Since Affirmed won the last Triple Crown in 1978, there have been 11 horses with a chance to do the same. Real Quiet came the closest, losing the 1998 Belmont by a nose. Smarty Jones, the last to try in 2004, was beaten by a length.

So does Big Brown “The Shark” of the field win the toughest leg of the Triple Crown?

It’s been 30 years and the timing is right! This colt has that swagger that says “come on try me”. I watched how he just separated himself from the field with little or no effort in the Preakness. The Belmont Stakes has the longest stretch, but this colt has a incredible late kick.

Big Brown will stand tall, and will break the 30 year drought since the great Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978. In my opinion there’s only one horse to beat. Big Brown by 6 1/2 and the 2008 Triple Crown Winner!

“Big Brown Draws Away!”

Who do you think will win the Belmont Stakes?

A very famous baseball comedy act to ever take place. This humorous exchange between Bud Abbott and Lou Costello is remembered by many of us and especially baseball fans.

Costello: Look Abbott, if you’re the coach, you must know all the players.

Abbott: I certainly do.

Costello: Well you know I’ve never met the guys. So you’ll have to tell me their names, and then I’ll know who’s playing on the team.

Abbott: Oh, I’ll tell you their names, but you know it seems to me they give these ball players now-a-days very peculiar names.

Costello: You mean funny names?

Abbott: Strange names, pet names…like Dizzy Dean…

Costello: His brother Daffy.

Abbott: Daffy Dean…

Costello: And their French cousin.

Abbott: French?

Costello: Goofè.

Abbott: Goofè Dean. Well, let’s see, we have on the bags, Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third…

Costello: That’s what I want to find out.

Abbott: I say Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know’s on third.

Costello: Are you the manager?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: You gonna be the coach too?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: And you don’t know the fellows’ names?

Abbott: Well I should.

Costello: Well then who’s on first?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: I mean the fellow’s name.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy on first.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The first baseman.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy playing…

Abbott: Who is on first!

Costello: I’m asking YOU who’s on first.

Abbott: That’s the man’s name.

Costello: That’s who’s name?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: Well go ahead and tell me.

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: That’s who?

Abbott: Yes.

PAUSE

Costello: Look, you gotta first baseman?

Abbott: Certainly.

Costello: Who’s playing first?

Abbott: That’s right.

Costello: When you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money?

Abbott: Every dollar of it.

Costello: All I’m trying to find out is the fellow’s name on first base.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy that gets…

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: Who gets the money…

Abbott: He does, every dollar. Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it.

Costello: Whose wife?

Abbott: Yes.

PAUSE

Abbott: What’s wrong with that?

Costello: Look, all I wanna know is when you sign up the first baseman, how does he sign his name?

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: How does he sign…

Abbott: That’s how he signs it.

Costello: Who?

Abbott: Yes.

PAUSE

Costello: All I’m trying to find out is what’s the guy’s name on first base.

Abbott: No. What is on second base.

Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.

Abbott: Who’s on first.

Costello: One base at a time!

Abbott: Well, don’t change the players around.

Costello: I’m not changing nobody!

Abbott: Take it easy, buddy.

Costello: I’m only asking you, who’s the guy on first base?

Abbott: That’s right.

Costello: Ok.

Abbott: All right.

PAUSE

Costello: What’s the guy’s name on first base?

Abbott: No. What is on second.

Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.

Abbott: Who’s on first.

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott: He’s on third, we’re not talking about him.

Costello: Now how did I get on third base?

Abbott: Why you mentioned his name.

Costello: If I mentioned the third baseman’s name, who did I say is playing third?

Abbott: No. Who’s playing first.

Costello: What’s on first?

Abbott: What’s on second.

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott: He’s on third.

Costello: There I go, back on third again!

PAUSE

Costello: Would you just stay on third base and don’t go off it.

Abbott: All right, what do you want to know?

Costello: Now who’s playing third base?

Abbott: Why do you insist on putting Who on third base?

Costello: What am I putting on third.

Abbott: No. What is on second.

Costello: You don’t want who on second?

Abbott: Who is on first.

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott & Costello Together:Third base!

PAUSE

Costello: Look, you gotta outfield?

Abbott: Sure.

Costello: The left fielder’s name?

Abbott: Why.

Costello: I just thought I’d ask you.

Abbott: Well, I just thought I’d tell ya.

Costello: Then tell me who’s playing left field.

Abbott: Who’s playing first.

Costello: I’m not… stay out of the infield! I want to know what’s the guy’s name in left field?

Abbott: No, What is on second.

Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.

Abbott: Who’s on first!

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott & Costello Together: Third base!

PAUSE

Costello: The left fielder’s name?

Abbott: Why.

Costello: Because!

Abbott: Oh, he’s centerfield.

PAUSE

Costello: Look, You gotta pitcher on this team?

Abbott: Sure.

Costello: The pitcher’s name?

Abbott: Tomorrow.

Costello: You don’t want to tell me today?

Abbott: I’m telling you now.

Costello: Then go ahead.

Abbott: Tomorrow!

Costello: What time?

Abbott: What time what?

Costello: What time tomorrow are you gonna tell me who’s pitching?

Abbott: Now listen. Who is not pitching.

