A Proud Father....Take Two

There are life events that you never anticipate in advance as a parent. I experienced one this afternoon as my daughter was honored at a Rotary Luncheon as the recipient of a scholarship for being the one Portland High School senior who best exemplifies service to her community.

We parents all look forward to the usual rites of passage: first day at school, graduations from elementary and high school and maybe college. The prom, passing your driving test and eventual marriage perhaps, all demand inclusion.

Seeing your child being honored for outstanding community service was not in my “consideration set”---at least not until a day a couple of weeks ago when my 17 year old daughter Christina called me with the news.

I cannot describe the pride that my wife Peggy and I had as Michael Johnson, the Principal at PHS-introduced our daughter with a laundry list of her activities and honors.
If Christina was nervous as she gave her little acceptance speech, it didn’t show as she displayed the poise and confidence of the beautiful young woman we know as our daughter.

The room at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland was packed as Senator Susan Collins was in attendance to speak to the Rotarians. She, too, had words of praise for Christina and it was especially gratifying to see one of the country’s foremost current female leaders speak so glowingly of one of our country’s FUTURE female leaders!
(my little girl)

Mom and Dad love you! So do brothers John and Kevin. CONGRATULATIONS!

Obamamercial A Success?

Not since Ross Perot in ’92 has a Presidential candidate essentially bought out a roadblock schedule in primetime across several networks to deliver his closing argument.

Barack Obama did just that last night-and the results are predictably….MIXED!

Of course, the Democrats say it “sealed the deal”. Republicans have dismissed it as a half hour story tale propaganda.

It might have actually been both. Of course it was propaganda-and a damn good job of blending the message with emotion and production values second to none. It was also maybe just a bit too polished.

As the race tightens in these final days, the electoral vote-watch has Obama with a formidable lead in key states formerly pegged as “toss ups”.

Whomever you are for, I suppose the one thing that everyone can agree on is the notion that a vote NOT cast is actually an admonition to not COMPLAIN with whatever the outcome is. The stakes this year may be the highest they have been since the dawn of the Great Depression.

Making sure your voice is heard will be important as we solve our future challenges—together, not as Democrats, Republicans or Independents….but as Americans!

I’m Tim Moore and I approved this message!

Snow Already??!! Please, No!!

When I heard that Aroostook County got a pile of snow recently-and that many parts of Pennsylvania and upstate New York were slammed with a half a foot yesterday, it made me shudder….and realize that our turn is not far off!

As October winds down, the entrance of the 11th month means that the white stuff is ALWAYS a possibility. We need to get physically prepared—break out the snow blower (if you are fortunate enough to have one---I still haven’t bought one…yet!), dig out the snow shovels, put the plow on the truck…..and wait.

Aside from equipment prep, we need to MENTALLY prepare to face the flakes. That may be the hardest part. Losing sight of your yard until Spring is never easy—and seems to get harder each year.

Hopefully, the Farmer’s Almanac is dead wrong about the snowfall amounts we can expect this winter….I’ll take the cold…and enough snow to keep the skiers happy, but beyond that….Mother Nature…PLEASE SPARE US!!!!!

Musings From An Ignorant Insurance Buyer

A recent car accident (no one hurt, thank God!) has me nonetheless pondering whether we should rethink the whole idea of car insurance.

I have a good agent-and the service was decent, but the lingering thought I have is that the REAL reason for insurance is to keep yourself from being wiped out financially if a CATASTROPHIC accident happens. Aside from that, there may be a case for not keeping any other kind of insurance on your car. Hang on to the Liability portion-and consider discarding the Collision and Comprehensive parts…

Why?

Using my family’s accident as an example, here’s my reasoning:

The damage to my car was about $6,000. After the deductible of $500, the “betterment” charges of $400 that my insurance company would not cover-because some of the parts replaced on the car made it “better” than before the accident (HUH?—aren’t ALL replacement parts newer than what existed before?), my out of pocket expenses will be about $900. OK, you say, but the insurance company will pay the remaining $5,100.

True, but if my premiums increase as a result of the crash (as most insurers will jack up rates), isn’t it true that I am really just FINANCING this crash? Over time, the increase in my premiums paid as a result of the accident may exceed the $5,100 paid out in MULTIPLE fashion. Perhaps I would be better off just taking out a bank loan for the cost of the repair—and at least I’ll know the EXACT cost of the accident (loan plus interest)

I’m no insurance expert, but I do know the profits “earned” from the insurance industry are no….accident.

