The Top Four Professional Baseball Teams and Review of Sports Illustrated, Warriors Recap

Only four of the 30 professional baseball teams are contending for this years World Series.

Last years American League champions, the Kansas City Royals lost to the San Francisco Giants in the 2014 World Series. Currently the Royals lead the Toronto Blue Jays two games to none in the best of seven American League Championship series. The Jays last won a World Series in 1993.

The Major League baseball site (mlb.com) has  deemed the Royals as the rampaging Royals. In today's 6-3 win over the Blue Jays at home, they scored their first five runs in the 7th inning, turning a 0-3 deficit into a two-run lead.

In the National league championship series, the Chicago Cubs lost game one in the best of seven series to the New York Mets earlier this evening, 4-2.

The Mets and Cubs is a fantastic and intriguing match-up for baseball guru's. The Cubs and Mets have won two World Series apiece; Cubs; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Cubs; Mets; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Mets

The last time the Mets won it all, the average price per gallon of gasoline was .93 cents,  http://www.1980sflashback.com/1986/economy.asphit ; Hit movies included "Top Gun," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and "Platoon." https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=hit%20movies%20in%201986

Hit songs in 1986, the last time the Mets took home the Series trophy included Eddie Murphy's "Party All the Time," Addicted to Love"; Robert Palmer, "Sledgehammer"; Peter Gabriel, "Papa Don't Preach"; Madonna and Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name." http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1986.htm

The Cubs were the first team in pro baseball history to win back to back championships. (1907 / 1908), currently the teams only two Series wins. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Cubs

The last time the Cubs were champions, the 1908 Ford Model T, (Tin Lizzy) made it's debut to drivers, http://www.history.com/topics/model-t and popular movies were "A Calamitous Elopement," written and directed by  D. W. Griffith, "Excursion to the Moon," a French movie directed by Segundo de Chomón, and the first American film version of  William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," directed by J. Stuart Blackton was released.

Who could forget that film director Segundo de Chomón also directed the 1907 movie "Satan At Play," the first year the Cubs won the championship. The Cubs rebounded from a game one loss in the best of five series to the St. Louis Cardinals in their last series, so don't go betting on the Mets just yet.

The post season has proven to be a different beast. This year for example, the Cubs were 7-0 against the Mets in the regular season, but lost tonight. The savagely graceful pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, David Price surrendered five runs in the seventh inning this afternoon to the Royals. Price is 1-2 in the post season thus far with a 7.02 ERA. During the regular season, Price had a 2.45 ERA and was two games shy of winning 20 games while being 13 games over .500. http://m.mlb.com/player/456034/david-price  

My current prediction for the World Series match-up is the Cubs against the Royals, giving the Royals a slight edge to win it all.

Sports Illustrated "Special Commemorative Issue, Golden State Warriors Splashdown!"; not really a must own for even the purest of Warriors fans, but it's an easy quick read with some neat basketball facts, so I gave it a three star read.

I learned from reading this issue of SI's commemorative issue, a cool phrase for Stephen Curry's clutch shooting abilities, 'The Curry Flurry.' The Curry Flurry was no joke, especially for the opposing teams. In the first round of last years NBA playoffs the New Orleans Pelicans had a 20 point lead in the final quarter of play and were poised to make it a 2-1 series that third game, but when the Warriors had to, their defense clamped down and Curry hit a nothing but net three pointer with less than three seconds in regulation to send the game into overtime.  Once the dust was settled, the Warriors won in overtime by four points to make it a 3-0 series lead.

Reading this magazine also show cased the similarities between last years championship team, and the 1975 Warriors team which also took home the championship title. 'Dishin and Swishin,' is what both the '75 club and last years team often did. In other words, no player was selfish and many times, Warriors players competed among themselves who would get the most assists per game, via the most points, hence, 'Dishin and Swishin.

Shooting guru, Rick Barry was perhaps the first of the Warriors to popularize 'Dishin and Swishin' for the Warriors. Barry is also fourth on the all time NBA free point shooting percentage list at 89.98 percent.  During the last practice of last years preseason, Curry made 77 consecutive free throws, finishing 94 for 100.

The Warriors were champions last year for a reason. The team played stellar defense and could win games without their stars performing particularly well. Bench player Andre Iguodala was the teams Most Valuable Player in the championship series win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Head coach Steve Kerr, whose dad was killed in 1984 while president of the American University of Beirut was just as important as the players on the court.

