The following is a short story written in remembrance of September 11th, 2001

I remember the day like it was yesterday. I woke up and got ready for class as if it was like any other day before it. On the way to my class, I stopped in the UC, one of the only places open for food in the morning, to get my usual breakfast, a blueberry glazed Krispy Kreme donut and a bottle of Minute Maid cranberry grape juice. It's not the best breakfast in the world, but when your options are limited, you take what you can get. After paying for my food with a magic card called a cat card, I was off to class. I say it's magic because it certainly seems that way. You simply scan it and they let you have your food. It's as if the food is free and they are merely verifying your identity before you consume it.

The class I was on my way to that morning was a computer programming class. I had considered dropping the class at the beginning of the semester because it was a harder class than I needed but I decided to stick it out. The class began at 9:30 and went until 10:45. As I sat there through the class I began to think about all the things I still needed to do that day. I made a mental to do list in my mind. I had to go back to the room after class, get some things cleaned up, head over to Smoky Mountain High School for my first observation for EDCI 231, and then go to work that evening. What a jam-packed day. I was a little nervous about it because I had only talked once with the teacher whose room I was supposed to be in. On top of that, I wasn't even sure exactly what my role was supposed to be. I had no clue where to go or what to expect. After all, it was my first semester at Western Carolina. I daydreamed and stared at my watch; 10:45 seemed to be so far away. Why is it that it always works out that way? When you want time to move slowly because you are having a good time, it always seems to move at the speed of light. When you want the time to go fast, as in my case this morning, the clock seems like it is out of batteries because the hands move so slow, almost not at all. After what seemed like an eternity, my watch finally said 10:45, which meant it was time for this class to be over. I gathered up my books, put them in my bag and headed back to my room. I had about an hour before I needed to be out the door, heading to Smoky Mountain. I wanted to get there early to make a good impression because it was my first day there. Also, I hate being late anywhere. I get very nervous when I am late or when other people are late.

As I walked back to my room, my mind couldn't help but wander to thoughts about observing at the high school later that day. I was nervous. I had never had the opportunity to be in the classroom before. What if I made a mistake? As I got back to Scott Hall, the dorm I was assigned to, I walked passed a television in the lobby and noticed that it was tuned to the news. I don't generally watch the news, it gets me very depressed, but I happened to see that there was a breaking news story on CNN. I made a mental note to check it out as I was cleaning so that I would know if it was anything important. More often than not, those breaking news stories are nothing. It is like the news station that cried wolf. They make little stories seem so big and get my attention and then I watch and they're nothing. Normally I would not have even checked it out, but for some reason, that day, I did.

I got up to my room and started straightening up. I continued with that for a few minutes before I checked my e-mail and looked on some sports websites. Basically, I wasted some time because I wasn't in the mood to clean. Really, come to think of it, there are very few days that I am in the mood to clean. Then I remembered the news. I turned the TV on and flipped to CNN. What I saw was one of the scariest things I had ever seen. I read the caption at the bottom of the screen and it said that the world trade center tower had been hit by an airplane. I was amazed. I didn't know the extent of everything yet. I just thought that it was an accident by a pilot. I sat glued to the screen as if we were joined together by some invisible rope. I could not look away. Picture after picture flashed on the screen of the plane flying right into the tower. It was unbelievable. Finally, as I listened to what they were saying on the broadcast, I came to the full understanding of what had happened. We had been attacked. I wasn't sure by who or why, but I knew that it had happened. I began to feel all kinds of emotions all rolled into one, emotions ranging from fear and anger to sadness and confusion. It was all too much for me and I began to feel the tears well up. At that point, right there in my room, I began to cry. I cried for our country. I had never seen something like this before so I guess that was the only way I knew how to process it.

