Good Morning and welcome to a steroid-free zone!

OK, most of us aren't trying to make millions of dollors playing professional sports, so we don't really know if we would touch steroids to help get that next record or next big contract.
To say you absolutely wouldn't, well, don't fool yourself too much.
Anyway, when former Home Run King Mark McGwire finally came clean about his steroid use Monday, it was greeted in this corner of the world by a big, 'So what?'
Everybody knew McGwire, like Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds and every other slugger of the era, was using steroids. The size of the arms didn't come naturally. There was no way around it.
McGwire went from looking like Shane Victorino to Hulk Hogan virtually overnight. It was obvious he was getting help.
Then again, nobody cared when he was hitting the ball a mile. Nobody cared when he and Sosa were going back-and-forth for the home run record in 1998. Nobody cared if his career was over a few years later when steriods broke down his muscles.
It was fun to watch at the time despite the 'wink, wink, special vitamins' they were using.
You have to remember how the 1990s went for baseball. The Phillies stunk, there was a nasty strike that wiped out the World Series and the games were boring.
McGwire, Bonds, Sosa, Brady Anderson, Rafael Palmerio and the like at least made the games fun to watch. Baseball sold it and we bought it.
Sure, looking back now it was probably no more than pro wrestling in uniforms, but, hey, at least they didn't use metal chairs on each other.

Good Morning and, yes, we've made it through the week!

While we wait a week for the return flight from Iraq, I was trying to explain to a 7-year old about the Phillies.
You see, after watching bad baseball after worse baseball year after year, these young whipper-snappers don't know anything about the Phillies.
For three years straight the team has been in the playoffs. the two previous years they were right there at end.
No longer does the season end in June. No longer do you have to see the likes of Midre Cummings trying to catch fly balls in center. You don't have to convince yourself that Von Hayes is actually going to be an MVP candidate. You don't have to worry about whether Ken Howell will be able to come back from his latest injury to anchor the starting rotation.
Instead of seeing Wally Ritchie running out of the bullpen in the eighth-inning, you get to see Ryan Madson. Forget Brad Lidge, if you wanted excitement in the ninth inning there was nobody better than Jose Mesa.
No, these fans get to grow up watching Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels (voted as the top player at each position in our highly scientific Daily Times daily poll).
There is not suffering. There is no shaking your head. There is no hoping the players would go on strike just so you didn't have to watch Gregg Jefferies not run out a pop fly. You haven't seen comedy on the diamond unless you could catch Steve Jeltz, well, not catch.
Back in the day, when the Phillies needed a pitcher, they took the bull by the horns and got Joe Cowley. That big offseason free agent was Phil Bradley and we liked it.
So, to all the 7-year olds and to all those who so soon forget ... Ah, never mind, just enjoy the ride.

Good Morning and now that safety isn't as big an issue, it's time to get back to the mundane!

By the way, I was wondering, if the Phillies play the Yankees in the World Series (certainly looks that way) is it more of a 'legitimate' finals than playing the Tampa Bay Rays last year?
It's sort of like asking Steelers fans if their latest Super Bowl title was tainted because they played the Arizona Cardinals.
Sure, you'd like your favorite teams to play the history-laden Yankees, but a title is a title is a title. Now that we are heading to a second Series in the row (it's still pretty amazing), do we need the Yankees to be there as some sort of statement?
I guess that would only make a difference if the Phillies win again. If they go out and lose to the Yankees, maybe they are diminished a little bit.
Then again, that parade was pretty amazing last year.
Meanwhile, as the NLCS (Phillies clinching party?) took the night off, there wasn't too much to follow on television last night.
Sure, you could watch that Yankees-Angels series, and I'm sure there was some good baseball played, but a lull was needed.
Then again, it gets ramped up tonight.
I hear through the grapevine those troops in Iraq will be watching the Phillies tonight as well. I look forward to the story.
Then comes my age old question: Do I let the children stay up to watch the game?
There is school tomorrow. There is work tomorrow. The game won't be over until close to midnight (7 a.m. in Basrah).
Still, after all those years of suffering through bad after bad when it came to the Phillies, I feel like I need to let them watch a possible clincher.
There's still the feeling this won't go on forever.
Meanwhile, a shoutout to Iraq:

Good Morning and congrats on making it to Friday!

