I was reading Bill Simmons’ take on David Ortiz’s positive steroid test, and I couldn’t help wonder about who on the Braves did or does take steroids.  A decent number of ex-Braves were implicated in the Mitchell report, but IIRC most were implicated in their post-Braves career:

The report on the use of drugs includes the names of former Braves players Gary Sheffield, David Justice, Denny Neagle, Todd Pratt, Kent Mercker, Mike Stanton, Paul Byrd, Matt Franco, and John Rocker.

Of that list, I’d say David Justice, Kent Mercker, and Mike Stanton would be players whose use would make me sad.  Not that I liked them that much, but because they were important parts of the early 90′s clubs that I idolized so much. I don’t want anyone’s steroid use to taint those memories, and knowing that those players steroid use came while they were with the Yankees makes me laugh in a bitter, craven manner.  I don’t feel anything special about those particular players, just… the g-d Yankees.  Of course.

But that is old news.  I’m sitting here thinking about the list of 104 players who tested positive in 2003, and of who could have been using during the Braves mid-90s runs.  Some guys, like Gary Sheffield, were no surprise.  David Justice was a bit of a surprise.

If I’m honest with myself, who would I not be surprised took steroids?  I’m not saying I think these guys took steroids, but if I had to admit some Braves were using, this would be my list of guys to be suspicious of: (more…)

i am training right now for the 2009 marine corps marathon with the georgia chapter of team in training (which by the way is an incredible org and if you are thinking of trying an endurance event i highly recommend them.) i’ve trained for and run four marathons now, but this is my first time training for an early fall event. and what i have learned is that means i am training right through the heart of atlanta’s summer.

and it’s humid. damn humid.

actually i have been quite unprepared for how difficult it is to run long mileage in this humidity. the runs are draining, i sweat like crazy and no matter how much water i drink i can’t seem to get through the run without sweating out everything.

so how about it atlanta runners….those of you with lots of experience running through this humidity. do you have any advice for me? what tricks do you use to get through these dog days of august.

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

******WARNING SHAMELESS PLUG FOLLOWS*******

(that means stop reading if you are going to be offended by a shameless plug. don’t click the link if you don’t want to read it.)

(more…)

Two nights ago I stayed up rather late watching the Braves play against the Dodgers, only to see them blow a 4-2 lead in the ninth.  So last night, I turned the TV off when the Dodgers hit a 3-run shot in the fifth.  Bobby Cox had just been ejected after a horrible call by the ump, and the game felt like it was degenerating.  La novia had already gone to bed, so I hit the power button and brought the dogs upstairs.

I should have kept watching the game.  The Braves rallied and won.  Baseball is a cruel mistress.  Some days you get rewarded for loyalty with Cleveland steamer of a 9th inning, and some days your cynicism is punished by missing a stirring come from behind victory.

(more…)

One week later than expected, I’m finally getting this post up….

My goal for this Venues series is to highlight Atlanta music venues. However, since we have an Indie Music Mecca only ninety minutes to our east I’m taking some artistic license and going to write about Athens’ 40 Watt Club. It is at this time that I will admit that I am an extreme latecomer to seeing live music in Athens; I suppose some of this is my bent to stay ITP and some of this is my desire, as a Florida Gator, to stay out of Bulldog Country. Why then am I choosing to write about the 40 Watt Club? Because in a one-week period I made two trips to Athens to see shows at there. On July 22nd I went to Athens to see Magnolia Electric Co. and on July 27th I returned to see M. Ward; these were the second and third shows that I’ve seen there.

Currently located in Athens’ quaint downtown the 40 Watt Club isn’t much to look at from the outside. In fact, the first time I went there to see a show I drove past it at least once before finding it. As far as music venues go I really enjoy the 40 Watt. Some of this joy may be tied to Athens’ banishing of smokers to the outdoors (now if we could only do the same with talkers) and some of it may be tied to Athens’ lower (than Atlanta) beer prices.

The 40 Watt Club is the perfect size for up-and-coming bands (and I guess for those riding the one the downside of the ‘Hill of Success’ too) in a city known for raising REM and the B-52′s, and for each of the four shows that I’ve seen there the sound system has been exemplary. The 40 Watt is essentially a large open space flanked by two bars. Like many non-renovated-movie-theater venues the floor is level, but to help patrons see the act the stage is elevated a good four feet.

As a hobby photographer the 40 Watt Club is a hit-or-miss proposition depending on the artist’s whims. For the Magnolia Electric Co show I saw people with dslrs as well as video equipment, while for the M. Ward show all photography was verboten and 40 Watt employees combed the show confronting all who failed to comply.

What I Like
• The sound is usually loud, but is mixed well and sounds great.
• Smoking is not allowed inside.
• Because the room is all general admission if you get there early enough and you can almost guarantee a good place to see the show.
• Prices for shows are generally reasonable and if Athens is convenient for you tickets can be purchased at Schoolkids Records

What I Dislike
• Parking can be somewhat of a bother. I’ve been lucky to find close street parking on my trips.
• People tend to talk a lot during shows (SHUT UP, PEOPLE. YOU ARE SUPPOSEDLY THERE TO HEAR MUSIC) and while the music is loud it can’t drown them out.

