A NATION MAKES A RE-ASSESSMENT

Today has been a long one.

Since around 1:15 CT, I have been either on the phone, or trying to answer, or in some cases question answers, via email, to / of the news of multiple trades and player movement made by the Red Sox organization before the MLB non-waiver trade deadline at 4:00 ET this afternoon.

Friends, from within the Red Sox Nation, as far away as Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, to Petaluma, California have agonized over how The Nation would proceed. We all now know.

I plan to go into the specific deals over the next couple days with posts after I’ve let the clouds clear a bit. Having said that, I have three initial concerns: 1) where is the starting pitching going to come from beyond Clay Buchholz?; 2) what will happen with Yoenis Cespedes – acquired today from Oakland in the Lester deal after the 2015 season – will it be another contractual bind scenario?; and, 3) will the Sox be active again around the first of September of this season when all teams can go get players, after they have gone through waivers – called “a money dump.”

It’s my sense, at this present juncture, the winter season may be filled with the sound of “God bless us, everyone!” coming from 4 Yawkey Way. The Nation’s candle never goes out. 

 

SCOTLAND’S REFERENDUM

Without hesitation, I think I’m safe in saying that most Americans don’t have a clue, and could care less, about the upcoming election this fall in Scotland. On Thursday, September 18th, the great clans of the country – the Adairs, the Campbells, the Fergussons, the Haigs, and on and on, they go – will march off to vote on whether they, the Scots, want their independence from the Crown.

I suspect our media with be relatively slow and plodding to report of this development. On one hand, it’s easily understood why that would be the case. America, certainly, has its own upcoming mid-term elections (ask this year’s college freshman class what the date of our election(s) will be); and issues of far greater importance such as the ‘condition of life’ for the souls of Justin Bieber, Jay Z, Kanye Kardashian, and Miley Cyrus. But, on the other hand, we should care about it. One misses the opportunity of reading about or listening to the likes of Eddie Izzard; Brian Cox; Sir Sean Connery; JK Rowling; Susan Boyle; Andy Murray; Billy Connolly; and, standing on the cliff above them all, the indefatigable George Galloway, who is the price of admission alone, discuss the virtues of a Yes or No vote.

There’s no patriot of America more sincere than me. But, if you look close enough, there’s a deep sentimentality about the howl of the wind; the smell of flowers; the suspension of gulls in the air; the taste of Dover Sole in your mouth; the smell of Rosemary Sauce on your prawns; the calmness of walking and talking in the rain; and, the joy of having celebrated with family on both our 25th & 35th wedding vow renewal anniversaries that tugs at this lobsterman’s heart. I will, and am, paying attention to the referendum on the 18th of September in Scotland.

November 5th, 2016 is right around the corner, the date of our 50th wedding anniversary. I wonder if Galloway is booked?

FELIX DOUBRONT TO THE CUBS…

…for a player to be named later (with / from the Cubs). What the hell is going on at 4 Yawkey Way?

It’s the middle of the sixth inning and the Bosox are down 6-1 in tonight’s game with the Blue Jays. We are less than 19 hours from tomorrow’s deadline, and I want something big to happen; to get some of that “warm” sense that the ‘club has turned the corner (again); righted the ship (again); and, let’s play for positions next year (again).’

These are the times we need to hear the soothing voice of Lou Gorman.

I’m off to bed, to say my prayers and hope the morning brings Christmas in July to this old lobsterman.

 

FROM THE VOICE OF WILL LYMAN

“Losing Iraq” was the content of last night’s Frontline on PBS. With full disclosure, there have been weeks where I have not reached complete accord with either the subject, or the presentation of its content; but, as regards “Losing Iraq” last night, nothing could be farther from that being the case with me. It is safe to say: no one does a better job with long-range / investigative journalism than the folks at Frontline.

“Losing Iraq” deals with an all-too-familiar American tale of how inept your foreign policy was / is with our constant display of arrogance in areas of the world where we have no “staked” position(s); and, how we continuously complicate such situations with our complete lack of knowledge concerning the respective country and its people that we have become engaged with and in, resulting in lost treasure in military personnel, materiel, and a cost in excess of a reported $2 trillion dollars, as of the end of 2011. Iraq, now, is a country on the verge of possible partition.

Beyond Bush and Obama themselves, both administrations were exposed, through supposed experts, most totally unqualified for their appointed positions, e.g. Paul Bremer and General George Casey in the run-up to both chaos and failure, to sight a couple of examples from the doc. Don Rumsfeld and Nouri al-Maliki’s presence(s) made one want to kick the HD screen to sand particles.

I commend every one to take the time to stream it. And, the voice of Will Lyman, the narrator of all of Frontline documentaries, clarifies truth, sorrow, joy, and understanding better than any living soul today. And, voice indeed.

aka PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN

Everyone’s favorite thinker, Freddy Nietzsche, stated: “Be careful when you cast out your demons that you don’t throw away the best of yourself.” For almost 115 years since Freddy’s passing, minds far more expanded than mine have gone over every word of that quote…I have no intention in following the queue. 

