Here's to Fenway

I've just come back from my few days away and discovered that on Friday, I had more hits than I've ever had before. There were over three dozen viewings of the lip-synched drunken Steely Dan intro alone. Honestly, I can't leave you kids alone for one minute...

Another big event happened in my absence - the Boston Red Sox have clinched first place in their division, as the Yankees tumble to second for the first time in twelve years. Rather than subject you to footage of star reliever Jonathan Papelbon doing an Irish jig in his underwear (oh, all right), I thought I'd give you something more inspiring. Thanks once again to The Sports Guy for introducing this to me.

It was Disability Awareness Day at Fenway Park, and an autistic young man was performing the national anthem. Partway through he got a bad case of nerves, and the crowd came through with supporting cheers, and then by taking up the song. It's got to be one of the best moments of the year for the Sox, and in a year where they capture the division title (at least), that's saying something.

MeTube Extra: I'm Published!

Nothing big, I hasten to note, but still just as fun as when Maxim printed my letter to the editor ten years ago (I noted that Slap Shot, their choice for #1 guy movie, was written by a woman).

I found a clip on YouTube of Dave Roberts stealing second base. This is a big deal for two reasons:

1) It happened in the bottom of the ninth, in the 2004 American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. He was then singled home, and the Sox went on to win the game, the series, and the world championship. It's arguably the most important stolen base in history.

2) This footage was taken from the stands by a fan. It's a bit shaky and totally silent - as a commenter noted, it's like the Zapruder film, only with a happy ending. And it's really neat to see it from a completely new angle.

I forwarded the clip to Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy, and a few days later he posted it in his new column, along with my one sentence description. It's at number 7, if you want to read it here.

Of course, if you just want to see the magic moment, feast your eyes directly below.

Whack Rocky

Sports Guy Bill Simmons, who introduced me to Apache and Marvin Gaye's "Star Spangled Banner," has come through again.



This is Ronald Jenkees, who looks and sounds like a guy who gets picked on every day of his life, but hasn't let that stop him from being himself. Lucky for us, his self has some mighty keyboard skills. You go, RJ!

Apache!

Thanks due once again to The Sports Guy for introducing me to this...



Tommy Seebach was a mainstay at the Eurovision Song Contest, proudly representing Denmark throughout the '70s and '80s. Here he and his cohorts raise the one and only question anyone watching can possibly have - namely, is this for real?

Oh say, baby, can you see...

Any sports fans out there who don't know about Bill Simmons, you really should. Nicknamed "The Sports Guy," author of Now I Can Die In Peace (the best book about the Red Sox's rise to glory), he combines sports with pop culture better than anyone going today, plus he's the funniest sports writer out there. You can see why this guy would be up my alley, right? For some of his columns, click here.

Anyway, he was asked for his favorite renditions of the national anthem before sporting events, and this was his number one choice:



A year before his father shot him, Marvin Gaye appeared at the 1983 All Star Game and, with only a synth-drum track to back him up, gave the smoothest, sexiest performance of the Star Spangled Banner that's humanly possible. Really, when was the last time you wanted to move to the rhythm like this?

Or is that question too personal?