SHORT TAKES

SHORT TAKES

Before we return to the recurring theme of late hereabouts, let us meander to some other issues and entertainment. After all, being as it is Presidentsí Day (and we always remember to celebrate Millard, among others), how about some levity? And, of course, some Baseball, since that is where the news story of the day (and this holiday weekend) has been.

CURSING COUSINS?

Could it really be? Are those two Yale Brahmins running for President; Bush seeking his first win (as opposed to a second appointment as President) and Kerry, as Democratic nominee, be related?

Believe it or not (and it is somewhat of a PR stunt by a Hawaiian genealogy group), the research offered today says they are 16th cousins, three times removed. Related, kinfolk.

Of course, this may have some thinking that Skull & Bones may actually be an offshoot of some West Virginia private club, and only a specific, er, bloodline, will get one in.

A-ROD!

Boston Red Sox fans had their hearts broken on Valentineís Day. A-Rod goes to the Yankees. Bad enough Aaron Booneís shot to left knowcked them out of contention for the World Series, but now Aaron Booneís shot knee brings about the coming of A-Rod to the Yankees.

Yes, the same A-Rod the Red Sox couldnít complete a deal for, being penny-wise/pound-foolish when it was time to make the big deal. And donít shed any tears for Red Sox upper management . . . they could have done the deal. But they wimped out over the money at the last minute. It takes more than name-calling (remember, the ìevil empireî remark made by Larry Luchino last year when the Yanks won the bidding for Jose Contreras?), it takes the tenaciousness to make the move.

The curse lives.

It was humorous, ridiculous, and a little sad watching all the Red Sox fans on the various TV clips. They were bemoaning the A-Rod move, complaining over how the Yanks supposedly just buy all their good players. Hmm. How, exactly did Boston acquire Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, Johnny Damon, David Ortiz, Curt Schilling, and on and on . . . were they home grown? NO WAY! Bostonís very capable young GM, Theo Epstein, and his predecessors, made the deals to bring over the players.

Boston fans just canít do what the team needs: they canít shake the curse.

Note to Yankee fans: Brian Cashman (a man who just saw his stock raise in hige increments) still needs to repair this Yankee team. Superb offense is a wonderful thing. This Yankee line up may set all-time scoring records. But pitching wins pennants, pitching wins short series. Pitching wins the World Series. Cashman needs to pull off a momentous blockbuster move, acquiring one or more killer lefty arms for the rotation.

Could a return to pinstripes be in Ted Lillyís future? Will a three-way multi-team, interleague deal find a lefty or two in pinstripes? Obviously Cashman has the savvy it takes to do it. The question is this: are the other teams open to negotiation with the best run organization in the game?

DO THE NUMBERS

From my friend Mona-the-horse-whisperer (and baseball fan) in Florida comes this little math diversion.

"Phone Number Trick"

1) Punch the 1st three digits of your home phone #
into your calculator [without the area code].

2) Multiply by 80.

3) Add 1.

4) Multiply by 250.

5) Add the last four digits of your home phone #.

6) Add the last four digits of your home phone # again.

7) Subtract 250.

8) Divide by 2.





Recognize the number? Now, what crazy (genius?) person had the time to think of this?!?

Yep, it works. Or at least it did with my office, home, and cell numbers. Try yours.

Now that's a nice little diversion for Presidents' Day.