On the 2nd of February of this year, we lost one of the greats from his generation – Hoffman. Apparently, demons never really vacated from the presence of Philip Seymour Hoffman.

It’s my intent to suggest what I consider to have been his best work(s) – chronologically: 1999, THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, as Freddie Miles; 2000, ALMOST FAMOUS, as Lester Bangs; 2005, CAPOTE, as Truman Capote; 2007, BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD, as Andy Hanson; 2008, DOUBT, as Father Flynn; and, 2011, THE IDES OF MARCH, as Paul Zara Philip.

I have not seen A MOST WANTED MAN (just released) as of this post.

You would do well to be entertained by any on my list.

 

THANK YOU, BROCK HOLT

At 4:00 pm ET, this coming Thursday, the 31st, the non-waiver trade deadline in Major League Baseball takes place. I point this fact out because after last night’s ass-whipping of the Boston Red Sox by the Toronto Blue Jays, 14-1 (you read that score correctly, 14-1, not even able to get a safety!), I felt Ben Cherington would have pulled the trigger on some deals. That now puts the Sox ten games below .500 at 48 & 58. And, 8.5 games out from the second Wild Card spot for this year’s playoffs. I have officially ordered the raising of the “white flag” on the 2014 season as a loyal and compassionate member of The Nation.

I, truthfully, expected to get on the ‘net this morning and read that Lester had been traded; which as of this post he has not…yet.

The Red Sox, as of last night’s game, have a team batting average of .247, which is 20th out of 30 teams in MLB. Their combined team era is 3.91, also 20th among the 30 in baseball. As many managers have in the past, and will in the future in Boston, John Farrell has “swallowed his whistle.”

Just one last thing, Mr. Cherington, make absolutely sure you get value back in return, and don’t include the future in any deal. Prove that degree from Amherst means something, and is worthy of you. Make Lord Jeffery proud!

From Rice University, Brock Holt, I thank you again.

A CENTENNIAL LACKING APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION

One hundred years ago, 28 July, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. World War I would begin, and ravage continents – granted, some more than others – until the 11th hour, on the 11th day, in the 11th month of November 1918.

Over the last six and a half months, I have been amazed at the lack of attention the centennial of The Great War has gotten in this country – America. Relatively, at best, it’s been minimal.

Our family has numerous friends in Scotland, through living there; going to school there; and, gaining one of our daughters-in-law from the country. Simply stated, they are appalled at the limited exposure of the conflict coming from our newspapers, periodicals, academic journals, the internet, and the American media in general. The reports about American college students not being able to name all fifty states and their respective capitals ARE true. So why should we expect our museums, historical centers and government to be any different?!

I’ll have much more on this war, its embarrassing mistreatment, thus far, and the complete lack of any mature recognition as time and calendar to this world cataclysm proceeds along.

TODAY’S GOSPEL READING

As someone who trapped lobsters and netted mackerel for three summers during college, the gospel reading from today’s Mass holds an extra special significance: Matthew 13: 44-52. 

KAI BIRD

I want to pass on a recommendation of a biography that I just finished with the strongest praise possible. It’s The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames written by Kai Bird. Mr. Bird is one of my favorite biographers/writers today.

The Good Spy is about the career and brilliance of a CIA operative/official – Robert Ames – and the impact of his life on the turmoil in the Middle East, and the incredible influence Ames had with many of the major international players on both sides of the street at the time. Robert Ames, tragically, died in Beirut during the truck bombing of the American Embassy in April 1983. But, Kai Bird has honored Mr. Ames with his penetrating portrait of this great man.

Kai Bird also wrote one of the best books about our tragic, and ill-advised, escalation with/into Vietnam. It was The Color of Truth: McGeorge Bundy and William Bundy, Brothers in Arms; published in 1998. Also, a must read.

We could use more of the likes of Kai Bird.

THE CONTINUUM

Sometime between 4:30 and 5:00 in the morning, forty-seven years ago today, on Wednesday, July 26, 1967, my wife – the cornerstone and foundation for both me and our family – delivered a 9 lbs, 11 oz boy. The lad was the first born of our three sons. The birth of the child took place at the hospital within the grounds of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. The origins of the Naval Yard go back to 1776 when the Continental Congress granted the land along the Front Street docks to meet the necessities of the country establishing its own navy.

Both the mother and the baby were out of the hospital in two days…tired and healthy.

I was not able to be there for this important and precious event in our family’s history. My excuse was that I was a young, inexperienced Marine Corps second lieutenant – company forward observer – stationed in northern I Corps, South Vietnam. Ironically, my arrival in country, Vietnam, was on Friday, the 14th of July…twelve days before the birth of our first son. But, the real kick-in-the-ass was that it took the infamous International Red Cross almost another week after the birth – late on the 31st of July – to get the great news to my “correct” assigned unit in the field. More on the Int’l Red Cross when my blood sugar has really plummeted…

Happy Birthday, number one son!!!