When the Warriors were down two games to one against the Memphis Grizzlies, Kerr made some starters second stringers and vise versa, and the Warriors whipped off three wins in a row to eliminate the Grizzlies. Facing the Eastern conference champion Cavaliers, the Cavs also took a 2-1 series lead. Kerr, benched star defensive starter Andrew Bogut for the remainder of the series and went with a smaller faster line-up which went 3-0 against King James and company, to win the championship series, four games to two.

I'm hoping for a Cubs World Series win this year and of course my Oak town Warriors to win back to back championships.

Instant Gratification and Bombastic Action; Not in "Sicario."

"Sicario" leaves much to ponder as to what is right or wrong; good and evil are sometimes one emotion, and killing even children in cold blood may be the right thing to do, or is it? The story-line in "Sicario," particularly the ending leaves it up to the viewer as to what should be done when it comes to killing or not killing.

Morally sound FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) is recruited by an off the wall government official, Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) to flush out one of the largest, if not the biggest cartel boss Fausto Alarcon. (Julio Cesar Cedillo). Graver's main counter part in seeking out Alarcon is the character Alejandro, brilliantly played by Benicio Del Toro. Is Alejandro simply a greedy hit-man working for whoever fattens his wallet the most or is his vengeance for Alarcon legit?

As many of us know, the Mexican cartel rakes in huge amounts of money via the drug trade. This movie points out that 20 percent of the population snorts cocaine and or speed. If nobody did drugs, the cartel business would be next to nothing as opposed to perhaps being the largest money maker in the world. Informing law enforcement about various cartel members could very well get you killed and or your loved ones and drug dealers who cut into the business of cartel members face the same fate; hence, nobody does drugs, senseless killings drop immensely.

This movie works because of the allure of big money. Vast cash and insane amounts of drugs can influence even the best of minds and corrupt even the most valiant men and women who work in law enforcement.

 The movie is a bit lengthy and slow to get to the point, but it's a highly recommended one time watch; I give it a solid three stars.

Engulfed in Ignorance Via the Media

I'm one of many basking in the oblivion of real knowledge and truth.

"The broadcasting industry now stands charged with having molested the minds of our nations children to serve the cause of corporate profit," 1970s Federal Communications Commission commissioner Nicholas Johnson said on the first CNN episode of  "The Seventies."

While big businesses across the universe rule the world without shame or guilt, the masses including myself have allowed ourselves to be weaved into the governments web of lies and corruption. The media, 90 percent of it is controlled by six companies according to the April, 2012 Huffington Post article; "These 10 Companies Control Enormous Number Of Consumer Brands." (updated Sept, 2014) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/consumer-brands-owned-ten-companies-graphic_n_1458812.html

Advertising goes hand in hand with media and entertainment. These are incredible tools for all governments and media CEO's to dominate our minds and take them off the real issues.  Middle Eastern sadists forcing very young girls to marry old men is one of too many examples of this. It's one way poor families survive in the Middle East, selling off their daughters to middle aged pedophiles.

"Girl, 8, Dies From Internal Injuries After Wedding Night in Yemen," a most disturbing article illustrating sheer evil. Her sadistic groom was 40-years-old.  http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/child-bride-dies-wedding-night-yemen-article-1.1450874

I want to see a potential presidential candidate talk about ending world hunger, drone bombing and strive for world peace, but that's just fantasy. Money is in death and destruction. Why do you think there are more than 50 wars currently going on in the world, there is too much big money to be had for the soulless one percent who dictate our lives.

Just read the book "Deadly Indifference: The Perfect (Political) Storm: Hurricane Katrina, the Bush White House, and Beyond," by Michael D. Brown and Ted Schwarz. I reviewed this book for the Dixie Sun in 2010 or 2011 and this novel illustrated the endless corruption in politics. A lot of our tax dollars for example go to hookers, cocaine and limos for too many senators and other world leaders.

"My first rule of thinking, I believe nothing the government says," George Carlin said.

Bask in The Laughter and Innocence of Children

2006, Merry Hill Preschool, 4-years-old and more socially adjusted then I'll ever be.

           Children

Innocent eyes breed love and laughter. They

harness wisdom and dispense imagination.

Youth’s unfiltered emotions dwell in the Adams

of eternity.

Izzy Schurr

Shroud anger

Children III

                                   Intrigued understanding radiating from their eyes.