As the news continued to replay the incident over and over it sunk in more and more how vulnerable this country was after all. I had always thought that our country was immune to everything, invincible. All the wars that we had fought had been fought somewhere else, somewhere far away. I think everyone sort of had a bit of smugness: about themselves and about our country before this happened. This definitely woke us all up. The phone began to ring and it probably was the only thing that could have brought me back to reality. I answered it, my voice reflecting the shock I was experiencing. It was my mom. She called to see if I was ok and to tell me that she loved me. I think everyone in the country must have made at least one call that day to someone they love. I told my mom that I appreciated it and told her that I loved her too. We talked for a few minutes about what had happened and if it was going to happen again. At this point, I wasn't really sure about what was really going on. I started to worry about my family back home after that call. I am from Chicago, which is a very large and important city. I started to have scary thoughts about if the bombings continued in Chicago and other big U.S. cities. So much had already happened on this day and it was still only 11:45. Was there more to come?

It was time for me to go to Smoky Mountain for observation. I sort of wondered if there would even be students there. Would they have sent them home because of such a tragedy? I wasn't sure, but it was still my responsibility to go and find out. As I drove the six miles to the school, all I could think about was what I had witnessed that morning. I searched every radio station on the way to the school, which is about 3, trying to find out all the information I could. I pulled up to the school and found a parking place. Everything about the school was quiet. I walked in and the halls were quiet and vacant. I was beginning to think that the students had been sent home. I made my way to the classroom that I was supposed to be in and found a teacher in the room watching the news. She seemed to be in the same state of shock that I was in. I said hello and she snapped back to reality. She stood and I told her my name. She introduced herself as well, and our conversation immediately changed to what had happened. "Do they know anything new?" I asked. "No, still the same stuff," she replied. It was frustrating. The two towers and part of the Pentagon had been taken out, and a plane was down in Pennsylvania. How could this happen? Before we knew it, the kids were filing into the room. Normally I would expect the students to be rowdy and loud, and this would prove to be true as the semester would unfold, but on this day the students were somber and still. They walked into the classroom and quietly took their seats. My teacher had told me that they had basically had the TV on all morning and she planned to have it on the rest of the day. She told the class that we were going to be watching the news for this class period. I could tell by the students' faces that they were just as scared as I was. They watched the TV trying to sort everything out. There was miscellaneous conversation here and there and then all of a sudden a boy raised his hand and asked very seriously, "Mrs. Danner does this mean there is going to be a draft, because I'm 18?" My heart sunk. I had not ever considered the possibility, but it was a real one. I began to get just as scared. I was only 23 so I was also a prime candidate to get drafted in the event that there was one.

After my time at Smoky Mountain was done, I drove home quietly. I turned off the radio and just drove home in silence. Too much had already happened today. I just needed some time to process everything. I got back to campus and went back to my room. I immediately went back to the TV. I had to be at work later that day for a short shift. I decided to take a nap because I was physically and mentally exhausted. I woke up around 4:15 with plenty of time to check the latest developments and get ready for work. Everything in me wanted to call in sick and stay home. Part of the reason was because I wanted to watch the TV and part of the reason was because I was still scared. I didn't know if there were more attacks coming. Rumors were everywhere. There were people saying that the next hits were going to be close to where we were in North Carolina for some strange reason. I guess it was just conspiracy theory, because I have no clue why someone would want to bomb Cullowhee. Nonetheless, I was still scared. I went to work at Subway and had a hard time concentrating because the attacks were that all every customer wanted to talk about. So many people asked me if I had seen the latest news as if I was standing there watching the TV with them. I don't think they realized that I was at work and not able to see the news. It was very frustrating.

Mercifully, my shift ended at 8 and I was back in the dorms. By this time my fiancée was with me and we were talking about what had happened. It just didn't seem real yet. In the days ahead there would be news about terrorists and a hunt for Osama Bin Laden, but this day, September 11th, 2001 would be a day that will live in my memory forever. It is a day where lives were lost and heroes were born: A day that has changed our country forever. A day that I will never forget.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 9:21 PM

 
Days Of Old

In the wake of a mistake-ridden first game against the Marlins, this nostalgic Cub fan found one shining light in the ballgame. The seventh inning stretch featured my all-time favorite Cubs player, Andre Dawson. The Hawk gave us his rendition of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame," and unlike many of Wrigley's guest conductors, every note that escaped his mouth was...in tune.

