Does Major League Baseball start today?

Does Major League Baseball start today?

  guess I missed spring training. Now I get it...there was no spring training in Tucson. It just seems a bit odd to me. I bet some of my readers feel the same way. Oh well, on with the show. Maybe I'll turn on my Vizio and catch a game this morning. Let' play ball!

Hey, the Ducks are still playing...

Can you believe it the Oregon Ducks are still playing basketball?

The Ducks are in the championship game of a tourney in Eugene, Oregon called the CBI, which stands for College Basketball Invitational. The Ducks will in the rubber game of a three-game championship series on Friday against Creighton. Oregon evened the series with an 81-58 win last night.

Of course, our Arizona Wildcats bowed out of the "Big Dance" last week, following their Elite Eight loss to UConn, and the Washington State Cougars lost a couple of nights ago to Wichita State, after reaching the semi finals of the NIT (that tourney is a bit more familiar). Joevan Catron scored 18 for the Ducks last night. The Ducks will play their 39th game of the year on Friday! They are 20-18 on the season. Go Ducks, if you have any energy left!

Back on DL...again

I did it again!

Back on the DL, the disabled list...no more baseball for three months! A year and half ago I was taken down by a big fella in a play at third base, during the 2009 Mens Senior League Baseball (MSBL) World Series in Phoenix. The result some nerve damage to my right side. I recovered, bounced back and played in the 2010 MSBL World Series and have played regularly, for the most part, at Tucson Udall Park on the Tucson Oldtimers (TOTS) baseball club the past 18 months.

But another fall, this time trying to avoid a tag at third base at a TOTS game last week, has put me out of action. I now have a cane in my right hand, instead of a bat. Frustrating, is the word that comes to mind. I'll miss the game...and the guys at Udall Park.

Sometimes...you just can't risk it (it, as in playing baseball). And sometimes, you have just too much on your plate (play on words, there) like handling life away from the baseball diamond to take a chance on putting on a ball uniform and running from first to third.

They call third base a hot spot, it is more like a construction zone for me!

No Number 1 or Number 2 Seeds In NCAA Basketball Final Four!

I'm wondering if someone was crazy enough to have predicted this year's NCAA Final Four?

Where is this crazy person who would have penciled in 11th-seeded Virgina Commonwealth, 8th-seeded Butler, 4th-seeded Kentucky and 3rd-seeded UConn? It stands to reason millions of basketball fans may have one or two...Kentucky certainly would be a fan- favorite pick on a lot of brackets...UConn, too...and even Butler would have certainly been penciled in by many.

But all four! That's a heck of a guess. All number one seeds go down in the tournament and today VCU pulls off the shocker over Kansas -- the only numero uno left in the field and moments ago Kentucky takes down North Carolina -- the only number two seed left in the field. VCU might as well finish this crazy tournament, win seven games, and take it all.

About Liz...

Elizabeth Taylor passed away last week.

When you're a movie buff like me, well you just can't forget her beauty and her movies from National Velvet to Cleopatra...from Butterfield 8 to Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf, but the one that sticks with me the most is The Giant, Edna Ferber's novel which was made into a 1956 award-winning movie with a cast I'll never forget. Rock Hudson, James Dean, Dennis Hopper, Mercedes McCambridge, Chill Wills...and the list goes on with another handful of character actors involved in the epic film about a Texas cattle baron (played by Hudson), who falls in love with a beautiful lady (Taylor) from Maryland, gets hitched, and moves her West.

The new bride steps off the train and enters a new life on the Benedict Family spread, called Reata, complete with a ranch house full of characters like Jett Rink (Dean) and Luz Benedict,the sister, played by McCambridge. Bick Benedict (Hudson) ends up with a keg of worms, so to speak, corralling all of the above characters (and a few more) into a family unit.

Elizabeth Taylor, a movie star, one of my favorite actresses of all time, dead at the age of 79.

The Pitchers!