For many Phillies fans, this is going to be a lost weekend. First, they watched the team lose Game 2 to the Rockies Thursday afternoon. Now, fans are faced with having to stay up late to catch the weekend games.
Saturday night has a 9:35 p.m. start time. That's, of course, providing it doesn't snow in Denver. Then on Sunday there's a 10 p.m. start.
Now, baseball gets a lot of heat for its scheduling and this series has been the perfect example.
Those two 2:30 p.m. starts did no favors for anybody, except those worried about newspaper deadlines.
First, it wasn't good for young fans because most (unless you are an Archbishop Carroll student) don't get out until after 3 p.m. Then, if there isn't an after-school activity, it's time to do homework. Then comes dinner. Then comes some down time.
By then, the game was over and all that was left was the Daily Times game blog.
Now comes the weekend when a, say, 8 p.m. start would be about perfect. Not 9:30 and certainly not 10 p.m.
Most certainly not for those of us who hear the alarm at 3 a.m.
Then again, there might be another series...

Good Morning and wasn't it nice before the heat was turned up?!?

For those who don't remember, the top echelon of seats at old Veterans Stadium was the 700 level. It got a reputation for rowdy fans (especially during Eagles games) who were mostly drunk all the time and caused trouble.
By the time Buddy Ryan took over the Eagles in the mid-80s you didn't venture to the 700 level unless you were ready. It was downright scary and it was no place for children.
Well, it appears Citizen's Bank Park (the whole thing?) has become the new 700 level. Fights, obscene yelling, bad behavior and now murder is making a summer night at the ballpark no-man's land.
Sure, there are plenty of nice fans who just come out for a good time and a ball game, but they are overshadowed by the idiots who drink too much then have to cause trouble for everybody else.
Major league sports (NFL, MLB, NBA and, yes, NHL) has already managed to outprice families from a night at the game. The fans are making it even harder to justify.
Why spend $200 to take your family to the game when most of it you have to spend explaining to a 7-year old why Joe Blow over there is throwing up? Why go down to the ballpark if you can't take a 4-year old to the concession stand without fearing for your life?
Of course, as long as the Phillies can keep selling out the park, they don't care. "Hey, come on out, drink, spend, yell, curse. Just keep the money flowing."
Football and its inherent violence is one thing, but baseball should lend itself to a nice, calm summer night. Unfortunately, that's had to change with the world.
Thanks.

Good Morning and welcome to the PED-free zone!

On the heels of the Internet storm that forced Phillies outfielder Raul Ibanez to emphatically announce he wasn't taking performance enhancing drugs, I give you THIS.
Now, I'll be the first to admit it was fun to see all those home runs hit during the 1990s. The Mark McGwire/Sammy Sosa battle made another "interesting" Phillies season bearable. Then again, what did we expect when the pitching staff not only featured Toby Borland, but also Wayne Gomes and Yorkis Perez?
Now that those 'performance enhancing drugs' are banned from baseball, it's time we took a step further and started testing superheroes. What are we teaching our children? It's OK for some, but not for others?
Sure, Captain America may look like an 'average' guy, but if he can come back from the dead, there's got to be some illegal stuff going on there.
And, what about Superman? After all those battles with Lex Luthor are we supposed to believe he's not getting a little help.
Just replace 'Randy 'The Ram' Robinson' with Superman in the movie 'The Wrestler' and it's the same movie.
Now, don't even get me started on Batman...


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Good Morning and welcome to the first day of the week!

Did you ever notice that taking a week off only makes you want to take another week off? Sure, there is something nice about structure, but there's something a lot nicer about playing baseball/basketball/riding bikes all day. Then again, being so far away from 10-years old, maybe it's just so much nostalgia.
One thing you never realize until you are way past that 10 mark is how good you have it. You go along day-by-day only to have your parent's put limits on your 'freedom.' Then, you become a parent and realize you never had more freedom. Of course, the argument is lost on the 10-year old (or 7-year old or 4-year old) when you tell them it's time for bed or to come inside.
That's even more evident during the summer. The temperature is nice. The sun is shining bright and there are a lot of noises coming through the window.
Where do you draw the line? When is it time to put the foot down firmly?
Well, I guess it's all an internal battle. Of course, when your alarm goes off at 3:15 a.m., well, that battle at least has a time limit.
Then, you have to fight through the sandman to fill the next day and the day after and the day after.
You just have to make it fun not only for those who would bounce off the walls, but for yourself.
So, what happened to my sneakers?


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning and welcome to a new week!