At the top of the eighth, Chip and Steve shared their standard meet-the-conductor interview with their guest, and Andre talked about his memories as a Cubs player. He said what he enjoyed the most was the way the fans respected him and his teammates, even in the years when the Cubs were one of the worst teams in the league. In fact, it was 1987 when the Cubs were dead last in their division, yet Dawson had the best year of his career and became the National League MVP.

I pondered his words and thought about the last few games at Wrigley Field. This certainly hasn't been one of the greatest stretches of games in Cubs history, but the 2004 Cubs are certainly doing better than the Cubs of 1987. But judging from the continued boos inning after inning from the box seats, upper decks and bleachers of Wrigley Field, it seems to me that the fans aren't offering the same amount of respect to this team compared to the Cubs teams of old. Could Dawson have had his amazing 1987 season if the Cubs of 1986 (which he was not a part of, of course) had gone deep into the postseason only to suck it up the following year? Would the fans at Wrigley have booed The Hawk every time he struck out?

It's clear to me that past success can be one of the heaviest items a team can have on its shoulders. Coming within five outs of the World Series is an amazing accomplishment, but for fans who have waited their entire lifetimes to see them come away with the biggest prize in the sport, the expectations they place on this team may not disappear for many years to come.

Written by Andy Rutledge @ 5:10 PM

 

A short poem on the Cubs' offense

Heavy on righties and uppercut heroes,
they'll score fifteen one day, then for two days it's zero.

With little in mind but swings prodigious,
they act as if singles are sacreligious.

For if they should happen to get on the bases
a baserunning error will redden their faces.

And bases on balls are something quite shameful,
but shallow pop flies are not disdainful.

So swing hard, you Cubs, with no consideration
for need of runners or situation.

For according to you the wins are not relevant
the game is to show that you're strong as an elephant.

And if in the process you've blown the wild card,
and hoisted yourself on your own petard,

no matter to you, you're still filthy rich!
Why should you care if your loyal fans bitch.

--A loyal fan

Written by David M. Beyer @ 1:41 PM


Wednesday, September 08, 2004  
Going Downs Hill

Today's game was clearly disappointing. It reminded me quite a bit like Livan Hernandez's shutout of the Cubs last week in Montreal. However, things have changed. Hurricane Frances caused the Marlins-Cubs series to be postponed, and now after Thursday, the Cubs will not rest until October 4th (for better or for worse). What can we make of this? Well, the Cubs schedule in September is designed much easier than any of the teams the Cubs will be fighting for the Wild Card berth. There's no comparison, we get to jump on the Expos, the Reds, the Pirates, and if we're lucky the Mets won't be on task come time we have to play them. So, what's the problem? If the Cubs can't beat teams they are supposed to beat, as illustrated in the recent Expos-Cubs series at Wrigley Field, they're not going to make the playoffs. Plain and simple, they need win or go home. Houston and Florida are playing great baseball. If the Cubs win all the games that they are supposed to (the Reds, Pirates of the world), and play good ball against the Atlanta's and Florida's of the world, then I don't see a reason for any other team to touch them. However, if they don't beat these teams, they're just not going to have the edge anymore, and believe me, they need the edge. It's pretty simple, this team is not in a situation where if they beat the teams they should and do decent against the good teams that they're likely going to be out in the cold. It's cut and dry this season, although that's unusual for baseball.

Quote of the Day
"They're not going to win them all and we're due to win 11 in a row," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said, when asked about the surging Astros.

Better start it soon Dusty, only 26 games left. And I have a better feeling they'll win them all than that we'll go on an 11 game tear at this point.

Keep the faith, Cubdom.

Written by Anthony Odarczenko @ 11:37 PM

 
What can you say?

I watched the game last night. I was disappointed, but I started to think about if the Cubs really deserved to win anyway. A few of the runs they did get were due to poor fielding on the part of the Expos. So, it's hard to say we should have won, but it is definitely a game we COULD have won.

