Battling That Holiday Downtime
by Kelly Huffman and Chris Hansen
(Originally published on 12/23/1998)
Okay, you're one of the lucky ones who don't have to battle the morning mad rush to the office for a whole week. Maybe you have the in-laws over. Maybe the kids are home from school. The baseball news comes trickling in like a Tim Wakefield heater. What do you do?
Well, here's some ideas for the diehard baseball fan enduring a holiday season without trades and free agent signings. Sure you can sit back in the La-Z-Boy, pop a few tasty cold beverages and watch ruffians battle it out on a football field, but where's the fun in that?
Did you know ...
Santa (or maybe it was the stork) made a special delivery on Christmas, 1958. That was the day Rickey Henderson was born in Chicago. Henderson, who recently signed with the Mets, has 2,014 runs (6th all-time), 1,890 walks (3rd) and of course 1,297 stolen bases, best ever . . . Although they never played in any bowl games, free agent Brian Johnson and Brave Brian Jordan had stellar football careers. Johnson's (Stanford) .571 winning percentage as a QB was the school's best since '74. Jordan (Richmond) received All-America and all-conference honors . . . One of Sammy Sosa's side projects is entitled "Sammy Clause World Tour." He gives away toys to needy children all over the world. In 1997, he gave away over 7,000 toys.
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First off, why not create your own virtual baseball league and make that blockbuster trade yourself? You don't even have to shell out $100 million of your hard-earned cash on a top-name hurler. Become John Schuerholz or Brian Cashman or Kevin Malone and finagle your team into a World Series champ all from the comforts of your home.
Not sure which games are best? Then take a look at our virtual baseball reviews and get cracking. Just a word of caution. You want the Marlins of '97 and not '98.
So what if you're sitting there playing Front Page Sports '98 and you suddenly remember that you haven't gotten a present for Aunt Betty? Or maybe that guy across from you at the office who got you something while you stood there guilty and present-less? Never fear. Starter has tee shirts for every team (yes, even the Marlins). Heck, you can even splurge and order a neat little mouse pad to lessen the guilt.
So maybe Aunt Betty and that Joe guy have too many shirts and their company mouse pads show no signs of wear and tear. Then how about a book? Barnes and Noble offers up some tasty selections of both the Major League and Minor League variety.
Before this starts sounding too much like an infomerical (and before we start peddling a practical new Juicer), let's focus on entertainment that doesn't take up every last bit of Grandma's Christmas money. If you feel like you have a lot to say and nobody seems to listen to your great idea on how the Braves could trade Ryan Klesko, check out our forums. Registration's easy enough and won't cost you a shilling (no, not Curt).
And while the dropping of the giant ball on New Year's means reflection and projection for some, you can look back on the drama of the 1998 season with our Year in Review package. Re-live Mac's 62nd blast or Cal's Day off. How about taking a look at the big trades and the year's best photos? Why not offer a moment of silence for those we lost?
After you've soaked in '98, why take a peak at next year's schedules and current 40-man rosters? The season may still be two months away but it's never too early to get your mind in the baseball spirit.
So even though the off-season's at its quietest point, you can still keep your senses sharp with a variety of baseball-related activities. But whatever you decide to do for the holiday season, stay safe and strive to shine in '99.
And remember that pitchers and catchers report in a month and a half.
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