Proud Parent Brags About Daughter

That’s the headline…..and I’m the parent! I snuck out of work for an hour or so today to see my daughter Christina participate in a mock trial at the Cumberland County Courthouse.

Christina is a senior at Portland High School –and is the captain of her mock trial team. Following in the footsteps of her older brother, she thought it would be fun to get involved.

Held in a real courtroom, presided over by real attorneys acting as judges (which I think must be perceived as good practice by those lawyers aspiring to the bench), the rules of law are enforced as each team takes both sides of the argument in a fictional case. Today, it was Portland High versus Deering.

As I write/post this, I have no idea who won or lost…not sure I could tally the points, but I was extremely proud of my girl-who played the part of the plaintiff. As I sat and watched her confidently answer questions in front of a packed courtroom-and an intimidating atmosphere, it was hard to imagine that this is the same sweet baby whose diapers I changed….not that long ago. In short, Christina was MAGNIFICENT!

It is a miracle how children grow and mature…and my wife and I are truly blessed to have three incredible “kids”!!

If I Were The VP Nominee, I Would Look Like An Idiot (Too)

So much is being made of Sarah Palin’s perceived readiness(or lack thereof) to take over the Oval Office.

I won’t comment on THAT one-I’ll let her own words and actions speak for themselves. What occurred to me was the sheer ONSLAUGHT this whole process must have been for her or anyone else.

First, I don’t think I could be a governor, so that immediately makes Sarah Palin smarter than me in all likelihood . Given that, I cannot imagine the spotlight of scrutiny that has followed her every move since that fateful announcement. I remember when we first got a glimpse of Dan Quayle. Talk about “deer in the headlights”. The somewhat goofy smile betrayed his lack of readiness (and yet the delight he was taking in getting all that attention)

The bottom line is that I sense ALL of us (certainly myself) would appear to be a complete IDIOT if assaulted under the hot lights by the media with questions. Not just the answers would elude me. How to say them, which way to look, how to control both my words and emotions when someone is taking a potshot.

Good thing I’m just a DJ.

Customer Service Has Gone The Way of The Typewriter

Remember the good’ol typewriter? Bulky but functional, it got the job done until Wang introduced the Word Processor. Market leader Smith-Corona responded with an electronic typewriter. In 1985, the company filed for bankruptcy.

Change is incessant (not just a campaign theme), and smart businesses and individuals need to scan the horizon for what is next. What’s the next big idea? What products and services that are dominant today will be replaced by technology tomorrow?

While the average person may not be able to predict future technological breakthroughs, I believe that a revolution in CUSTOMER SERVICE may be the next big competitive advantage. Since the customer is always a human being (and not likely to be replaced by a machine), why is it that so many companies have chosen to automate their interaction with the customer?

Websites are one thing. Allowing the public to access information instantly with little trouble is a good thing. Having a MACHINE answer your business line is another. Here at 94.9 WHOM, we often must put the Listener Lines to voicemail (since the DJ is on the air), BUT we answer ALL questions where a return phone number is left. Requests are also given due consideration.

Everyone has a horror story of being on infinite “HOLD”, being passed from one person to another (complete with goony music in between) and generally being treated like a pile of garbage. Promises broken, rude behavior and indifference to the customer is rotten now—and on the rise.

Companies that become an example by TREASURING the customer and making that ideal a reality by their actions—will prosper in the years to come!

Field Trips Are Fun!

This morning I skipped out of work for a few minutes to join my youngest son Kevin on a school field trip to Portland City Hall.

Since I sort of snuck in, I guess I was not exactly considered a chaperone. No matter, as I caught his eye—and the look on his face at seeing Dad at the back of the room made it all worthwhile. I thought about how I’ll miss this someday, when he is all grown-and gone. I remember similar events with my older son John (now a sophomore in college) and my daughter (a senior in high school)—how time has flown! It seems like only yesterday that I was with THEM for such field trips.

Although the trip is meant to educate the young ones, I never leave without learning a thing or two myself. Like the fact that the present Portland City Hall is the THIRD one to sit on that site, the previous two having burned. The granite that makes up the building comes from Jay, Maine, The architectural firm that designed the building is the same one that drew up plans for the New York Public Library and Senate/House buildings in Washington. The city’s motto, “Resurgam” and the seal featuring a phoenix rising from the ashes are references to the devastating fires that consumed much of the city in the past.

I missed the last part of the trip as I had to scoot back to work…but I will always cherish the memories of today with my boy, Kevin, whom I affectionately refer to as the “Dude of Dudes!”

Saving Money When Things Are Tight

Conversations are happening all over the U.S. (and probably the world) , conversations that usually only happen in households where a drastic event (like the loss of a job) has occurred.

Families all over the country are examining their financial expenditures—and cutting out that which exceeds the “need” threshold. Some of it is just a precaution—and for some, it is a necessity.

While the price of gas has mercifully dropped below $3.00 in many areas, the prospect of a cold winter and a colder economy have put a chill in our forecasted spending.

The funny thing is that we may deny ourselves the things that really don’t make as much of a difference. For instance, declining to go to a restaurant in order to save some dough may leave you feel deprived of the simple treats that everyone should occasionally enjoy. If you eat out 3-4 times a week, slicing ONE of those visits may be reasonable, but going cold turkey may end up being drastic.

I suggest you start with the little things. Here in Portland, it’s sometimes tempting to take the Maine Turnpike to the Mall. Now, however, I’ll take I-295 instead and save the $1.20 in round-trip tolls. I’d rather deny a dollar to the government than I would to a local business that’s depending on me.

Avoiding credit card interest charges, unneeded bank fees and ATM charges—ordering a Medium instead of a Large coffee. Little things that can throw an extra 20 bucks or more a week—all add up.

We need to conserve….but…paradoxically, we need to SPEND too! Pulling this country out of a recession requires commerce. Let’s work to keep our dollars LOCAL…and if not LOCAL, AMERICAN rather than foreign!

Sox End Season, But Not In Disgrace

No anger at the “other guys”. No throwing stuff at the TV or screaming at the manager or the umpires in my house last night.

Just quiet disappointment as we witnessed the end of the Red Sox 2008 campaign. If the scene had occurred in Game 5, all of the above tantrums would have been on the table. But they showed their courage in that game-and in the subsequent one. No one in Tampa in disparaging the Sox…they are breathing a sigh of relief.

With battered starting pitching, the loss of Mike Lowell, the sub-par performance of David Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury at the plate, you might argue that the ’08 Sox were overachievers to get within 2 runs of going to the World Series again. Had they won last night, I am certain they would have beaten the Phillies.

The fact is that the better team won—and I’ll be rooting for them against Philadelphia in the World Series….darn it!

The AMAZING Red Sox!

Last night’s game may go down in Red Sox Nation as the most exciting game that nobody actually watched!

Admit it….many, many fans turned off the TV or radio well before the 7th inning.

I did. And—although I am a bit ashamed of my lack of faith, it was simply too painful to continue witnessing the unraveling of my team—at HOME, no less!

What a huge surprise to learn the news this morning! And then to turn to ESPN for the nonstop replays of all the clutch hits! Ortiz (whom I think most major league pitchers have figured out) finally connected with a big one. J.D. Drew? HUGE.

The heart of this team is something to behold. And although I must admit that the Tampa Bay Rays are the better team this year, I’m just happy that our last game at Fenway didn’t end with the visitor celebrating on OUR field!

Incredible to think that the Rays were a perfect 38-0 this season when leading by 3 or more runs. To have that streak end in the fashion that it did could wreak havoc on a young team….let’s hope so!!

Tito, you should start Jon Lester-NOT Josh Beckett in Game 6. There will be no Game 7 without a win! If it DOES get to a 7th game, I believe the Sox will win—and of course, EVERYBODY in the bullpen is a potential pitcher.

GO SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is It Over Already? Ask "Joe The Plumber"!

I sure hope that “Joe the Plumber” cashes in on his fifteen minutes of fame. Of course, if he clears more than a quarter million bucks (and Obama wins) he’ll likely pay more taxes!

What’s more likely is that he will remain below that threshold. As Obama said today on the campaign trail “How many plumbers do you know that make more than a quarter million dollars a year?” (followed by raucous laughter) Joe says that McCain is still his man.

Many of the polls had Barack Obama the “winner” in last night’s debate, although it appeared that he was a tad cautious-the hallmark of someone who knows he has the advantage and wishes to avoid a mistake rather than score points. Sen. McCain, on the other hand-needed a knockout punch—and even most Republicans agree that he didn’t land it.

In fact, I think he appeared anxious to mix it up—and that tone and demeanor worked against him.