I think Maddux will step up for us tonight and get us the solid pitching we need. After using practically our entire pitching staff last night, we could use a nice 8 inning performance. There really isn't much more to say. This is crunch time. It's up to the Cubs to rise to the occasion like every other team is.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 3:40 PM


Tuesday, September 07, 2004  
4 days off can be a big help

For the past few days, I decided to take a break from baseball, and writing. It seemed like the perfect time, considering the Cubs were on a temporary hiatus from the game. However, I have to admit, I literally almost went insane from the lack of Cubs on TV. I am addicted and I will not deny it. Come Monday, I was so ready for the game, that it was all I was thinking about all day. I probably would have pulled my hair out waiting for it had I not been reformatting my computer in the office. That kept me busy until right up to the start of the game.

As I said before, having 4 days off can in fact be a big help. With the Cubs being idle, I was forced to get other things done. I reorganized my office desk, formatted the hard drive, and was able to get some things done for school. I had a fairly profitable week. However, I would assume that most, if not all who read this site do not really care about what I did. They care about the Cubs. Well for the Cubs, in my opinion, those 4 days off can also be a big help to them or a big problem. I'd like to make a case for both sides.

Why the rest may help

• Sometimes it helps to just take a step back and evaluate the situation. This extra time off allowed the Cubs that opportunity. They were able to step back, see where they stand, and decide where they want to go. "Do I want to help this team make the Wild Card?", "Do I want to win the World Series?", and "What do I need to improve?" These are all questions that needed to be addressed individually when given the opportunity. Having some days away from baseball gave the Cubs just that opportunity. Whether or not they took advantage of it, we'll just have to wait and see.
• Having days off at this time in the season allows players to rest ailing bones, and nagging injuries. This has been a year full of them, so a little extra R & R goes a long way toward promoting a healthy team down the stretch. Days off allow Nomar and Ramirez the chance to sit and rest, while not missing any games in the process. Hopefully this extra rest will go a long way toward getting these guys healthy. If Ramirez's two HR game yesterday is any indication, the rest seems to have worked.

Why the rest may hurt

• Because of the series with the Marlins being wiped out, it forces the Cubs to play doubleheaders down the stretch. While the makeup dates to this point have not been officially announced, there is a good chance the Cubs will have a grand total of 1 off day until the playoffs. I really hope that this does not come back to bite us, but around baseball, the consensus feeling is that it will. Hopefully the Cubs will come out swinging and get to the point that at least one of the games are not necessary. If not, pitching on short rest could be in store for our already beleaguered starting staff.
• Because of the short rest for our pitchers down the stretch, we may have to endure a start by the disaster that is Sergio Mitre. God help us if we do. Keep your fingers crossed that his arm falls off magically and we are all sparred from the torture of watching him pitch.

So, will the days off from baseball be helpful or hurtful? We'll just have to see. If nothing else, they were helpful to me.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 1:28 PM


Saturday, September 04, 2004  
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: The Surprises of 2004

If you're like most Cubs fans, the 2004 season is not exactly what you expected. Lets face it, we all thought the Cubs would be in a more comfortable spot come September. After coming within 5 outs of the World Series in 2003, the Cubs made several acquisitions that they hoped would help them close the deal. Derrek Lee, Greg Maddux, LaTroy Hawkins - to name a few. But after injuries, and many disappointments, the Cubs have found themselves out of the division race, and fighting for their lives in the Wild Card as we head into the final month. But they should consider themselves lucky, because several players who weren't expected to hold the team together have helped to keep them from faltering. With that said, I present to you the Surprises of the 2004 Cubs..

The Good

In general, it's the bolstered bench that has stepped up and playing good ball when the starters were injured.

Michael Barrett, C
In 2003, Damian Miller and Paul Bako combined for a .232 average for the season. After last season, it was clear the Catcher's spot was the biggest offensive weakness. Michael Barrett, who had spent his entire career with the Montreal Expos, hit .208 in an injury-burdened 2003 season. The Cubs had actually pursued him in trade talks last season, but the Expos were reluctant to move him. Montreal dealt him to Oakland in December, and the following day he was sent to the Cubs for Damian Miller and cash. The Cubs were sure Michael Barrett would improve from 2003, but probably did not expect him to be a key producer. Barrett has hit .295 this season with 13 homers and 57 driven in, and finally, the Cubs have a catcher who can get the job done with the bat.

