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Author: Bryant

Syrian fog

October 19, 2003
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Christopher Allbritton dug around and came up with some fresh indications that the United States might be planning to attack Syria. I gotta agree that HR 1828 is pretty indicative, although it’s also the kind of rhetoric Congressmen use to take a tough stance on terrorism in election years. I also think that Israel’s nuclear revelations are aimed at Iran, which has much more of a nuclear program than Syria.

Then again, Syria is a somewhat easier target than Iran given geographical considerations. I don’t think you’d want to use Iraq as a military base of operations right now. So for the purposes of a quick poll pickup, sure, Syria might look like a good choice.

WISH 69: Board?

October 18, 2003
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WISH 69: Non-RPG Games for Gamers asks about the other side of the gaming world:

Recommend three non-RPG games for RPGers. Why do you recommend these three?

Well, blackjack is lots of fun — no? Oh, got it.

Diplomacy, first off. It takes a while to play, and some RPG groups are used to those six to eight hour sessions. Plus you can roleplay the countries. Plus it’s a sneaky introduction to the idea of diceless gaming.

Shadowfist, second. Eeek, a collectible card game! But it’s a ton of fun, it has a goofy exciting setting, and a lot of roleplayers I know enjoy it.

Finally, Cosmic Encounter. It’s a classic board game for a reason. There’s a good measure of skill and a good measure of randomness and every game is different, to borrow the marketing slogan.

In the end

October 17, 2003
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Batting cleanup, this fall morning:

“It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoon and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, you rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then, just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.”

Full credit is due, by the by, to Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera. They both pitched very well. If I were a Yankees fan, I would be overwhelmed with Rivera’s three innings of relief. They didn’t pitch well enough to overcome Clemens’ outing, but they deserve credit for taking advantage of Grady’s Folly.

As for 2004? I still believe.

Little too late

October 17, 2003
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Well, since you asked, Eric…

I stand by what I said. I am prouder of this team than I could possibly express. They gave me more than I ever expected. And I will die believing that the players on the field did not lose that game.

After all, I was right. Pedro pitched like he pitches when he needs to win. Clemens faltered, as I felt he would. The Red Sox remembered how to bat.

And Grady Little left Pedro in one batter too long. Then another batter too long. And another.

Tonight, Grady Little said this: “Pedro had gas in the tank… he was the man we all wanted in there on the mound.” And Pedro said this: “You want to point fingers, point them at me.” Little let his ace take the blame, and Pedro was too much of a man to blame Little. Do I have a single solitary reason to be unhappy with my team — not the manager, but the players I cherish so much?

I do not. And once again, I thank them.

Rare mockery

October 16, 2003
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If this isn’t mockery of a high order, I don’t know what is.

Bush told his senior aides Tuesday that he “didn’t want to see any stories” quoting unnamed administration officials in the media anymore, and that if he did, there would be consequences, said a senior administration official who asked that his name not be used.

Watching the dock

October 16, 2003
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Also from Phil Carter, we have a blog dedicated to the DC sniper trial. It’s sponsored by the Virginian-Pilot. A little bit gawkerish, perhaps, but it’s news and there’s something to be said for opening up the courts.

In any case, it’s important for what it represents. Journalists have better access than the rest of us; it’s always nice to see them using blogs and the rapid update paradigm to bring us that news.

Hard time

October 16, 2003
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Phil Carter was on fire yesterday. First off, this post on radical Islam in prison is fascinating. It’s one of those issues which is obvious after someone points it out, but only then.

Radical black racism often uses Islam as a skin in the United States. Cue Louis Farrakhan. This “Islam” has very little to do with mainstream Islam — but you could say the same of Al Qaeda, and it makes sense for Al Qaeda to recruit inside the prisons of America.

The irony is that Ashcroft is happily engaged in making those prisons fuller.

The wire, down

October 16, 2003
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And that brings us to a seventh game that has every excuse to be the best game seven ever.

After tonight’s game, I’m finally ready to echo a sentiment I’ve heard a few times this post-season. The Red Sox have now given me every bit as much of a season as I could have hoped. They have given me thrills, and hope, and joy, and I say this next without a hint of pessimism concerning tomorrow’s game: I won’t cry bitter tears if they lose tomorrow. I am satisfied. I am happy.

I think they will win tomorrow. I think Pedro will find the hard core of anger at his center that he uses to pitch his very best games. I think Roger will falter in the final game of his career, as perverse payback for 1986. I think the heart of the Red Sox batting order — a heart which is, make no mistake, nine men large — has remembered how to bat. I think we’ll see a classic, and I think that when the dust clears the Red Sox will stand in the midst of the enemy, victorious.

But if the worst happens, I know that I will still be telling stories of this season decades from now. The year I came back to Boston, the Red Sox wrote a story to remember. I thank them.