HBM Update 5- Special Movember Edition

As the month of Movember comes to a close, it is time for another HBM update. There was not a chance on the face of this earth that I was going to shave and start clean, but I did add a full beard over the growing season. The question now is, as the month come to an end, do I go back to just the badass 'stache, or do I keep the full face for the winter season? I could dye everything a deep mahogany and sport the look of Yukon Cornelius from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. I even wear knit hats and the occasional ear muffs (I need to find a yellow pair).

The HBM did stay perfectly coifed the entire time and still receives plenty of feedback from it's fan club  (growing everyday with new members- inquire within for details) and total strangers. Was even told by some TV producers that it was perfect for television and that it might make a reality show (more on that, as we get closer to filming- Summer 2015).

Growing and maintaining the beard was easier, now that I have discovered beard oils. It is enjoyable treating it with oil (leaving it soft and supple), but then again who does not enjoy being rubbed down with oil, but that is a total different post and commentary.

I have also completed my second run of 'stache wax, this time with a nice subtle java scent. Nice smell to easily start your day and a little pick me up for those midday and afternoon wax touch ups for the well manicured look.

So help me out folks, does it stay or does it go? The beard that is, the 'stache is staying!

2015 HOF Ballot

The 2015 Baseball HOF ballot was released today.

The names on the ballot were no surprise, with 'headliners' being Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Gary Sheffield, Carlos Delgado, and Nomar Garciaparra (among others). None of these guys are unanimous first ballot inductees.

Randy Johnson has great career numbers and had many dominant performances, and should have the 75% to get into the Hall. Maybe a few extra votes for picking a bird off with 97mph fastball and instilling fear in John Kruk. 5 Cy Young Awards.

Pedro Martinez, great career, but not phenomenal numbers. Still not sure who his daddy is, but should have the 75% to get in. Maybe he will let us know who his daddy is at the ceremony. Hope he brings the little guy that used to be in his entourage as one of his guests. 3 Cy Young Awards.

John Smoltz lived in the shadows of greats Greg Maddox and Tom Glavine, but was pivotal in the Braves organization and their dominance during that era. Although he maybe this years Mussina and be over looked.

Sheffield will be on the bottom due to his link with PEDs (see Sosa, Bonds, McGuire).

Delgado and Garciaparra are long shots. Not sure if they will even be considered down the road.

Past list member Craig Biggio may have the 75% to make the Hall this year as he narrowly missed last year. Mike Piazza and Jeff Bagwell will miss again this year.

My vote is for Edgar Martinez, not that I have one, but the man has the numbers, he is the man that set the standard for the DH position.

Dinner Conversation?

I took my daughter out for dinner, and two women at the table next to us were having an interesting conversation. While I am not one for eavesdropping on others, but they were loud enough that I had no other choice.

Their conversation was about breasts.

Yes, you read that right.

Now I am a fan of breasts (I would say big fan, but I like them in all sizes). One of the ladies had just recently had a mammogram -not sure which one- and they were talking about the possible outcomes of the test. This quickly spun off into other factoids about breasts and then conversations about breast size, sensitivity, nipple shape, getting larger during that certain time, bra comfort, you name it, they probably talked about it. The entire time I had to sit and appear as if I heard nothing. I could not even smirk and most definitely could not make eye contact or glance that way. Not sure if my daughter was listening or not, and if she did, she never gave any indication.

Now the women were probably in their mid 30s, nicely dressed, with a professional manner about them. I was impressed that they are aware of their health care needs and bodies. I guess I should be impressed that they are willing to openly talk about their bodies. Probably something as being a male, we should do, but do not.

Now I am not sure if this was the best dinner conversation to have in a public restaurant, and definitely not at the volume they were speaking. Also they should have been aware of those around them, especially a youth. May be the conversation was done for my benefit and I was just too clueless to know (I have always been a bit dense and slow around women). Should I have said something to them or made some indication that I could hear their conversation? Would they have been offended if I did say something? Would I have been embarrassed after saying something? It really was a Catch-22.

Shake my head….

I do not get the sports writers in today's world. I guess they have fallen into the same trap as the rest of the news media. They write and vote based on what will sell.

I do not understand, how Felix Hernandez did not win his second Cy Young. I hope he is right in that it will motivate him to pitch even better next year (not sure how he can elevate his game much more, but anyway). The funny thing when the MVP results came out, Hernandez placed higher then the pitcher that won the Cy Young this year.

While watching one of the sports pundit shows, one reporter stated that he chose Klubber over Hernandez based on salary, in that Hernandez made 23M and Klubber made 550K, so Klubber performance was better because he made less money. Really, I was not aware that salary was now a stat in baseball. I guess the game is evolving that way. For everyone's information, Hernandez makes that kind of money because he puts up Cy Young numbers every year, just not once.

Now lets talk about the rest of sports reporting, and where it has gone. You can not turn on a sports show with out hearing about which NFLer has broken the law and has been suspended. Sad really, and there may be a lot of causes (not excuses) for this. But where are the positive things coming out about players? Tamba Hali was born in Liberia (one of the Ebola ridden countries), and left the country when he was 10 to be educated here in the US, he learned football and has become an All-Pro. He recently donated a million dollars to expand medical centers in Liberia to help treat Ebola victims. His team the KC Chiefs and his team mates also made donations, yet no one has heard of it. I guess that is not news worthy.

Now I am a big Hope Solo fan, but she has gotten herself into a mess with charges of domestic abuse similar to some of the NFLers. But why hasn't she been suspended from her professional team and is still representing the US in international competition. Is she getting differential treatment because she is female? Is it fair?

Dear Ex-Pat,

(I have a couple of friends who have been relocated over seas for the last couple of years. This is an open letter advising them to stay over seas and not return to the US, unless they have some testicular fortitude.)

Due to the low informed voters, the dumbing down of America, and the expense paid by big money corporations, it is advised that you stay put out of country. The recent results of the mid-term elections have demonstrated that the people that call themselves 'patriots' are not really about what is good for their country. Sad when you think about it, there was a time when people cared and truly respected their fellow citizens.

If you return, you will be facing a so-called 'morality' of denying children an education based in math and science, proper nutrition, and a loving family. Add to that, the stripping of basic needs of healthcare, assistance, and the rights of choice for adults, the citizens of this country. This will be even difficult for those of a minority culture, believe in an alternative lifestyle, or practice an non-christian religion.

If you can handle that, you will face the destruction of our environment with the deregulation and dismantling of those charged with protecting the air we breathe, the water we rely on to drink and wash, and the soil we grow our food in. If you think you can survive that, you can now face the killing of Social Security and Medicare, snuffing out your future and placing the care of the elderly in jeopardy. Now find a job, while the 'job creators' receive massive tax breaks to out source those jobs overseas. If happen to have a job, you have to venture out on roads that need repair, bridges that are on the verge of collapse, and toil in buildings that are unhealthy.

So return to the 'American Dream', it is all of what you have been told and more. The check is in the mail, trust me.