05.31.2010: Gearing Up.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

First off, shout out to the Simon family. They welcomed me into their cabin on Lake Ossawinnamakee. I stayed there Friday night and throughout Saturday afternoon and had an absolute blast. The highlight? Probably riding the jet-ski. I found a flat patch of water that allowed me to rev it up. I got up to 50 mph and right when I hit 50 I hit a wave and went airborne. I felt like I was 20 feet high, though, realistically, it was probably only 6 feet. Either way, all of a sudden things started going in slow motion until the base of the jet ski touched water.

This past weekend was a big weekend for the Lunkers. The recently married Coach Levendoski and his awesome wife Rachell moved back into town for the summer. Rachell and I bonded immediately when I found out she, like me, is a die-hard Packers fan. As a matter of fact, while in college, she was a Green Bay Packers cheerleader! Moving into his apartment last night was hitting coach Jeremy Etchemendy. His roommate, this season's pitching coach, Dan Lipari, is scheduled to arrive today.

Players are starting to trickle in as well. There are about nine here so far, with more scheduled to arrive today and tomorrow. If you want, check out the NCAA Baseball Tournament Selection Show at 11:30AM on ESPN2, I believe. We have around 10 guys who are either in the playoff tournament or who have a shot. If they make the tournament, their arrival will be delayed by a week or two and, while everyone would love to have them right away, making the tournament and getting a shot at Omaha is a unique experience, especially since its the last year of legendary Rosenblatt Stadium!

Yesterday was the Player-Host Family Welcome Dinner. We had most of the host families and about
seven of the players. I imagine being a host family is a really cool experience. I just observed as the host families introduced themselves and announced their tenure as a host family. There are so many returning host families! And for the kids, they all seem to fall in love with their "Host-Brother(s)." It was really neat watching the 6-6 David Albritton, a first-team all-conference catcher from Emporia State University, play with his two little "Host-Brothers" Ryan and Levi. I spoke to Ryan and Levi and they couldn't be more excited to spend the summer with David and the other player their family is hosting, Matt Florer. With that being said, it is important to note the following:

WE ARE STILL 3-4 HOST FAMILIES SHORT DUE TO RECENT ROSTER MOVES. IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN BECOMING A HOST FAMILY FOR THE SUMMER, PLEASE CONTACT THE LUNKERS OFFICE (218- 824-FISH) OR CALL MIKE BROWN (218 828-1254).

Shameless plug? Maybe. But it is important that these kids have a surrogate family for the summer, and not just stay alone in a hotel.

Hot Sports Opinion of the Day: The Lakers find ways to win. Do they keep their opponents in games longer than they should, sometimes? Yes. Do give teams hope in a seven-game series, sometimes? Yes. Do they always end up winning the series? Yes. Every sports pundit is trying to be bold and make the claim that the Lakers' inability to close out the Suns in 4 or 5 means they are not a "Championship team." Are they one of the NBA greatest teams? No, but they are definitely a championship caliber team. Two years ago, the Boston Celtics took seven games to close out eighth-seeded Atlanta in the first round. Did they bow out prematurely in the ensuing rounds? No. They went seven the next round and six the round after that before dominating the Lakers en route to the crown. Don't look into to how long it takes a team to win a series or how difficult it may be. Look into whether or not they got it done. And they got it done. Am I picking the Lakers? Despite having pre-committed money on Boston, I am begrudgingly picking the Lakers. But, if Boston wins, it is not because Los Angeles didn't run over everyone in their way. It is because I think Rajon Rondo is emerging into the one of the NBA's best players and is going to give the Lakers' backcourt fits the entire series.

Media Pick of the Day:


Sports Pick of the Day: Blackhawks over Flyers. Before the series I said Chicago in five games over Philadelphia and in order for that to happen, I think Chicago needs to take their two home openers.

Record: 2-1

2 DAYS UNTIL OPENING DAY.
3 DAYS UNTIL THE HOME OPENER. TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE.