New Jersey: The Promised Land--The Weather

One thing about New Jersey, we have weather.

I mean, everywhere has weather... but here in New Jersey we have the weather you're expecting. Despite global warming, we get ALL FOUR SEASONS. It's cool and wet in the fall, cold and sometimes snowy in the winter, warmer in the spring, and hot in the summer. We have the Jersey Shore, where you can sunbathe and swim in the summer. We have Vernon, where you can ski in the winter.

Compare that to say, I don't know.... Michigan (#22).

I've been to Michigan. I've been to Michigan in the winter, I've been there in the spring, and I've been there in the summer. My dad used to live in Mt. Pleasant.

And Michigan doesn't have seasons. They have cold. They have gray clouds. The sun only makes guest appearances. I'm serious. I was in high school and we'd show up. And from 8 in the morning, until 7 in the evening, all you'd see are clouds. And then at 7, just as it was supposed to set... the sun would pop out and say hello. The sun was a tease.

Also, in NJ, we respect our weather. If it's cold, you'll see people bundled up in heavy jackets. Scarves. Gloves and hats. You know, doing what normal people do.

People in Michigan don't do they. When it's cold, they wear shorts! Some might say that's braving the elements.

I don't... I just say that's a quick way to frostbite.

Thank you, New Jersey, for bringing sanity to our seasons. If I lived in Michigan... I'd be a crazy person. Seasons would be a rumor to me.

Yep, I've been gone a while

This blog has been dormant for about 2 weeks, I think. It's been a very busy couple of weeks.

So what have I been doing?

Writing, revising, planning.

I just finished a short story I hope to publish in the next few weeks.

I'm still revising my third novel. It's getting there. Still very excited about it.

And I'm working on my fourth.

But, you can always catch me on Do Some Damage on Thursdays if you need a Dave White blog fix.

Why I Love Baseball

When Matsui hit the two run single in the 3rd to put the Yankees up 4-1, I knew it was over. I wouldn't say it, didn't want to jinx it, but the game just had that feel.

Inevitable.

And as the series drew closer and closer to the end, the restaurant I was in getting louder and louder, I started to think about how much I love baseball, in good Yankees seasons and bad.

The baseball playoffs, to me, are like a great noir thriller. Each series is a slow burn that builds over nine innings and then (with 2 off days) nine days. Each move is dissected, talked about, twisted. Each pitch, each moment builds on the last until you're so exhausted you don't even want to watch anymore. The games go on forever, killing your nerves and your ability to sleep. By the end of October (or early November) you've got dark circles under your eyes and are either ecstatic or depressed.

People talk about the game being too slow, but that's part of what makes it great. It's the perfect game to talk about. You can guess what's going to happen next. You can play each scenario out in your mind, picture a double off the wall or a strike out on a slider in the dirt. Or even worse, the dreaded double play.

There are heroes (for me Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera over the years) and villains (David Ortiz, Vlad Guerrero, Cliff Lee... midges) and morally conflicted players (A Rod... love him or hate him?). I'm even catching some flak this morning, because I'm superstitious... I picked against the Yankees each round, in old reverse jinx fashion. I couldn't admit it then, and no one believes me now.

And the best thing about baseball? It's perpetual.

Last night, the ball had barely smacked Teixiera's glove, we had barely high fived, when the conversation switched to next year. The GM meetings are on Monday.

How would the Red Sox respond? They clearly had an off year. Were they already calling Toronto to get Halladay?

The Mets had many questions marks. Would they try and sign Holliday and Lackey? They would be better if they did.

And yes, we even talked about the Yankees. Could they let Matsui walk? Would they bring back Damon or try and go out to get another starter?

You can't do that with any other sport. You can't break down football this way. There isn't a hot stove football season and the games are once a week. College basketball is my other favorite sport, but it can only last so long and only interest so many people. Only die hards care about recruiting.

But baseball. In the Northeast, you can talk about baseball to anyone. You can discuss the weakness in a bullpen for hours and few people will look at you funny. You can trash a manager, celebrate a player, hate a team, love a team, and complain about payroll for hours.

From April to October, I become a sports talk radio junkie. I can't turn it off. I listen to all the idiot callers saying that trading Melky Cabrera for Roy Halladay is a fair deal. That Girardi should have pitched Chad Gaudin in Game 5. That Mariano Rivera should pitch 3 innings in Game 6.

I know this post can seem obnoxious. The Yankees just won. The Yankees always win. The Yankees and recently the Red Sox are the national villains. Everyone hates them. And what makes something great? Great villains.

I could have written this post last year. I could have written this post any year over the last 8, when the Yankees blew it.

The pain is fun. The joy is even better.

I can't wait until the rumor mill starts up again.

Go Yankees, 2009 World Champions.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Men's Basketball 2009-2010 season

I know it's still baseball season (on November 3rd!?) and I should be focusing on my Yankees, but my college hoops tickets just came in. And since it's about a week and a half away, it's time for me to do my annual predictions. Lemme know what you think in the comments!

This team is still young, with only one senior, and has brought in six new faces including two juniors (one a transfer and one a JUCO) and four freshman. While the talent and depth of this team is better than it's been in years, it's going to take a while to gel, I think. While I expect sophomore studs Mike Rosario and Greg Echinique to be solid... and maybe even more than solid, this team is going to rise and fall on the back of JUCO PG James Beatty. Can he make the engine go? Let's see? Hill's head is on the chopping block here, so it's an interesting season...

