Can a person be crushed and ecstatic at the same time over the very same event? Because, as a native New Yorker, that’s exactly what I am over Juan Soto’s decision to leave my beloved Yankees for my beloved Mets.

In a portent of what was to come, Juan Soto (on the right) last season with now-teammate Mets great Francisco Linder on the left.

A few months ago, while watching football, I observed to Mr. X, “Someone’s always miserable in sports.” And this time, it’s us!

Juan Soto went from this in 2024…

…to this in 2025. And Mets fans must be in heaven!

But, even though I’m a fan of both New York baseball teams, (I grew up loving the Mets because my father did, and then became a mad Yankees fan at age twenty because of my then-boyfriend,) I still think he’s making a big mistake to leave the Yankees for the Mets. Yes, he is getting a lot more with the move to Queens—at $765 million for fifteen years, it’s an extra five mil and a one year shorter contract than what the Yanks were offering, along with what appears to the dealmaker—a free VIP suite! The Mets agreed to that request, while the Yankees owner said that none of his other star players have ever gotten a free suite, so he’s not going to start bestowing it now. But I just don’t feel like the Mets will get further than they did in this amazing 2024 post-season that they had, even with Soto. And I always feel that the Yanks can at least make the World Series, as they did this year, if not finally win it all again. They’re the storied New York Yankees, for goodness sake!

Soto was soooo happy this past season, to be paired with Yankees Captain Aaron Judge and co-star Giancarlo Stanton. And he appeared to be having a heck of a good time with his fellow Spanish-speakers on the team. He was always smiling and laughing and performing all their secret handshakes as the season progressed. He definitely helped them to be the top team in the American League. And he looked as though he was having the time of his life doing so. (I’ve seen him happily play for the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres before, but this season seemed very different.)

Yankees teammates Juan Soto and Aaron Judge doing one of their complicated handshakes.

I do understand that as a poor kid growing up in the Dominican Republic, making boatloads of money for all of your hard work is a big motivating factor for all of his professional decisions. But isn’t there a limit to the financial gains? Doesn’t the amount of happiness an activity brings you factor in? I’m not saying that Juan will have less of a good time with the Mets than he did with the Yanks. I’m really hoping it works out for him, and it probably will—those Mets seem like a crazy fun group of guys. But the sheer joy I witnessed during his games this past season made me think he would opt to stay with those teammates for a long time to come.

And this is when yours truly was in heaven this past season!

Juan Soto is now twenty-six, (although you never really know the age of Dominican athletes—their birth certificates are often fudged to make them younger,) so a fifteen-year contract would take him up to when he’s forty-one. At that point, he’ll most likely have either retired or just be a shadow of the player his younger self is today. So the whole contract is a tad weird to me.

Yes, in this recently-released photo of Juan Soto as a Met, he does appear to have a major paunch. Hopefully for all concerned, he’ll be in better shape by the start of the 2025 season.

On a happier note for the Yanks, they just signed pitcher, (and LA native,) Max Fried. I actually used to know him a bit when he was a kid. His mother was my friend, (and idol!,) for many years, so I’d see Max and his bro when I’d go over to the house. His parents even built a mini baseball diamond in the backyard for them! When they turned it into a pool a few years later, I’d be in there playing games like Marco Polo with the kids. And now Max is a World Series Champion, and better yet, a new New York Yankee!!!

Now I think the Yanks should, (and will,) sign free agent former Mets star, and two-time Home Run Derby winner, *Pete Alonso, to a multi-year contract. *(I can’t even think of his name without thinking of SNL’s Marcello Hernandez’s hilarious introduction of him at this year’s Home Run Derby. He said, “First name in English, second name in Spanish—it’s Pete Alonso!)

And, as always, I’ll be rooting for both the Yanks and Mets in 2025. But perhaps the Soto-less Yanks just a tad more now.

I’ve always hated insane Draymond Green, a basketball player on the Golden State Warriors. I began writing an article about his new-at-that-time evildoing at the beginning of the 2022-23 season, (so a bit over a year ago,) and then I figured he’s a lost cause, so I decided against wasting any more of my time or brain power on him.

And then he got even more dangerous this week. So I decided that enough is enough. I have to stick my two cents into the discussion of what to do about him! (And, by the way—even all the basketball analysts and commentators are telling it like it is now!)

Draymond Green putting Rudy Gobert in a chokehold this week. (I guess you can figure-out who is who.)

If you’re interested, you can read the exact details of the latest harm he did to an opposing player, (and, actually, himself, but perhaps even moreso, to his team,) this past week, all over the web.

But the main gist is that Green put an opposing player, Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, in…a chokehold! If Rudy’s teammates and the referees hadn’t stepped in in time, Draymond could have literally killed Rudy!!!

And, in case you’re wondering, Rudy had done nothing wrong. Two different players, one from each team, had gotten into a serious skirmish, and Rudy was one of the many trying to separate them. And then Draymond ran over and put Rudy right into a chokehold, for no reason other than that he’s a violent bully who should not be allowed in team sports. I’ve never seen anything like it. (And hope to never do so again.)

I’m glad that the NBA suspended the villain for five games, which is more than many pundits thought they’d give him, but much less than they, and I, think he deserved.

Suspensions are based primarily on the current offense(s), but the league is supposed to also take the offender’s pattern of bad behavior into account. Since Draymond is always committing some heinous act or other, he needs to finally get taught a hard lesson, which just five games without pay definitely does not do.

The league really needed to do the right thing now, and suspend Draymond Green for a loooooong time, at least as long as they did Ja Morant at the beginning of this season. Ja is a young, (and great—much better and more valuable to his team than Green is,) player for the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s an idiot who flashed a gun in videos last year—twice! The NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, had a talk with Ja after the first incident. Adam thought Ja got it, and then there he was, just a few months later, doing it again.