Whatever your politics, there is much consensus that Obama has run the better campaign. His message of change has been consistent from the beginning, his organization has been far better (if you don’t believe me, ask prohibitive pre-primary favorite Hillary Clinton) and he has out-maneuvered and out-strategized his opponents at every turn, right down to ignoring “conventional wisdom” regarding “red” and “blue” states. As a result, he has redrawn the electoral map to be competitive in states that historically have been Republican strongholds.

John McCain’s campaign-on the other hand—has been one of high drama, from the shift away from Obama’s inexperience (abandoned after the selection of Sarah Palin) to “change” to his mishandling of the economic crisis.

A wise man once said that a candidate’s campaign is a microcosm of their administration. If one can’t conduct a cohesive campaign that is effective, how can they run something far more complex—like, say, the United States?

I DON’T think it’s over-as enough undecided voters can shift in time to cause an upset win for McCain.

It will be exciting to watch!

Down To The Last Debate!

By the time anyone reads this, the Final Presidential Debate will likely have taken place.

Who “won”?

The latest polls indicate that Barack Obama is leading and starting to pull away. That means that tonight will likely be the last chance for John McCain to state his case. Exactly how he will do this remains to be seen.

Pundits claim he must really go on the attack—but with the market down another 700+ points today, most Americans want to hear about the economy—and who will turn things around. Pointing fingers is not likely to go over well.

If I were a Republican strategist, I would suggest that McCain try to appear “Presidential” (whatever that means) and put the thrust on his economic plan. Without a clear “pocketbook” rationale for choosing McCain, Obama stands to win. Not that Americans feel he has all the answers, either.

Do either of them have any real answers? Not likely, but Americans will probably go with their GUT on November 4th. Most experts predict the Obama lead will shrink and that the race will be a tight one, fought on electoral turf where the state tallies may make this the closest race since 2000.

Whatever the outcome, the best idea is to make your own decision and by all means, VOTE!

Sports As A Diversion

The value of sports is often drilled into us when we’re young. Virtues like moving towards a goal, striving to do your best, overcoming adversity and working together as a team—all of them and more are put forth as ideals to aspire to.

Nowadays, however—sports—and in particular, spectator sports-are serving a different purpose altogether. Sports are the diversion we need, the distraction from our everyday worries.

The stock market, the cost of fuel, threats of layoffs and shrinking credit are enough to drive one to drink. Instead of such a pathetic excuse, why not just pop a cold one and flip on the Red Sox?

Game 3 is this afternoon—and while I must admit that I don’t have high hopes for Boston making it past this round, I am satisfied that this baseball team is helping me unwind after a stressful day. Of course, I hope that I’m wrong-that the Sox will defeat Tampa and then whup either the Dodgers or the Phillies in the World Series. Regardless of the outcome, I am happily ensconced in the carefree world of baseball. OK. I know it too is big business and is nothing like the sandlot game I played as a kid. I don’t care. I want the ESCAPE that watching sports brings.

Of course, some of those ideals might be worth paying attention to by our national leaders:

Working together towards a goal.
Overcoming adversity.
Teamwork.

Maybe Congress should spend less time talking and more time watching sports.

Confidence Will Get The Job Done

I’m no economist (although I passed those college classes!)-but I do know that there is a “disconnect” between the economic indicators (facts) and the stock market (fear and greed)

While the two are interrelated, as I understand it, market behavior is mostly based on EMOTION connected to beliefs about what the economy will do in the future. In short, it’s a CONFIDENCE GAME.

So, with the government bailout of the credit markets, liquidity should improve –and if consumers and businesses are not restricted from borrowing, the stock market downturn is mostly…..well…in our minds.

It doesn’t help that Jim Cramer the TV windbag is advising people to take the cash they’ll need for the next 3-5 years OUT of the market. When the profit-seekers see real deals, they’ll get back in and hopefully the confidence will increase, fueling a cycle that will feed on itself to jumpstart growth. The reverse is what is happening now, with daily BAD NEWS causing further withdrawals from the Dow Jones.

So….let’s have CONFIDENCE!!!!!

People still need homes, need to eat, travel and spend money. Unemployment is still relatively low—and as long as consumers continue to buy the goods and services they normally would, businesses won’t have to lay off more workers!

I realize that a majority of my recent blogs have been about the economy and the current crisis—but frankly, it’s all that anyone is talking or thinking about. So let’s have FAITH in our ability to produce, to purchase and to thrive!

Regardless of the economic facts that are undeniable, IF it is true that Wall Street is dependant upon our ATTITUDES toward the market, then recovery is within our collective control!

