The Adventures of Charlie Champion

This past weekend, I grabbed a cold drink, turned on my portable radio to WFAN 660, to listen to some sports talk escapism, and settled into my favorite front porch easy chair with my copy of the Daily News.

I opened to the back of the paper, and began reading about my local teams, and all the world of sports fantasy.

Mike Lupicas comments are always a fun diversion, and one of the articles that I generally  look forward to reading.

I settld in and began skimming his article, when my escapist skimming was jarred back to a harsh reality.

Right in the middle of his discussion of sports, there were political zingers. nasty words about McCain, and Palin, and warm words of support towards Obama.

What is this about!! Does everyone have to be a polarized commentator on world and national Politics. I read the sports section to get away from the combative world of politics. If I wanted to read political opinions and radicalizes angry commentaries about the upcomming election, I would  choose another venue.

Lupica may be a talented sports writer, but how the heck does that qualify him as a political commentator, and why would I care about his political inflamatory comments

From now on I guess I should think twice before looking to relax with the Daily News sports section.

What a shame. Everyone is a know it all.

You know that old low class saying,  opioions are like a– holes, everyone has one,  but most people keep their A H’s to themselves.

Last week in a campaign speech, Senator Clinton compared herself to the only filly in the Kentucky Derby.

“Bet on the filly “She said. “Don’t sell the filly short.” The only female in the race.

I find it oddly disquieting, that the filly ,Eight Bells, came in second in the race, loosing to the big favorite, then she tragically broke 2 legs as she crossed  the finish line, and had to be put down.

A sad tragedy, an unfortunate coincidence, another bad “break” for Hillary.

I heard from a very unreliable gossip monger, that the shirt Gino dropped into the concrete at Yankee stadium a few weeks ago was a decoy.

 He released the photo’s to throw off track,  the Yankee loving hard hats who blew the whistle on the jersey curse .They saw him bury a Jersey. He made sure that they would look for the wrong jersey.

The Ortiz Jersey they dug up was a little league Junior Red Sox Jersey belonging to 11 year old Angel Ortiz, a shortstop for the Andover Sawx.

The Real Ortiz Red Sox Curse jersey is still safely burried……at the new Yankee Stadium

Charlie Champion for President

A write in Candidate

I just heard from an insider, in the know,  Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets  was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, 

How ironic, they get Kristic back at long last, he fits in and is beginning to improve the team, and now they trade their point  guard.

Well he is getting old for a professional basketball player,and the Nets will be moving into their new Brooklyn home, hopefully in 2 or 3 years, which would make him pushing 40, which is very old for the strenuous point guard position.

Maybe its time for  the Marcus Williams era  to begin

My appologies to the condescending, perfect New England Patriots.

I think that …whats his name…? Oh yes Brady something..Is that a first or last name?  Once was said to be  the World’s best Quarterback.

How sad to loose that title at such a tender young age.

Worlds best Quarterback?  At least for today……’Eli’s not comming he has arrived .The kid quarterback for the New York Giants , is just that, a magician and the team leader for today, tomorrow, and hopefully for the next decade.

Johanne Santana and Eli Manning in the same weekend. its great to be a long suffering New York sports fan…Cause when we win..its  sooooo sweet.

Just a word of joy on a very dreary cold and rainy Friday night. Johann Santana is officially a Met. 

Done DealNow we are officially a prime contender for the National League pennant, and one of the favorites to win the World series.

What a pitching  staff.  Santana and Pedro, arguably the best 1 -2 starters in the National League. Throw in last years 2 15 game winning youngsters, Oliver Perez and John Maine, and let the 5th starter come from El Duque and stud prospect Mike Pelfy, and the Mets rotation is loaded.

For a baseball fan, this is Hog Heaven.  Is it Spring yet?

I love it!!!!

As I told you earlier, I have switched to healthy cooking and eating. The reasons are a combination of weight control, and health, not necessarily in that order.

I am going to make a special dish for my son’s girlfriend, who happens to be a vegetarian. I call it Shepherds Pie sans meat. I’ve never tried this before, but I think I’ve got a great idea for something new ,tasty, and very healthy. Meatless Shepherds pie, that tastes like its made with meat.