Okay, I can't resist. See my previous post about the 2011 Arizona Diamondbacks. Let's throw out the names: J.J. Putz...our closer, and the starters...the probable starters, I must add: J. Saunders, D. Hudson, I. Kennedy, B. Enright, A. Galarraga and A. Heilman.

That's enough for now. So, let's pull back the curtain to the 2011 MLB season and head (surprisingly, how many times does the D'backs play these guys this year?) for Denver and opening day Friday afternoon with the Colorado Rockies.

My prediction: Kennedy gets the nod, throws a shutout for eight innings, and gives the ball up in the ninth to one of our many relievers in the bullpen. Kennedy walks off the mound with a 4-0 lead and the Diamondbacks' reliever (I'll leave that prediction alone) comes in and allow three runs. Mr. Drew makes a game-saving, diving catch with the bases loaded and the Arizona Diamondbacks win their opener, 4-3.

Wow! I have had way too much coffee this morning.

What does Mr. Gibson have to work with?

Nady...Young...and Upton in the outfield. Miranda, Johnson, Drew and Mora around the horn. Montero behind the plate. Pitchers? Let's don't go there yet.

Are these the 2011 Arizona Diamondbacks whom will carry us to the promised land. Opening day is just around the corner. How about this for a starting lineup: Kirk Gibson, Don Baylor, Charles Nagy, Eric Young, Matt Williams, Alan Trammell, Glenn Sherlock, Jeff Motuzas and Wilson Valera. Oops! That's the manager and the coaches!

All kidding aside, good luck Diamondbacks. I'm behind you 100 percent.

The BUTLER did it...

The BUTLER did it.

My Cats couldn't quite pull it off. So, I'm jumping on VCU's bandwagon to pull off the upset over Kansas today. While I'm at it, I wouldn't mind seeing the Tar Heels from North Carolina lose to Kentucky. I love to root for the underdog.

By the way, I have no choice but to stay in bed and watch the NCAA tournament today. Walked around with a cane all day yesterday. Not sure if I'm nursing a hip pointer or just a muscle strain...or spasm. I'll know more tomorrow. Go Cats...oops...I forgot...the Cats are done.

Man, it's been fun cheering for the Cats, during March Madness. One thing I'd like to see from the crews of ESPN and CBS today is a little respect and some good remarks about Arizona basketball. The Wildcats deserve it. Come on VCU win today and mess up the BRACKETS! An 11 seed in the final...now that would be a real shocker. It's the morning after and my Wildcats are no longer on the prowl. It is time to grab my cane, go outside and pick up the Sunday paper. This is one morning I'm not in any hurry to read the headline on the sports page.

Williams logs 26 minutes...not enough time to derail UConn

The Arizona Wildcats season is over.

Their season ends in Anaheim today as the UConn Huskies win 65-63. UConn heads for Houston and the NCAA Final Four, while the Wildcats head back to Tucson. Derrick Williams plays just 26 minutes and scores 20 points. The Huskies figured out a way to keep Williams on the bench for 14 minutes. Too much time on the pine for the Pac-10 Player of the Year.

Still, the Huskies had to hold their collective breath as the final seconds ticked away. Williams three-point try, with just eight seconds left, bounced off the rim and eventually ended up in the hands of senior Jamelle Horne, who put up the final shot of the year for the Wildcats. Horne's shot was off the mark, the buzzer sounded, and the Wildcats' trip to the Big Dance was over. It was a great season.

Hats off to Sean Miller and all the players for a 30-win season and a Pac-10 title...and for making it to the doorstep of the Final Four.

Could it be a hip pointer?

My goodness, I'm just trying to get back into the swing of things on the baseball diamond, after a six-week layoff from the sport due to family matters, and what happens four games into my return? I try to out run the third baseman and stay clear of a force out, slip, fall, bang up my knees, but more importantly, it looks like I now have the symptoms of a hip pointer.