Let’s do it!

Boy, I Must Really Be Lucky!

Some people never win anything.

Door prizes at trade shows, school raffles, the slot machines in Vegas or the state lotteries and Powerball. No matter how many books of tickets they buy, how many “chances” they purchase, how many magazine subscriptions they acquire to win the Publishers Clearinghouse, it seems they always come up empty. Someone else (usually in Battle Creek, Michigan) is declared the winner. Their toothy grin is prominently featured on the NEXT mailer they get showing how EASY it is to win. Another postage stamp, another disappointment.

Not me.

Why, just this week I’ve received about a half dozen e-mails from people who are looking to give me money! One is from a sheik somewhere in the Middle East who says MY NAME showed up on a list of “lost investors” of profitable oil wells who are to share in several billion dollars! What luck! All they need is about $500 to “process my application”

Another is from some relative I’ve never met who passed on and left most of their estate to me! I have no idea how they are related to me, but if I provide my Social Security number for verification, the check will be IN THE MAIL!

What are the odds that on that very same day I also received an e-mail from Microsoft informing me that since I am a PC user, I was ALREADY REGISTERED to win several million dollars in their sweepstakes! All they need is a certified check for $1,000 in order to complete my winners profile and cut me a check. They even said they would automatically deposit it in the bank for me if I sent them my account number!

This must be my lucky day!

Town Meeting Or Town....Nap?

Being a political junkie, I had to plant myself in front of the TV last night to see the second Presidential Debate. The “town meeting” format, hosted by veteran anchor Tom Brokaw promised to be better than the first one—but mostly disappointed those looking for red meat-like me. It was more like warmed over corned beef.

Brokaw did better than Gwen Eiffel (sp?) who completed mishandled the VP Debate last week. However, the tightly controlled atmosphere, the mundane questions and complete lack of fireworks left me cold. We were told that over 6 million questions had been submitted…are THOSE the best they could come up with?

I thought Obama and McCain both did OK, although the Senator from Arizona seemed awkward at times…his referral to Obama as “that one” was strange, to say the least.

I call again for a FACTUAL test. Ask questions that test their KNOWLEDGE, not just their opinions. Knowing and recalling facts re: the economy, foreign affairs and policy and/or particulars about the Constitution (how can they “protect and defend” it if they don’t know it?) seems a better gauge of suitability for the job.

One more to go……with McCain supposedly “on the ropes”, it will be interesting to see if the gloves come off….that was supposed to happen last night-and didn’t.

Forget who “won” and who “lost”. Who articulated a better future for you and your family?

Where's The Generation Gap?

When I was a teenager, adults were the ENEMY. Everything that came forth from the mouth of Mom or Dad was always “lame” (although I think we used a different word) As a group, we always tried to limit our time seen in public with the “units” (“parental units”) and we delighted in trying to top each other when relating stories to our friends about how out-of-touch our “folks” were.

Maybe I’m living in denial, but I don’t sense that anymore. While I’m sure my teenagers would rather be with their friends than “dear ol’ Dad”, I don’t believe they are mortified to be seen with me. Our music is not as divergent in taste as it was back in the 60’s and 70’s either. I can listen to Flo-Rida without getting sick (most of the time) and my kids have a healthy respect for Boston.

Not sure what caused the melding of generations, but maybe it’s just my perspective. Do you think kids today are less rebellious? Maybe that’s not a good thing, as our generation demanded changes in our world-and we took over…as idealistic as we were back then, things haven’t turned out like we planned…maybe the young people of today need to be more critical of our generation…after all, it’s US who have saddled them with a broken economy…and a world with more problems than solutions.

That said, I am optimistic that the next generation will improve upon the stewardship we have demonstrated.

Let’s hope so!

Come Fly Away With Me!

Air travelers everywhere are being squeezed…and it seems as though the airlines are now actually ENJOYING the process of charging for everything from extra baggage to an in-flight soft drink.

I flew to DC recently on US Airways. On the way down, I was served a “complimentary” soft drink…the VERY NEXT DAY, the return trip on the same airline—soft drinks were $2.00 each! Others on the flight made the point that soda was free on the way down the day before…the flight attendant was rather smug when announcing in a flip manner, “Well, that was yesterday, wasn’t it?”

How nice.

Makes me really enjoy the Southwest ad featuring a desk clerk with two faces on a swiveling head—the sweet clerk—and her alter-ego, the EVIL airline employee. Not too far from the truth!

