MLB Free Agents

Next year will be an exciting time for baseball fans as so many trades have been going on this off-season. Over two hundred major league players are listing as free agents. Just looking at this long list of players, so many great players are available to be pciked up as a pitcher Rich Harden, slugger Matt Holliday, and catcher Victor Martinez and so many others. As teams try their best to create a dominant pitching as well as batting line-up, don’t be surprised to see more of the lower rated teams to come on top this year. With so many players to choose from, teams will scout players to see who will best fit in the team chemistry.

Over the span of nearly a week, over a dozen players have already found themselves in a new ball park. For instance, the pick up of curtis granderson by the Yankees or Chone Figgins to the Seattle Mariners. As board is looking at the long list of free agents, I expect their christmas shopping to continue as some teams such as the Nationals need some serious rebuilding in their baseball team. Aside from free agents, teams are also talking amongst one another as they try to open up salary cap as that’s what occured in the trade between the Atalnta Braves and the Tampa Bay Rays. Inexchange for Soriano, the Braves will recieve right handed pitcher Jesse Chavez. As I wait patiently for the Dodgers to make a move after losing a handful of players such as Padilla and Wolfe, i can only hope that Ned Colleti the general manager of the Dodgers as his staff are looking out for future starting pitchers. With so many pitchers gone, the Dodgers desperately need pitchingas that i beleive is the final piece to a championship calliber team. Lets hope the Dodger Blue can acquire the pieces thay need to become reigned World Series Champs.

Black Friday

While everyone is anxious on eating that delicious turkey and mashed potatoe with gravy, you know everyone is thinking about Black Friday. Black Friday is that day after Thanksgiving Thursday where stores such as best buy, walmart and target have ridiculous sales such as 20-50 percent off. Despite the economy not wher it used to be, many stores are trying to keep profits up by extending hours this friday. Places such as Walmart are open 24 hours on thursday and friday as profits were off the charts last year by the number of customers that came in attendance. Other stores such as bestbuy have campers waiting outside the store just to get hands on the new technology. Its ideal that many consumers haven’t been spending as much due to the crisis but on friday, many will put that behind and go on an all out shopping spree. While parents will be looking at the great deals on clothes and home appliances, kids will be locked in on the games consoles and accesories. 50 inch plasma televsion going for as low as 600 hundred and tom tom GPS going for as low as 60 dollards, its practically a steal. If only deals like these happened everyday but they don’t so its definetely gonna be packed in those deaprtment stores. Everyone is gonna be headed to the stores on that day so its best to leave your houses early as supplies are only limited.

Parting ways of respected coaches

This week was disappointing time in college football as two highly respected college football coaches will not return to their schools as next season rolls around. One coach is Charlie Weis of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Prior to being a head coach of Notre Dame, he gotten a lot of experience after being on the side of other respected head coaches such as Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick. Lots of knowlegde Weis had recieved as he was taken under their wings by these two head coaches. He was an offensive coordinator for the Patriots at the time where they won 3 Superbowl victories. Applying the knowledge he taken in, he applied it to his work ethics at Notre Dame. His first two years as head coach he did great as he turned the tables around but after that 2007 season, it all went down hill. Losing their last 4 straight games, Notre Dame decided to fire Charlie Weis as head coach of Notre Dame. Despite Charlie Weis had only a little spot light while being on the hot seat this season, he is still remembered for those days in New England where he guided them to various Superbowl rings.
Another coach that is parting ways with their team is head coach Bobby Bowden of the Florida State Seminoles. 33 years as a headcoach there, he is one heck of a football coach as he has an overall record as a coach of 388 wins which is second best in terms of Divion 1 FBS coaches. He is one of the three active coaches during the 2009 season to be inducted in the college football hall of fame accompanying along side him Joe Paterno and John Gagliardi. Whether being a coach for West Virginia or Florida State, he has produced a number of good football players who are indeed succesful in the NFL such as Warrick Dunn and Derrick Brooks. While Bowden is more recognized as a respectable coach for his accomplishments having a bowl record of 21-10-1, both he and Weis will be remembered for what they did for their team in either the NCAA or the NFL.

Morongo

As most of my friends came back to Los Angeles for Thanksgiving, it was a great opportunity to spend time with my friends. We were all hyped on our trip to Morongo where some of us lost quite a bit while the others won big. On our way to Morongo i noticed a lot of bill boards espcially near downtown LA where most people pass through to either get home or even go to work. From video game ads to gatorade ads, they were all running alongside the 10 freeway. Also, espcially on our way back home, i noticed lots of trucks running along the freeway whether it was a truck for Staples or Walmart.

Attack of the Jellyfish

Recently, the number of jellyfish has gone up ruining many businesses as the fishes caught are killed off by the jellyfish. This jelly fish situation is beinf dealt with all over the world. In Japan where seafood is a must with all that sushi, all the fishes caught in the net were killed off by the venom of the Nomura, the world’s largest jellyfish weighing as much as 450 pounds. In norther Ireland where cathching salmon is common, more than 100,000 of fishes were killed off by the massive attacks from the jellyfishes. Why is this occuring now some may ask? Scientis beleive it has to do a great deal with the weather change. With global warming, more parts of the ocean are being exposed to the sun creating more comfort zones for the jellyfish to swim in. As long as it keeps getting warmer, the fishing industries will suffer as the jellyfish are right their to claim what seems to be yours. “These increases in jellyfish should be a warning sign that our oceans are stressed and unhealthy,” Lucas Brotz a researcher from the University of Britsh Columbia stated. Trying despertely to fend off these jellyfish, Uye a Japanese scientist believed it is neceassry for the government in taking action in controlling the growth of these jellyfish. Because jellyfish keep appearing for these poor fishermen, the government designed these specail nets. While one catches the prized fishes used for sushi and such, the other net captures the abundant jellyfish still roaming the sea.