So Morant rightly received a twenty-five game suspension for the two incidents, which he was stupid enough to post videos of on social media.

But—I repeat—Draymond Green put a fellow player in a CHOKEHOLD, for goodness sake! And guess what? That was not his first incident of the week! Just a couple of days before, he had pushed popular Cleveland Cavalier, (and one of my favorite players,) Donovan Mitchell, in the back, in a decidedly cheap shot. As commentator Kendrick Perkins said on TV, there’s no one in the entire league who has a problem with Donovan!!! Except, apparently, Draymond, who has a problem with everyone except the one person who deserves it—himself!

Draymond Green kicking Steven Adams where the sun don’t shine–on purpose!!!

As Perkins suggested, (which he himself had to do back in the day,) the league should make Green go to mandatory Anger Management classes. That’s better than where I think he should go—to prison! What he did to Rudy is felony assault, in my book.

As former player, Joe Dumars, who is now the Executive Vice President of the NBA, explained, Draymond had escalated the on-court altercation “in an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner.”

Draymond Green is known to be one of the dirtiest players in NBA history, if not the top one. He’s kicked or punched opponents, (including LeBron James, whose Cavs were beating the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals,) in the family jewels several times.

Green not only kicked Steven Adams, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, in that tender region twice, but also once yanked the guy’s shoulder so hard that, had Adams not been a physical behemoth, it would have surely separated!

But wait–there’s more! So much more.

In last season’s play-offs, Green literally stomped on the chest of Domantas Sabonis of the young and happening Sacramento Kings. Domantas had fallen to the floor, and Green did his dirty deed as he ran back up to his team’s basket. On purpose.

He either thinks that no one sees what he does, or he’s just a psychopath who doesn’t care. I think it’s the latter, partly because he never shows remorse. Or apologizes. To anyone, including his teammates. Or even admits to what he did. He usually goes on his podcast the next day, says it’s the other players’ faults, and laughs about the evil he’s done!

Draymond Green literally stomping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis!

And, at the very beginning of last season, he sucker-punched his own teammate, Jordan Poole, right in the mouth! Besides how evil that is, it ruined the team dynamics for the entire season!

Basketball great Charles Barkly once said of Draymond Green, “I just want someone to punch him in the face.” I agree. And then Green got even uglier than he already is. He was so nasty to Charles after that, but Charles wound-up seeming to be okay with Green down the line. TNT has even let Draymond join their in-studio show to comment on games when the Warriors were knocked-out of the play-offs, which is disgusting of them. I believe he’s still under contract to join the panel when he retires from playing, but TNT really needs to fire him, pronto.

Just to show you that the league does not punish Draymond Green sufficiently, here are two more comparisons, to go with the Morant one above.

This offense is so egregious that I have to show you extra pix of it.

Last year, Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets got charged with domestic violence* following an alleged incident with the mother of his children. He pled no contest to it, and the NBA suspended him for thirty games. While domestic violence* is abhorrent, violence upon a fellow basketball player should be taken as seriously by the NBA. Draymond Green should have received at least as long a suspension as Bridges did. *[Note: Yes, I’m sure the league has a strong policy against domestic violence, but they should also have one about any violence, especially against a fellow player!]

On a lesser note, right before the 2022-2023 season, it came out that unmarried, (but engaged,) Celtics’ head coach, Ime Udoka, had engaged in a consensual affair with a woman who also works for the Celtics, and he got suspended* for a year, (and fired by the Celts.) Around that same time is when Draymond Green fully punched his teammate Poole, and he was simply fined. For violence, as opposed to just a sexual affair. Crazy. *[Note: I believe the team is who suspended Udoka, as opposed to the league, but it all seems to go hand-in-hand.]

Last one of it.

One good thing that’s come out of this chokehold sitch is that the Warriors’ longtime head coach, Steve Kerr, has finally fessed-up about how out of control Draymond Green is. I used to love Steve, but for a long while, his constant sticking-up for his violent player was making me sick. I was always thinking that if Kerr was coaching against Green, he’d tell the truth about him.

But, after initially doing his usual defending of the miscreant after the incident with Gobert, Kerr finally fessed-up and said, “He took it too far. Draymond was wrong. He knows that. It’s a bad look, and the five games are deserved. I don’t have a problem with [Green] trying to get Rudy off of Klay [Thompson, the Warrior involved with the initial confrontation], but he’s got to let go. He hung on for six, seven seconds. It was a terrible visual for the league, for Draymond and for everybody.” He added, “Draymond has to find a way to not cross the line. I’m not talking about getting an ejection or a technical, I’m talking about a physical act of violence. That’s inexcusable. We have to do everything we can to give him the help and assistance he needs to be able to draw that distinction between being an incredible competitor … but he can’t cross that line. He crossed it the other night, for sure.”

I’m glad he mentioned that Green needs “help”; he most definitely does. And everyone has always seemed scared to tell him that. Now maybe the powers-that-be will finally take his on-court crimes more seriously. Before he kills someone!

I wish they’d kick him out of the NBA, but short of that, they really do need to suspend him for at least half the season.

Yes, I realize that actual Fourth of July is not until next Tuesday. Heck, it’s still June right now! But I’m bringing it up now to tell you that, with the holiday being on a Tuesday this year, this is the perfect time for us all to take a looong break.

I’d love to be luxuriating on this float, wouldn’t you?

It’s really just one extra work day off than when the holiday is on a Monday. But it seems sooo much longer, meaning more fun/vacation/relaxation/getting things done around the house.

