NorCalUrban

The Yankees, sheessh... Come on, I'm DYING here. 2 and 6 on the current road stand, 9 games out in the division lead. Girardi - PLEASE stop benching Damon.  No joy in mudville....

Samuel and I took off for a few days of fun and baseball in the Big Apple last sunday. Pictures and and update when we return later this week. Go Yankees!

The Redsox are foiled again! CNNSI Reports: NEW YORK (AP) -A construction worker's bid to curse the Yankees by planting a Red Sox jersey in their new stadium was foiled Sunday when the team removed the offending shirt from its burial spot in the ballpark. After locating the shirt in a service corridor behind what will be a restaurant in the new Yankee Stadium, construction workers jackhammered through the remaining concrete Sunday and pulled it out. The team learned that a Sox-rooting construction worker had buried a shirt in the stadium from a report in the New York Post on Friday, team officials said. Yankees President Randy Levine said the team at first considered leaving the shirt. "The first thought was, you know, it's never a good thing to be buried in cement when you're in New York,'' Levine said. "But then we decided, 'Why reward somebody who had really bad motives and was trying to do a really bad thing?''' The worker had buried a ...

Up late. Came home from the  One East Palo Alto board meeting a little wound up from the great discussions. Baseball season is starting! Whoo Hoo! Great news from the Yankee camp! The young pitchers are looking good! I love the start of baseball season - it's like all things are new again! Check out the great  Yankees blog, "Blogging the Bombers. by Daily News reporter Mark Feindsand It's great stuff!

I know it's somewhat irrelevant in the grand scheme of things - but Mariano Rivera singed for a three year deal, keeping him in pinstripes for the rest of his career. The Steinbrenner sons, in my opinion, did a good job in putting the team back together this year. ARod should sign in the upcoming days. Things are starting to look up! The New York Daily News reports: Mariano Rivera did what he does best Monday: He closed the deal. Rivera, the team's All-Star closer, agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract, remaining in the only big-league uniform he has ever worn. Rivera's agent, Fernando Cuza, informed the club of the pitcher's decision, which came two days after he returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic. With Jorge Posada and Rivera back in the fold, the Yankees need only polish off Alex Rodriguez's contract in the coming days to finish off their heavy offseason lifting. "We've got everybody back," senior vice president Hank Steinbrenne...

I'm very pleased about the outcome of the A-Rod - Yankees drama. In the end, I think the Yankees handled the situation well and Alex, after seeking wise counsel from tycoon Warren Buffet, decided to reign in his agent Scott Boras. The Yankees are the right fit for A-Rod, and visa-versa. As to the $275 million contract I have two reactions. My inner progressive says that it's somewhat sick that we would be willing to pay someone $27 million dollars a year to hit a white ball. How many lives could be saved with that money? However, my inner capitalist (and Yankee fan) says that business is business and the free market has the right to place value where it wants. In the end it's interesting drama and great for the Yankees and A-Rod. I guess there still is 'safety in a multitude of counselors'. Mike Lupica from the New York Daily News reports: Warren Buffet to A-Rod: Dial Yankees Alex Rodriguez did not just talk to friends in Miami about coming back to the Yankees. And...

Sam's playing fall ball right now for an East Palo Alto team. Here's some pics from his game last Saturday. Speaking of baseball. Good news: Yankees come back from a 14 1/2 game deficit to make it into to playoffs. Bad news: they are fighting for their lives against the Indians, who they dominated throughout the regular season. I can barely think straight right now! Facing elimination, the Yanks came back to win last night's game on a solid outing by rookie pitcher Phil Hughes after Clemens was booted. Johnny Damon came through. Whew - the Yanks finally looked like the Yanks! Redsox sweep the Angels to move on - man do I have great disdain for the Redsox. 4:30 today is another game...

Yankees sweep Boston at the Stadium and pull ahead in wild card race. They also pull to 5 behind the slumping Red Sox! Go Yankees! The victory, completing a sweep on the heels of strong pitching from Andy Pettitte and Clemens, moved New York into sole possession of the American League Wild Card lead. New York closed within five games of the AL East-leading Red Sox. "We know we're better than what we did in Detroit," manager Joe Torre said, referring to a lost weekend in which the Yankees dropped three of four. "There wasn't anything we had to answer to. You're going to do as well as your pitching, and our starting pitching in this series was terrific." "Nothing's over until your last out," Cano said. "We've got a month left. We've got to keep playing hard and win games."

