There's a PBS special on Japanese high school baseball that I have not seen, but I exchanged e-mails with the people who made it before I moved over here.

It's called Kokoyakyu, and I hope someone will tell me how it is....

http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2006/kokoyakyu/

I will always love "The Natural." Talk about great performances, tremendous production quality including gorgeous lighting, and a timeless feel.

If you were at all interested in music AND grew up in the NY area in the '80s and '90s, the demise of Tower Records is a landmark event (akin to the shuttering of CBGBs). Man, the hours I spent combing through the bins of both the W. 4th St. and West Side stores. Tower accounts for a good percentage of my entire CD collection. Happy memories!

I used to go down to the TR on W.4th after watching hoops at the cages, and it was always a place to meet friends. "Where should we meet?" "In front of Tower Records". There was always an open air market in the vacant lot next to the store.

also:

Damon said, "It's a no-brainer for us. If I had to go play first base, I'd do it for a few games here and there just so we can work Bernie in."

http://tinyurl.com/y3n4y4

just thought some people here might be interested in damon's campaigning for bernie's employment.

His mind would wonder at times and his instincts would go walk about but his contribution and class and example is and was so important. I know I'll miss that half crouch stance and little hop, the silly little spin move on a swing and a miss and the futile arm in the air gesture on a ball out of his range. I'll also miss those doubles laced to the gap and big hits and sliding catches and that great big beautiful smile.

Good men like Bernie don't seem to wander through the business of professional baseball often enough. If it should come to pass that his time is up already I will miss him. Bernie Williams Day will be a nuts event. I hope they find a way to polish a nice shiney plaque for him. He certainly has done his share.

maybe he'll take up a coaching job, so we can get a shot of him on the bench from time to time. (i know that i smile everytime i see mr. mattingly sitting there.)

his numbers during "The Dynasty" are definitely plaque-worthy. (in my unsolicited and meaningless opinion.)

Come to think of it, I heard somewhere that Virgin's Boston Megastore has itself closed.

10 MFD, Bernie was a wonderful Yankee for all the reasons you say and perhaps more than any of us can say usually words. But the good of the team outweighs the good of the individual, and in this case especially, its time for Bernie to hang 'em up. Melky deserves to have the time and chance to become what he'll be, just as Bernie did way back in 1991.

yes, it recently turned into a best buy with luxury condos above floor 3

So now it's what, only two months to pitchers and catchers?

other than newbury comics, you're pretty much out of luck. up until last spring, i was running a little local chain of used cd shops. that chain has since been dissolved into one solitary store.

people blame all of this on increased downloading, but i think the real problem is that major labels focus solely on "hit singles", which usually means disposable artists and music that has little longevity and virtually no shelf life.

a sad, sad state of affairs.

16 Oh, so you mean that the music business's problems are mostly of its own doing, and not because of all the evil freeloading downloaders?

I agree, and it is a sad, sad state of affairs.

When I lived in Brookline, there used to be a great independent music shop on Beacon St. that even sold records. Sometimes a little pricier than, say, Best Buy, for new stuff, but what a place to browse for old stuff. I hope its still there.

All said, I'm not surprised, though it is a shame to see what a barren hull they're becoming. Yes... this is absolutely a metaphor for the Knicks... (sniff) (Stops to think of something sarcastic to follow-up with, but instead silently finishes this sentence, sighs deeply and logs off...)

i have sworn off all music awards shows.

i do enjoy watching videos from the early MTV era... that was when anyone (physically) could be a rock star.

How much do you think they paid him to say that?

Eager to meet D&D Schilling? WTF?

If I'm in LA or SF, I'll stop by, but I've never been blown away by the place.

That said, if any of the branches closed, I'd be down about it.

24 27 Any chance he also said, "I'd also like to meet this Walking Greek God, Youkilis"?

Or "I'm hoping Manny Ramirez will teach me how to do strange things with my hair."

Oh boy - this could go on for awhile.

and yes, i find it odd that out of all the people on the team, he mentions schilling. that ought to do wonders for curt's low self esteem.

http://www.buymusichere.net/stores/newworldrecord/

http://bopshop.com

http://www.alternativemusic.com

I've done better at Bop Shop in one visit than I've done at any Amoeba branch in about 15 visits!

next time i get out that way i will try to check them out. (my sister went to SUNY buffalo for a couple of years, she mentioned new world record as being her favorite spot out there.)

this is a full service site.

34 "I'm hoping Doug Mirabelli will give me pointers about riding police escort through Boston."

34 "i look forward to learning the ways of the mulleted one. i believe the mullet is the source of schilling-san's inner strength."

36 alternative music is up in rochester, right? i ordered a cool cd from them online a coupla years ago and it was also a fine transaction.

i used to go to the Tower on Broadway & Lafayette all the time as a teenager and then when i was at NYU for Grad School. The Annex was great. Tower's always been overpriced and overrated, however. the annex ended up here in Atlanta when they moved to a bigger location a coupla years ago. the stock has been diminishing greatly, but even with the big discounts, it's still sorta pricey.

they'll most likely close soon after the holidays. all the stock has already been bought and will be sold to other distributors, so it'll never get stoopid cheap...

"I'm looking forward to the fans turning on me after my first rough outing."

"I'm looking forward to meeting the guy in the gorilla suit."

and, of course:
"I'm looking forward to meeting the head of bullpen security, Karim Garcia."

it is likely that Matsuzaka will mistake AROD for a teammate when he hears the boos AROD receives at Yankee Stadium...

he declined.

unlike the "straight shooter" mr. schilling.

matsuzaka is supposed to be very kind and i've even heard the word "sweet" used to describe him by a japanese reporter.

it will be hard to root against him, but i think i'll find a way.

We instead got Andy for 2/32.

Andy seems like a better pitcher, but he had has injuries over the last 3 years and his recent numbers are from a weak division of the NL, where Lily has been in the AL East.

Some comparing the dollars, we could have had Lily for an extra 2 years at 2$m/year or used him as trade bait.

I know we are all emotionally attached to Andy and his history with us.... but wa this deal, 2/32, really that wise?

45 Pete Abraham has a post about all of the extra perks heading Matsuzaka's way. Boras did better than we gave him credit.

I wonder if Godzilla has to pay his own rent.

That is all.

AP's agent said that they might not take the 2nd year. if there was an injury, etc. they'd walk away.

you can't assume the 2nd year if you trust the pettitte camp, which i choose to do.

as for lilly, those 4 years would be locked in, and the amount of money a pitcher of his calibur might get three years from now, if owners and GMs come to their senses could drop... so they'd be overpaying for mediocre pitching.

that is my take, anyway. i liked the signing.

in case you missed it in the NY times today...

"The Yankees have until Dec. 28 to sign Kei Igawa, the Japanese starter whose rights cost them $26 million. "We are making good progress," Igawa's agent, Arn Tellem, said in an e-mail message. "However, I do not anticipate reaching a deal this week.""

http://tinyurl.com/yk7p2d

that quote is beautiful, however.

I look forward to beating Jonathan Papelbon in Scrabble ... in English.

http://tinyurl.com/y7ftlr

that is the best news i've heard all day.