You can start celebrating today as soon as your work ends, take tomorrow (Friday) off, and then there are the usual week-end days, and you get Tuesday off, anyway, because it’s the holiday!

So, if you start your holiday week-end tomorrow, all you’re taking off extra from work are Monday and Wednesday if you go out of town, or just Monday if you stay in town and don’t need Wednesday as a travel day. Clever, right?

If you do all of my outlined scenario, and get out of town this (Thursday) evening, you have a whole week’s vacay while using just one-to-three days extra off! Now I wish I had an employer, just so I can follow my own advice here!

A previous fabulous Fourth of July event Mr. X and I went to. I hope we can repeat it this year! Photo by Karen Salkin.

If this all makes great sense to you, but it’s too late to arrange all of that, keep it in mind for next year, when the 4th falls on a Thursday. (It skips over Wednesday because of Leap Year.)

[Note: For you sports fans out there, I feel like I sound like Shaquille O’Neal explaining his theory of why to fill your gas tank only half full each time to save money! Only his idea does not work, at all, while mine is superb!]

And then get ready for the busy summer, beginning right after the 4th. I already have invitations for just about every day and night, while also watching so many fun sports all season.

Major kudos to Domingo German on his Perfect game!

But first I have to recover from the absolute stress and exhilaration of Yankees pitcher Domingo German’s perfect game last night!!! For those who don’t understand why it’s such a big deal, it’s only the twenty-fourth perfect game in the history of baseball!!! And that’s about one hundred sixty-five years!!! I almost missed the game for several reasons, so I’m extra-elated that I got to witness not only amazing history, but from my team!

Even though a perfect game is about ninety-eight percent on the pitcher, he also needs perfection from his all-important catcher, and from the rest of the guys in the field, as well; no one can make an error nor even miss catching a ball, or all is lost. It’s tension all around, starting at about the third inning and majorly increasing as the game goes along. Everyone is scared to even talk to the pitcher in-between innings. And that German did not lose his concentration when, at one point, he had to sit around losing his warm arm while the Yanks played a twenty-six minute half inning, scoring nine runs in it, makes his accomplishment that much extra astonishing.

How’s this for July 4th deliciousness?

Okay, back to this holiday week-end. Have a good time, anyway you spend it, even catching-up on sleep! On actual July 4th, I’ll be on Day 2 of my precious Wimbledon tennis tourney, (which I’ll write about next week—I have to cover one thing at a time!)

No matter what you do with this whole holiday, and possibly the days surrounding it, I wish you all a very safe and Happy Fourth of July!!!

I’ve wanted to write about Aaron Judge for about a month now, several weeks before he broke the American League single season Home Run Record with his sixty-second blast this past Tuesday, October 4. But, being a superstitious person, just this side of Rafa Nadal, I couldn’t even start the page. I’m so glad that I can now laud the guy in all his glory.

Actually, Aaron Judge’s entire season has been amazing even had he not achieved that record. (I’ll explain why in a second.) For those of you who don’t follow baseball, this is what happened. The American League record for home runs hit in a single season has stood for sixty-one years!!! It was set by Yankee slugger Roger Maris way back in 1961. (There are three higher totals in the National League, but those were all set by cheaters who were using performance-enhancing drugs at the time, so they have never counted to me or any fairness-minded peeps.)

So once Yankee Aaron Judge got on a tear earlier this season, the home-run-record-watch swung into high gear. Many analysts and commentators declared that Judge would smash it, but all said he would not only tie it, but pass it by at least one, thus having the record all to himself.

Aaron Judge hitting his record-breaking 62nd home run! Photo by Karen Salkin.

But as the season started winding-down, #60, record-tying #61, and the record-breaking #62 kept getting harder to come by. So, with time running-out fast, when Aaron stepped-up to the plate for his first at-bat in the very beginning of this season’s penultimate game on Tuesday, we fans, both of Aaron Judge and the game of baseball itself, were totally on edge. And then, on the third pitch, he did it! I think I speak for all fans when I say it was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever witnessed in my life!!! Not just in sports, but ever.

Aaron Judge appears to be one of the most humble sports stars you will ever see, but, with all that pressure on him, I feel it would have haunted him if he hadn’t broken Roger Maris’ record, even though he had tied him almost two weeks before the end of the regular season. (Which means “as opposed to the postseason,” for you non-sports fans who are good enough to read this article, anyway.) But his entire year has been amazing–he basically lapped the field in so many categories. This is one of baseball’s greatest offensive performances ever! (And I adore that his OPS is an Angel Number-1.111!) [Note: OPS means on-base plus slugging percentages.]

I believe Aaron ended-up first in every category but one in the American League, and he wound-up second in that one, which is batting average. If he had finished first in that one, as well, he would have earned the incredibly rare Triple Crown. But teams are so afraid of what he can do with a bat that they kept walking him! If you can’t bat, you can’t get your batting average up! Duh. But he seemed okay with that tactic of stopping him from beating them.

One baseball analyst said, “He is everything good about the game of baseball,” and that just about sums-up Aaron Judge. He’s a universally-loved superstar and ambassador of the sport, in every way. As a matter of fact, I think that Aaron Judge should be the logo for all of baseball, the way Jerry West is for the NBA.

Aaron is loved by fans, teammates, and the media alike. And from all the smiles and repartee I’ve always noticed when he gets on base, even his opposing players adore him!