I hope it is just a muscle strain and it goes away in a couple of days. People in the know about such things say a hip pointer injury is a deep bruise caused by impact or trauma to your hip, or technically to the Iliac Crest of your pelvis. Hip pointer pain can be intense, because the hip is so close to the surface of the body. Not a good time for this! I still have the family matters to contend with and I have 35 middle school girls ready for their first official softball practice on Monday. The person that told me once, that life in the mid sixties was going to be easy, must have been kidding me!

Arizona Wildcats find the "Zone" and crush the Blue Devils

If you're an Arizona basketball fan, chances are you will be up for a while tonight, after watching your Wildcats not just beat...but crush the Duke Blue Devils, 93-77, at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Chances are you'll have a tough time going to sleep...and why wouldn't you? You just witnessed the greatest game in the history of Arizona basketball. Well, maybe I shouldn't go quite that far. There was this game back in 1997 that comes to mind, but let me just say, what I saw in 40 minutes of basketball tonight, was truly remarkable.

The fact the Wildcats rolled over the defending national champions was one thing, but how they did it, is another story. First of all, Derrick Williams puts on a show in the first half of the Sweet Sixteen matchup by scoring 25 of Arizona's 38 points and single handily kept his team in the game as Duke clings to a six-point lead at the break. Then, in the second half, Williams and his teammates find a "zone" and outscore the Blue Devils 55-33 and amazingly walk away with a 16-point win that is still being dissected by the sports announcers on the East Coast.

They're probably saying, at this point: Who are those guys?

Well, come to attention you biased hound dogs. The guy doing the dunking is Derrick Williams, the Pac-10 Player of the Year. And then there's that little guard MoMo Jones, who hails from up your way. Those other guys who are running up and down the court and taking the air out of the Blue Devils are: Solomon Hill, Kevin Parrom, Jamelle Horne, Kyle Fogg, Jesse Perry, Brendon Lavender, Jordin Mayes and a big fella named Kyryl Natyazhko.

And now it is on to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for the Arizona Wildcats. At 30 wins and seven losses, don't you think it is about time you give the Wildcats some respect? Charles Barkley tried his best to clue you eastern boys in at the halfway point of the game.

And now you know the rest of the story.

Give it up to Washington State and Oregon

I know the big dance continues today in the NCAA Tournament with our own Arizona Wildcats and some team from the eastern part of the country named Duke, but give it up this morning to the two Pac-10 teams, Washington State and the Oregon Ducks.

The Cougars knocked off Northwestern last night, 69-66,  to reach the semi finals in the NIT, scheduled for Tuesday at the Madison Square Garden. They will face a quality opponent in Wichita State. The Oregon Ducks have reached the finals in the CBI Tournament, after their 79-71 win over Boise State and will begin a three-game series next week to decide the CBI title as they go up against Creighton. And as an added thought, maybe USC isn't so bad after all, despite its loss in the NCAA play-in game against VCU. Look what VCU has done thus far in the NCAA tourney. VCU's toughest game was against the Trojans as they have roughed up two other teams enroute to the Sweet Sixteen.

But let's get back to our beloved Wildcats. By my watch this morning, it looks to be about 14 hours from tip off. By that time, maybe UConn will be history and Fisher and his Aztecs will be sitting in the Honda Center, cheering on the Arizona Wildcats.

Coaching Middle School Softball... 2011

It's hard to believe that the second year of my middle school softball program is just around the corner. When Monday afternoon rolls around it'll be time for my first official practice for the 2011 season. The season goes by quickly. Six regular season games and a one-day tournament in mid May...and that's it. This year will be special as the girls will be playing on a new field. The field is taking shape as of this writing and the clay was spread over the diamond yesterday afternoon.

It looks like I'll have a good group of girls again this season with 16 returnees and a total of 35 players. As I did last year, I'll post the scores and keep you informed of our progress throughout the season, and, once again, I may have a story to tell, or two, about the girls, but will not mention them by name for privacy purposes.

