Man to man I did it because...

Hi there.  It's June 24th and I finally played that first round of golf!  Note to self.  Next time remember to put the regular putter you use in your bag and take out the extra one your parent uses when he borrowed your set because his clubs were in South Carolina.  Among the many golfing debates is the use of long shafted "belly putters."  I use one and swear by it because I just plain suck when it comes to putting and its more comfortable for my achy breaky back.  Best $7.50 investment I ever made.  I'll tell you that story some other time.
Since I'm on the topic of golf, last weeks U.S. Open was an unfair test for the pros and Webb Simpson won because he was the last man standing after all the other players just caved in.  I've played the Olympic Club on World Golf Tour.  It's a nasty test on my laptop and I'd probably shoot in the 140's if I had to play the course for real.  The16th hole is a 671 yard par 5 from the back tees!  They even moved the tee boxes up 101 yards on Sunday and this monster still played almost 600 yards!
On to other things.  I'll get this one out of the way first.  Congratulations to LeBron James and the Miami Heat for winning the NBA championship.  I'm sorry but no way, no how will I ever concede that LeBron James will go down as the greatest player in NBA history no matter how great his career ends up.
I know the NHL is trying to attract more fans, but the NHL Awards Show from Las Vegas was proof why I never watch any awards show period.  That was a brutal watch.  The hi-light was the F-bomb that Henrik Lundqvist got by the censors when he gave his acceptance speech for winning the award as top goaltender.
The NHL draft came and went and all I know is that every team when they made its first round pick congratulated the LA Kings for winning the Stanley Cup, thanked the people of and the city of Pittsburgh for its hospitality hosting the draft, and said hello to their fans watching at its draft party somewhere.
So the parent club of the Phantoms traded Sergei Bobrovsky and got more picks.  That doesn't solve the problem in net for the Flyers does it.  I was surprised the Flyers even had a first round pick and they didn't trade it away.  Hope the folks in Allentown love those kids.  I don't think we'll be seeing them playing for us anytime soon.
One more draft note.  18 years after Stephane Matteau slipped a puck under Marty Brodeur in Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup semi-finals to win the series in 2 OT for the Rangers, they drafted his son in the first round.  I guess if you can't beat the father, draft the son when he becomes draft eligible. I loved when they asked the son of his memories of that game, he said, "I was 3 months old, its kind of hard to remember anything at that age."
In light of the Roger Clemens and Jerry Sandusky trials and recent verdicts, I've got a good sports story.  Former NY Giants running back Brandon Jacobs who now plays for the 49ers got a letter from a 5 year old fan.  The boy was upset because the Giants couldn't re-sign him.  His mom told him the Giants couldn't afford to sign him. The young man sent a letter to Jacobs at the 49ers offices along with the $3.36 that was in his piggy bank wondering if that was enough for Jacobs to comeback and play for the Giants.  Jacobs was so touched by the kids letter. When he came back to NJ to move his family west; Jacobs took his 5 year old son, the young boy and his 4 year old brother for a day of fun at one of those bounce house places and just played and hung out with him as way of saying thanks.  Jacobs also gave the kid an autographed Giants helmet, jersey and a $5.00 bill for his piggy bank.  We need more Brandon Jacobs out there.  
This weeks sign of the apocalypse:  A woman has filed a lawsuit against an 11 year old boy and his family for $150,000 for a bad throw the kid made during a little league game that injured the woman.
A man living in Ohio has 15 count 'em Miley Cyrus tattoos on his body.  He's either really scary looking or living in somebody's basement and will never have a girlfriend.  If he's married, his wife must be a saint.
Good stuff from our radio station show prep service this week.  The first two come from New Jersey, where in the southern portion of the state, a woman went to the homes of a couple of police officers in the town of Vineland and dropped her pants and mooned them for no reason.  The second is from the the town of Hopatcong where a guy was arrested for calling 911 claiming he was the President and demanded to speak with Tim Tebow.  They found this guy hiding in mommy's closet underneath some pillows.  The last time I did that was when I was 4 years old and I thought there were monsters hiding under the bed.
Finally, about a little more than a year ago I passed on the story of a guy who trashed a bar in Illinois because the bar had a photo Mario Lopez in it.  His reason, "I just don't like Slater!"  I unofficially adopted it as my motto for a lot of my wrong actions.  Why did you say or do that Ken? I could reply, "I just don't like Slater."  Well that unofficial motto has been replaced by this one from a guy in Miami who was arrested for video voyeurism for filming contestants back stage at the Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant.  He had a hidden camera stashed in a unzipped backpack.  His excuse to police, "Man to man, I did it because I've never had a girlfriend."  So if I screw up or say something to hurt or offend someone I might just reply, "Man to man I did or said it because I've never had a girlfriend."  It's the absurdities of life that make writing this blog so much fun!...Leccese out