Glendon Rusch, LHP
In 2003, Glendon Rusch had an amazing season - 1-12 record, 6.42 ERA. In late April, the Cubs signed Rusch to a minor league contract, and on by the end of the month, he was on the big league club. Glendon Rusch performed very well when the Cubs needed him to step in during the duration of injuries to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. It is very fair to assume, the Cubs wouldn't even be in this race without the consistency of Glendon this season. There have also been a few games that come to mind since Prior and Wood have returned, that Rusch came in when the pitcher was injured or simply didn't have it, and the shut down the opponent so the Cubs could come back and win it - or at least make a game of it.

Todd Hollandsworth, 1B/OF
One of two members of the Cubs who spent 2003 with the Marlins, Todd has been very productive off the bench, and filled in for Sammy Sosa very well during his sneeze made his back go out. Hollandsworth is another play who is very much responsible for the Cubs staying the race. You can never get the offensive numbers of your injured slugger from the bench, but Hollandsworth did everything possible to keep the Cubs afloat while they were burdened with injuries. He hasn't been seen since the White Sox-Cubs series, when he fouled a ball of his leg. The Cubs hope to get him back sometime in September. His role on this team is "nothing to sneeze at".

Todd Walker, 2B
Alright, we had an idea of what to expect from Todd. He was a career .290 hitter, who came and signed with the Cubs as a backup instead of signing with a losing club who guaranteed him a starting job. We knew all this, but when Grudzielanek was injured in April, Walker stepped up and didn't miss a beat. During the significant time Mark missed, Walker was able to make a big enough impression that hes been sharing time with Grudzielanek all season long.

Nomar Garciaparra, SS
This is a different kind of surprise. Maybe I should have said Jim Hendry instead. But it was quite a surprise, the Cubs were able to get one of the best hitting shortstops in the game without trading Matt Clement or giving anything worthwhile in the system. Hendry has been very good with his decisions in his tenure as the Cubs general manager, and has made two big deals in his two seasons that the Cubs had never seen the likes of before.

The Bad

Although, it wasn't my intention, the bad has been the bullpen - the severe weakness on this club that I think could undermine the 2004 effort.

Joe Borowski, RHP
I won't be too hard on Joe, because I know not to the extent of his injuries while he was pitching. To be honest, I preferred him on the mound to close the game. His ERA was horrible, and he looked like crap, but until the last couple outings - he would just be able to get by and get the save (while scaring Cub Nation to death), but he got the job done. Hawkins has been more effective, but it seems like hes on and off - he'll blow the game entirely, or he'll knock 'em out.

Kyle Farnsworth, RHP
After he struggled in April, Farnsworth found May, June, and especially July favorable, and was a very consistent part of the Cubs bullpen. But as quickly as he had a dominant July, he had an absolutely horrid August. Usually you can't blame a player for having a bad month, but this was excessive - and it cost the Cubs several games. Kyle allowed 17 runs (2 of them unearned) in 7 August innings. He has hurt his leg after kicking an electric fan after a disappointing outing - when comes back in late September, if he fails to perform, he may help the Cubs kick the bucket.

LaTroy Hawkins, RHP
Overall, LaTroy has been a lift to the bullpen. He was shutting down the hitters in the setup role at the beginning of the year, and I've truly believed he is one of the best, if not the best setup man in baseball. But lets face it, in the closer role LaTroy has not gotten the job done. The question mark is, though, who do you put there? The hot hand? And what if they fail as LaTroy has done? It's a tough spot, but disappointing nonetheless.

Mark Prior, RHP
As much as I hate to, Prior hasn't been able to get back to the level hes able to play at. It may not happen this season, and I think it's very likely that he won't turn it on until 2005. I think 2005, if injury free, could be a phenomenal year for Prior. But whether it's preparation, the fact hes still out of the swing of it or the possibility that something is still bothering him, it's a bad sign for the staff. I hope he can come back and have a strong September and postseason - if he doesn't, it could be very difficult to keep pondering World Series dreams.

The Ugly

I could say other names, but this is one thing that has been really disappointing. He is not going to hit 60, that I do understand. But sometimes, you need to see that old flare - that one hot streak where you can say, he still can put up numbers during one stretch or another.