Here's a tale of two baseball players and a dancer:
After a long day of running here to there Saturday afternoon, it was time for a bit of a break. That break came in the form of a baseball game.
Now, when there are rescheduled games in a youth baseball league, there are bound to be some players who can't attend the game. So, that left one team short a player Saturday afternoon.
After some imaginative persuasion, the team was able to get that ninth player (who is about a year or two younger than the rest, but enjoys any athletic endeavor) to man centerfield.
The team even had a cheerleader in the form of a ballet dancer watching from behind a fence. Of course, the cheerleader didn't really care about the game, she was just dancing. And dancing. And dancing.
Well, the game continues and the centerfielder starts to get bored. There's just not enough action, so he creates his own action. Rotating his glove and hat. Throwing grass up in the air. Watching butterflies.
Meanwhile, his older brother is trying to keep his focus while playing catcher. The thing is, he can see the centerfielder kneeling down. Throwing the glove. Wearing it on his head.
OK, so it's not exactly the major leagues. At least win or lose, though, they have a cheering section.


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Good Morning and welcome to the day you need to find the umbrella again!

Look, I'm as happy as anybody the week of rain is over. Those grey days just seem to bring you down. When there are, what, 19 in a row, well, it's hard to keep a positive outlook.
This week, though, has been perfect. The best thing is the start of our youth baseball season. Now, I know some leagues have been playing (and practicing) for a month, but our league is a little more laid back and is all about fun.
With two boys in different leagues, though, the fun begins. It's all about balancing out the schedule, running between games, watching, yelling and the nearest playground (that's for the princess).
Now, the almost 10-year old is in a playing in a league for the first time where the children pitch (it was coach-pitch last season) and they play more-or-less by 'regular' rules. So, we have to get used to three strikes and the intricacies of an umpire.
While Wednesday night's game went relatively smoothly (well, except for those two ground ball home runs by the opposing team), Monday was an experience.
The umpire, in the first game of the season (thanks rain), appeared to be calling balls and strikes like it was the seventh game of the World Series. After about the 100th walk of the night, and three hours into the game, it was finally finished.
After all that, though, there were smiles on the faces of all the players. At least it's all about having fun.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning and welcome to a new week!

It's hard to believe just one week ago we were digging out from the biggest snowstorm of winter. Now, with the exception of those giant hills in shopping centers, there is no snow. Sounds pretty good.
Speaking of weather, those warm days over the weekend sent the mind racing to the best rite of spring, baseball. Grab the gloves. Rough up the ball. Pick up the bat. While those high-priced players are enjoying the Florida weather, the real future of the game was being played on muddy lawns and driveways this weekend.
Sure, there were plenty of basketball games and the sound of bouncing balls as well, but spring means baseball. It's kind of interesting how the change in seasons bring certain things to mind.
Spring is baseball. Summer is swimming. Fall is walking. Winter is, well, winter is something we all have to get through.
While it's not going to be as warm throughout the week, it's not going to be freezing either. Time to start thinking about that garden.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning and welcome to a bright day!

So, this has undoubtedly happened to a lot out there (if there are really a lot out there). I woke up this morning with a massive headache and a feeling I didn't really sleep at all.
I kind of half walked through the morning routine. Took a shower, walked the dogs, got a couple of lunches together, came to work.
The strongest thing I have to stop the headache is Advil. Sleep? That will come eventually.
Now, flash on over to Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees player who admitted to using steroids in 2003 (by the way, if he used them in 2003, how can we really know he's not using them now?). Like many pro athletes (doesn't matter the sport) of the era, he felt the need to 'juice' up. Those big-time stats and long home runs were all chemically enhanced.
One of the big excuses these multi-million dollar athletes use for doing steroids is it helps them recover from little injuries throughout the year. It helps their body fight off things like ... headaches.
So, instead of taking a couple of aspirin and sitting in a dark room for an hour, they steroided up to get to work.
Sure, they live in a different world than all of us, but does it really need to have different rules? They lie about it too.


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Good Morning and welcome to the longest game in the history of the World Series!