The New York Times reports: In the 35 years since vines began sprouting out of its sandy soil, the North Fork of Long Island has fought to be recognized as a bona fide wine region, and now more than a million visitors a year visit the tasting rooms at its 30 vineyards to sample award-winning merlots and cabernet francs. But this season, small signs bearing stern messages — “No Buses,” “No Limos,” “Appointment Only” — have sprouted outside many of the wineries. There also are reports of tastings gone wild involving intoxicated visitors who have tossed back full glasses of wine without regard to nose or body until they grabbed the brass spittoon for baser purposes. The latest additions to local lore include a story about members of an inebriated group at the Palmer Vineyards here who hopped off a hayride and began gallivanting naked through the vines. Then there were the drunken customers at the Pugliese Vineyards in Cutchogue who jumped into the shimmering lake next to the elegant out...

Played golf with my normal crew this morning at Palo Alto Muni. My Friday morning partners are a bunch of retired guys and a couple of pastors who have welcomed me into their normal group. It's good to be the youngest! They really are a great group of men. I feel honored to be with them One man is 82 years old and is still walking 18 holes! I can't complain about my sore feet when I'm with them. I shot a horrible 53 on the front nine then parred 4 holes in a row to shoot 43 on the back ending with a score of 96. Not great, but getting better! My handicap is now 24.3, down from around plus 30 6 months ago. The Yankees are in town this weekend playing the Giants. I like both teams, but I'm a Yankee fan at heart. The Giants are my National League team. It's the first time the Yankees have played in San Francisco. I couldn't get tickets - but I'm watching it on TV. This week is our yearly Church of God in Christ California Northwest Holy Convocation. This year...

It's been a tough year for a Yankee fan. But - all is looking better. Yankees get 7th straight win, Abreu is looking like his old self. The Rocket has relaunched... Now all we need is for the Red Sox to get a little of the negative mojo we had for the first two months of the season. Forget you, Steve Joh! We'll see how things end up!

So - I'm on my way to the NFCDCU conference in New Orleans. I was asked to sit on a panel that is talking about emerging models in the community development credit union world. I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing more about other youth programs around the country. My flight has been delayed two hours. A bunch have been cancelled, so we'll see what happens... I should be working - I have a ton to do. BUT - I got up at 4:00 am and have the attention span of a flying bat right now - so I might as well blog. I've been somewhat sporadic in my postings, so now is a good time to catch you up on the last few weeks. Random comment - There are two adorable little girls next to me, it's been fun talking to them. It seems like the whole airport is delayed. Random comment - 4:05 departure... Had a great time with Jeremy in New York a couple of weeks ago. Jeremy scored tickets for the Yankees / Red Sox game. Jeremy is a good guy. It's been good getting to know him o...

Sam and I are headed to the Urban Youthworker's Institute conference in LA. We come back Saturday. On Sunday I head to NYC to do some research with area credit unions. This is part of a strategic planning initiative for our project here in EPA. Posting may be sparse... Looking forward to seeing everyone in LA. Jeremy found us tickets for the Yankee game on Tuesday night - vs Boston no less! It's definitely the bright spot of the trip!

Igawa Debut Dazzling As Kei Igawa prepared to take the mound for a two-inning stint in the Yankees' lone intrasquad game of the spring, pitching coach Ron Guidry delivered a simple message to him. "Have fun," Guidry said. Igawa did just that, throwing two nearly flawless frames in his first game action since he signed with the Yankees this winter.

- I've been golfing more lately. My friend Steve Zeisler from Peninsula Bible Church has me golfing with a group of retired men each Friday. It really sucks to have a 75 year old man out drive you by 25 yards - so I'm recommitted to the game. Last Monday I snuck out for nine holes at dusk at Palo Alto Muni. I ended up golfing alone, sun setting, moon rising over the bay... like a slice of heaven, with a slicing golf ball. The pic does no justice. Golfing with these gentleman has been one of the highlights of the week for me. All of them are men of faith who are still serving God faithfully. The wisdom I recieve from them is priceless. Please pray for Steve - he recently had knee replacment surgery and is laid up... - My friend at church, Marche, got blessed with a new car (FREE)! Really - God is Good! Marche is a faithful servant. Yea God! - Giants resign Barry Bonds... hmmm. $16 million a year to play 1/2 the season??? I guess it's good work if you can find it. - Yanks r...