Last year, we finished with an 8-3 record, including a third-place finish in the season-ending tournament. It is fun to watch the girls' progression from one year to the next. Some of the girls come with credentials and are already playing club ball, while others are new to the game and will need a lot of instruction on the basics.

I've already conducted a handful of informal practices -- mainly just some fielding, throwing and a little batting practice. Of course, wouldn't you know it, the Coach took one in the chops on Tuesday. I was throwing batting practice from about 30 feet. Too close! A nice little cut or two, inside and outside the lower lip. It's all better now. Maybe I should reconsider throwing from 30 feet and move back a little. In middle school softball the spacing between the rubber and home plate is 38 feet. The pitchers get a break in middle school. In high school, 43 feet is customary. And that was just changed recently. For many years, 40 feet was the pitching distance. Of course, I'm an infielder, so I have to cheat a bit to get some speed on the ball. It cost me a fat lip.

Another heart-stopping win for the Wildcats!

My goodness, is every game going to be this way?

Bring out another bottle of my heart medicine and let's head for Anaheim! The Arizona Wildcats escape Tulsa today with a heart-stopping 70-69 win over Texas to advance to the Sweet Sixteen and an NCAA showdown game with the Duke Blue Devils. Forget the turnovers, the missed free throws...we won! Beat the Longhorns! Pick up win number 29 on the year!

Instead of wondering how the heck we did it, let's savor the fact Jordin Mayes and Brendon Lavender combined for 24 points off the bench -- including an unbelievable 6 of 6 from three-point land. Let's savor the fact that Solomon Hill scored another 16 to add to the Wildcats' win and let's again savor the play of Derrick Williams...his 17 points and the game-saving three point play at the end! Come on Duke, it is time for you to travel 3,000 miles for a change, come to our backyard, and take a seat alongside some crazy Wildcat fans.

Go Wildcats!

Hats off to the Pac-10 teams

Tip your Arizona, Washington and UCLA hat...or visor, or beanies to the three Pac-10 teams, which survived hard-fought games to reach the field of 32 in the NCAA Basketball tournament.

Arizona's 77-75 over Memphis was just as difficult as UCLA's 78-76 thriller over Michigan State and Washington's nail-biter over Georgia, 68-65. The Wildcats, the Bruins and the Huskies survive! Take a deep breath. There's another round just around the corner...and what a tough round it will be. UCLA and Florida today. Washington and North Carolina on Sunday, followed by our own Arizona Wildcats and the Texas Longhorns.

Derrick Stands Tall In Tulsa

Another last-second block by Pac-10 Player of the Year Derrick Williams allows Arizona to escape with a second-round 77-75 win over the Memphis Tigers in Tulsa today as the Wildcats move on to face Texas Sunday in the third-round of the 2011 NCAA Basketball Tournament.

The Wildcats and the Longhorns will be two of the 32 surviving teams as "The Road to the Final Four" continues. Both the Wildcats and the Tigers left it all on the court today. All the players should be en route to the spa for a little down time in Tulsa tonight...add to that, the referees involved in today's contest. The men in stripes should be ready for a little relaxation, too. Their arms must be tired as well after calling 45 fouls in 40 minutes. Bottom line: Arizona beats Memphis as Mr. Williams leads the way with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and one remarkable game-saving block. Arizona guard MoMo Jones chips in 18 points, despite being under plenty of pressure from the relentless Tigers' defense, and the Wildcats come away with their 28th win of the season.

And now, the Wildcats prepare for the 4th-seeded Longhorns, another 28-game winner. Texas advanced today with a win over the Oakland Grizzlies, a 13 seed out of Oakland, Michigan. As it turns out, the Longhorns and the Wildcats had their hands full today. Come on Wildcats, let's get to the Sweet 16!

Does time fly, or what?

Does time fly, or what?

I'm talking strictly about college basketball in general and the NCAA Tournament in particular. It just seems like yesterday when the Arizona Wildcats won the the NCAA title with Lute Olson, Miles Simon and Company...and a little kid down at the end of the bench named Josh Pastner.

