Let's Go O's

I'd just like to start this second blog with a little quip I've heard a few times: great men realize when there is a need; true leaders recognize that need and fill it. The phone calls, the emails, and the posts have started rolling in; I'll let you, my closest followers, decide if I'm just a great man or a true leader. And one more thing. You're welcome, all of you, my loyal supporters. Really. You're all welcome, and I'll continue to do my best to serve you (as long as you keep on mailing me those checks).

A few years ago, on the website sta.cathedral.org/~eberman, a young man who called himself "Thunder Thighs" left some disturbing messages on the "town hall" section of the page. Those comments closely mirror the comments (or should we say graffiti?) left on this blog a few days ago. Let's take a look at those un-American, I-don't-support-the-troops words and see if they have any credibility.

From 1918-2003, Boston Red Sox fans claimed that their team was "cursed." I neither have the time nor the desire to rewrite the history of that sorry franchise, but I will mention one thing. Red Sox fans traced that curse back to the sale of Babe Ruth, that famous slugger, to the New York Yankees. The ghosts of baseball, Babe Ruth, or whoever, Red Sox supporters cried, cursed the Red Sox for doing something so very stupid.

But even a quick look at baseball history, any knowledge at all of Red Sox history, completely rejects such a simple interpretation of the past. Anyone who knows anything about baseball knows that the Red Sox were in danger of folding. The money the Yankees gave to the Red Sox for Babe Ruth kept that franchise afloat. There was no curse, ever, there was just a terribly managed franchise. So in four years they've won two championships. Impressive. In 85 years they've won that same amount. Not so impressive. In fact terrible. But not as terrible as the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs have not won a championship since 1908. Almost 100 years. They have a nice stadium, they had Harry Caray, and they...well I guess that's about it. So in 2007 they had a better record than the Orioles. 1908 says it all.

Thanks for checking in, Dsyntax. I hope all is well with you in Cali. I also hope I've clarified some things for you.

A Falling Tree

Matt Drudge offers links to breaking news; Arriana Huffington offers her opinion on pressing political matters of the moment; others are a lot smarter, funnier, and better writers than I (you don't have to believe it, but I have to say it). I don't know if anything I have to say is enough to generate a blog. So, if you're unsure about whether or not his posting has any value to you, if you're moving your cursor to that red "x" at the top of the page, itching to check out who won the Redskins; game (they probably lost) or Chad's latest profile change (oh my god! he's now "it's complicated") I'm fine with that. If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Who knows? (And really, who cares?) But you will certainly take comfort--or change that, maybe I will--in the fact that, if I write a blog and you don't read it, it will still be here.

So what can you expect from "Eli in Fairfield?", the new and exciting blog from Eli Berman? Well, I wouldn't expect too much. But if you'd like to stay in the loop about current issues in education, politics, sports, and (of course, last but not least) love, this blog just can't be missed. So tune in, log on, or do whatever young people are saying these days and check out this site. Oh, I almost a forgot. A message to Drudge and Huffington: Watch out. Berman's coming.