Taking in orphans like I do every year

Hi there. Only 60 days til the start of high school football practice and 79 days til the first game of the year on 1450 WWSC.
Leading off this entry is the Belmont Stakes.  I'll Have Another is retired after vets found tendinitis in one of his front legs.  Look we all know about the suspension and past history of trainer Doug O'Neill, but I honestly believe the horse was not fit to run properly.  Could he have run? Yeah I think so, but I wouldn't have taken the chance.  We've seen so many of these horses breakdown and have to be put down afterward.  Not worth the risk.  Besides, you win a couple of Triple Crown races and you're headed off to stud.  Not a bad gig if you can get it.  
Got to be happy for the Los Angeles Kings and their Stanley Cup championship victory over the Devils.  Jack Kent Cooke who was the original owner of the team, was told that there were over 300,000 Canadians living in the L.A. area.  Frustrated by the attendance figures at home games he replied, "Now I know why they left, they hated hockey!"  Somewhere in heaven he's smiling right now.
No comment or prediction on the NBA championship series after "The Leccese Curse" reared its ugly head in last weeks entry.
Last week I talked about the leaky water heater located in the bedroom closet and I have an update for you on that situation. Had a new one installed earlier this week.  There was a positive, I haven't had the carpet installed in the bedroom yet so I didn't have to replace that after only 6 months too.
It's the middle of June and I haven't played golf on a real course yet.  The only golf I've been playing is World Golf Tour on my laptop.
 Here is another reason why I don't have either a girlfriend or wife.  Last week a female friend got a new hairstyle.  She asked me for the, "male perspective" and what I thought of her new look. You can find much better candidates than me for the, "male perspective."  Before I reveal my reply, I think this person is attractive to begin with, so anything she would have done with her hair would have looked good to me.  My reply (drum roll inserted here)..."It looks fine."  Not the response she or any female would be looking for.  To make a long story short, she wanted to hear that I loved it.  It brought back the nightmare of going to weddings and the bride pulls you aside during the reception to either dance with you or ask for the "male perspective" on what you think of her wedding dress.  I am so bad when it comes to picking up the subtle hints or signals that females send out.  A woman could hit me in the head with one of those lawn signs so see everywhere that would read, "Kenny, I'm interested or attracted to you.  Would you like to get together sometime?"  I would be totally oblivious and unaware of what her intentions were.  It has happened.  Just ask Dan and Pete.  They've seen it.  Remember Dan Miner has known me for 23 years.  He's got stories.
From our show prep files comes this one.  Two women were arrested for showing off their assets and flashing and distracting golfers on an Illinois golf course.  Another case where if I was getting ready to hit a shot and one of my friends pointed that out, I would probably ignore the two ladies, hit my shot and wonder, "If my ball lands over there, would I have to take a penalty stroke if I move the ball back two club lengths or should I just play the ball where it lies."
This happens to my garden every year.  I start out planting 5 or 6 tomato plants with room for additional plants.  I eventually end up getting a couple of orphaned plants who need a good home from friends. I can't say no and so I take them.  Case in point.  Frank from Gardentime comes in Tuesday afternoon to cut a radio spot.  We start talking and he says to me, "Stop in and see me.  I have a couple tomato plants to give you."  I really didn't want them, but I couldn't turn down the generosity of a friend.  Now I have 8 tomato plants.  My garden is like Thanksgiving day.  Every year you plan to cut back on the amount of food you're going to make, but in the end you make the same amount or even more.  I say I'm not going to plant as much, but I end up growing the same amount or a little bit more.  Good thing I have plenty of friends who will gladly take the extra tomatoes off my hands come harvest time.  The line at the counter will be starting soon if it hasn't already.  Take a number please and wait til you're called.  No fighting in line either.
Sending out "freak" love to everyone at Core like I do everyone now and then.  You're the best.  Don't ever forget that.
Finally I want to wish all the Dads out there a Happy Fathers Day.  Also all you Uncles too.  I'm lucky not just to have a great Dad, but to have had so many Uncles in my life who have been there for me and made me a better person...Leccese out.

