back with Anaheim on Sunday, this could determine if Dallas gets the 5th, 6th, or 7th seed. Calgary may very well throw a monkey wrench into the plans before the end of the regular season. My guess is that the Stars would prefer playing Minnesota since Colorado, Anaheim, and Vancouver have provided the one and outs since 2002-2003. Fingers crossed and hoping against the numbers.

Weather permitting the Texas Rangers play an exhibition in Frisco tomorrow before flying out to Seattle to start the 2008 campaign Monday night at 9PM.

Gerald Laird has won the catcher’s spot as Salty goes to Oklahoma City. Hank Blalock and Milton Bradley have looked strong in the 4 and 5 spot in the lineup. Ian Kinsler appears to be a lock at leadoff with Michael Young at 2. The outfield of Josh Hamilton in center, Marlon Byrd in right, and a platoon of Frank Catalanatto and Jason Botts in left field. No one is giving the Rangers any chance at all of success in 2008. I remind you that from June 9th onward, Texas had the 5th best record in all of baseball. They also were 47-34 at home, best since 2004. Even a 26-16 record in one-run games. Call me the crazy eternal optimist, but I always hold out hope for the local team. If the Rangers can play .500 ball on the road, I think this ballclub can contend and win 83 games. I predict Jason Jennings will be the big story in Arlington in 2008...

To those who ask, I expect Seattle to win the AL West, Detroit the AL Central, Boston the AL East with Cleveland getting the wild card. In the NL I like the Cubs, Mets, and Dodgers to win their respective divisions. The wild card will go to San Diego. I like the sound of a Cubs-Tigers World Series as Chicago, against all odds, ends a 100 year drought. This is what I wish for in March. Go ahead and laugh, you’ll thanks me in October :)

Time for a walk with my accountabilibuddy...

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will