German goalkeepers dies at the age of 32

On November 10, 2009, Robert Enke commited suicide by jumping in front of a express train in Eilvese. Robert Enke according to his wife Teresa, was dealing with depression for about 6 years despite going to a pyschiatrist. Playing in several soccer clubs in Europe such as Barcelona and Benfica, he became more recognized in playing goalie for Hannover 96. With exprience and knowledge of the game, Enke would have been the starting goalie for the German national team in the World Cup. With this recent tragic news, the next friendly math against Chile has been canceled. In honor of him, many fans headed over to AWD-Arena home to the Hannover 96′s club and payed their respect with flowers and cards. Enke former soccer club Barcelona also paid their respcts to him as they gave a moment of silence before the start of the match. In the eyes of many, he seemed happy as he was living a comfortable wife with his child and animals. But it’s so sad and shocking to see someone either you see in person or on televsion to not appear live again. Life is so precious and short and we need to live life to the fullest.

Halloween Weekend!!

As Halloween is a time for the traditional “trick or treating” for little kids, my friends have a tradition of going to the that famous “Monster Massive” event which is a rave held at the Colisseum at USC. However this year was even more crowded near the USC area as another rave less than two miles away was occuring on the same day and time. With tons of people dressed up arriving to the anticipated raves, the streets were backed up as traffic was being held. I myself was stuck in traffic and couldn’t find parking but passing by Jefferson Blvd, i can hear the bass and the neon lights flickering in the sky. Despite regretting not being at the scene, it was so crazy how so many people show up. Despite not advertising these events on air, its amazing how the power of promoters and internet can spread word of these events. Promoters definetely have a big impact on selling the product going near stores where people might listen to electronica music. Internet though has got to be the biggest way of influence as forums and people chatting with one another about these raves sure spreads. just commenting on someone’s wall on facebook asking about a rave will turn people curious and soon enough joining the band wagon to go to raves themselves.

Dodger Season Over

It was a sad day in sports as the Los Angeles Dodgers fall short again. Brad Lidge the closer making the final pitch to retire Ronny Belliard for the last out of the ninth, it was the end of the line for the Dodger Blue. Once again they had fallen short in reaching the World Series as the Phillies in the second straight year crush the Dodgers. Can’t look at this as a complete loss as they will learn from their mistakes and hopefully win the whole thing next season. I am happy for the clubhouse as I know Joe Torre will think of ways to improve his team whether its be trading or picking up free agents.
What was so shocking when i signed on facebook after dinner, was that the number comments regarding tonights crucial game 5 of the NLCS. It was as if the whole world was commenting as i see page after page of Dodger fans showing support for their team. Its so amazing how people also show their love and support for a sports team via internet forums and such. Like many of my friends, the number of comments reached nearly a thousand showing anger and dissapointment as the Dodgers fell short. Everywhere profile i click on including mine, comments about the game is being mentioned.

3 day weekends in Hawaii!!

Unlike the usual 18o days of school most districts have in the United States, Hawaii is reducing its numbers as school is no longer operated on most Fridays. As president Obama was having a vision for kids to stay in school longer as education is of the essence, Hawaii is cutting back under a new union contract. Hawaii already ranks in the bottom of the pile in terms of national academic achievement and this is just another blow to the kids of this state. This action was done for budget cutting reasons but the real reson in my mind that 81% of teacher approved this contract is that they have less days in classrooms. Despite losing about eight percent of what they would normally make, the amount of paid holidays and vacation pay is still the same and untouched.
Many Parents are unhappy about this as they believe kids need more time spent in classrooms as they can best prepare themselves out in the real world. Even 5 days of school is not enough to some as children in other nations go to school monday through saturday. With fridays off, it will be more time of fun and games and less time hitting the books. Obama’s plans were to add more time during classes and even stay open on weekends as children can have a quiet place to learn but his dreams will have to be put on hold as the recession is hitting his homestate of Hawaii where he went to high school.”The challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom,” Obama declares. These budget cuts are hurting everyone especially the students trying to pursue a career because not only are classes being more and more limited, the tuition is on the rise.

Dodger Fans!!

 Especailly in the city of Los Angeles, sports is a huge part of our culture and with the Dodgers winning over the Cardinals last night, this city was alive. People celebrating on the streets near Dodger stadium it was so intense. They haven’t even won the World Series yet and people are already jumping for joy. 

The sight of Dodger fans were still about the city as i witnessed so many cars with the Dodger banners attached onto the cars. At one point, it was literally like a sea full of the Dodger blue as we drive into the Ralphs parking lot. From stickers on back of the car to people rocking their Dodger shirts represnting LA. But it didn’t stop there, as i stepped into the store, on my right was Dodger merchandise from paper cups, towels and even school supples. It was a pretty sight seeing people purchasing the products as they want to show off the  rest of the world their love for the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the win over St. Louis, the Doders move onto the National League Championship Series, making it another step closer to the highly anticipated World Series.  Feeling really good about this year as key acquitions such as Vicente Padilla and Ronnie Belliard might be the final pieces missing for us to take the title this year.