                           Innocent poise blends subconscious non sense

                                    into realities moments. Coherent confusion weaves

      the fabric of our dreams and creates serenity.

Izzy Schurr

Sheer confidence

Children IV

Write state of mind. Young and kind. Eyes

wide open, hearts undefended, innocence

untarnished. Captured enlightenment escapes

 via their thoughts. The sheer virtue harnessed

in their souls is the resurrection of harmony.    

Izzy Schurr / Geddy Lee

Nonsense

Razzle dazzle, pies in the castle. Where is Ms.

Frazzle? Under da castle? Perhaps causing a

hassle? Why no, she’s eating sassle. What is

sassle? Sometimes it’s sweet, bright, and

light. Other times it’s sour, dark, and heavy.

Sassle is often like dark chocolate, and some

times it’s like white chocolate. It’s never like

hot chocolate. Mostly it’s Wokalit. Wokalit pie.

chocolate pie, sapple pie, apple pie. Scary pie,

cherry pie, pickle pie, chicken pot pie. Never eat

a mud pie like a Burf or a Wurf. Instead why not

surf. Perhaps walk with a Wurf.

Izzy Schurr

Once Upon A Time, I Wasn't a Complete Freak of Nature.

Still in debt from financial student aide, I'm about 30 units away from acquiring two college degrees; one in child development and the other in journalism.

The reality of the situation is that I'd need about 50 units of higher education to get the required 30 or so units of classes that count toward a degree. Psychology and history are the only two general education classes I've completed toward a degree.

I failed beginning writing in 2011, but my awesome professor gave me a C plus, which makes me eligible to take the next two English classes toward a degree. I've taken more than a 100 units in college, mostly child development and media classes.

Journalism was easy for me, but English, which I also flunked in high school my junior year and had to repeat my senior year has been difficult enough, and I'm even worse in math. By today's standards I'd put myself at a fourth grade math level, so that's about 12 or 14 math classes I'd need to complete just to take the one or two classes that count toward a degree, hence, I'm regretting not gone to college right out of high school.

Many moons ago, I often daydreamed of success, having a wife and kids, but those dead dreams have faded into a new pursuit of happiness. While my social ineptness has pulverized the chances of marriage and a relationship, one thing is clear, I love getting old. As my dad used to say, dying young is worse than getting old.

When I was young, I at least tried to date and work with children, and realized how pathetic I was at doing both, so currently, I have no regrets about not being married or having children. The few, and I emphasize few women I have gone out with, and even lived with two different ones during separate chapters in my life, I've concluded being alone is awesome.

Children making play dough when I taught preschool. 

I answer to no one, except work, and my lack of success has its depressing moments I admit, but having a pound of wisdom as opposed to an ounce of one, I embrace a steady job and income as opposed to killing myself or being homeless.

When all you needed to work with preschoolers was Early Childhood Education units and of course passing a background check, I got to work with children professionally for about six years. Four of those years where at the YWCA, A Children's Place. Working at a Children's Place was the best. For most of my time there I was living with Debby and her three children. Most of the parents really liked me, because I was quote unquote normal. Back then I was living with Debby, and practically a step father for her three children including Alondra who was in my group, the Brown Bears. The harsh reality and grieving details about Alondra, aka Ali bear are detailed in my Jan. 27, 2014 blog, "Farewell Ali..."

2001 staff at A Children's Place

On a cheery note, my life experience with Debby and her three children, especially her youngest Ali bear, taught me the wonderfulness of being alone. Had I gotten married and fathered children of my own, they would have been insatiable brats. Children don't listen to a word I have to say, at least if it's about something their supposed to do or not do. Because I was with Debby and worked as preschool teacher, I learned what a horrible dad I would have been, hence no regrets about being a sole entity now.  

"The Last Time I Saw Her," A Marvelous Mystery Romance or A Misery Romance?

The 47th book by New York Times and USA Today best selling author Karen Robards is exactly one month old tonight, and the third book of hers I've read and reviewed.

Robards penchant for originality shines once again in "The Last Time I saw Her." All of her books, the three I've read at least have the same romantic quest for ultimate love, both cerebrally and physically. Her books are also suspenseful while sagaciously illustrating the realities of the sheer evil in people, yet the infinite presence of the truly good folk persistently prevail.

