Following in Dave Johnson's footsteps Valentine returns to the Major Leagues after a decade away in Japan and on television. His first order of business will be to smooth things over with players of whom he has been openly critical. If anyone can do this, Bobby can. It also occurs to me he was along the sidelines on Opening Day 2011 here in Arlington.
I know, I know. Say all the right things and say you're going to stay. Yes, I know about that lease through 2023 and all that. I'm telling you that come the off-season when the focus is on other things, I expect an announcement somewhere down the road to move this franchise.
I also remember all the somber looks on the faces of my classmates in Jack Burke's History class. All the girls were crying. I myself was stunned. 'Miracle On 34th Street' was mandatory Christmas viewing. Irony of ironies, 'West Side Story' is now 50. Hmm...I'd hate to think that certain people would want to go the route of profiteer in the name of an anniversary.
The color reference to the title of this post is to pay homage to the birth of James Marshall Hendrix. 69 years ago to the day. Son of a longshoreman, still the greatest guitarist ever to don a stage and make the sound of a wah-wah pedal match a bull elephant in heat and listenable at the same time. Also a proper misnomer in the case of the Vikings without Adrian Peterson.
Locally this means the Dallas Mavericks will get to hoist their championship banner high above the rafters before a national television audience and the Miami Heat. Nice if you ask me. Can't you just see LeBron and Dwyane cringing at that sight?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 8:12AM