Aaron Judge has been beloved since he first arrived on the MLB scene as a young Yankee. His name alone lends itself to all kinds of “judge-y” things—an area of Yankees Stadium is designated as “Judge’s Chambers,” people chant, “Here comes the judge,” every time he steps up to the plate, and rabid fans even show up in judges’ robes and white wigs!!! If they sit in the Judge’s Chambers, the team even provides those to the ones who want to play dress-up but don’t bring their own.

Aaron Judge (#99) flanked by his much smaller minders. (The person behind him is a photog.) Photo by Karen Salkin.

Now, as to his quest for his record-breaking 62nd home run this season, he’s been great about it. He was usually smiling and having a good time with his teammates. He made sure that even if he was really stressed about the situation himself, he didn’t pass the stress of that burden on to them. At their home stadium, he even signed autographs before the games, even though he just had to be worried about himself. What a guy. (The funny thing is that he had two “bodyguards” flanking him during those times, and at 6’7” and 282 pounds, he towered over them both! He could be guarding them!)

While I’m not as locked in to Aaron Judge as I am to, say, Roger Federer, The Stranger I Love Most, or perhaps even A-Rod, (I know, I know—but I cried all day when the Yankees forced him to retire in 2016,) I’ve always liked Aaron. (Of course—who hasn’t?!??!)  But I’ve been totally invested in his journey this season, and have felt for him at every at bat since the All-Star Game. So him first tying, then beating, Roger Maris’ long-time home run record was thrilling to watch.

On the personal side of Aaron Judge, perhaps his extreme class and dignity come from his parents, who were both teachers, (as were mine! Hey—it’s the only thing Aaron and I have in common—outside of our love for the Yankees–so please let me have it.)

And speaking of the Judges–I’m not saying this kiddingly at all—Aaron is a major case for adoption. He was adopted at just one day old, and the love that’s apparent between Aaron and especially his outwardly-calm mother has been a joy to see.

So, no matter what happens in the playoffs, (which I hope ends with a World Series victory for Aaron Judge and the Yanks, of course,) I thank the new Home Run King for making this year so exciting for us fans.

Now go get ‘em all, Aaron Judge!

Last Friday, because twenty-nine baseball players and team staff members (from the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies) had tested positive for the coronavirus at that point, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that if the league and players don’t do a better job of following the safety-from-the-virus protocols, the already-shortened season might be shut down. As well it should!

A throwback pic of Karen Salkin and her beloved Clarence rocking tiny caps (that ice cream came in) from the last years of Yankees and Shea Stadiums.

Twenty-nine cases of COVID-19!!! There is absolutely no excuse for Major League Baseball players and crews to be working in a pandemic!

Not only is it dangerous to all concerned, it just looks stupid right now. I explain it all in my latest YouTube video, which includes the story of one of my crazy Celebrity Charity Sports events I participated in back in the day; a softball game at Tampa Stadium, to boot! Here’s the link to all the fun (and ranting!): www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kba4qbSsOMg.

But I still have lots to say on the subject right here. All the virus needs to be spread is one person getting it! And a bunch of other jerks to be in close proximity to that first one. I’m glad to see there are many smart baseball players who are foregoing their season, (and their paychecks,) too. The list grows every day, too, in all sports. (As of this writing, there are a dozen baseball players, eight NBA ones, at least fourteen in pro football, and even a few tennis players who decided to sit out this month’s US Open.) [Update: Shortly after this story was published, it was confirmed that sixty-six NFL players have now opted-out of the upcoming season! Sixty-six! And counting, I’m sure.]

But one would think that all athletes would be the ones who are most cognizant of their health being a priority! That fun and exciting livelihood should not be enough to risk one’s life!

A Met about to bat while being cheered-on by…cardboard cut-outs!!! Photo by Karen Salkin.

A note about the tennis stars, before I get back to agonizing over the current MLB season. Tennis’ bad boy, Nick Kyrgios, though young, is smart enough to withdraw from this year’s US Open, (as did his fellow Aussie, World Number One, Ash Barty,) which is idiotically due to begin on the last day of this month. In explaining his decision, part of what Nick said is, “It hurts me at my core not to be out there competing in one of the sports’ greatest arenas. But I’m sitting out for the people, for my Aussies, for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have lost their lives, for all of you.” He also wisely stated, “We can rebuild our sport and the economy but we can never recover lives lost.” I can’t wait to see what my beloved Roger Federer is going to do about it. He has four young children, and loves his family even more than he does his sport! But he’s already very old in tennis terms, which means his chances of winning another Major are waning, so he may feel compelled to play. I don’t know whether to hope he participates or not. And therein might lie the conundrum for so many athletes during this evil pandemic.

Now back to baseball. There seems to be a new situation every day. Because players and team personnel keep testing positive for the virus, games keep having to be postponed. In an uber-shortened season! That’s just nuts.

I was super-disappointed to see that California Angel Mike Trout, the absolute biggest star in the league, who just had a baby last week-end, is already back on the field. He must be crazy to risk the health of his very young fam, and for what? The sake of a sport??? I can’t imagine what’s in his head. He had been smart enough to say he would probably sit the season out before the baby was here, so what changed his mind? I’m left scratching my head over this one.

Mike Trout, hitting a home run in his first game back after having his first child. Photo by Karen Salkin. (And, in case you don’t know, that’s Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays at the top of this page. I understand that those were the days!)

And then, amidst all the other craziness in Major League Baseball this year, the Mets star, Yoenis Cespedes, didn’t show up to the ballpark for their Sunday afternoon game in Atlanta! Whaat??? He later decided to opt-out of the season, as well he should. But…he didn’t let anyone know he was leaving! Everyone was worried about him, including the fans, of course. I was really panicking, thinking something awful had happened to him. [Note: I mention him in that new video of mine, but I shot it before he disappeared, so please keep that in mind.]