But it was 1997 -- 14 years ago, right? And here we are, March Madness, 2011. I was 51 in '97...I'm now 65 and soon to be 66. If my old brain is working right, that means the two coaches facing off in the first round (make that second round, the heck with those play in games) in Tulsa, Oklahoma include Arizona's Sean Miller and the young coach of Memphis, Mr. Pastner. Combined ages 75!

Miller's the old guy at 42 and Pastner 33. It just wasn't that long ago when we were stomping our feet and yelling loudly at McKale Center for Coach Olson to insert Pastner for some last-minute cleanup and maybe just one long-range 3-point attempt from the kid who rarely plays.

Fast forward to Selection Sunday, March 13, 2011, and what do we see on the TV screen: A West Region selection of Arizona, a 5-seed, locking horns with 12-seeded Memphis. Pardon me, the locking of the horns will be the Wildcats' second victim (after we dispatch the Tigers, the Texas Longhorns will be next). But getting back to the first round ( I mean the second), what a story: the Memphis Tigers and Josh Pastner and our own Arizona Wildcats and Sean Miller.

But make no mistake, all the story lines will be out the window when the two teams hit the court Friday in Tulsa. It'll be up to Derrick Williams and Company, on the hardwood, for 40 minutes.

Go get 'em Wildcats!

Arizona gets Memphis and Josh Pastner

NCAA March Madness Watch: It'll be the Arizona Wildcats vs the Memphis Tigers Friday in Tulsa. Arizona captures the No.5 seed in the West Region, while Pastner's crew garners a 12 seed.

What a story!

Where do the Wildcats go?

Where do the Arizona Wildcats go?

And will the Arizona fans get a chance to even think about Houston, Texas and Reliant Stadium, the site of this year's NCAA Final Four?

Well, as an Arizona fan and an old guy who still remembers some of the lyrics from country singer Glen Campbell's Houston (I'm comin' to see you), let's hope the country crooner from True Grit 1 fame has it right and was thinking of the Wildcats 37 years ago when his song reached millions over the ole radio.

But, first things first. Today at 3 p.m. we find out where the Wildcats are going for Round 1. I'm guessing Chicago and a visit to the Oprah Show, or maybe we'll head for the mile-high city in Denver, Colorado.

There's one thing for sure: we are going to the NCAA Tournament and we carry a 27-7 record and a Pac-10 regular season title with us...and with a team that has a chance to jell at just the right time and do some damage in this year's tourney. For goodness sake, let's make our free throws, make crisp passes and battle til it's over.

 he Wildcats are going to get their shot. Hats off to Sean Miller for that. And, thank you Derrick, MoMo, Solo, Kyle, Kevin, Mr. Horne...and the rest of the Wildcats for getting us to Selection Sunday and a March 13th...afternoon of fun.

Go 'Cats!

Rim not kind to Wildcats at Staples Center

The Arizona Wildcats weren't perfect at the line at the Staples Center tonight. Instead, they hit just fifty percent of their tosses -- 20 of 30. Too many misses.

 f the Wildcats had canned all of their offerings from the charity stripe, the outcome of the Pac-10 Tournament finale would have been different. Instead, the Washington Huskies escape with the title on a last second shot by Isaiah Thomas and come away with a 77-75 overtime win.

The rim was not kind to the Wildcats tonight. Instead of nothing but net, it was clang, clang and clang. Even the long missed shots by the Huskies would somehow bounce off the rim and fall right back into their hands. As it turns out, there is a tomorrow for both teams as the Wildcats and the Huskies head for the NCAA Tournament. Let's see how the ball bounces next week. Hats off to Derrick Williams for another fine performance of 24 points and 11 rebounds. And give it up to Thomas. It was nothing but net!

Wildcats one win away from Pac-10 tourney title

It just gets better and better.

Arizona 67, USC 62 and Kevin O'Neill zero.

