Three years

Three years ago today I started this blog. I wasn't sure what it was going to be then but I decided I was going to be a blogger. I'd figure out that that meant later.

Anyway the posting here has slowed as my Daily Hampshire Gazette blog has gained momentum. Still I like this one and plan on continuing it for the forseeable future. So here's today's three-year anniversary links.

Sports Illustrated.com looks at Bobby Valentine's celebrity in Japan

The beginning scene in this New Yorker story on Virginia Tech is moving and painful.

Mike Vaccaro says Derek Jeter should take some responsibility.

Bill Plaschke wonders what happened to the ball from Kirk Gibson's home run.

Wetzel on the Patriots.

A sad for journalism

David Halberstam was killed in a car crash today.

Plaschke

To nobody's surprise, Plaschke is brilliant.

An underdog and a virtuoso

Ian O'Connor did an amazing job getting back story on Zach Johnson .

Meanwhile this isn't a sports story but its an interesting read. The Washington Post convicned Joshua Bell, a violin virtuoso to play in a D.C. Metro Station appearing to be a street musician.

Dice-Blogging

In start No. 1, Daisuke Matsuzaka justified the hype.
Dan Shaughnessy, not the easiest of critics, came away impressed.
So was Mike Vaccaro, and David Ortiz.
Tony Massaroti said Matsuzaka starts will be events now, while Michael Silverman said Matsuzaka lived up to the hype.
ESPN looks a the spectacle, while the Boston Herald looks at the media.
Fans got up early in Japan.

Two great Robinsons and Ken Burger

If you don't have ESPN Insider, it's worth it just for Buster Olney's baseball blog. I mention this because several of my links are taken from it.

The NY Times has a good story Cincinnati Reds player, who is back after having a kidney transplant.

I like Ken Griffey Jr.'s idea of wearing 42 on April 15th in honor of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson integrating baseball. The entire Dodger team will do the same thing. Several players on other teams are also panning on doing it including LaTroy Hawkins.
Hawkins, a student of Negro League history, didn't hesitate when asked if he wanted to participate.
"I don't feel worthy, actually," Hawkins said. "We owe him so much. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be playing this game."

Richard Justice writes about Eddie Robinson.

I don't know Charleston Post and Courier columnist Ken Burger personally, but we've emailed a few times. He's a good man and was a friend of Casey's. Joe Posnanski wrote a nice piece on him today as he battles prostate cancer. He's writing about his battle with cancer. This is the first column on it. Other columns (out of order) are here, here, here.

In another column Burger recommends Posnanski's book on Buck O'Neil.

A legend on a legend

Jerry Izenberg looks at Eddie Robinson

The Japan perspective

The Boston Globe ran a column from a Japanese columnist on Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Opening Day

Howie Kendrick credits his grandmother for a great deal of his success.
The Detroit News has a good Jeremy Bonderman story.
Scott Kazimir thinks this year feels different in Tampa.
Felix Hernandez has the weight of a franchise on his shoulders at age 20.
The Washington Post looks at the evolving Eric Bedard.
The DMN has Ian Kinsler ready to break out.
Even the Royals are optimistic.






There's a fun Don Cherry story in the New York Times.