Now blow, Mets

Congratulations to Tom Glavine. From this moment forward, we are enemies. That is, until your enshrinement in Cooperstown and then I'll taste champagne.
Today the Braves took the series against the Colorado Rockies, winning in 10 innings. That meant another extra inning of the Baby Prophecy, Chip Caray. I was sooo beaten up after the game by the horrible commentary that, even after Escobar's game-winning hit, it was hard to feel relieved. The day had the aftertaste of a loss. And we won. Yeesh. Just to make a point and not have it seem like this is the Chip Caray Haters' Society (hmm), in the bottom half of the tenth inning today, with the Braves batting and two men on base, the Baby Prophecy is gabbing non-stop about the Rockies (at least they were one of the teams in the stadium, not always important to the BP) and the western division and their individual record against each team. Poor Joe Simpson had to force his way in to alert, "Yunel Escobar has a chance to win this game." Ugh. With all the drama of extra innings and the Braves having two men on, and the game on the line, the little monster can't shut up about nonsense. It was a great game but it didn't really feel like it. I won't even get into his girlish laugh or the way his voice cracks like a high-school kid every other minute. If I can ever afford satellite TV, I'll watch the visiting team's announcers as long as the disease that is... Chip ... infests Atlanta.
On the other hand, bring on the Mets. It should be a great series.

The Falcons are still flying under the radar which is fine. The first preseason game against the Jets is Friday night and I can't wait for kickoff. Not much brewing otherwise except to say GO TO HELL, NFL Network. Once again, there was a game tonight that I did not get to watch that I would have been able to watch two years ago. Ridiculous.

Victory is fleeting...

I missed Biff Benedict Pocoroba's birthday last week, at the moment I believe he's still the longest Atlanta Brave ever to spend his career completely with the team (nine years). That surely will be shattered in a few years when Chipper Jones or John Smoltz retires. Anyway, on to the Teixeira days and truly we are now an offensive juggernaut but tonight's extra inning loss was a deeply bitter pill to swallow. Five extra innings of the Baby Prophecy, Chip Caray!!! Finally I just tuned him out. You can't turn off the volume completely because it's too detached and I need the crowd noise and Bobby Cox, eternally rooting for his guys. Anyway, I did witness the possible end of the Julio Franco era on Tuesday night but I hope they can find a way to bring him back September first. He showed he's still got the fire. I was really riding high until the final out tonight but I won't worry too much. If we score in double digits like we have the last four games then we'll be fine. Tonight, let me reiterate, really sucked. And now the injury bug paranoia is starting to creep up. This was supposed to be a happy occasion.

I read nothing but positive news from Falcons training camp now. What a relief. With both eyes open I look forward and see good things happening to begin the Petrino era. I can't wait for the first preseason game, which is just seven days away. And if you get a chance, watch ESPN First Take, which comes on in the morning and then they beat a few topics to death for a few hours. Mostly it's a bunch of preening idiots spouting opinions like conservative talk radio hosts. Don't watch too much of it, though. Just peek at the train wreck. Which leads me to... Thank God the Raiders signed Daunte Culpepper so they can stop speculating whether or not the Falcons would sign him. They said they wouldn't. Two minutes later, ESPN has someone say, "Will the Falcons sign Daunte Culpepper?" Then Chris Mortensen, a good reporter, comes on and says the Falcons will not sign Daunte Culpepper. Five minutes later, going to break, someone says, "Why Daunte Culpepper would be a perfect fit for the Falcons." AARRGGHH!! We didn't want him and said so. Repeatedly. He couldn't beat out Joey Harrington in Miami last year, why would he now? All the speculation was a thinly veiled way to say that the Falcons should sign a black quarterback to keep some of their alienated fan base happy. What a crock. Thanks God sanity prevailed.