And here’s a headline you don’t read every year. (Or ever!): “The Field of Dreams game scheduled for August 13 in Iowa has been postponed until 2021.” After initially being scheduled between my beloved New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox, pre-pandemic, that plan had to be changed because of the the shortened season. So they moved the St. Louis Cardinals into the Yanks’ spot, after they constructed a ballpark at a cornfield in Iowa, right near where the Field of Dreams movie was filmed.

It probably would have been exciting, and something very different for fans of the sport to enjoy in these crazy times, especially because it would have been the first major league game played in Iowa! Ever! But then a baker’s dozen of peeps from the Cardinals organization, including six players, have tested positive for COVID-19, so how could they still plan it? Especially when there could be no fans there. (Unless they hide behind the corn, like the deceased players did in the film. At least that’s what I think they did. The story was all so confusing to me back then.)

This is clever–in the Phillies stadium, the only cardboard cutouts are of their players who have hit home runs to those spots.

As if all the above isn’t enough, the things the powers-that-be are doing to try to make like everything is normal are downright whacky!!! Cut-outs of people in the stands, crowd noises for some crazy purpose, (I’m sure the professional athletes don’t really need the fake encouragement!,) and the weirdest one—the players being introduced before the games to…nobody! OMG! It might be too depressing to behold if it wasn’t all so comical.

While we wait to see how this summer sport will develop, you may as well watch my baseball YouTube video. Here’s the link again, in case you’re too lazy to scroll back up to the top: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kba4qbSsOMg.

So all that’s left to say is…Play Ball! (Or not!)

I could not be happier that the Houston Astros won the 2017 World Series last night, just as a Sports Illustrated cover predicted they would, way back in 2014! I want to buy a lottery ticket with that writer! (I’m sure many other journos wrote that same thing today, but I really mean it!)

The now-classic 2014 Sports Illustrated cover.

That’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen in sports. And the guy who wrote it, Ben Reiter, didn’t just say that the Astros might win in three years—the headline on the cover read “YOUR 2017 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS.” Unbelievable. And big props to the higher-ups at SI, as well, for allowing a bold prediction like that to stand!

I honestly think that part of why I rooted for the Astros so hard is that I wanted to see such a crazy headline come true, because it’s a good one; not like ones where idiots say the world will end tomorrow, and things like that. This was a really fun prophecy.

But mainly I wanted the Astros to win so that Houston can finally have some happiness this year. I’ve never cared about Texas in my entire life, but, of course, as any normal being would feel, my heart has been breaking for that unfortunate city since horrible Hurricane Harvey devastated the area two months ago. I’m sure the heroics of their baseball team brought so much joy to most of the residents of Houston; it’s a small break from their pain that I pray helps lift their spirits right about now.

Originally, once the Yankees went out before the World Series, I had no dog in this race. Even though I love actual Los Angeles more than just about anyone else I’ve ever met does, I’ve just never been a fan of our teams. I can’t explain it, except that often, it’s a matter of the personnel. In the case of the Dodgers, a small part of my former hatred of them is because I’ve always been aware that they broke my father’s heart by leaving Brooklyn!

So, I know that some people, (like even Mr. X, for example,) think that I just still hate the Dodgers, so I’d root for anyone against them. But I swear—that is not the case anymore. They’re just another one of the all-but-Yanks-and-Mets organizations that I don’t care about. (Except that I’ll always detest the Red Sox, no matter who’s on their roster!) (And if the Dodgers had played Curtis Granderson in the series, I might have even rooted for them!)

As soon as the Yanks lost in the previous round of the play-offs, I told Mr. X that I still won because I’d have so much time back in my life by not watching the World Series because I didn’t care about it without my Bronx Bombers in it. So I missed Game 1.

I was out (of course) on the night of Game 2, and when I came home, I was shocked that it was still going on, and, of course for a sports nut like me, I got involved in it. And I found myself rooting for—the Astros! Really hard! And I cheered my butt off when they won.

So, I was hooked on the New York-less World Series, (especially Game 5, which was the most incredible game I’ve ever seen!,) and started turning down invitations so I could stay home and watch the rest of the games with Mr. X.

Until last night, that is. I hate to admit it, but I had to attend a big theatre opening night, which I felt I should not try to get out of. (Though, after seeing the show, I wish I had!) So I watched the first inning before I left, and managed to avoid knowing the outcome all night. (Not a sports crowd I was with.) And then I watched the rest of the uber-long game when I got home…at almost midnight! (So, if this article is a tad incoherent, you’ll understand why.) And I stuck through it all, albeit with toothpicks in my eyelids to keep them open! (Not literally, so don’t try it at home.) And sobbed my guts out when the Astros won. (And was still crying a little bit later, even as I got into bed.)

World Series MVP, and overall cute guy, George Springer.

I got so involved with these guys this post-season that I don’t know how I’m going to root against them next year!!! (But when they play my New York teams, you know that I still will.) Many of the Astros are adorable, especially MVP of the World Series, George Springer. I respect this guy so much. I had heard him do a few interviews along the way, and he was so bright and articulate that I pegged him for a future broadcaster. (Not that many of the current ones have those particular qualities, but a girl can dream, can’t she?) And then one day, I really paid attention to him speaking, and realized that…he’s a stutterer! He’s obviously learned the techniques to control it, but you know by now that I’m a detective. So, I did some research on the situation and found-out that he’s a spokesperson for a foundation to help others with speech difficulties. What a guy! And he’s cute, too! Couldn’t hurt!

Carlos Correa and new fiancee.