Sammy Sosa, RF
Feel free to blast me for this. Sammy Sosa has disappointed me, I understand he's still productive - he's going to get his 30-35 home runs, but we need more hits from Sammy - we need to see a little bit of old Sammy Sosa or we could be in trouble. Sosa has failed to hit .275 in all but one month (May). April and May, I give him is props - but since his injury, Sammy has looked a lot different at the plate, and has really struggled. Sosa told off his critics after July, saying that since he hit 10 homers, that he's back to old Sammy - but he only hit .265, and then followed up with a .218 average in August and 7 homers. Sure, there are players not hitting 30 homers on this team, but there are some guys you have to expect a little bit more from.

Note:This article written by future writer of TVFTB, Anthony Odarczenko. Please post some comments and let him know what you think.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 6:24 PM


Friday, September 03, 2004  
Taking A Glance Around Sports

With the Cubs idle yesterday, and idle today due to someone name Francis, I figured I would take a look at other happenings around the league and sports in general to share my thoughts with the world.

I. The AL Playoff Picture
Unlike the National League, the American League playoff picture is fairly clear. If the season ended today, the playoff matchups would be as follows:

NY Yankees vs Minnesota Twins
Oakland A's vs Boston Red Sox

Of those two matchups, the Yankees will no doubt get more coverage, because they are, well, THE YANKEES!!!! However, I think the more intriguing matchup of the AL is the A's and Sox. Both teams have a great starting staff and are very hot right now. It would be a great series to watch. Who wouldn't want to watch Pedro vs Hudson, Shilling vs Mulder, etc. I know I would.

In the Yankee's series, I feel as if the Yankees will have a hard time with the Twins despite their lack of offense. Yankee's starters are struggling this year and they have yet to figure out a way to fix the situation. Esteban Loiza, the consolation prize in the Randy Johnson trade talks, has been awful since donning the pinstripes of NY. If New York does not figure out a way to get some quality starts come October, they will have little chance facing starting staffs that boast Johan Santana, Brad Radke, Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, Pedro Martinez and Curt Shilling. I look for the Yankees to fall short again this year by losing in either the first round or the ALCS. The will not make it to the World Series.

II. Russia beats up on Team USA Hockey
It seems like all the pro athletes in Olympic type competition feel like this is the year they need to get beat by the world. With the Olympic mens basketball team limping to a bronze medal in Athens, the USA hockey team feels they need to follow suit in the hockey World Cup. They got beat by Canada on Tuesday night and now lost to Russia last night by a score of 3-1. The problem with this team is the exact opposite from the problem the basketball team experienced. USA basketball was made up of young, inexperienced talent. They all know how to play basketball, but have yet to learn "team" basketball. This hockey team is made up of veterans who know the game of hockey, and have experienced winning. Names like Chelios and Mario are found in the lineup. The problem with this team is they have too much experience. They are simply too old. Too many tired legs on the ice. They simply can't keep up. People who pick these teams need to learn what they are doing. It's not all about star power. It's about team play and chemistry in international competition.

III. WCU Football wins 77-7 over West Virginia State

I know all of you are wondering why I would even post this score. This is my school. I was at the game last night until halftime. I couldn't watch the blowout anymore. Our guys limited poor West Virginia State to relatively no offense in the first half. WCU did not even allow them into their territory the whole first half except for one play late that got them 2 yards in. I hope this is a good sign for the year to come for the Catamounts, who play in the Division IAA Southern Conference.

IV. Non Sports Related Topic

There are two things I would also like to mention to you. First, if you have not ever played with it, there is a website called bloglines. With it, you can subscribe to all your favorite Cubs and non Cubs blogs on the internet. I highly reccomend this program because it will save you endless amounts of time searching blog to blog just to see if they have something written. Simply log into your bloglines account and it will tell you all the sites with new content. It's the only way to go for people who have little time, but alot to read. If you are interested in signing up, there is a link to bloglines in my sidebar. Click it and it will walk you through it.

The second thing I would like to mention is something that I am very excited about. This site will be moving to it's own domain in about a week. As soon as the move is complete, I will be posting all the new information for the site and RSS feeds here for people to click and then change their bookmarks.

Written by Joseph E. Aiello @ 9:08 AM