Anybody who was watching the annoying Fox broadcast of last night's World Series Game 5, or if you were actually at the game, know it should not have been played.
Heck, as the rain started pelting down on the hood of a 6-year old boy while walking the dogs at 6:30 p.m., it was obvious Game 5 should have been pushed back.
Instead, Major League Baseball loves money. The powers that be would rather pack a stadium two days instead of one, sell a lot more junk and extend the coverage.
Think about it, this World Series, as much as we are loving it here, is the lowest rated World Series in history. Outside of the tri-state area and possibly parts of Florida, it appears everybody would rather watch the Greatest Race.
So, how do you pump up interest? Hey, let's do something new! Let's play in ridiculous weather, then stop the game halfway through.
We can get a lot of coverage and come back for a second day. Great Idea.
By the way, the Phillies say if you have a ticket stub for last night's game you will be allowed in the stadium tonight (if it resumes tonight).
Now, the tickets are made of paper (OK, heavy paper). Which, when it gets wet, has a tendency to become a pulp. So, a ton of those ticket stubs were gone by the second inning. Can I just show up at the gate, say my ticket disintegrated in the rain and I want in?
HMMM...Sounds like an idea.
So, while waiting for the raindrops to stop, get ready for Halloween by whistling:


Here's a good movie to check out:

Good Morning and welcome to a World Series town!

Sure, we've known the Phillies will be playing in the World Series for a week now, but it still is taking some time to sink in.
Phillies? World Series? Is the end of the world near?
Well, we'll leave that last one for Darren Daulton.
Anyway, you know something special is happening not by the continued commercials or TV reports of "We are the best Phillies station around," but by the roadside T-shirt and hat stands that are cropping up.
Saw two yesterday in the relative short ride home and there are plenty more around the region. Schools are actually letting the dress codes lax a bit this week to allow Phillies gear.
You know, about a year ago, there would have been no argument as to the dominate professional sports team in the region. The Eagles were No. 1 and everybody else was a distant second.
Sure, the Phillies, Flyers and 76ers had made the playoffs, but they weren't bringing out the 'crazy' fans (by the way check out our slide show of some of Delco's biggest fans by CLICKING HERE).
Now, though, the Phillies are undoubtedly No. 1. The Eagles could make the Super Bowl, the 76ers the NBA finals and the Flyers the Stanley Cup Finals, but there wouldn't be as much juice as the World Series.
It probably comes down to length of time. We are invested in the Phillies season from February (spring training) until October. To see the team succeed makes all those summer nights in front of the TV or at the game worthwhile.
So, here we go. The excitement starts tonight.
In honor of the World Series, we will take a one day break from Halloween movies and songs to give you this:


And this:


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Good Morning, Delaware County!

Let's get this right out in the open. I never really fancied myself an athlete. Sure, I played sports as a youth and into my mid-20s, but it was for fun. I got into baseball at a young age and found the game to be something great.
I went probably the first two years of playing without getting a hit. I was the child put into right field, because 'nobody hit it to right field.'
I tried, though. I practiced hitting (thanks Dad for making me swing the bat about 5 million times on the front lawn). I practiced throwing. I had catches. I think, by the end of my youth playing days, I was decent enough a player. I no longer was put into right field. I played all the outfield positions. Some first, some third then went to catcher.
Anyway, it's a long way of saying, to me, baseball was a great time. Most of the time frustrating, but it was a great time. I enjoyed putting on the uniform, walking down to the field, taking infield, having batting practice.
I always tried to get No. 1 when they handed out the uniforms, by the way. That way when I would put my name on the brim of the cap, I could always write 'Vince Carey, No. 1.' Of course, my Mom thought I had a high opinion of myself, but, so what.
Where does this get us? Well, last night, while waiting for the Westbrook Park Phillies to play the Orioles, it became obvious there weren't going to be enough players to field two teams.
So, the coach had a bright idea, how about having the Dads play the kids. Great, get the glove and pretend to be young again.
It certainly was a good time. Seeing two little boys waiting in the outfield for the ball while a little girl cheered from the dugout made a beautiful night perfect.
After a game, which, by the way, featured some pretty good laughs coming mostly from the play of the Dads' team, everybody went home.
That's when the aches started. The legs were heavy. The feet (maybe I shouldn't have played in sandals) didn't much like standing.
Forget youth, get the Ben Gay.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