On top of all of this happiness and excitement for the team and city of Houston, and wonderful human interest stories, there’s one more very special moment that happened after the game. One of the Astros big stars, Carlos Correa, proposed to his girlfriend…on-camera, during his post-game interview! He told the interviewer, “Right now, I’m going to take another big step in my life,” and turned around and whipped-out the ring! OMG!!! What if she had said no?! Or they had lost the game?! (Well—duh–in the latter case, he wouldn’t have done it on TV! Or would he?!)

(L-R) Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Keith Hernandez, and Frank Thomas.

And a quick shout-out to my new favorite panel of analysts: Anchor Kevin Burkhardt, A-Rod, Big Papi, Keith Hernandez, and The Big Hurt. While none of them is quite Charles Barkely (even though Big Papi thinks he is!,) they always kept me entertained. I watched all of their pre-and-post-game shows, and usually laughed my butt off. I can’t wait to see them again next year. (And no—I cannot imagine that A-Rod would be willing to give up his free schedule, and add stress to his life, by becoming the Yankees new manager, so everyone needs to get over that idea!)

I’m still bleary-eyed from it all, so I may add to this write-up later today, or tomorrow, so please check back when you can. And I’m so sorry that I don’t have time right now to apprise you guys of the many special aspects of this game, but if you’re interested, check-out this article: www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/astros-beat-dodgers-in-game-7-to-win-2017-world-series-final-score-things-to-know.

And major congrats to the Houston Astros! You go, boys!!!

I woke up to the shocking news today that the stupid Yankees organization did not re-new Joe Girardi’s contract! That’s not firing him, per se, because his four-year contract was up now, but oh my gosh—these people are idiots!!! How could any team let this man go???

Joe Girardi.

The current Yankees team was a year ahead of schedule. No one expected this mainly very young group of guys to even make the play-offs this season, but they wound-up coming one game away from getting to the World Series, for goodness sake!!! And they were so exciting along the way.

These young “baby bombers” need Joe for their development. They’re so early in their careers, and already work well with the guy, so why shake things up now? Joe Girardi is the Yankees!!! So now they’re going to bring in some stranger to work with these young guys? How insane is that decision???

Joe Girardi with that little weasel, Brian Cashman.

I’m sure this was all Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman’s idea, although I can’t for the life of me figure out why. What does he have against Joe? Here’s his disgusting, pat, full-of-baloney statement on the issue:

“I want to thank Joe for his ten years of hard work and service to this organization. Everything this organization does is done with careful and thorough consideration, and we’ve decided to pursue alternatives for the managerial position. As Hal Steinbrenner and I mentioned to Joe directly this week, he has been a tremendous Yankee on the field and away from it, as a player, coach, and manager. He has a tireless work ethic, and put his heart into every game he managed over the last decade. He should take great pride in our accomplishments during his tenure, and I wish Joe and his family nothing but success and happiness in the future.”

Joe Girardi, looking lile he might have known what was coming in this pic. But look at his gorgeous hands!!!

Yeah—unless he manages against the Yanks, which he’s sure to do! Of course he will because another team is sure to snap him right up! As I wrote this morning across my social media platforms, I predict the Nationals will grab him! (God forbid the Red Sox do!!! And yes, I did bite my tongue as I typed that last sentence!)

Wait—I just had a thought—maybe new Miami Marlins owner, Derek Jeter, will hire him now, since he already said they may be shaking things up down there! And Joe managed them already, very well, I might add, in 2006. Wow–Joe Girardi and Giancarlo Stanton on one team would be awesome! (Assuming they keep Gio, of course, which I have a feeling will not be the case.) Okay, let’s just wait and see how things work out next season, for everyone. (But I still hate the Yanks for nixing Joe, no matter what!)

Joe Giradi, just last week.

Okay, there’s one thing that I just thought of, that I hate saying, but here goes. Joe hasn’t looked very healthy recently, so maybe he should take some time off now, anyway, to take care of whatever is ailing him, if it’s something health-wise. Maybe it’s just the stress of the season, and his job or maybe what he thought were upcoming contract negotiations, that was affecting his looks, and it’s not a physical malady. That’s what I hope, anyway.

And, of course, I wish him the best always. (Except not against my beloved Yanks. Duh.)

New thought: Just who will the Yankees hire as the new manager? They need someone established yet young enough to connect with this very young team. I feel like they’ll be looking for a Latino, but I think they may go after former Red Sox (vomit, again,) manager John Farrell. What do you guys think?

I have more to say on this topic, but I need a minute to gather my thoughts. So, try to check back here a bit later on to see if I added to it. And this would be a good time to follow me on Twitter (@MajorCelebrity) and Facebook (Its Not About Me TV) because I’m sure I’ll be venting there all day today. And actually for the rest of the year about this one!!!

I’m interrupting my own Olympics experience to bring you this oh-so-sad-to-me news.

I’m sorry if this is semi-incoherent, but it’s hard to write through my tears. I’m not kidding about that. I could not stop crying all day yesterday, from the moment I heard the shocking news. And then when I saw Alex Rodriguez fighting his own tears during his press conference, my floodgates opened even more. And have continued since then. (I actually broke my own Olympics-watching rules yesterday, and went to a friend’s 29th birthday party because, as much as I love sports, I know that some things, like friendships, are more important. But I can’t tell you how hard it was to get make-up on my tear-swollen eyes.)

In case you don’t know to what I’m referring, yesterday morning, I woke-up to the horribly depressing news that my favorite baseball player, (I’ll explain that later,) is retiring after the Yankees game this Friday. No one, (not my friends, my Facebook pals, the baseball commentators and analysts, Mr. X, nor myself) can really explain it. There’s really no rational explanation. It wasn’t Alex’s decision; it appears to be all on the Yankees organization. But why?

