I hope

Just because.

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I hope. sound bite  Morgan Freeman sound bites

I find I'm so excited I can barely sit still, or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel. A free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.

From the notebook: The Curse of Dingman

Yeah. The Yankees won. I'm acknowledging it. Great.

Before we move on for good, I guess it would be fitting to use this space to do another "From the notebook" post and reprint an email that I sent to a group of friends on November 7, 2003, shortly after I gleefully watched Josh Beckett and the Marlins vanquish the Yankees in the World Series. (My lord... there was glee.)

Enough of the Bambino or the Billy Goat... the Curse of Dingman is the real deal! For each person you forward this onto, whether they're a Yankee hater or not, the Curse of Dingman will be extended 3 years!!

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In 1993, in the 36th round of the amateur draft, the Yankees selected Craig Allen Dingman, a young right-handed hurler from Wichita, Kansas. Seven years and three Yankees World Series titles later, Dingman was given a chance to be part of the storied franchise when he was sent up to The Show. And what do you know, but a few months after that promotion, the Yanks bested the Mets, their cross-town rivals, four games to one in the Fall Classic. Dingman's stature as a good luck charm was solidified.

For whatever reason though, the Yankees didn't see the signs. Because just days before they set out to defend their title in the 2001 season, they traded Dingman to the Colorado Rockies for one Julio de Paula.

But something was afoot. Something the Yankees should have seen coming faster than a Steinbrenner rage-induced coaching staff overhaul. Because ever since that fateful move, despite making the playoffs each year and going to the Series twice, the Yankees have never again won it all.

THE CURSE OF DINGMAN LIVES!!

Apparently this email was only forwarded to three people... hence a nine-year spell in between Yankees World Series victories. And the Curse of Dingman? It no longer lives. Sigh.

You know how I enjoy throwin' some Kleinballs?

I feel like there's some Andy Rooney-ness to the cadence of this post. Imagine he was reading the below to you. Perhaps you'll get more enjoyment out of it. Or not. Anyway.

You know how I said I was gonna learn everything there is to know about the Melbourne Cup? Yeeeeaaaaaahhh, it's looking like that isn't gonna happen. But I'm semi knowledgeable at the moment -- just placed my first bet, $5 on Roman Emperor -- and have some reading material for the flight down to Melbourne tomorrow.

You know how I said Pedro was gonna get torn apart by the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series? Yeeeeaaaaaahhh, didn't quite happen. Kind of some middle ground there. Although 3 ERs in 6+ IP at Yankee Stadium... if you're a Phillies fan, I think you have to be happy with that from 2009 Pedro Martinez.

You know how I said the Angels would win the World Series? Yeeeeeaaaaaaahhhh, clearly na ga da. I just pray the Phils can pull something off here.

You know how I beat a very consistent drum about Joe Posnanski being a great freaking writer? Yeeeeeeaaaahhhh, I'm still right on that one. He's done it again, this time on Derek Jeter.

You know how it's been a 14/17 hour time difference between Sydney and the East/West Coast of the US? Yeeeeeaaaaaahhhh, just an FYI with Daylight Savings Time, now it's 16/19.

You know how I'm going to Melbourne tomorrow? Yeeeeeeeaaaaaaahhh, I should probably pack for that and then get some sleep. Good night, Planet Earth!