I’ll outline the recipe later, and after the game, possible Monday, I will give you a taste of something new , and in honor of a Giants victory, hopefully Blue.

Right,  good question..Billions around the world will be partying, drinking , eating, and oh yes…Watching…What is it?  Oh yes, I think it’s a game…a football game… The Super Bowl!!! People World Wide, most of whom think of Football as something played with a round ball and  touched primarily with your feet, will use this event, as a mid winter excuse to PARTAY!!!(soccer , for you Ugly Americans, who think we invented the entire world, the rest of the World calls soccer, football…what do they know, soccer is soccer,  football is football)

However,If you live in the North East, especially in the Greater New York and New Jersey area, For the first time in a long time we actually have a rooting interest, in addition to a betting and eating motivation.

BigBlue, My Giants are in the SUPER BOWL…Let the dancing begin. 

O.K, so we have an excuse to drink and eat… 

Several years ago, I made a conscious decision to change my life style. I’m not old, but I am getting older, and the old “Burning the Candle on  both ends”, scenario, is a  down hill path to early departure from this world.

I still like living, it feels nice to breath and stuff, so I made some changes.

#1, I quit smoking. I used to smoke 2-3 packs  a day, for 30+ years, but  4 years ago, in December of 03, my 3 sons got together  and requested that my X-Mas/ Chanukah present to them for that season was I would quit smoking.

I thought about it for a day or two, then agreed. I spent the next 27 days preparing myself mentally and physically for the trauma of giving up the insidious habit.

On December 31, 2003 at 11: 59 P M , I lit up the last cigarette I would ever smoke. As the ball dropped on Times Square I puffed with gusto, which I then turned into disgust. I put out the nasty Cancer stick, put the remaining 1/2 pack of Kool Milds, in my desk drawer( I think they are still there) ,and that was my last cigarette…

I didn’t hurt, my withdrawal was easy, I didn’t care, and soon my chronic cough faded into oblivion.

Ask me another time how I did it. I might tell you, or maybe , as my accountant keeps pushing me, maybe, I’ll write a book about HOW I QUIT SMOKING..COLD TURKEY.. And prolonged my life. We’ll see.

#2. Food. I changed my eating habits. I now eat healthy, but very creative and very tasty. This was a necessary change,(see my age and health comments above) The one negative from the cessation of cigarettes, was that I put on maybe 15-20 pounds.

Being the vain, silly human, that I am, getting heavy was not an option.  So I consulted with my baby sister, a licensed nutritionist, and after getting her input, I evolved my diet, and subsequently lost those 17-18 pounds. I’ll let you in on some of those secrets in time, but today we are talking about Super Bowl Sunday.

I know there are momentous events happening in the world.

I know a very difficult and unsatisfactory primary season is unfolding, with dire consequences for the future of this country and the World, But,But,But…..

Today I woke up with a smile, and a world class diversion. My Metsies, the New York Mets, my #1 sports passion and biggest frustration( my appologies to the Knicks , Nets, and even the surprising Super Bowl bound Giants)

Today I woke up with a smile!!!  We got the best pitcher in the world!!! Johan Santana is a Met! Yay! My Summer is made.

Baseball is in my blood. It has been since I was a little boy, maybe 5 years old,I  remember running the streets of suburban Long Island yelling and screaming with joy,  Johnny Padres had just shut out the hated Yankees, ( I was a Brooklyn boy, of course) 2-0 in the 7th game of the World Series, to bring Brooklyn its first World title.

As a sports thrill, Johane Santana as a  Met, makes my day….

Reality can wait for a little while, this young boy still has baseball stars in his eyes. 

Midway through the first quarter, and the beautiful thing continues its exciting march…Eli is growing up right before our eyes.He actually exudes confidence, and I believe that he will lead us to the promised land!!!>>>> A passionate, rooting interest  makes an event like the Super Bowl so much sweeter.

More later  Hopefully this story will have a happy ending. 

Later:…………Happy Ending indeed..WE’RE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL…..YOU SEE…  I told you there was a G-d,

Eli has grown up.  Here’s a payback to the Patriots,  a special request from my friend T.O. and a gift from me to him… New England ends their season 17-1  and Eli keeps us in contention for the next 15 years… am I a Prophet or what .