Why are the Yankees doing this to A-Rod right now? Why couldn’t they have waited until the end of the season? With all the crazy, and unnecessary, trades of a trio of their very best players (Carlos Beltran, Andrew Miller, and Aroldis Chapman,) this past week, they seem to have already given-up the fight for the title this season, so there’s no real rationale for what they did, unless they just wanted to screw him. But they’re keeping him on, in many baloney-sounding roles, so I don’t get it.

And they still have to pay him, so why couldn’t just they let Arod finish out the season, especially to give him the chance to get to seven hundred home runs? Right now, he’s just four shy of that milestone. What is the rush to end it this particular Friday? Why that date? I really can’t figure it out.

Can any of you explain it? If so, please do, in the Comments below. I’d also love to hear any theories.

Last question on the topic: Why did the Yankees organization have to “retire” Arod during the Olympics, especially the first week-end, when interest in the games was extra-high? I think it was to screw Alex even more. If any of the Yankee organization knew me, I would take it personally. Because of the aforementioned birthday party yesterday, I was already behind schedule in my Olympics watching, and this set me back sooo many more hours. It’s like they wanted to bury the news, for the casual sports-watcher, rather than allowing it to be the most shocking, important sports story of the day. Of any day! I’m seriously going to find it hard to love and root for the Yanks for a long while. Thank goodness I’ve always also loved the Mets, and actually for much longer. But, because I love them both, I missed all four games between the two last week because it would hurt to see either lose. So, I missed-out on seeing alex’s gorgeous visage those many more times. Hopefully, when the Yankees are done paying him at the end of next season, he’ll become a sportscaster, because he was really great at it during last year’s play-offs. So, at least I’ll get to enjoy his face then. (Too bad not also his big, gorgeous body, but oh well.)

By the way—to people who are shocked that I could be such a fan of someone who admittedly cheated: It’s not how you start, but how you finish. And I really admire how Alex conducted himself since he’s been back from serving his uber-long suspension. That can’t have been a fun position to be in. I can’t even imagine it. But he really handled the whole thing with unusual class and grace. And that’s when I became a real fan of his. And not just of his face and athletic prowess, but of him as a person. I have to get back to the Olympics now, so I can explain more at a later date, when I’ve had some time to process it all.

But for now, I just have to wish Alex the best in his new non-playing life, which I have a feeling may be a tad difficult adjustment for him—the guy is forty-one-years-old, and has been playing baseball non-stop for his entire life!

Oh, and—Go, Mets!!!

For the first time in very many years, I get to be happy with post-season baseball!  Who knows what the play-offs will actually bring, but for today, I’m thrilled to be celebrating the fact that both my Mets and my Yanks are in them!  You go, New York boys!

The Yankees on the day they made the 2015 Play-offs.

The 2000 World Series was so hard for me, although what more can a New York fan girl want than for her two teams to both make the World Series?!  The only problem was that they then had to play each other, which was torture for me.  And I was in New York for the entire Subway Series, so I felt all the craziness up-close and personal.  (Like when my friend Andrea and I made a plan to watch Game 2 at the late ESPN Zone, which was located in the heart of midtown Manhattan at the time.  When we got there, with just about an hour to go till first pitch, the line was so long that we couldn’t get in.  So, we had to hightail it to her apartment to watch–in Hoboken!  New Jersey!  I was a wreck.  But, it turned out to be the only game the Mets won in the Series, so I’m glad I was able to concentrate on it, with no distractions from the crowd of strangers.)

That whole 2000 experience was crazy, and a once-in-a-lifetime one.  And I got to live a lot of it with three of my besties from LA, (Lila, Andrea, and Joseph,) which made it somehow more special.

I was also in New York when my beloved Yanks won the 2009 World Series, and got easy access to the victory parade because I had messed-up my ankle and had to wear one of those orthopedic boots, even walking around New York, so all the guards felt bad for me, and got me right up front. Those festivities were amazing, and I’m so grateful to have witnessed it all so up-close and personal.

So, this year, it all starts tomorrow.  The Yankees will play in the American League Wild Card game, and the Mets, who won their Division in the National League, will begin on Friday.

The New York Mets becoming the National League Division Champs, and then celebrating that feat in the picture at the top.

Okay, I hate to say this out loud, especially because Mr. X will torture me about it for the rest of my life, but, if both teams wind-up in the Wold Series again, (knock on wood, from my mouth to God’s ears, ) I have to root for the Mets.  They rarely have a chance like this one.  And they’ve been the most exciting team all year–truly the “Amazins” again!  And the Yanks have already been the Champs twice this century, while the Mets have won only twice in their fifty-three-year history!

All that being said, if anyone reading this wants to give me tickets to see the Mets play the Dodgers out here in LA, I’d be thrilled to take you up on that kind offer.

Whether I get to see any of the action in person this year or not, I wish the very best of luck to my guys, in both leagues. (I have a feeling you don’t tell athletes to “break a leg,” as you do to us actors!)

Alex Rodriguez, being perhaps the most grateful Yankee in that celebratory locker room.

I know it’s strange, but I’m especially happy for Alex Rodriguez. He’s handled himself so perfectly all year, and has been such a big asset for the Yanks, that I really do forgive him his past transgressions.

And I’m ecstatic for Mets Captian David Wright, who battled back from major back issues, that he’s actually still dealing with. He’s a true champion for just returning to the field this year! So, I love that he’s made it to the play-offs for only the second time in his career!

And that Mets Manager Terry Collins did, too. His journey is too long to relate here, but it’s a good one.

Met Yoenis Cespedes, and his good luck parakeet.

