Thanks, Mr. LaRussa! From a Chicago Sock

Pitchers Dennis Lamp, Floyd Bannister, and Cy Young winner LaMar Hoyt. Fielders Harold Baines, Ron Kittle, and Tom Paciorek. Designated hitter Greg "The Bull" Luzinski. And to wrap it up, the penultimate catcher, Carlton "Pudge" Fisk. These men were just the core of my favorite baseball team roster, the  1983 American League West Championship-winning Chicago White Sox. The White Sox heretofore had not participated in a post-season game since 1959. Prior to that, there had been no post-season appearance since the 1919 'Black Sox' debacle. That's a long time to survive without a championship coffee mug.

Winning UGLY! (Literally)

The leader of the pack in '83 was manager Tony LaRussa, who was given his first pro-baseball managerial position by Chicago in '79. A few days ago, LaRussa retired from baseball after crafting a career  that began as a player back in the 70's. Though I realize talent, skill, athleticism, and good management  are a must for a winning team, pride and spirit is what gets the fans going and makes us happy. The team possessed a loyal fan base dying for some good baseball. A crumbling Comiskey Park was hanging in there, patient but sad as its new home across the street was being planned.

I was living and working out-of-state in 1983. Beginning that spring, I listened to each White Sox game I could via radio. Soon it appeared that my Sox would be appearing in their first post-season game in almost a quarter of a century. A local friend assured me that a buddy of his in Chicago would be able to get us tickets for one game. We drove over 350 miles, but the 'assurance' never worked out. Standing on the northwest corner of 35th and Wentworth Avenue during a day in early October, we ended up scalping a pair of tickets for about a hundred bucks. Fortunately, the tickets were legit and decent. Unfortunately, the Sox lost the game (and the AL West series) to the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore fielder Eddie Murray was on fire that year, and the Orioles went on to win the World Series.

LaRussa was fired in 1986, to the disgruntlement of many Sox fans. He was picked up by the the Oakland A's, winning a couple of AL championships and a World Series while introducing us to bash brethren Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. In 1996, he was hired by the St. Louis Cardinals, where he led them to two World Series and multiple post-season appearances. With his retirement, he scores near the top of many "Coach with the Most" lists. Baseball Hall of Fame? Right this way, sir.

As for Chicago, there would be a stream of managers and notable players that would pass through the Sox clubhouse after LaRussa's departure. Fregosi, Torborg, Manuel; Belle, Thomas, and newly-announced manager Robin Ventura. Since LaRussa and the '83 Sox, the White Sox have gone on to appear in four post-seasons of play: '93, '00, '05, and '08. My sheer joy, delight, and jars of tears cannot be virtually shared regarding my man Ozzie Guillen and the 2005 World Series Champions, THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX!!

So thanks, Mr. LaRussa, for all you did for my team. As far as I'm concerned, you put the Sox on the modern map of baseball. I'm not a devote historian, nor am I a master of statistics. In the 80's, I was just a young man looking to feel good about my childhood team. To me, sir, you will always be the founder, creator, and father of modern Chicago White Sox baseball. And for that, this long-time south-sider will be extremely grateful. You brought respect to a historic southside team in need of acknowledgment for how they played, not for where they were located. You helped change the perception of the Chicago White Sox, and you personified a winning attitude. You lit the fire that became the flame.

Enjoy your retirement, Mr. LaRussa. God bless you, and thanks again. See you in Cooperstown.

I'm Hip

One of my BFF's calls me a "Face Book fool." I tweet, blog, chat, and text. Voice mail is for babies. I sign into CNET regularly, and I am on the Email list of several online forums. I built my son's computer. I receive all Tiger Direct/CompUSA mailings as they continue to struggle with their identity. I have a net book, and a printer/fax/scanner combo that I hooked up wirelessly to all said devices. By myself. I live on a cloud.

Currently, I own an HTC EVO. I rooted the phone myself, running Vaelpak ROM. This means I have customized the unit so that I have more control and choice over appearance and applications. Not an easy task. I keep up with all the latest tech reviews and announcements via @admillios.  I hope that Sprint offers a version of the upcoming Nexus Prime, because I don't want to transition to an iOS platform. So I'm looking forward to the release of the Galaxy S III, just in time for my upgrade. It should drop during Q1 or Q2.  I REALLY want an ice cream sandwich.

Am I speaking in a foreign tongue to you? Do I want a real ice cream sandwich, or a virtual one? Ha ha...get with it. If you are unaware of any of the information regarding my tech knowledge, I consider you beneath me. You are an amateur. In the class system of technology, you are unworthy, low-level, and on the verge of becoming a moron. Why am I so pumped up about this? Because I'm 54 years old.

And I'm hip.

An IBM PC similar to my first workplace computer! 

                   

Very few men and women in their 50's are as tech savvy as I am. It is an amazing world to me. While most technological advances can be just ho-hum occurences, I am in awe when even the slightest tech advancement is announced. Tempus fugit. When I was in high school, I about lost my mind when I was able to buy a pocket calculator at Walgreens. A wireless phone? Back in the day, not only were they wired, you couldn't even unplug them...from the unit or the wall. Hey, you had time to go to the kitchen and make a sandwich while the television warmed up. Black and white television, that is. Can  you say 'solid state?' (No, it's not a political term.)

In May, 2012, I will officially be a speed limit on most interstate highways. I have arguments with my father over who gets the AARP credit when we simultaneously flash our cards. It's shameful that, at 92, he sometimes shows his card quicker than I do. I hope I'm blessed with much more improved pavement on the expressway of my life. However, turning 55 is a bit of a big deal to me. At times, I enjoy the signs of aging. Less energy, more wisdom. Less shame and guilt, more forgivness and hope. Less condemnation, more self-reflection. Less novice and kid, more elder and mentor. Less extravagant, more pragmatic. Less Bose, more Dynex.

Praying that God grants me the opportunity to work through some current kinks, I look forward to the future. We as a society seem to always denigrate whatever young generation is the current bullseye. The truth is, past generations have not always let the sun shine in. I look forward to supporting young men and women as they try to clean up this mess of economic and societal distress. My mission is to offer guidance and encouragement to young adults that have been raised in an enviroment of greed, negligence, broken promises, and little-to-no integrity. I need to be prepared to assist them using their own tools.

(did you buy that?)

Okay, okay. While all of the above is true, I'm also just a big kid with childhood completion issues. So what? All this techno-stuff is fun. I'm completing my masters in communications. I've got to keep up with what's happening! And I refuse to use Centrum Silver for no reason. One of  'the kids' I used to teach in Sunday school a couple of decades ago referred to me recently on Facebook: "Bro. Brantford! He was the bomb!" Wow. I feel like a CareBear sitting on sale at Target next to an XBox 360 bundled with two Kinect consoles.

Well, let me tell you one thing. I am a former 'mayor' of a local restaurant, and I'm gonna get that honor back.

Hopefully, Applebee's will supply feeding tubes for card-carrying AARP members.