Thursday was a pretty nice day.
Sure, the clouds dominated the sky, but it actually worked out well.
The Small Business Administration held its annual awards ceremony at Citizens Bank Park.
Actually, it was a tent outside the ballpark. The first award went to Kathleen E. Carey, the Daily Times business writer. She received the Journalist of the Year award. After a rousing 'thank you' speech (which many questioned if she was a professional speaker), the day was rolling.
It's actually pretty impressive to see more than 500 business leaders in one place at one time. Probably a good place to pick up some ideas or advertising.
Then it was into the ballpark.
To tell the truth, with three children, it's a bit of a chore to head down to the game. The younger ones are focused on the playground. From the moment they reached the seats, it was 'Can we go to the playground? Can we go to the playground? I want to go to the playground! Playground! Playground!'
Of course, in my thinking, you can go to a playground any time you want that doesn't cost $18 to get into.
What was really fun about the afternoon was sitting in the stadium with a 9-year old boy who really never watched a game before. He was jumping up and down. Cheering for the Phillies. Basically having a grand old time.
I was lucky as a youngster. A neighbor had season tickets to the Phillies, three rows behind the visitor's dugout. A few times a month, he would give us the tickets. I learned to love watching the game.
Of course, it kind of grew into an obsession. Phillies. Phillies. Phillies. I kept score, followed every game. Still, it was fun.
Maybe that seed was planted in another generation on a cloudy afternoon.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning, Delaware County!

So, how do you get back to a sense of normalcy in an abnormal situation? It's impossible, but we continue to try.

Earlier this week, on a night that was anything but springlike, the Westbrook Park Phillies were playing the Indians in a youth baseball game.
This being baseball and all, the number of children playing the game are starting to decline and the Phillies found themselves a couple of players short. They still wanted to play the game, so the 6-year old brother of one of the team members was talked into helping out.
Although he had a few Tee-ball games under his belt, 'real baseball' was entirely new. Heck, his older brother was only playing in his third game, so it was really new to him as well.
So, with the brothers manning center field (older) and right field (younger) the game was played.
The rest of the Phillies welcomed their 'new teammate,' despite him wearing a Braves hat, and were having fun going out and playing. The cold, biting wind didn't even seem to matter.
Each brother were able to get hits throughout the game, although the younger boy was out at third base each time.
That is, until the final inning. With a Braves hat helping hold the batting helmet on his head, the younger brother was stading on third as the older brother stepped to the plate.
A ground ball that had eyes and went into the outfield ended the game by bringing the small boy home.
The players, on both teams, celebrated. Bringing big smiles to everybody who had gathered to witness the game.
Doesn't get any better:


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

OK, I have a confession to make, I told a third-grader not to worry about the PSSA tests. This, of course, will be a shock to the system.
The PSSAs are government-mandated tests that will be given over the next couple of weeks and schools are into an all-out push.
There have been daily letters home to parents. There was even a 'contract' sent home telling parents it was their duty to make sure there are no activities after school during the week the PSSA will be administered.
Some schools even hold pep rallies and all-day study sessions to get ready for the 'test.'
Hogwash!
In fact, I thing we'll stay up late every night and maybe even take in a movie or two.
Sure, it's probably a dumb protest, but there is enough pressure on young students these days without adding any more.
The PSSA tests are now the complete focus of the public school system. Instead of teaching to learn, teachers are teaching for the test. There is extra homework, extra time spent during class and extra pressure on the teachers, adminstrators and students.
I'm not blaming the schools. Our President has set this 'No Child Left Behind' bull. The states have no choice but to follow along, which leads to pressure on the school districts, individual schools, principals, teachers, finally, the students.
You know what they say runs downhill.
We should be giving students a reason to love learning, love going to school, instead of adding more and more onto their heads.
The biggest problem is the tests are standardized throughout the state.
Now, let's just look at the school districts in the county. There is no sane way to argue the students in the Radnor School District and the students in the Upper Darby School District get the same education.
This is not to say the teachers, at least some, don't try and that there aren't some talented teachers in both school districts. The plain truth is it's not the same education, yet they are held to the same standards.
When a third grader is walking home and believes the PSSA tests could potentially keep him out of fourth grade, that's just plain wrong.
If that's the message schools are sending, they should be held accountable.
Instead of getting all the students together to 'pump' them up for another test (really, aren't there enough regular tests throughout the year) gather them in the gym to sing or listen to some stories or ... whatever.
So, take the tests because you have no choice, but think about baseball the whole time.
Here's a quick history lesson: When I was in school there were standard tests given each year. We always thought they were very important to our advancement.
By the time we reached sixth grade, it was obvious the tests had no real meaning. So, we took the No. 2 pencils and created designs in the little circles, barely reading the test questions.
We all made it into seventh grade.

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