MY LIFE - JULY

Monday, July 5, 1999

It was as hot as they said it would be today. I do believe that the high temperature reached into the upper 90s today, even if it was hard to tell because it felt like it was about 110° outside. We've been under a heat advisory all weekend because of the heat and humidity, but there is relief in site. It's supposed to be 90° tomorrow, but the temperature will cool drastically by Tuesday night as a cold front comes through, giving us a low around 60°, rather than 75°. It will also be cooler Wednesday and Thursday before warming up again by Friday.

This heat is incredible. It's not as bad as last summer, when several cities had several days in the low 100s, but it was close. New York City was around 100° this weekend, as was Boston and several other east coast cities. Areas around here had temperatures ranging from 90-98° all weekend, making it miserable to do anything in. A temperature taken of the pitching mound in Cincinnati? Reading was over 150°. I could only muster a "wow" upon hearing that one.

It's almost over though. Believe me, I cannot wait at all.

---

The results of the American League All-Stars balloting was released today. At first base is Jim Thome (Cleveland), second base is Roberto Alomar (Cleveland), shortstop is Nomar Garciaparra (Boston), third base is Cal Ripken Jr. (Baltimore), at catcher is Ivan Rodriquez (Texas), at designated hitter is Jose Conseco (Tampa Bay), and the outfielders are Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle), Kenny Lofton (Cleveland), and Manny Ramirez (Cleveland). Four Indians starting in the All-Star Game. Something else, isn't it?

Of course, it's left some players upset. One in particular, Texas Rangers outfielder Juan Gonzales, said if he wasn't voted in, he wasn't going to go. He, upon seeing the results of the voting and recognizing he wasn't going to be voted in, promptly accused Cleveland fans of stuffing the ballot box. Excuse me? Isn't that what the fans are supposed to do? Vote for their favorite players? Gonzales is upset at not being voted in, and rather than face the fact that many of his own fans probably didn't vote for him, he preferred to throw accusations out instead. He, instead of urging his own fans, cried foul at the current system and made it sound like none of the outfielders voted in deserved it.

Let's look at the numbers. Sure, Gonzales is having a good year, but he's nowhere near the production or numbers of Griffey, Lofton, or Ramirez. Griffey is a great all-around player, Lofton leads the league in runs scored and has rejuvenated himself this year, and Ramirez is the catalyst of the league's best offense, leading the way with 88 RBIs this year. Gonzales has steady numbers, but probably hurt himself with a slow start. In any case, accusing the fans of voting wrong is just plain selfish.

He seems to forget that the fans control who goes to the game, not his numbers or his beliefs. It's just a selfish thought from an apparent selfish player. AL manager Joe Torre is not happy with Gonzales, saying that Gonzales should be obligated to play as a reserve. Instead, Gonzales will be representing the selfish side of baseball. Congratulations.

---

My dad started calling this morning at 7, saying that my mom promised that she'd drive him into work tomorrow. Whoa, just a minute here. Let's back up a bit. I certainly don't recall her promising such a thing, and even if she said it was possible, after the way he hung up on her on Saturday, it wasn't going to happen. He then proceeded to call a few more times, last being at 9am before finally quitting.

I just don't know what to make of my dad anymore. It's such a struggle trying to figure out what he's going to do next. It seems that only every once in a while does he straighten up enough to be counted on, only to fall back apart and return to old crabass. I just don't understand him at all in the way he deals with things, no matter what those things are. He just isn't very responsible, yet he wants us trust him? Then he goes on tirades accusing my mom and us of trying to bring him down. My favorite is when he accuses my mom of corrupting our minds somehow into believing that he's a bad person.

Let's be real for a minute. He wants us to think otherwise? This is a person who would come home at three in the morning, leaving me under a ton of stress, worrying what was going to happen next. This is a person who does drugs, still drinks, and gets himself into messes that he can't get out of. Yet we're supposed to trust him? This is a person who just can't come out straight to you. He'll never answer a question straight up. He also has to twist things around or just ignore it. Yet we're supposed to believe him?

And he's not even the worst. It amazes me everytime I see or hear about some really beautiful girl being abused by a guy who just doesn't seem to appreciate her. It's no wonder that some girls just have bad attitudes. Some of them only know the kind of guy who looks good, yet treats them like shit. I just don't understand that part at all. What compels a man to hit the woman that he *loves*? Maybe that's why it distresses me though. I've seen it first hand from my dad and from other guys who just don't appreciate what they've got.

It's a strange world we live in. I hope it doesn't stay like this. I don't know if I'd want to handle it much.

Tribe Watch '99

Last Game
No game today

Record
53-28