Watching A Classic

There was nothing on that I wanted to see Thursday night. Correction! There was something. HBO Canada is playing 61*. That is the true life story depicting the chase to baseball immortality that New York Yankees Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris waged in 1961 with both trying to break the record set by Babe Ruth. As baseball fans know, Maris did break the record but an asterisk was ordered by then commissioner Ford Frick because he didn't do it in the 154 game season Babe Ruth had done it in.
It truly is an amazing movie and is one that I highly recommend whether you be a baseball fan or not. Billy Crystal did an incredible job of telling the story and the mental battle Maris had to go through to break this record despite fans, media and baseball not wanting him to. It may be the best sports movie I've ever seen. "Monday Night Madness", the story behind Monday Night Football is right up there as is "Slapshot" but 61* takes the cake.
At the end of the movie though is Mark McGwire hitting his 62nd to break the record and his press conference after. Knowing now what we didn't know then makes me realize how baseball suckered everyone by making the chase between Big Mac and Sammy Sosa front page news. Baseball needed it after the lockout prevented the World Series from happening but by doing it they opened a Pandoras Box that may never be closed.
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Tiger Woods is in sight of the leader at the Masters but he isn't the leader. Chad Campbell had the best ever start in the history of the event birding the first 5 holes. He was flirting with a 10 under at one point but he bogeyed the last two holes to sit at 7 under. Tiger is 5 back but he looks more than ready to be in that final grouping on Sunday. Mike Weir had a nice day---he is 4 under. Once again in watching coverage yesterday, if you aren't Tiger and you aren't American, you aren't going to be shown much unless you are leading. It will be interesting to see how much air time Weir gets today if he is still near the top.
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If the Bruins and Canadiens meet in the first round of the playoffs, it will be a physical affair. The hatred the two teams have for one another spilled over in what was an emotional contest in Boston Thursday night. Boston won it 5-4 in overtime to complete a season sweep of their rivals. That means nothing though if the two teams meet in the playoffs. There were several brouhahas throughout the evening and I'm guessing it will be that way in Round 1. Speaking of the Bruins, it looks like they get the honor of hosting the next outdoors game. (YAWWNN!!). Word is they will play a game New Years Day at Fenway Park. The Bruins wanted to use Gillette Stadium but chances are the New England Patriots would still be playing in January so it will be Fenway. As I've said before, the only outdoor game that mattered was at Commonwealth Stadium when the Oilers and Habs played. It was unique and it was something to remember. What I've seen in Buffalo and Chicago the past two years has done nothing to excite me about the game. A new twist is needed as far as I'm concerned.
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No one knew who Nick Adenhart was until word came out Thursday morning that the L-A Angels pitcher had been killed in a two car crash just hours after he pitched six shutout innings in a loss to Oakland. Everyone knows who he is now and the greed factor is also rearing its ugly head. An Adenhart autographed baseball card which probably went for no more than a buck if that going into the start of the season is now worth over 50 dollars on EBay. That's so wrong!!! However in today's society if you can capitalize on someone's misfortune by making a buck it will happen and Adenhart suffered the ultimate misfortune at the hands of a drunk driver. That kid was probably so high on life after doing what he did Wednesday night and he had everything taken away from him with no warning. A sad, sad story.
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NFL fans. The schedule gets released Tuesday.
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The long weekend is upon us. Enjoy it!!! Thanks for reading!