Dan Shaughnessy is a very depressing man. It ruins my day whenever his column is on the front page of the Boston Globe. I imagine if and when the Red Sox finally win a world championship he will burst into a cloud of red smoke and disappear back to hell. He and his kind breed the negativity that keeps many of the more easily influenced New England sports fans from ever being satisfied. Listen to local sports talk radio for 5 minutes and you realize these guys revel in the negativity. Do they a God complex, thinking they can manipulate public opinion at the drop of a hat? They create a controversy, then flip flop as soon as too many people share their opinion.

For days Boston talk shows and newspaper columns were devoted to the topic of trading Nomar. He was slumping, and took a day off in the final game of a three game series against the yankee$ in NYC. Nevermind the fact that he had played almost daily after missing 50 +games with an injury, or that he was in a terrible fielding and hitting slump probably caused by fatigue. He sat out a yankee$ game, so people were ready to run him out of town. The errors and outs he made in the first two games of the series went a long way towards helping the Sox lose. He has played MVP/ All Star/ future Hall Of Famer- caliber baseball for several years, but that is all lost on people because he missed one game?! The Sox lost the game dramatically in extra innings, and Nomar did not even pinch hit. No one associated with the Sox seemed to have an opinion on this fact, but Boston was in an uproar. It was an epic game, but he did not play, so trade him? No one knows what is in another person's mind or body. The guy needed a day off, but I guess that is not acceptable here. I've asked it before, and I'll ask it again, have you ever called in sick for dubious reasons? I bet you have.

sorry ladies

In the same game, Derek Jeter made a acrobatic game- saving catch on a shallow fly ball to left, ending with his tumbling into the stands. I saw a fine play, that looked much better because rather than sliding afterwards, Jeter stayed on his feet, the momentum carrying him into the stands. His pretty boy face got a little busted up, probably keeping hm out of the NYC clubs for a night or two (sorry ladies), but it was not the greatest play of all time. It may not have even been the best defensive play of the game. Earlier Pokey Reese, Nomar's replacement for the night, made a nifty grab near the left field stands. Jeter's was a good play at the perfect moment. Others saw something different. This sensational catch came to represent the core differences between he and Nomar. Jeter is a selfless player, risking life and limb for the betterment of the team. He was Mother Theresa with wristbands. Nomar is a brooding individualist, playing out the string for a team and city that does not appreciate him. Years from now Nomar's absence in an pivotal game against the first place yankee$ would be THE defining moment of his career, punctuated by Jeter's play.

sorry ladies

The weekend following the yankee$ series the Sox went to Atlanta losing two of three. Meanwhile, Nomar broke out of his slump. Still, all weekend long people are demanding the soon- to- be free agent Shortstop traded. The talk show hosts on WEEI are now starting to waver in their opinion. Did too many people call in and echo their sentiment? Did they rationally look at the situation and realize the Sox with Nomar at shortstop are better than the Sox without him? Writers who one week earlier sent him packing in print were now preaching caution. Fast- forward further, a week later, and the Sox have won five of six. Nomar continues his torrid hitting and settles down defensively. Poof! No one is looking to trade him.

It has been two weeks since that game and no one is making the same claims. Earlier this season when Jeter went 0 for 32, people were saying his skills had diminished. Did 0 for 32 help the yankee$ win any games? I would say no. If Nomar did not take himself out of the lineup he could have made two more errors or otherwise negatively influenced the game. Instead, the Sox lost and he is more hated than Dick Cheney at a screening of Fahrenheit 9/11. If Nomar plays a spectacular second half, and the Sox win the World Series, will anyone remember this game? Likely not. Whether it was for injury- related rest or mental rest, it seems to have worked. He has been stellar since. People's memories around here are about as long as their noses (not Nomar's.) Funny how that works.

