ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

There are some . . . like my long-time-ago colleague Tim . . . who say "I can't watch baseball . . it's too slow."

I could say I follow my team because I'm older and slower now.  But I don't think that's true since I've been following Major League Baseball since I was around six years old.  (And that's a long time ago!)  At any rate, last night was exciting to me as my Arizona Diamondbacks beat the reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants to clinch the National League West Division title for 2011.

I watched the game on television and then what seemed like close to an hour of the team celebrating on the field, in the locker room, back on the field and finally into a group jump into the swimming pool beyond the outfield.  It brought to my mind the fact that these guys are all just boys playing a game.  Sure there are million dollar salaries among them but when a big victory comes they all act like kids.  And it's fun to see.

So, they've reached one plateau.  Next are the playoffs and if they survive them it's on to the World Series.  Only a week or so ago the team celebrated the 10th year anniversary of their biggest win as a team so far.

Could they repeat this year?  Their great manager, Kirk Gibson, didn't predict that last night but he did have a great quote: "We're a damn good team!"  Well said, Kirk.  Here's hoping.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

FEMALE JOCKEYS

I have a long time friend from my days in broadcasting who has gone on to a successful career in video production in (Hooray for..) Hollywood.  Her name is Linda Ellman.  I got an email from her today asking that I take a look at a new project she's got underway.  I'm going to print her email here and ask you to take a look at her project.  If you can, give her some financial support.  If not, just enjoy.  Here's her e-mail with a link to a video.

Hey,


I wanted to bring you up to date on JOCK, my "League of Their Own" documentary about the pioneer female jockeys who fought for the right to ride, 40 years ago. We've got a great beginning and a great ending for the film--centered around the first ever 'Lady Legend's Race' shot last year at Pimlico. -- Now we're traveling cross country shooting the historical interviews for the middle.


Either we need to interest a network in buying a one-off or in order to complete shooting, we need to raise money. I am hoping you can help us spread the word... We have launched a Kickstarter campaign. If you haven't heard of Kickstarter, here's how it works. Click on this link and watch the NEW VIDEO that explains the film.


JOCK VIDEO


Then make a pledge. Any amount helps. It's all or nothing. If we don't reach our goal, you're not charged. If we do, we can keep filming.


The right side of the Kickstarter page shows the pledge amounts and REWARDS. Wait...rewards, yes! Lots of cool gifts.


One of the film's friends sent an email to everybody in her contacts challenging them to match her pledge... The results were great! She raised more than $1,000 in one night. If 30 people would do that...we'd reach our goal.


This is going to be a great film about women and horse racing. Anything you can do to share this request with friends, family, co-workers--anybody in the horse world would be greatly appreciated.


Best,


~Linda


Linda Ellman
President
Ellman Entertainment
1040 N. Las Palmas Ave. Bldg 26
Hollywood, Ca. 90038

Phone: 323 860-8500


www.ellmanentertainment.com

HAVE A SEAT

The BRD took us and her Beau Jack to lunch yesterday at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, Casa Bonita.  The food is good but I think the highlight of any trip there is viewing the chairs.  They come from Guadalajara, where we used to live, and are carved and colorfully painted.

EGGS 'N' SAUSAGE 'N' . . .

Sunday morning weirdness from a master of it.



Now if that's not enough, take a look at Waits' press conference hyping his Glitter and Doom tour.  (Watch it to the end for the joke.)



Now for something a little different, one of my favorite songs from the man who wrote it, performed at a tribute to the late Johnny Cash.

I WONDER . . .

. . . if there's a vaccine for ignorance.

IN OTHER WORDS . . .

Am I appreciated?  Does anyone care?  Well do they?  Witness this message in an e-mail from my old buddy, Tom, who hosts Light Breezes from over in Cal-eye-for-nee-yay.

Post something. A day without Odball Observations is like a day without Anita Bryant---no, no, like a day without either sunshine or orange juice...probably sunshine since I rarely drink oj unless it has been fortified.


how do I know the eastern perimeter of cyber west is ok if I don't see it on OO?

So, taking old Tom's urging to heart, here I am.  What have I been thinking about lately?



Actually I haven't been thinking about that all that much but I do like the song.

It's been very rainy here this week with thundershowers nearly every day.  It sort of takes me back to when I lived in Phoenix.  After about two cloudy, rainy days in a row I'd be grumbling "doesn't the sun ever shine around here?"

(You may not want to read the next part if you're a conservative Republican.  Fair warning.)

I've been contemplating the wackiness going on in the Republican party this year.  Wide-eyed Michelle Bachman, feisty Rick Perry, the man with the weird ideas Ron Paul, a pizza man (?) Herman Cain, and the formerly perennial favorite that no one seems to like anymore Mitt Romney.  I mean, lord have mercy, what a crew!  Actually I guess I was unfair to Ron Paul.  They ALL seem to have a lot of crackpot ideas.  Jon Huntsman had seemed to be the most reasonable of the bunch up until that wild-ass Tea Party debate the other night when he said Perry's statements that Social Security might be unconstitutional sounded like treason to him.  Sheesh!  It's hard to figure out where to begin analyzing this crowd.  Analysis!  Maybe that's what they all need. 

Well, nuff said.  I'll bet even old Tom will start asking me to shut up again!