Break up the Yankees. The Bronx bombers have put together a two game winning streak. Yes TWO games in a row. They are charging up the standings headed for the hated Red Sox. I know that a two game winning streak is nothing to get excited about except the way they did it. Sunday in Joba's second start, the bull pen held the Royals scoreless for 4 1/3 innings as the offense came from behind, again to secure the win. Saturday the Yank's for only the first time since 1934 ( yes, 74 years), came back from a four run deficit twice in the same game. The fact that they fell behind by four runs twice in the game doesn't say a lot for their pitching. All that being said the Yanks are a game over .500 with 99 left to play. So far, the Yankees are leading the league in only one offense category, suspensions. Yes, the Yank's have had more suspensions handed to them then any other team in the AL. Being behind the Yankees does not sit well with the Red Sox, (although you would think that they were used to it by now). The Sox set there sights on the top spot when Coco Crisp charged the mound the other night. Crisp, who was pummeled by at least four Rays, including Carl Crawford who got to the pile from the outfield. Sean Casey was also suspended for fighting. the Sox first basemen and a good Irishmen knows when to jump into a donnybrook when he sees one ( Speaking of Donnybrook, remember the Donnybrook Open on September 13th) Jon Lester helped the suspension cause, the following inning by throwing at the Rays hitter after the brawl. Knowing that this was not enough to pass the Yankees, Kevin Youkilis and Manny went at it with each other in the dugout. Neither was tossed out of the game or suspended. I guess it's just par for the course, Manny being Manny (speaking of par for the course, remember the Donnybrook Open on September 13th).

In all the talk on this blog about sports, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the passing of Jim McKay. For those of you who are not old enough to remember the pre ESPN era, sports on television was limited to say the least. NBC had the baseball game of the week on Saturday afternoon. During the week you had nothing, unless you happened to live in a city that had a team and then you had local programming but on the national level you had one game a week. ABC had a Saturday afternoon sports show that was so influential that it's opening is embedded in sports lore forever. The Wide World of Sports with Jim McKay as host brought you the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Just reading those words brings the picture to your mind of the ski jumper falling off the jump. McKay, as he has been discribed by sports journalist, was the consummate story teller. He made every sport on the show exciting. Remember spanning the globe for sports brought you surfing, hurling, the Harlem Globetrotters, motorcycle racing and from Grossmen's resort in the Catskill Mountains, barrel jumping. McKay hit a golf ball over the great wall of China. He will always be remembered for his reporting of the Munich Olympics and the tragedy that occurred there. Instead of putting a "real" newsman on the air, Roone Arledge kept McKay as host and it was Jim's finest hour. When the hostage ordeal was over, McKay's "they are all gone" put everything into perspective. There are times when you feel part of your childhood is taken from you and the passing of Jim McKay is one of them.

DIVISION NEWS:

Mark your calenders for July 20th. The annual family picnic will be held at Rob's house. This is a covered dish event and has always been a fun day. Check your newsletters for all the information.

Sept 13, 2008 The Donnybrook Open golf tournament. A four man scramble at the Saratoga Lake golf course to benefit thew Saratoga AOH. $85 a man includes, greens fees and cart. lunch before and a steak dinner after. Free refreshments on the course. A chance to win a new car and other great prizes. Contact person is Brian Murphy.