Except for a few defensive mishaps, Manny Ramirez has enjoyed a tremendous first half. He is among the leaders in just about every offensive category. He is widely accepted as the best hitter in the American League by just about everyone. His attitude has also been seemingly tremendous. Along with David Ortiz he can regularly be seen cheering and hugging his teammates. The day before the All Star game he asked out of the lineup with a sore hamstring. This is an injury that has bothered him throughout his career. The guy carried the team throughout the first half of the season. The Sox lose the game, and he is the scapegoat because he did not play. He might as well have tanked the whole season the way people are reacting. Please, the man missed one game. What do you have to do to gain people's respect here? Hit 1.000? It was one game.

I have probably repeated many of the same themes today about 500 times in previous versions of the Couch. Am I above the Shaughnessy curse mentality that plagues Boston? Of course not, but I do try my best to revise my own opinion, not be rash, and not take the bait so easily. The very fact that I continue to listen to the stations and read some of the columns exhibits that I do find an entertainment value to all of it. That said, it is time for people calling these stations, watching these shows or reading these papers to come to their own conclusions. Professional athletes may 'earn' giant paychecks, but they are still people. They weather high and low points, suffer disappointment and experience success like most people do. I am not saying they are above reproach, but at least be a little more selective with your criticism. Seven successful seasons of Nomar and 77 RBI's from Manny bears a lot more consideration than one missed game. Granted, talk radio and newspaper columns can not be all sunshine and smiles, but can it at least occasionally touch on something other than manufactured controversy? Even at the ballpark it would be nice to hear something positive. How about 'LET'S GO RED SOX' instead of 'YANKEE$ SUCK?' I love to boo the villain. Who doesn't? There are good guys to though, you know.

Under The Cushions

'Baby Got Back' has been stuck in my head since 1992. Please send help.
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The Sox will have the edge on the yankee$ for Randy Johnson's services because of their lack of code regarding personal appearance. The yankee$ ban beards and long hair. The Sox clubhouse looks like a scene from Born In East L.A. Advantage: Boston.
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Listening to Mike Ditka's 'I am a regular guy' spiel as he considers running for the U.S. Senate is laughable. First of all, he cannot run an NFL team, but he can represent a state? Besides, he is going about it backwards. Ditka endorses Levitra, a Viagra alternative. You are supposed to endorse the embarassing products when your career is over, just ask Bob Dole.
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EVIL

No surprise seeing Dick Cheney in a yankee$ hat recently alongside Rudy Giuliani. Hopefully his year of disappointment will include an October exit from the postseason for his yankee$ and a November White House exit for himself.
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Doug Mirabelli's 2004 success will make the Boston think twice about breaking the bank for Jason Varitek this winter.
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Please move to the right when walking. There is nothing worse than having to take a leak or being in a hurry for some other reason and being stuck behind some jerkass loafing in the middle of the sidewalk.
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If Kobe signs with the Los Angeles clippers, he is going to jail. It is the clipper way.
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With the trading deadline fast approaching, Lou Merloni has been scouring Travelocity for a decent fare from Cleveland to Boston.
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Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski staying put rather than going to the Lakers is bittersweet. I hate the Lakers, and I hate Duke. It would have been nice to see him fail in Los Angeles, but it is nice to see them fail to get him. Dang.
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Baby Got Back
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'Mike Krzyzewski' would stump everyone as a puzzle on Wheel Of Fortune.
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For the past 8 years I had been goofing off; watching the Simpsons, working on this silly webpage, drinking beer and sitting on my ass. Home ownership has changed that in a heartbeat. I was spending my time plastered, now I am busy plastering. I am learning a ton though, and it is ultimately satisfying. It is nice to do something with tangible results besides a pile of empty Bud Light bottles.
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Questions? Questions?

Spiderman Beware?

The end of Spiderman Two foreshadows Harry Osborne attempting to avenge his father's death as he discovers his Green Goblin mask and weapons. Will he become the Greener Goblin? The Really Green Goblin? Is the Celtic's mascot Lucky busy? Would he not make a perfect Greener Goblin?
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