Address : 285 West Washington, Athens, GA
Capacity : unknown
Cameras Allowed? : Maybe, depending on the show
Smoking Allowed? : No, smoking areas are provided outdoors
All Ages? : Yes (at least to the best of my knowledge)
Ticket Source : 40 Watt’s website, or Schoolkids Records in Athens
Favorite Shows I’ve Seen Here : The Hold Steady, Magnolia Electric Co., M. Ward

What’s your opinion of the 40 Watt Club?

My day to write for this blog (if you don’t do it any other day during the week…) is Sunday.

I’ve sucked it up for weeks trying to meet this goal, excuses excuses. This week it’s because I was pissed AGAIN and I don’t want to be pegged as that angry girl. Even if I am an angry girl.

Pissed why, you ask?

You’re so thoughtful. Let me tell ya, it was a helluva Friday.

My morning meetings ran long but I was determined to make a stop to see a friend in need of a hug, so I bolted out of my office downtown and made a beeline for my hood – O4W at Inman Park.

I popped in to see him at his place on Irwin St. and parked under a big pretty fluffy tree who promised me with the sign language of leaves that if it started raining again it would protect me.

What it didn’t mention was that it had no intention of protecting me from ashole thieves jumping out of bushes.

The 10 minute visit really was, and as I came back out to the truck to find her rain-free, I opened my door and shit was strewn. Everywhere.

Because 10 minutes is all an opportunistic thief needs to cut your window (even if the doors are unlocked) and take two bags of items that are only valuable to you out of your life forever. Bags you can’t even inventory for the police 20 minutes later because you never think of their contents. Books. Notebooks. Electronics for recycling. A frizbee.

This is nothing really, compared to what Paulie went through the day before – it was just my vehicle that had been voilated – not my home. Still…hurt, pissed, adrenaline flowing like the Nile.

I’m pissed because it’s my neighborhood, because I got comfortable in the middle of the day and wasn’t paying attention to what was going on around me. I’m pissed because the door was unlocked and they cut the top anyway. I’m pissed because that was upwards of $300 of my hard earned dollars that went out the window (HA! See what I did there?) instead of to an upcoming and much earned vacation I’ve budgeted for (you asshole) I’m pissed because I know better than to leave anything in my truck. I’m pissed because the jerk was lurking at a MARTA stop and left a footprint on my bumper proving he was acting like he “owned” it (yeah, baby, CSI on the scene right here).

So here’s where my rant ends and the 411 begins – listen up.

The responding officer enlightened me on two counts:

1) The #POCATL (perception of crime in Atlanta, TM http://twitter.com/andishehnouraee) may be a non-issue. ? The problem according to my officer isn’t getting the guys off the streets, it’s keeping them in our overfilled jails on “petty theft”. What do we do? I don’t know. Someone tell me whose door to bang on, phone to call, email inbox to assault.

2) He’s waiting for the vigilantism to kick in. Apparently the incident at Graveyard last spring wasn’t enough – he’s waiting for Atlantants to get PISSED and start fighting back. I’m ready. Who likes the sound of a shotgun?

3) It’s not the kids, apparently they tend to strike at night when all the older thieves are worn out from their brazen assholeness. Daytime crime is about the grownups who would rather take your stuff than work for their own.

4) There was/is a thief hanging near the *bucks at 7th and P’Tree with the same MO: he knew how long it took to make a latte and since there’s no line of sight between the parking lot and the shop, he’d smash and grab. Keep your heads up and your eyes open.

4) I wanted to give Inman Park Patrol a heads up – didn’t’ expect them to respond just to BOLO – but couldn’t…because I’m not paying. WTF? There was an email address on the website to apply to pay…thanks for nuttin’.

Enlightening, disheartening, disappointing, annoying. My heart is broken for this…for a million reasons. I just haven’t found it in me to let go of my anger yet.

I hope you don’t go through anything like it anytime soon.

take this, o’hare, heathrow, frankfurt, jfk and other assorted mega-hubs.

monday morning i showed up atlanta’s hartsfield airport to catch a flight to florida. the security line was backed up all the way to through the atrium. but, the top-notch outfit that is atlanta’s tsa squad had every xray machine open, at least a dozen id check stations and we got through the whole thing in TEN MINUTES.

seriously.

the tsa is something i should roll my eyes at and most places i do, but here in atl, they do incredibel work.

can we lay off the complaining about our airport please?

well, i do reserve the right to complain about the cops ;-)

August 4 is the National Night Out.  NNO has been around since 1984.  From the NNO site:

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

I’m not sure if criminals will be listening, but I think the idea of getting together with your neighbors to symbolically say “we ain’t skeered” ain’t the worst one I’ve heard lately.  I got the email tonight that my neighborhood, Virginia Highland, will be having an event (with free dinner for the first 250 folks to show up):

The location will be on Arcadia Street, N.E., the one-block-long street that forms the west side of John Howell Park, between Virginia Avenue and Virginia Circle. Last year’s event was very successful with many neighbors coming out to enjoy dinner, entertainment and great conversation with other residents.

A few other neighborhoods are having events, as well:

• Castleberry Hill will be hosting an event outside the fire station starting at 7pm.
• Another event is at Perkerson Park at 6pm.