"The Last Time I Saw Her" is a very unique love tale indeed. Dr. Charlotte Stone, aka Charlie works in a prison and studies the minds of vicious serial killers. One particular killer she interviews on a regular basis prided himself on raping and torturing young teen-aged girls before he killed them is just one of the five or six regulars she studies on a 9-5 basis.

Aside from her cheery job, Charlie, on her off time is trying to prove the innocence of convicted serial killer Michael Garland who was sent to prison for brutally raping and killing several women, six if I remember my reading accurately. Garland, although he was killed while incarcerated was once Charlie's tall, handsome buffed lover. Though Garland is dead, Charlie wants to prove his innocence, even thought she's not 100 percent sure of it, just her natural instincts feeding her emotional frenzy.

It may sound like I'm giving away the whole story, but you have no clue, unless of course you've read the book. The suspense starts to rev up when Charlie meets Rick Hughes, Garlands identical twin. The only way she knows it's not Garland on their first meeting is because Garland, her former lover is dead. The eye color is the only difference in looks between Garland and Hughes.

Convinced Hughes framed Garland and is now free chills her spine to put it mildly. The case is closed, Hughes isn't even a suspect in the eyes of the law, so life must go on. It also turns out Garland is a spirit in the afterlife whom Charlie can see and communicate with. Both yearning for each others touch and passionate love making, yet the physics of being a ghost make it impossible for tangible touch.

Tamsyn Green, a smoking hot 35-year-old woman is the daughter of a voodoo priestess, Charlie's friend and is the one link Charlie and Garland can use in sorting out life as they presently know it, and life in the realms of the outer world.

As the story progresses, Charlie and Garland manage to satisfy their lascivious desires for each other in the shower, and now Charlie has two main goals in her current life, help the police capture escaped serial killers who've got two teen aged girls captive and be with her soul mate for eternity. Want more details? Read the book.

Easily a four and half star read. I got this book exactly a month ago, but didn't start reading it till yesterday. It's a gripping page turner. One of the many reason I give this book such a high rating is the cool usage of French words and phrases. Lieu Du La Mort; The place of death.  

"Shiver," the first book of Robards, acquired at the local library, I read and reviewed in Feb. 2013, and her book "Hush" I read and reviewed on Aug. 4.

Bleacher Babble, Professional Football and Pro Baseball Jabber

What a difference a week makes, after last weeks debacle against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Oakland Raiders rebounded marvelously in Sundays dramatic 37-33 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Both Michael Crabtree and Alabama rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper shined in Sundays win, each amassing a TD pass and both getting more than a 100 yards on the day.  Quarterback Derek Carr was sloppy at times, but made plays when he had too, including a 68 TD strike to Cooper, and when the Raiders were down 33-30 with 30 seconds remaining, Carr threaded the needle with a bullet down the middle TD pass to WR Seth Roberts  for the winning score.

That's what you get with the Raiders for the last 12 or so years, a fantastic looking team or a pathetic team that would struggle against a third rate high school team. Despite only two games being played in this young NFL season, only eight teams out of 32 remain undefeated.

It's much to early to separate the contenders from the pretenders, but the 2-0 Arizona Cardinals are in the contender category for Super Bowl 50 as are the Denver Bronco's. The Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots are both 2-0 as are the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys will be without their number one quarterback Tony Romo and number one wide receiver Dez Bryant till at least week 10, ouch. http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/9/22/9364297/tony-romo-dez-bryant-injury-return-cowboys-brandon-weeden

A 150 or a 151 of the 162 regular season games have been played in this years Major League Baseball season and only one of the 30 baseball teams, the St. Louis Cardinals have clinched a playoff spot. Baring a colossal collapse by the Los Angeles Dodgers, last years World Series champions will miss this years playoffs. If the playoffs started today, the Chicago Cubs would be in the post season. The Cubs have not won a world series since 1908. http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/1908.shtml

Last years AL champions, the Kansas City Royals lead the American League Central division by three games.

The quest for the 111th World Series begins on Oct. 6. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/playoffs2015_schedule/2015-mlb-playoff-schedule  

I'd be happy with a Cubs New York Yankees World Series. The Yankees are in the drivers seat in the American League wild card chase, up by four games, and down by 2.5 to the American League East division leading Toronto Blue Jays after a dramatic 10 inning win tonight. Maybe a bay bridge series between east coast rivals, the New York Mets and Yankees. The Mets have a commanding 6 game lead in the National League East.