Fighting the never ending battle against the forces of white pine needles, squirrels and a leaky water heater

Hi there.  Welcome to June.  Still trying to get settled in at our new location at 238 Bay Road right on the Queensbury/Glens Falls border.  It's been almost a month, and the work continues. That picture is of the new CKM on air studio  Lots of good stuff to talk about so lets get started.  

First, have to go with Johan Santana last Friday night and his no-hitter against the Cards which was the first in Mets history.  I only listened to bottom of the eighth and the last 3 outs.  If it wasn't for a Facebook post saying Santana had something special going on, I probably wouldn't have tuned in at all.  Like most Mets fans, you would have thought that a team with pitchers like Seaver, Koosman, Gooden, or name some more of the outstanding ones who have played for the Amazin's would have gotten that first one before Santana's gem.  Here's the thing about Santana.  He in that "great" pitcher category, not the "found lightning in a bottle and got lucky once" category.  By the way, how many teams wish they could have the Mets one-two punch of Santana and R.A.Dickey starting at the top of the rotation?

Now lets talk Stanley Cup finals where the Kings are up 3 games to 1 on the Devils.   The Kings are one, big, fast team and Jonathan Quick is an elite goaltender.  You have to give the LA fans credit for being creative with the taunting of their opponent.  In Game 3 they've got these big cardboard head things of the cast of "Jersey Shore."  Game 4 sitting right behind the Devils bench was well endowed adult film star Taylor Stevens.  You couldn't miss her presence at the game especially when the cameras did a close up shot of Peter DeBoer walking along the back of the bench.

Does Flyers GM Paul Holmgren get a Kings Stanley Cup ring? Considering that Daniel Briere, Mike Richards, and Jeff Carter are former Flyers who were acquired by Dean Lombardi this past year.  He should get one and a winners bonus share as well.

I'm praying to the basketball gods that the Celtics beat the Heat so LeBron James isn't in the finals.  I don't care who wins as long its not the Miami Heat.

Congratulations go out to Miley Cyrus and her fiance Liam Hemsworth.  This will be so good.  Vanessa Bayer has to do a SNL "Miley Cyrus Show" bridal shower sketch or even better yet have CMT pay Miley a boat load of cash and have a special edition of "My Big Celebrity Redneck Wedding!"

On to the home front, where the squirrels think the hummingbird feeder I put out is for them.  Sorry Rocket J., not on your life.  I'm very forgiving during the winter when you eat out the regular bird feeder, but leave the hummingbird food alone.  They've already destroyed one and are trying to get after a second.  You figure with those needle like beaks the hummingbirds would fight back against those furry invaders, but no they don't.

The garden is looking good except for the shedding of the white pine trees which means having to delicately rake the long needles around the plants and seedlings.

Then there is the water heater.  Last December my bedroom became a kiddie pool when one burst on me.  Fast forward six months and 2 Sundays ago I grab something from the shelf above the heater and I discover there's a slow leak.  The good news was I haven't put in new carpet yet and the leak has not made it past the closet where its located.

One more thing before I end this entry and that is the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.  My only advice or prediction is box an exacta or trifecta with 'I'll Have Another" and any other horses in the field.  As a horse racing fan, of course I want to see a Triple Crown Winner.  I'm just not that sure this time.  The 1 1/2 mile distance is a totally different monster to try to handicap...Leccese out.