We are learning to travel light or CRAM into small bags the stuff that we normally just tossed into the suitcase before. God help us if we acquire something on the trip..either it better be worth paying $50 bucks to fly back with—or valuable enough to ship UPS at a cheaper rate. Either way, it’s a hassle

If they added a DOLLAR to the ticket price, airlines could bury the price of a soda without looking like the skinflints they appear to be now.

What’s next? A new class for passengers?

First Class, Coach and….DAMN IT’S COLD OUT HERE!

Celebrity Is No Substitute For Competence

The 2008 campaign—and its coverage by the media has been disturbing in one major way: the excessive emphasis being paid to aspects of PERSONALITY that probably have no bearing whatsoever on how the individuals involved will govern if elected.

Sarah Palin winked too much during the debate. Joe Biden’s emotional moment during the exchange “connected” with voters. John McCain never looked Obama in the eye. Barack seems aloof and elite.

Please.

Problem is, those personality aspects in the age of TV perhaps have all too much influence on whom we will vote for. God help us if TV had been around 150 years ago!

No matter your political affiliation, most people would put Abraham Lincoln at or near the top of America’s greatest Presidents. Yet, if Lincoln were alive today (or if TV had been around in the 1860’s) he wouldn’t have been elected dog catcher. Visually unappealing, probably awkward in movement, Honest Abe wouldn’t stand a chance.

So why is it that intelligence, competence, experience or ability to articulate thoughts (and perhaps HAVING thoughts in the first place) seem to hold little or no cache among voters?

I don’t need to have a beer with the next Chief Executive. I don’t CARE which sports teams he/she roots for. The next Commander-In-Chief can be a real S.O.B. for all I care. All I really care about is: Are they up to the job? Does he have the judgment, temperament and intelligence-and courage to lead?

Can you possible imagine the following scenario?

You are going into the hospital to be operated on for a brain tumor. Here below is your conversation with your primary care physician re: your choice of surgeon:

“I’m looking to be operated on by someone I can really ‘connect with’ ya know? I want someone who can really relate to the other people in the operating room. If they were first in their class at Harvard Medical School, they’re probably a bit too elite for me, ya know?
I want a “regular guy” who’s got some street smarts-someone I would go bowling with.
They have to understand me as a PERSON, what my life is like and where my priorities are. I’m sure they’ll be ready to complete the operation as soon as they arrive at the hospital—so what if they don’t know all those crazy Latin names for parts of the body? That stuff is boring…..”

Sound familiar?

You Want Pressure? Be A Candidate During A Debate!

In a few short hours, the prizefight of the season will commence. It is rare when a VICE Presidential debate gets more attention (and likely a bigger audience) than its Presidential counterpart---but this one could be good theatre at the very least.

Much has been said and written about Sarah Palin’s last week or so of interviews, particularly Katie Couric’s. Her struggle to answer questions has shaken the confidence of some of those who initially gravitated to her candidacy.

On the Democratic side, the fear that Joe Biden will make a verbal gaffe or two has Obama’s campaign a bit nervous.

Nervous.

That’s what I would be…imagine going into a hall of hundreds of people-and in front of tens of millions on TV—to answer tough questions under the spotlight—without knowing in advance what those questions would be! I’m getting chills just thinking about it now!

I’ll just stay a DJ, thank you….

How Far Will The Red Sox Go?

The second season starts tonight….out in La La Land…sort of. I don’t know whether to call them the 1) Los Angeles Angels, 2) California Angels 3) Anaheim Angels or….4) Red Sox Nemesis, which they certainly have been this season.

The Sox are 1-8 against the Angels, winning only the first game of the series. Josh Beckett is out with an injury. Mike Lowell is out…J.D. Drew is out. Julio Lugo is out (which is actually a net plus with Lowery in his place) How far the Sox will go is the HUGE question as the series starts on the West Coast tonight.

Jon Lester gets the nod—and I think he’ll have a big game. Josh may be ready for Game 3 in Boston-and Mike Lowell will find a way to get into this series as well.

Boston is a decided underdog in this matchup—and that may be a good thing. The Angels have had their division wrapped up for so long, there hasn’t been a “pressure game” in their schedule all year----until TONIGHT.

With playoff experience and the cache of coming in as defending World Series Champs, we’ll see if the Angels will hold up…..Tampa Bay will have its hands full with the White Sox.

I say we’ll win Tonight, lose Friday and then take TWO at Fenway….Red Sox win!!! Bring It On!!!!