World Series Game 2 in Pictures

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well they're wrong. A picture is worth exactly 69 words; it's been that way ever since Al Gore created the internet. Enjoy.

"Oh god, this is exactly how I was the first time Swisher told me he was horny in the shower."
http://www.chron.com/sports/photogallery/2009_World_Series_Game_2.html#18959333

"My wife did what!?"
http://www.chron.com/sports/photogallery/2009_World_Series_Game_2.html#18957939

Imagine that. Another black guy stealing from a white guy...
http://www.chron.com/sports/photogallery/2009_World_Series_Game_2.html#18957965

To every 40 year old man that’s singing glory days while slamming budget beers, there is still hope.
http://www.chron.com/sports/photogallery/2009_World_Series_Game_2.html#18957975

"No, no, no! You're doing the wave all wrong!"
http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2009/10/30/in_depth_us/photoessay5458695_1_2_photo.shtml?tag=page

"Because it's one, tw-- errr, 1.8 strikes you're out at the ol' 3/5 compromise game!"
http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2009/10/30/in_depth_us/photoessay5458695_1_4_photo.shtml

"You were right, my lucky number was 2."
http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2009/10/30/in_depth_us/photoessay5458695_1_10_photo.shtml?tag=page

"OK guys, if we try hard enough we can suck just as bad as SEC referees. Haha, oh who am I kidding those guys are fucking terrible."
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/gallery/2009/10/29/umpspg-horizontal.jpg

"I thought we were doing the fist bump? Oh, this is awkward."
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/gallery/2009/10/29/derekpg-horizontal.jpg

"Is this a must win game?"
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/gallery/2009/10/29/hairstonpg-horizontal.jpg

"Remember that slut we did this to?" -- "Hellllll yeah I do!"
http://espn.go.com/mlb/photos?photoId=258503&gameId=291029110

"How in the world did Ray Lewis show up at the World Series and still manage to get a personal foul?"
http://espn.go.com/mlb/photos?photoId=258604&gameId=291029110

"I have to tag him where!? Ewwwwwwww."
http://espn.go.com/mlb/photos?photoId=258657&gameId=291029110

"WTF man? I always got that call in Cincy!"
http://espn.go.com/mlb/photos?photoId=258672&gameId=291029110

"It's bigfoot!"
http://espn.go.com/mlb/photos?photoId=258865&gameId=291029110

As a Reds fan I can full heartily say -- God Damnit.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/photos?photoId=258423&gameId=291029110

"Must Win" Games

::pop::

The blog cherry is now a thing of the past, here we go...


There is perhaps no more sensationalist term coined in sports history as "must win" game. At its most elementary level the phrase is preposterous; what game of any kind is ever so essential to your mortality that you "must win"? Beating cancer, that's a must win. Pulling your child from a burning car, that's a must win. Winning an athletic game of any kind that constitutes as must win, non-existent.

Literal interpretations aside, the phrase must win is more worn out than Brett Favre Brett Favre's faded pair of Wrangler's. Consider the following:

• 'Expert' analysts today were declaring that Game 2 of the World Series was a must win for the Yankees. Now I know what you're thinking, you're saying "Oh, the World Series must have been changed to a best of 3 series and logically if the Phillies win again they would have 2 wins in the series and be World Series champions" -- well you'd be wrong. The media, despite years of excruciating mathematical analysis proving otherwise, is under the impression that if a team loses a "must win" game in a non-elimination circumstance, that team is instantaneously eliminated from the playoffs. It's crazy right? Go down 2-0 in a best of 7 series and come back to win? Insanity! Go down 2-1 in a best of 5 series and come back to win? Lunacy! Go down 3-0 in a best of 7 American League Championship Series and come back to win? Well then you must be a gawd-awwwful human from Bawstin!

• The 09-10 (am I the only one that cringes each time I see or hear 2010 references? Psychologically I feel like my great-grandmother owns the 10's and 20's of any and all centuries) NBA season is in its infancy. The Cavs start off the season 0-2. Now what do you suppose those 'expert' analysts are talking about the next morning on tv? Shaq unable to defend a pick-and-roll? Possibly. Shaq applying to be a special deputy in Ohio? Well duh. Lebron having a triple-double? Perhaps. The Cavs next game being a must win??? You betcha! To know there are actual humans in this world that believe the 3rd game of an 82 game season is a must win makes me lose all hope in humanity. I would rather see Bono and Rosie O'Donnell procreate than have those 'experts' open theirs mouths ever again.

• Then there's the whole NCAA football quagmire in which every -- media outlet, player, coach, pep band, slutty cheerleader, really slutty cheerleader, and really slutty cheerleader that you might as well bang a monster truck tire to get the same satisfaction -- all of them are guilty of espousing the NCAA football season as a season in which every game is a must win game! And by every game being a must win in college football they actually mean: if you're going to lose do it early in the season, if you're going to lose do it to a team that is going to win a bunch of meaningful games after they beat you but then lose to a lousy team late in the season, schedule 4 cupcake D-IV teams that you can smash 87-6, play 8 of your 12 games at home and have 2 of your 4 away games be at in-state 'neutral' sites, and finally, forget about going to class it's football season for god's sake! We can worry about fabricating your academic standing with our *cough* compliance officer later! Oh and when all is said and done, if your school isn't named Florida, Texas, USC, Ohio State, or Notre Dame then every game you play is mired in obscurity because your team will not be playing in the BCS Championship game. Your team will also not be ranked higher than #6 in any pre-season poll ever, regardless of circumstance (side note, how in the helllllll are there preseason polls? It's like looking at a bunch of girls and saying the hottest one is the best to fuck. Yet, you have no idea how any of them bang and for all you know the hottest one is a dead fish in bed, while the ugliest can work your dick better than Brett Favre Brett Favre could ever dream of working the grounds of his Mississippi oasis). So next time somebody tells you that the college game is superior to (insert sport here) because every game matters, do them a favor and tell them how to properly exit life. The world will thank you.

So to recap what we've learned today: people that use the phrase "must win" game are horrible humans. Now I've got to go. It's game 2 of the World Series with the Phillies up 1 game and they're currently up 1-0 in the 3rd...

The Yankees better shape up, it's a must win game for them.



-Brad