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That's Sports
LOTS TO CHEER ABOUT
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Major League Baseball has given fans in Chatham-Kent lots to cheer about this year. The majority of fans in our community fall into the Detroit Tigers camp or the Toronto Blue Jays camp and both should be happy.Obviously fans of the Motor City Kitties are ecstatic with the way the old english "D" is sitting atop the standings. Plain and simple, they are playing awsome baseball.
The Bengals are doing everything right. They have solid starting pitching including Kenny Rogers who was dubbed by many, including me as a has been. Joel Zimaya has been a great surprise on the other end of the spectrum as the young fireballer will be a great start to the pitching staff of the future.
Hitting in the Detroit has been spectacular and timely, every night they have a different hero. That is the sign of a team.
Last week Detroit won a 2-1 game over Oakland and won it by playing old style baseball. The scoring chance was created when Marcus Thams slid into second and prevented a double play. Detroit cashed in big when Chris Shelton doubled
in the winning run in the form of Craig Munroe.
Reggie Jackson would say that they have all the ingredients but that Jim Leyland is the straw that stirs the drink. He is a baseball manager. Leyland has something that Allan Trammell didn't have --- R-E-S-P-E-C-T. These guys are borderline afraid of Jim Leyland which is amazing in this day and age of primadona multi-millionaire players.
For those of you that are waiting for the Tigers to crash, don't hold your breath, they are for real!
The Toronto Blue Jays are for real too. As a Yankees fan I am just afraid of Toronto as I am of Boston down the stretch. The most important thing about the Jays is that they have their clubhouse straightened out.
Shae Hillenbrand wanted to be an everyday player but it wasn't possible with Toronto's line-up. He's gone and so is their major disruption in the clubhouse. The Jays have some great pitching and when Gus Chacin returns to the line-up they will be very solid.
The Jays starters are scary when Halladay and Burnett give the one-two punch and knowing that BJ Ryan might be looming around the corner if Toronto has the lead in the eighth inning.
The Jays bats are not just big ---they are HUGE! Hinske, Wells, and Glaus are all just monsters and when Rios returns he will add more power. Reed Johnson is a clubhouse guy that will run through a burning wall for his team which is a real key to the success of the team.
Manager John Gibbons is a good old Texas boy that seems to know how to work with every guy and get the best out of them.
How great would it be this year if the series late in September actually meant something between the Tigers and Jays? It will hopefully come down to the wire this year and it would be awsome if Detroit and Toronto could play against each other in the playoffs.
It doesn't matter the outcome it's just cool that = both Tigers and Jays fans have something to cheer about!
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Gary Patterson was born and raised in Chatham-Kent. He grew up in Thamesville and now lives in Chatham. Patterson was Sports Director at Beaver Communications an Blackburn Radio for over 15 years. Gary is also the track announcer at Dresden Raceway as well as some appearances at Windsor Raceway. He has played all sports inclduing being a mermber of three OBA Championship baseball teams in Thamesville and has also played hockey and football. Gary still plays golf, slo-pitch and ball hockey and well as the odd game of pick up hockey. Patterson is a passionate Miami Dolphin and Michigan Wolverine football fan. Here are few other details about Gary Patterson: Favourite food: steak, chicken wings, chili or Kenny Tharp\'s famous meatloaf; Favourite non alcoholic drink : Diet Coke; Favourite drink: Scotch, Coor\'s Light; Favourite Sports team : Miami Dolphins/Michigan Wolverines/New York Yankees; Favourite Bar : Bru\'s Room Margate Florida/Pompano Beach Florida; Favourite Bartender : Tanya (Margate), Sarah (Pompano); Favourie Vacataion spot : Pompano Beach Florida; Marital Staus : married with chilren Hockey player : Curtis Jospeh/Todd Bertuzzi; Favourite Football player : Retired Dan Marino, Anthony Thomas; Favourite Basketball player : Steve Nash Favourite Baseball player : Derek Jeter; Favourite colour : Blue; Favourite TV Show : CSI Favourite movie : The Sting, Blue Brothers and Field of Dreams; Favourite song Life Been Good To Me ( Joe Walsh); Favourite Band : Tom Petty/Eagles; Favourite type of Dog: Springer Spaniel; Favourite type of Cat : NONE
