Sorry to those who tried visiting the site in the afternoon. The server had some planned downtime and I forgot about putting up a notice.
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Why did Tadahito Iguchi have little trouble bringing his game from Japan to the States? It could be in his blood.
The New York Times
has an interesting article, even if it doesn't prove anything scientifically, on Japanese ballplayers. Evidently, Iguchi shares the same blood type (Type O) as Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hideki Matsui, Sadaharu Oh and Kei Igawa.
Of course, Kaz Matsui, who helped to depress Iguchi's value for the Sox when he flopped with the Mets, is a Type O. And Ichiro Suzuki is a Type B. So it's not exactly a bulletproof hypothesis, even if the Japanese place a lot of importance on blood type. That was something I didn't know, so, hey.
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The Toronto Blue Jays offered Vernon Wells
a seven-year, $126 million contract, which he likely will sit on for a while. Would you want the Sox to throw that type of money at him if he bypasses it for free agency and has another All-Star season in Toronto this year? I could be persuaded either way at this point.
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Worst five holiday songs I've heard this year (not including novelty songs, meant to be annoying after one listen):
- Wonderful Christmastime -- Paul McCartney
- Last Christmas -- Wham!
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town -- Bruce Springsteen
- Feliz Navidad -- Any version
- Christmas Rapping -- The Waitresses
Three possibly conspicuous omissions:
- Happy Christmas -- John Lennon. I change the station as fast as I can when it comes on, but I do recognize it has some historical significance. Melissa Etheridge's version can be flushed, though.
- The Christmas Shoes -- Newsong. Only because I've managed to avoid it this year. If you've never heard it, here are the lyrics. It's perhaps the most pathetic attempt at commercial sympathy you'll ever witness. I don't even think O.J. could top it.
- Anything done by Burl Ives. I can't get mad at the guy who influenced the creation of Stinky Wizzleteats.