The Wildcats move to 27-6 after its win over the Trojans at Staples Center last night. And now it is on to the Washington Huskies today at 4 p.m. on national TV for the Pac-10 Tournament title. Let's hope Arizona's Derrick Williams, the Pac-10 Player of the Year, scores, blocks and rebounds for forty minutes and shows the country why the Arizona Wildcats should be a three-seed for next week's NCAA tourney.

 I'm proud of the 'Cats. Go get 'em!

It'll be Arizona vs. USC tomorrow...

Derrick Williams scores 22 points, including five of six buckets from three-point land and the Arizona Wildcats move on to the semi finals tomorrow night against the USC Trojans, after a sluggish 78-69 quarterfinal win over the Oregon State Beavers at the Pac-10 tourney in LA this afternoon.

The Wildcats, with 26 wins on the season and just six losses, would love to make it 28-6, grab the Pac-10 tourney title and head for the NCAA tournament and March Madness with plenty of momentum. But Sean Miller said, following today's game, that the Wildcats need to play better tomorrow, or they'll be out of the tournament. Miller wasn't all that pleased with the overall play of the Wildcats today. Come on 'Cats let's come out firing on all cylinders tomorrow. Let's dump the Trojans and reach the Pac-10 tourney title game.
 Go Wildcats!

Check out the TOTS...

If you're interested in reading more about the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) go to the top left hand corner on the home page of my blog, Bookemdanosports, and insert the word: TOTS, and hit search...and read to your heart's content about the 60-and-over baseball team that continues to plays the sport for the love of the game.

Some pixs from the TOTS, the oldest organized baseball team in the country

Check out these pictures from some old time ball players who can still play for the love of the game:

Picture 1: Just some of the 40+ members of the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball team, taken at Tucson Udall Park - home of the TOTS. Picture 2 Jerry Hamelin. Picture 3 Jerry Smarik. Picture 4 Danny Price. Picture 5 Clarence Fieber. Picture  6 Chico Bigham. Picture 7 Brad Tolson. Picture 8 Bob Katz.

The "Old Coach" is ready for another softball season

It's that time again.

The University of Arizona softball team has played 21 games already. So, that means it is about time for my middle school girls to hit the practice field. In fact, I'll meet my new team, and the parents, on Wednesday, and will follow up with a hand full of informal practices in the next two weeks as I prepare for my second year of the middle school softball program.

Last year, the girls surprised me right from the start as we took it to our opponents and finished with an 8-3 record -- and a third-place trophy at the season-ending tourney. I've lost a few girls through graduation, but I have a hand full of returnees and some newbies with a few years of experience under their belt. So, it should be interesting...and fun. We had close to 50 girls in the program last season and I expect a similar turnout this year. Of course, I'll be looking for pitchers right off the bat. Can't go far with out some flame throwers! This old coach is nearing the age of 66. I hope I don't show my age this season.

I'll try my best to keep up. Batter up!

A good day for the 'Cats

The Associated Press moved the Arizona Wildcats from 18th to 16th in the latest collegiate basketball poll, which was released earlier today and four hours ago it was announced the 'Cats high-scoring sophomore forward Derrick Williams has been selected the PAC-10's Player of the Year.

Williams and the Wildcats head for LA tomorrow and prepare for Thursday's clash with the winner of Wednesday's PAC-10 Tournament opener between Oregon State and Stanford.

Go 'Cats!

Arizona Pac-10 Champions!

The Arizona Wildcats won their first Pac-10 title since 2005 with a 90-82 win over Oregon at McKale Center this afternoon. Wildcats go undefeated at home this year -- a perfect 17-0. Wildcats head for Pac-10 tourney next week with a 25-6 overall record and a 14-4 finish in the conference.

Congrats to the Wildcats!

High Noon!

Gary Cooper had his hands full in the 1952 Western, High Noon. I was seven years old when the film hit the theaters. What a cast: Lloyd Bridges, Grace Kelly, Katy Jurado, Thomas Mitchell...and Cooper ( you young folk out there, probably don't recognize any of those names, but us old timers do).