Costello: I’ll break your arm, you say who’s on first! I want to know what’s the pitcher’s name?

Abbott: What’s on second.

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott & Costello Together: Third base!

PAUSE

Costello: Gotta a catcher?

Abbott: Certainly.

Costello: The catcher’s name?

Abbott: Today.

Costello: Today, and tomorrow’s pitching.

Abbott: Now you’ve got it.

Costello: All we got is a couple of days on the team.

PAUSE

Costello: You know I’m a catcher too.

Abbott: So they tell me.

Costello: I get behind the plate to do some fancy catching, Tomorrow’s pitching on my team and a heavy hitter gets up. Now the heavy hitter bunts the ball. When he bunts the ball, me, being a good catcher, I’m gonna throw the guy out at first base. So I pick up the ball and throw it to who?

Abbott: Now that’s the first thing you’ve said right.

Costello: I don’t even know what I’m talking about!

PAUSE

Abbott: That’s all you have to do.

Costello: Is to throw the ball to first base.

Abbott: Yes!

Costello: Now who’s got it?

Abbott: Naturally.

PAUSE

Costello: Look, if I throw the ball to first base, somebody’s gotta get it. Now who has it?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Who?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Naturally?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: So I pick up the ball and I throw it to Naturally.

Abbott: No you don’t, you throw the ball to Who.

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That’s different.

Costello: That’s what I said.

Abbott: You’re not saying it…

Costello: I throw the ball to Naturally.

Abbott: You throw it to Who.

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: That’s what I said!

Abbott: You ask me.

Costello: I throw the ball to who?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Now you ask me.

Abbott: You throw the ball to Who?

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: Same as you! Same as YOU! I throw the ball to who. Whoever it is drops the ball and the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball and throws it to What. What throws it to I Don’t Know. I Don’t Know throws it back to Tomorrow, Triple play. Another guy gets up and hits a long fly ball to Because. Why? I don’t know! He’s on third and I don’t give a darn!

Abbott: What?

Costello: I said I don’t give a darn!

Abbott: Oh, that’s our shortstop.

I love the spring time when the fishing is at it’s best. I recently moved to Illinois from Las Vegas in August of 2007. Las Vegas has one water hole and that’s Lake Mead which really produces small numbers of bass and a load of boat traffic. In the mid west there are tons of fishing holes.

So far so good:

After 4 fishing outings I was very impressed with each outcome. I have fished 3 different ponds to date and I am in the process of mapping out a few more spots. I do have a honey spot, but I can’t share it. This honey spot has produced great numbers and good size bass.

Results so far:

Outing #1 - 2 Bass, 14 Pan Fish

Outing #2 - 2 Bass, 1 Golden Shiner, 11 Pan Fish

Outing #3 - 22 Bass, 8 Pan Fish (Honey Spot)

Outing #4 - 17 Bass, 15 Pan Fish (Honey Spot)

The largest bass was 3 pounds 4 ounces. The Pan Fish that I caught at the Honey Spot were the largest Pan Fish I have ever seen. They weighed anywhere from 12 ounces to 1 pound!

Are there any other anglers in Illinois that read this blog?

The Giants spoil what was considered the greatest record in football, going undefeated like the 72 Miami Dolphins. The Giants won their 11th straight road game and a 17-14 Super Bowl win Sunday that shattered the New England Patriots unblemished season. A well coached and well played game on both sides of the ball.

New York can now get that swagger back and stick it to the ugly New England fans. Did I say ugly? Have you been to Fenway lately? Take a close look at the fans, by far some of the ugliest fans around. Let me get back on the topic, sorry about that, just needed to vent.

Bill Belichick, cheater and now a sore loser

Bill Belichick and the Patriots have a lot more to worry about now, given the new allegations of video-related spying or what’s known as spy-gate. It’s believed that the Patriots cheated during the 2002 Super Bowl against the Rams. This is just as bad as the HGH allegations in the Michell report.

They conceded with 1 second on the clock as Belichick ran across the field to shake the hand of Coughlin, then headed to the locker room, ignoring the final kneeldown. This is the same coach who ran up scores, and now the shoe was on the other foot, and he could not take the defeat! That’s unsportsmanlike at best, disrespectful at least, and at worst, it makes him a big sissy as quoted by Yahoo’s MJD.

Tom Brady, I guess you will just have to wait until next year!

What happened to the 60 home run seasons? We all know why and the answer is HGH, and steroids. From 2000 to 2005 baseball was played under the influence of performance drugs. Do you have baseball cards of Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, or Sammy Sosa? Take a close look at their earlier cards like 1996 . Yes, it’s an amazing difference.

I am going to create the Hall of Shame page here at BlogTBT. It will provide insight on before and after pictures, real records, tarnished records and more. I think this will open many eyes and provide a real view.

Will baseball rebound from this era of steroids and hgh? I think it will as there’s still a lot of goodness that the game has to offer. It’s a sport that’s part of America, just like apple pie. What needs to be done to keep the game on a level playing field is to get the proper testing of HGH and unscheduled testing for players.

I don’t think the Mitchell report was fair as not one Red Sox player was named, and that is only because Mitchell’s relationship with the Boston Red Sox. This was truly unfair to many players. I know that our Boston fans will say there was no evidence, but there was and it was not public.