MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2009

HEY HEY, IT'S OPENING DAY!

Yes boys and girls, it is Opening Day in Major League Baseball, to many, the unofficial sign that Spring is indeed here (though you wouldn't know it by all of the rain and in some cases, snowstorms taking place around the country). No more pre-hype for all of the teams, no more exhibitions or spring training games; all the games count now. There excitement in the air for baseball fans as they pin their hopes on their favorite teams to make it to the World Series in October. There's nothing like it.

For the locals, the NY Mets kick off the season in Cincinnati vs the Reds at 1pm (weather permitting) and the NY Yankees follow up with their opener vs the Baltimore Orioles at 4pm. Now some teams have already cancelled their openers due to snow, of all things. Another rite of Spring I guess.

PLEASE NOTE: Third and Long will once again carry the MLB EXTRA INNINGS package, allowing all fans to see EVERY game of EVERY MLB team this season. So if you are a fan of the local teams or a fan from Seattle, L.A., Chicago and yes even Cleveland, you can catch your teams here.

NHL Update: The NY Rangers took a huge hit in their quest for the playoffs when they were shut out by Boston on Saturday 1-0. Coupled with wins by Montreal and Florida, the Rangers now find themselves in the fight of their playoff lives going into the last week of the regular season. They are currently holding on for dear life to the eighth and final playoff spot with only 3 games left. And none of those games are easy ones: Montreal on Tuesday (I'll be there of course), and a home and away set against Philadelphia on Tuesday/Sunday. Playoffs begin on April 15 (and we'll carry all NHL Playoff games here).

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL TONIGHT: Well, after a furious two weeks, it's all come down to this: NORTH CAROLINA vs MICHIGAN STATE. Tipoff- just after 9pm. Will the Tar Heels pull off the expected victory and make my Final Four predictions come true? Or will the Spartans pull off the upset and bring love to the Big Ten? These two teams played at Ford Field (the site of tonight's game) in December and the Tar Heels rolled away with a blowout victory. Things should be different this time around as Michigan State will have players on the court who were out with injuries in the first game.

Join us for the big game tonight and for "RECESSION MONDAYS" featuring $1.00 Bud/Bud Light/Coors Light mugs OR $2.00 all other domestic drafts mugs (Sam Adams, Blue Moon, Brooklyn Dark Chocolate Stout, Sixpoint Righteous Rye) ALL NIGHT LONG!

AND ANOTHER THING: "Fast and the Furious 3". Opened with $72 million at the box office this weekend. Really? Really?

Bartending last night, I found myself among some rather interesting people. There's the one guy whom I seem to kick out every Sunday night for pretty much the same thing. He's an older Irish fellow (I only bring that up because he only brought it up about fifty times). He'll be alright when he comes in, but after he orders his first Grey Goose/Soda, he somehow transforms into a blabbering dolt with facial tics that would make you wince. I usually have to kick him out when he begins to bother the other customers (usually female). It took me a couple of weeks to figure out his deal because he only seems to come in on Sunday nights. Now he's made my famous "short leash" list.

I also met these two couples from California, here in NYC for the first time for a wedding. They were pretty nice and we chatted about the same old things you tend to chat with tourists about. The places they've seen. The prices of everything. How nice New Yorkers really are. However, for some reason, one of the tourists kept complaining about Times Square and how overpriced things were there. He kept harping on it and finally said "I love New York, but I'll never go back to Times Square again!". Okay.

As they wrapped up to leave, I wished them well and asked where they were going next. The same guy replied: "Times Square, to take some pictures". WTF?


AND FINALLY: We had a visit from our own REDSKINS GIRL who was up visiting from Virginia over the weekend with her new boytoy. She looks great and it was a pleasure seeing her again. Still crazy as ever! Speaking of the weekend, this past one was a very busy one, no doubt due to the Final Four and some great weather! I found myself a bit frazzled by it when it was all said and done. It goes with the territory I guess.

Welcome back baseball.


Nuff Said