Choose Life

The SEVEN
September 17th, 2011

I. Enter Sandman

Chances are that at some point before the end of the regular season, the New York Yankees will win one more game during which Mariano Rivera will earn a save, officially making him the best closer ever…which he already is, but currently tied for first place on the all-time saves list with 601.

From an historical standpoint, it's fitting that the last MLB player to ever wear number 42 will go down as the greatest of all time at what he does, probably putting the saves record away for good when he retires. With that said - speaking of number 42 - a recent Sporting News piece indicated that the St. Louis Cardinals' Lance Berkman believes that baseball records should be divided into two categories: pre-Jackie Robinson and post-Jackie Robinson, based on the incomplete level of competition faced by players prior to 1947.

Couldn't agree with Lance more.

II. Sleepwalking

Who was that player dressed in the Serena Williams suit in the U.S. Open final versus Samantha Stosur? I almost couldn't believe it was Serena, the way she was dominated by Stosur…and I admit I don't watch tennis every week or every tournament, but I can't remember the last time I saw her lose to someone not named Williams. Probably wouldn't have made a difference or the difference, but she shouldn't have had that point taken away…they need to revisit that rule.

III. Stopping By

I must also admit I more or less ease my way into the NFL season. When I was a kid I used to sit down one night each August and make my predictions for the forthcoming NFL season - which included forecasting the records of every team in every division. Now for various reasons, which include the crazy proliferation of sports available on TV, I basically am a general follower until the conclusion of the World Series…but I will be checking out the Eagles-Falcons matchup Sunday night. I know it's been a while since almost every kid seemed to have the Michael Vick Falcons poster in his room…but still, there has to be satisfaction in beating a former team, especially one that made no effort to bring you back.

IV. Don't Sleep On…

So when the Series is over I'd be free to get fully into football…but then my beloved NBA season begins - or is supposed to begin. I guess if there is any good news about the lockout, it would be that exhibition games featuring NBA stars are popping up around the country, the latest of which being announced for September 25th in Philadelphia at the Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania…which is one of the great arenas to watch a basketball game!

Team Philly, led by Hakim Warrick, will take on Team Melo, featuring Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul. Warrick says that his Philly all-stars are looking forward to proving to Carmelo that the best ballers come out of Philly.

Has anyone heard of New York?

V. Stony The Road We Trod

Troy Davis is still facing an execution date in Georgia, despite evidence which at the very least would seem to cry out for re-evaluation of his predicament. Please visit the NAACP (www.naacp.org) to see what you can do to try to avert this possible miscarriage of justice.

VI. God Of Our Silent Tears

I'm sitting in The Spot in Newark, N.J. as I write this, wearing not the jeans sported by several other patrons, but a jacket and tie, as I just attended a funeral of a fine young college senior who died after a basketball game at his college. Sadly enough, there was another funeral taking place at the same time in our town, this one for yet another 21-year-old young man who was recently shot to death.

The word is that this young man was not the target of the killers…but what that means is that someone else was. What that means is that they - like so many others - have failed to study history, have failed to realize that our forefathers…in the not too distant past, for that matter…fought off dogs, water hoses, billy clubs, police, the Klan and the courts; all so that we could be able to enjoy some of that which we can in 2011…and now we are shooting and killing each other. Those knuckleheads are able to hang up their hoods…we are doing their jobs for them.

VII. Unbelievable

It may have been the same night, at the same time, that this young man was shot when Tea Partiers - the somewhat homogenized versions, in my opinion, of the southern lynch mobs- cheered at their debate when Texas Governor Rick Perry indicated no remorse at the possibility that innocent people had been put to death among the upwards of two hundred that have been executed under his watch. They vocally endorsed the idea of an uninsured individual being left to die as opposed to having the government pick up the cost of his care.

And these are the people the entire Republican field of candidates is falling all over?