And, having been a fan of Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets MVP as far as I’m concerned, no one was happier when the Mets acquired him in the middle of this season. (Well, maybe except for the canary. Or parakeet, or whatever bird that was.) I don’t think they would have come this far without him, so I hope both his and Arod’s contributions continue throughout the play-offs, knock on wood again. I have a feeling that Yogi will be looking out for his Yanks now even more than ever.

And thank you, Mets and Yankees, for one of the most fun, pain-free, happy baseball seasons ever. You guys rock!

I can’t help myself—I love Alex Rodriguez. I don’t want to, because I’m not a fan of cheaters. But I can’t help it. So, in case you missed it, here’s his latest news:

The good news is that A-Rod got his 3,000th hit on Friday.  The bad news, for me, is that–I missed it!!!  I’m sick over that last fact.  I record, and watch, every Yankees game I get on TV, without ordering the complete broadcast package.  (Mr. X always begs me to let him purchase it for me, but then I’d never do anything but watch baseball all day!  As it is, I’m usually a game or two behind in my viewing.)  And, even when their broadcast schedule tells me there’s no game available for viewing the next day, I check again each morning.

But this past Friday morning, I was very stressed, and going through a bit of personal drama, so I neglected to do my usual double-checking.  So, I didn’t know that the MLB Network threw the game on that day, I’m sure, so that, if Alex did, indeed, hit that milestone, we could all see it.  (For the more literate among you, I know—that was not a fabulously-constructed sentence. Nor is this one.)

So, I missed it.  And I could not be more depressed about that fact.  (The irony is that–guess what I was doing when theYankees game was on? Watching the Mets game, on MLB.com! And feeling bad that I was missing the “A-Rod #3,000 watch” that whole week.)

Mr. X came into the room I was in and told me that Alex had just gotten hit #3,000. I could not believe the game wasn’t on. So, I jumped up to see what they were showing on MLBN instead, and, of course, it was the Yankees game. I guess I had done the worst thing in sports that morning—lost my composure. That’s why I neglected to check the listings again.

A-Rod rounding the bases for his home run. I’ve never seen him that happy!

So, I quickly recorded the rest of game, assuming they’d show the big moment ad nauseum. (Well, ad nauseum for everyone else, but heavenly for me.) But, shockingly, they did not! I watched every sports show for the rest of the day and night, and they just showed a few seconds of the drama. I wanted desperately to see the whole shebang, from the moment he stepped up to bat and the crowd got ready, to the hit, (which was a home run, as icing on the cake,) to his teammates going nuts, (which they did,) to the salute to the fans, to the camera being trained on him, I’m sure, for a long while after. I finally got to see a lot of that action on-line, but it does not compare to what I missed live. Someone asked me recently why I’m so nuts for sports, in general, and I had actually just begun a column on that very topic. And the drama of that day is one of the main reasons why I love it so much. So, I really, really hated missing it live.

But, as this e-zine states, it’s not about me, so let’s get back to A-Rod’s big day. (For the nescient among you, he’s only the twenty-ninth player in history to accomplish that number! It’s a major deal.)

I loved loved loved his emotional interview after the game. He had real tears in his eyes, and his appreciation of the moment was very genuine. I really do think he’s a changed man after the drama, and trauma, of the last couple of seasons.

I truly believe that he would have wound-up with at least very similar stats if he hadn’t ever used performance enhancing drugs (PEDs.) He hasn’t used them in at least two years now, he’s almost forty, he sat out of the sport for a year, and he’s had his hips replaced, yet look at what he’s accomplishing this season on pure talent and drive!

I hadn’t given his PED use much thought in the past, but now I’m thinking that perhaps it was due to his never really knowing anything but sport, (having been drafted straight out of high school, where he was considered the best high school ball player in the country,) and he was worried about not being all that he was hyped to be. It’s still wrong, no matter how you slice it; I’m just pointing-out that there may have been some psychological reasons behind his actions.

When he got suspended from Major League Baseball for a full year in 2013, and fought it every way he could, (with lawyers, through the player’s association, and in the media,) everybody was against him. Ev-er-y-bod-y! I listened to at least three dozen sportscasters come down on him, with many even reviling him! Even I, a long time A-Rod fan, could not be in his corner. When he began this season, he was booed in every stadium but the Yankees one. (And maybe even a little bit there.)

A-Rod’s teamates greeting him after his 3,000th hit.

But he’s really turned it around, both on and off the field, and you’ve got to admire him for that. And I do!

This how much of a fan of his I’ve aways been. I was visiting friends in the Hamptons in the summer of 2007, and watched every Yankees game during my stay. I felt like a bad guest, (because they were doers, not sports-watchers,) but Alex was going for his 500th home run, and I would have been sick if I missed it. When he hit that milestone on Aug. 4, I was crying so hysterically that I actually scared their teen-age son, Taylor. He still mentions it every time he sees me. It’s become like a game to him, to watch me cry. All he has to do is ask, “Hey, Karen, remember when A-Rod hit that home run?” I’m even tearing up now, just thinking about it. It’s stuck-out in Taylor’s mind forever because of my extreme reaction to it.

On a more sour note than even me missing this latest hit of his, (for Alex, anyway,) is that the Yanks refuse to pay him his bonus (that they signed him for) for his previous achievement this year! I really can’t believe that an organization as rich as theirs is being so dishonorable. Hopefully, this latest milestone will push them into doing the right thing. And then, fingers crossed that Alex will follow suit by donating much of it charity, thus validating my love for him.

No matter which way the rest of the season goes for the Yanks, major congrats to Alex Rodriguez. Right now, you the man!