If you're not watching ...

Seriously, I love The Daily Show.

I actually think it does things that "real" journalists SHOULD be doing ... but don't.

Take a look at this clip from last night ... granted it has a pro-Democrat slant ... but it really shows off how great the Daily Show's research team is.

Thanks, but no thanks

The Cleveland Indians want me to buy season tickets for 2009 ... I just got the e-mail.

For the past 3-4 years, the same Tribe sales guy has contacted me about season tickets. I've usually purchased a 6-game plan ...

This year, this was my response to him.

"Brian,

No offense to you ... or the organization ... but I will not be buying Indians tickets prior to the 2009 season.

Frankly, I'm tired of paying for full-price tickets that are offered later in the season at half-price.

I understand the need to get more butts in the seats during a disappointing season, but it's a slap in the face to those of us who buy tickets and support the team from March forward.

So, my new theory of ticket purchasing will be to buy them at the box office for games I want to go to ... and take advantage of your half-price offers later in the year.

Plus, I have always supported the team in the off-season with my cash, but as a hardcore baseball fan, it's hard to see my money not being put to any uses whatsoever.

To stand pat after nearly making the World Series in 2007 was a fatal mistake.

2009 will be a critical year in my fandom ... I hope to celebrate another playoff appearance next season. But, if it doesn't happen, I can't see myself continuing to support the team's ownership and front office."

I'm eager to see if I get a response.

Slow-hio Turnpike

Ok ... this is gonna turn out to be a bit of a rant ... but so be it.

I've been driving the Turnpike quite a bit recently, and am absolutely amazed at the traffic backups at the toll plazas at I-77 and Rt. 8.

Frankly, things could run smoother ... and I blame both the Turnpike's workers ... AND it's drivers.

A couple things.

To the workers, when I give you a dollar on my 50 cent toll, does it really take 2 minutes to make change? Please, please, please Turnpike commission ... put these people on the clock or something.

Seriously, I've never seen a slower collective group of workers in my life.

And to the drivers, you know, you too can speed up the process.

My suggestion: Look at the ticket BEFORE you pull into the toll plaza. That way, you don't have to dive into your purse or change tray when you suddenly find out the toll is 50 cents.

Also, if you do know the correct amount, just hand the money to the toll booth worker along with your ticket.

Honestly, you do NOT need to hand the workers your ticket, wait for them to say "50 cents", THEN give them the 50 cents!

What do you think is gonna happen? The worker is going to say ... "Hey, you're our 100th driver of the day, it's on the house!"

And, to the Turnpike Commission, why is it taking more than a year to get EZ Pass up and running? Take a look at this map of the states who managed to beat you to the punch. Pick it up already.

Oh, and looking at that map, you know what else it could represent? States where you could legally gamble ... of course Ohio isn't a part of that one either.

Don't get me started.

My favorite Palin

Sorry Sarah, Michael is still #1 on my list.

Pigskin & Politics

Being a now-former TV guy, it's interesting to watch things unfold from the outside.

Of course, tonight is the night that Barack Obama will officially accept an historic nomination to become the nation's first African-American candidate for President of the United States.

NBC's coverage begins at 10pm ... following a pre-season football game that begins at 7pm.

So, here's a question ... what happens if the game runs long? Does Obama delay his speech for a pre-season football game? Of course not.

But, will the network risk missing Obama's speech? I don't think so ... I think they'd cut off the end of the game if they absolutely had to.

But, here's an interesting twist. My old employer, WKYC, is showing the Browns instead of the NBC game tonight.

One difference. The Browns game kicks at 7:30 ... and should go until at least 10:30.

That leaves a greater chance that Channel 3 will pre-empt some of Obama's speech.

Now, I can't say as I blame WKYC. This all comes down to money. Why show the NBC game ... when you can show the Browns, and reap all the local ad revenue from the game.

And, I also know that Obama's speech will be available on about a dozen other channels.

But, here's a question ... how does showing the Browns game ... and potentially missing Obama's speech ... position WKYC's news department?

The station, after all, wants you to turn to it as a source for politics. It has the city's lone television political "beat" reporter, it worked hard to land and sponsor the Democratic debate at CSU, and it has a team of political analysts ... many of whom have given convention insight on the station's 11pm newscast this week.

Doesn't a failure to show Obama's speech undermine a lot if not all of that?

I'm sure Channel 3 has its fingers crossed that the game ends in enough time to cut to the speech.

But if it doesn't, make no mistake, this decision was made for one reason. Cold, hard, cash.

And you can run that one ... right into the end zone.

(UPDATE: The Game wrapped up about 10 minutes after Obama took the stage, which isn't bad. However, while we were learning about the "player of the game" ... Barack Obama accepted the nomination.)

Running? What the Devil?!?!

Well, I'm trying something new with my down time ... running.

It's a big leap for me, because, frankly, I'm not a runner.

It's not the act itself that worries me ... it's the huge mental block I have towards the activity.

You see, I grew up a baseball player. And in baseball, running is punishment.

We would begin practice indoors in March, and play catch in the school gym.

Coach would say "Every time I hear a bad throw rattle off the bleachers ... the team runs a lap." Needless to say. you grew to hate that noise ... and those laps.

Then, once we moved outdoors, we would end particularly bad practices with the baseball version of a suicide. It involved running out a single, double, triple, and home run .. from home plate ... in succession ... at full speed.

Now, running 90 feet as hard as you can, followed by 180, 270, and 360 doesn't sound like a lot. But, as John Kruk once so eloquently said, "Honey, I ain't an athlete, I'm a baseball player."

So, running has always been a bad, bad thing in my mind.

But, since I have some time on my hands, need to get outdoors, and frankly, need something to take my mind off my situation ... I'm giving it a shot.

Look, I'm never gonna run a marathon ... nor would I ... because frankly, I'd lose interest a few miles in. And, I vow to never be one of those people who feel the need to tell you how many miles they ran that day.

I don't look graceful doing it. I don't feel graceful doing it. All I'm trying to do is avoid hearing my old Coach yell "That's another lap!"

But, if it keeps me moving ... I'll give it a shot.

A Penny Earned

A major milestone for this little blog o'mine today.

Yes, I have Google Ads on the side.

Yes, I don't expect anything from them ... but I'm new at this game so I tossed 'em on for the heck of it.

I'm proud to say, that as of today, I've earned my first penny!

Where do I begin with the thank yous?

Seriously, to the both of you who read this on a regular basis, I appreciate your eyes.

And, to whomever it was that actually clicked on one of those things, allow me to buy you a beer.

Well, at least allow me to buy it after I've earned a few more pennies. :)