Is It Just Me ?!?!?

Another birthday comes and goes...
Thanks to all of the wonderful friends who through
facebook, email, phone and cards, thought enough to
say "Hi" and wish me a happy day...even Steve who
said he would come and visit except "old people
depress him..." Now that's funny - I don't care who
you are.
Perhaps it's due to the teen years I spent in Lahr
Germany - or the "beer years" I spent in Kitchener-
Waterloo - but my birthday supper of schnitzel was
a real treat - and the fact that it was the warm-up
to the first game of golf of the year made it all the
more delectable...
With word that Oakfield may be a while yet before it's
greens and fairways beckon - Eaglecrest again this
year was the site of the first tango of the season.
Bad knee held up and the hills didn't stop me so I guess
it's all systems go...Predictably the short game was a
little less than stellar and I'm not sure that I'd reflect
proudly on fairways hit or greens in regulation, but I
did manage a few solid shots and a couple of legitimate
birdies so I'm anxious to tee it up again...like anything
could have happened that would have resulted in anything
else.
Which leads me to - Wells...Vernon Wells. If someone had
told me years ago that I would be watching the Blue Jays
during the Stanley Cup Playoffs I would have protested
enthusiastically...au contraire ! Well...so far this
NHL Post Season I've watched a greater percentage of
Jays inning played than I have playoff periods to date.
Don't get me wrong - I love watching hockey...when it's
played well. But the Caps and Rangers, Hurricanes and
Devils, Blues and Canucks, Calgary and Chicago, Detroit
and Columbus, Anaheim and San Jose, Pittsburgh and Philly
somehow fail to compell. Pittsburgh and the Flyers is a
series with some merit, as is Carolina and New Jersey but
the rest are duds or simply on TV too late..
Now the Blue Jays...suspect pitching after the ace "Doc"
Halladay, potentially powerful offence and Manager Cito
Gaston back at the helm - it's a concoction from which
something magical could emerge.
But I have to say that when I see Vernon Wells - and to a
lesser degree rightfielder Alex Rios leaving runner after
runner on base, coming to the plate representing the two
biggest paycheques on the roster ( among everyday players )
I get really irritated...sandpaper on dry skin irritated.
When I see Wells nonchalantly one hand flies hit to his
field it makes me nuts. Based on nothing else than his status
on the team Wells should be making every effort to
appear focussed and the picture of concentration on every
play. Wells should be setting the standard for his teammates
in the same way that Halladay works harder than any other
pitcher...Wells owes it to his team and the fans.
I was heartened to hear that Kenny Perry who dropped the ball
on the final few holes to lose the Masters is back at it
this week on the PGA Tour. Perry plays his heart out everytime
he tees it up but could be forgiven for taking some time
off to grieve over his Masters Mishap. What changed his
mind prompting him to get back at it as opposed to disappearing
to lick his wounds ? Phil Mickelson, Scott Hoch and Greg
Norman were among those who called Perry to praise him for
his performance and encourage him to look back on the
positives associated with the way he played so well at
Augusta. Perry also reportedly received a truckload of
well wishes from golf fans world wide. He played well -
so very well - and he deserves to look back on the 09 Masters
fondly.
For those who have visited the website www.atlanticgolfradio.com
please be patient. Changes are coming...keep checking in.
Thanks...til next time..hittem long and hittem straight.
Don