Game by game prediction:

RUTGERS vs. Marist: Last year RU won by only 1 point in the season debut. I expect a better showing here as RU debuts a fast break. The last time RU excelled at the fast break George Bush was in office. The first one. 1-0 (0-0 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Drexel Legends Classic-Rosario has a big game with 20 points, but Echinique finally sees the ball in the right places and has a double double. 2-0 (0-0 BE)


RUTGERS vs. Vermont-This team is still young and is trying to gel. They slip up here in a tight one. Fans leave the game and search the parking lot for torches to light. 2-1 (0-0 BE)

RUTGERS at Massachusetts-RU rebounds with a solid, if not spectacular... and also closer than necessary win down in the Atlantic City Tourney. 3-1 (0-0 BE)

RUTGERS at Florida/Michigan State-RU is still feeling the momentum of the win the day before and is able to hang with these two tough teams for three quarters of the game. Late turnovers get them and they lose by double digits... No matter which team they play. 3-2 (0-0 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Princeton-You hate to play Princeton and your D has to be tough on those back door cuts. RU plays a lot of zone in this one, Princeton misses it's share of 3s. Our front court pounds them. 4-2 (0-0 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Colgate-RU beats the Red Raiders in a strong effort as everything clicks. Is this team starting to come together? 5-2 (0-0 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Monmouth-Maybe it is. Another solid showing. Fans start to get excited. 6-2 (0-0 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Rider-With the excitement in the building, RU lays an egg as Rosario has an off shooting night and our Big men are in foul trouble. Rider wins and are better than most expect. 6-3 (0-0 BE)

RUTGERS vs. NJIT-Fans wait outside with pitchforks and expect to riot. But RU does what it's supposed to beats up a bad team. 7-3 (0-0 BE)

RUTGERS vs. St. Peter's-Not even close. The Jersey City team makes the bus trip... hits a few threes early, but the team looks like it's clicking again. 8-3 (0-0 BE)

RUTGERS at North Carolina-RU hangs tough again with NC, as UNC is really young. But being on the road hurts. Reminds fans of the Waters second year, in a game they should have won. 8-4 (0-0 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Cincinnati-Lance Stephenson is cleared to play and excited to come to the area. He lights up RU for 28 pts. RU hangs in there as Rosario and Ech are starting to feel there oats. Beatty looks solid, but RU falls in the last two minutes. 8-5 (0-1 BE)

RUTGERS at West Virginia-This game isn't even close. WVU uses their athelticism to dominate RU. 8-6 (0-2 BE)


RUTGERS at Providence-Would love to call this a win, and RU makes a late rally. They never win at the DD center, however. 8-7 (0-3 BE)


RUTGERS vs. Syracuse-RU has this one circled on the calender. Hangs tough, takes a double digit lead. But turnovers hurt the team again. 8-8 (0-4 BE)

RUTGERS at USF-RU goes down to USF to get their first BE win. The guards are hot and win by six. 9-8 (1-4 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Villanova-The final four contender runs RU out of the building as they beat RU at it's own game. The first high scoring affair in a while. Very fun game to watch. 9-9 (1-5 BE)

RUTGERS at Georgetown-A tough defensive battle, but G'Town hangs on. RU falls under .500 for the first time. 9-10 (1-6 BE)

RUTGERS at Marquette-RU loses in the final seconds on free throws, but something seems to click with the team. Beatty and Ech both have double doubles. 9-11 (1-7 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Notre Dame-Whatever clicked in the 'Quette game grows a bit and RU shuts down Harangody for a tough, solid win. 10-11 (2-7 BE)

RUTGERS vs. St. John's-Momentum carries over and RU out runs a team that wants to muck it up and play a plodding game. 11-11 (3-7 BE)

RUTGERS at Louisville-RU can't keep the momentum going and is run out of the building. 11-12 (3-8 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Caldwell-Double digit win against a AA team. 12-12 (3-8 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Georgetown-RU gets some revenge... the front court plays solid D and RU wins in the final seconds. Is there hope? 13-12 (4-8 BE)

RUTGERS at DePaul-RU wins convincingly against a bad team and looks like they're turning a corner. 14-12 (5-8 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Connecticut-Rosario comes out to play and goes off for 30, but UConn is too strong as they are coming together at the right time. 14-13 (5-9 BE)

RUTGERS at Seton Hall-Seton Hall is good this year. I hate it as I'm there and angry. 14-14 (5-10 BE)

RUTGERS vs. DePaul-RU breaks out for another win. 15-14 (6-10 BE)

RUTGERS vs. Seton Hall-Seton Hall and RU wage a tough battle, but SHU is playing for an NCAA bid and wins in the final minute. 15-15 (6-11 BE)

RUTGERS at Pittsburgh-RU gives Pitt a scare, but it's not enough 15-16 (6-12 BE)

Is this enough to keep Hill's job? I'm really not sure... but each game in the BE at the RAC is close and could have gone either way. Fans are confused, and most are angry and are calling for Hill's head.

An Honor to Be Nominated

I don't know if people know this--I didn't until last year--but when you're nominated for an award and don't win, you still get some swag. It's a cool little certificate to remember your nomination.

When I was just getting into reading crime fiction, specifically PI stuff, it was always cool to see "SHAMUS NOMINATED AUTHOR" on the front covers. And I was even happier when it was plastered on to a book I loved. It made me feel like I had good taste.

I would be lying if I didn't imagine the same thing plastered on the covers of my books one day.

I've published two books, and both were nominated for Shamuses. I missed B'Con this year so I wasn't able to get to the Awards dinner. Even though I didn't win, getting the second certificate in the mail today was such a huge buzz. Part of my dreams had come true.

Thank you so much, PWA.