Finally Connecting the Dots

(Composed on July 12, 2011)

I am sitting at home, right now, getting ready to watch the 2011 All Star Game. A year ago I was sitting at my sister-in-law's house in Seattle doing the same thing. This morning I met with my cardiologist who, in effect, discharged me. I don't have to see him until mid-November. My wife, Pam, was with me and we got to talking about how crappy I felt when watching the All Star Game llast year.

The day before, I went to the Boeing Museum of Flight. I remember getting a veggie wrap for lunch, but felt a bit bloated afterwards, not thinking anything about it. The next day I went to the Boeing Aircraft plant for a tour. I was feeling quite bloated and uncomfortable and, quite honestly, cannot recall if I even ate lunch. I really felt like crap and, as I was leaving, I asked one of the customer service reps if there was a pharmacy nearby. He directed me to one about a mile away, which I stopped at. Asking the pharmacist what he'd recommend for bloating, he suggested Gaviscon, as I recall. I took and chewed about 3 of the tablets and made my way back to Beth's house. That evening I called the Seattle V.A. hospital to get some advice, but was unable to get much. I just sat around and watched the game, uncomfortable though I was.

I had no further problems until early December when Pam and I were in Miami. I had put the Seattle experience completely out of my mind until this morning. In Miami I had the same bloated feeling, only worse this time. Acceding to Pam's wishes, I called 911 and was hospitalized whereupon I was diagnosed with atrial fibrilation. The rest is history.

While discussing matters with my cardiologist, Dr. Akella, this morning Pam brought up the Seattle episode and all of a sudden it hit me--the bloated feeling I had in Seattle was identical to the bloated feeling I had in Miami only not nearly as bad. I have had stomach problems all my life and I simply attributed the bloating to indigestion. Now, I know better.

Anyway, I was given a clean bill of health by Dr. Akella this morning and plan to be much more judicious in my choice of food.

Reflections on Casey and Caylee

The center ring of the 3 year old media circus has finally been cleared and the nation can (hopefully) get on with things that matter, really matter to all of us, not just the fate of one young woman. It is such a tragic shame that little Caylee met such a deplorable end. She appeared to be a happy and much-loved child and her life was cut way too short. Something like that should never happen to a young child.

People were shocked and stunned at the Not Guilty verdict rendered by the jury. I'll admit I was too. But, everyone seems to forget that the verdict by a jury of Ms. Anthony's peers exhibited the American system of jurisprudence worked as it should have. The state has the burden of proof. Ms. Anthony does not have to prove her innocence. If anything failed, it was the State of Florida and its prosecution of the case against her. They could not prove how little Caylee died; when she died; or who was responsible for her death. That was the basis of "Reasonable Doubt". Unless someone was caught red-handed or admitted killing the little one, then it is up to the state to prove to prove she died when, where and by what means she met her fate. True, the circumstantial evidence was enormous, but the state failed to carry its burden of proof.

Personally, I feel Casey probably did do it. But, it is now history. She had a smart attorney who, incidentally, had only been practicing for three years or so before taking on the case. Sure, he may have used what some would term "dirty tricks" in his defense of Casey, but his job was to create "reasonable doubt". That he did. He was not being paid to exonerate her. I also feel that O.J. probably hacked his wife and Ronald Goldman to death. But... he was also acquitted. Like it or not, that is the way our system works! The burden of proof is on the state, not on the accused. Like it or not, that is the way our system works and, for my money, it is still be best damn system ever devised by the mind of man.

Setting the Record Straight, Part 2

At last night's Marauders game my buddy, Jared, told me of the fallout from my confrontation with the Marauders pitching coach, Mike Steele. He (Jared) had told Trfevor Gooby, the Pirates Big Kahuna in Florida, of the "discussion" I had with Steele. Gooby then let Steele know that confrontation with the fans is unacceptable. Further, Steele had to relay that on to the team, telling them that any violations of the policy would lead to a demotion to the Pirates Low A team, the West Virginia Power, from Charleston, WV.

As far as I'm concerned, the incident is now history.

Setting the Record Straight with a Pitching Coach

As a retiree, one of the great loves I have is watching the Pittsburgh Pirates' High Class A farm team, the Bradenton Marauders, play. I purchased a season ticked and have been to practically all the games this season. Part of my support for the Marauders is teaming with my good buddy, Craig, in cheering the Marauders on and heckling the opposition . The way I figure it, if the players can't take the heckling at this level, they surely cannot take it when they hit the Major Leagues, should they make it that far.

The day before yesterday an incident occurred that really got under my skin. Craig and I were sitting in our usual spots behind home plate, doing what we've done for the past two seasons--letting the opposition, in this case the Palm Beach Cardinals, have it. We enjoy what we do, as do the fans around us. One of the razzes I am known for is to march a batter, who has struck out, back to the dugout with a "left, right, left, right... sit down sucker!" cadence and the fans love it. I have had many compliments on my heckling, both inside the ballpark and on the way back to my car afterwards. Craig was exercising his First Amendment right of free speech and taunting the opposing batters, as well.

However, in about the third inning, as the Marauders were preparing to bat, their pitching coach, Mike Steele, came over to Craig and told him to take it easy in his heckling of the opposition. He said nothing to me and was specifically targeting Craig. Both of us, as well as Craig's girlfriend who was sitting between us, were at a loss as to why he took it upon himself to talk to Craig. Yesterday, before the ballgame, Trevor Gooby, the Pirates' Director of Florida Operations, searched me out and apologized on behalf of the Marauders. I told him I was not the person Steele was talking to, but my buddy Craig, a season ticket holder for the past two seasons and who purchased two season tickets this year.

Today I received an email from Craig, telling me he was through with the Marauders--no more games for the rest of the season and no season tickets for next year. I wrote him back and tried to convince him that it was not his fault; that Steele had no business admonishing him, since it wasn't his job. I did a slow burn on my way to the ballpark and when I got there I proceeded to search Steele out and got in his face, telling him he had no business getting on Craig's case and that he was paid to coach the players; not to police the fans. I further told him that, if he has a problem with any of the fans, he should contact Gooby or someone else in the front office and let them handle it. He seemed to be a bit stunned at being called out and all he could muster was an "Okay". One of my other buddies, Jared was there and told me that, as I was leaving, one of the pitchers told me to take a [friggin'] hike. That's fine. I love it because it tells me that there is a sense of camaraderie on the team. Hopefully, Steele will realize that his priorities are the players and not the fans.

In the meantime, GO MARAUDERS!!!