At any rate, after a cup of coffee this morning, I find myself comparing Cooper's signature movie with the University of Arizona basketball game at McKale today at "High Noon".

Now, there isn't much to compare. Cooper's character, Marshal Will Kane, goes up against the bad guys without the support of the town of Hadleyville. That scenario won't happen today as a full-house crowd at McKale Center and an entire town of Tucson sports fans will forget their lunch hour and get behind their beloved Wildcats.

As I write this, the hit song from the movie, 'Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin', rambles through my head. The song: sung by Tex Ritter (and as an added note for young people out there, Tex was the father of John Ritter of the TV show Three's Company). So, come on "Cats...don't forsake me. Let's crush the Oregon Ducks at high noon, walk out of McKale, and enjoy the afternoon sun in the Old Pueblo.

Home cookin' gets the Wildcats the Pac-10 lead

In the Stands Report by Bookemdano: There's nothing like home cooking!

Back at McKale Center, the Arizona Wildcats get it done tonight with a 70-59 win over the visiting Beavers from Oregon State to take over sole possession of first place in the Pac-10 with just one game remaining -- a Saturday afternoon contest at McKale with the Oregon Ducks.

A top seed for the Pac-10 Tournament awaits the Wildcats, thanks, in part, to the Washington Huskies win tonight on their home court over visiting UCLA,70-63. The Wildcats improve to 24-6 overall and 13-4 in the Pac-10, while the Bruins fall to 21-9 overall and 12-5 in the conference race. MoMo Jones cans 17 points and Derrick Williams scores 15 and hauls in 12 rebounds to lead the 18th-ranked Wildcats to victory tonight.

How sweet it is. Now, let's finish up with a win over the Ducks and head for the Pac-10 tourney with some attitude. Go Wildcats!

This spring training thing...or lack of, is getting to me

I can't speak for all my readers, but I know for a fact many of them feel the same way I do about this spring training thing...or, should I say, lack of. And now after three cups of coffee this morning and a glance through the local paper, I'm steaming!

I like a good soccer matchup, don't get me wrong, in fact, I have a good friend who coaches the top prep boys' team in the state of Arizona...and man can his players play the game. So, this soccer tournament to be played at Hi Corbett Field in the coming weeks may turn out to be a good sporting event and worth the admission fee to attend. But I can't help feeling a little sick after I read about all the changes to the turf and the grounds at Hi Corbett to change the face of the Tucson spring training complex from baseball to soccer.

Us old timers remember the days of the Cleveland Indians as they strutted their stuff every spring, during the 1950s and 1960s at Hi Corbett. The Colorado Rockies in recent years, throw in the ole Tucson Toros from yesteryear, the movie "Major League" with hard-throwing Charlie Sheen (is that the same fella that's currently in the news...sounds like he's lost more than his fastball), and the list goes on with even more historic events at the beautiful baseball field, located near what we, the locals, refer to the area as Randolph Park.

Followed, of course, in more modern times by the Diamondbacks and the White Sox at the field on the southside of Tucson, known as TEP. Why? Why did we let spring training get away? I guess the number one culprit is money, but my goodness what a loss. A young whippersnapper, who loves baseball, may not take it so hard, but us old timers who remember Herb Score, Rocky Colavito, Duke Snider, Mickey Mantle and thousands more who have donned a uniform and participated in a game at Hi Corbett and TEP, will, and do, feel that twinge in the heart strings.

In the baseball movie, The Rookie", one of my favorite lines from the flick was in the very end when the great character actor Brian Cox, who played the father of Jimmy Morris (Dennis Quaid) in the film, said to his son, following Jimmy's first relief appearance in the Majors, "I guess I let a lot of those things get away...and I wasn't gonna miss this one."

 We certainly let spring training get away from Tucson. Shame on the powers to be that let that happen.