Saratoga Irish

Monday, February 18, 2008

Well it's President's Day so it seems appropriate that I update the blog. The spell-check is not working so please bear with me.
NASCAR held it's opening race this weekend, the 50th running of the Daytona 500. I didn't watch. I know there are two kinds of people, ones that love NASCAR and those, like me, that don't get it. I've heard all the arguments for it but come on, what kind of sport holds it's biggest event first? The NBA All-Star game was yesterday. Is Baseball the only sport that has an all star game that somewhat resembles the real game. The NBA game looks more like the Globetrotters then a pro game. I guess you don't make the all stars by playing defense. So here we are in February, that dead sports zone. At least the pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training. I love spring training, the games don't mean anything but you get a glimpse of summer, and that helps when it's been so cold for so long.

Division notes. This Thursday night we are showing the film "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" at the K of C at 7pm. This is a very good film depicting the Irish revolution from the viewpoint of the common man. The night is free and all are welcome. It is a nice event to bring your wives, girlfriends and neighbors too.
The Stare Board is holding a concert Friday night at the Albany Hibernian Center featuring Black 47. Tickets are $20 and well worth the price of admission. Black 47 has been around for a while now and they are not your typical Irish band. When Mike and I last saw them in concert it was at a Celtic Festival in Glens Falls. I looked at the crowd of maybe 100 people and thought, this is not a Black 47 crowd. When the band started, most of the white haired crowd left, leaving about 35 people that got a great night of music. This was Mike's first time seeing the band and now he is an ardent fan. The Division still has a couple of tickets left at our table, see me or just pay at the door.

Monday, February 04, 2008

The Giants win the Superbowl! The Giants win the Superbowl! The Giants win the Superbowl! I could keep going, it just doesn't get old. The New England Patroits, the team that has been debated all season as the best football team ever, went into the game a 12 point favorite, got out played. The game was fantastic, a real hardnosed game and the Pat's have nothing to be ashamed about. A 18-1 season is something special but they will only be remembered for the loss. As the saying goes, you are only as good as your last game. The Patriots are one of the best teams ever and the Giants beat them, so are the Giants the best team ever? No. On one day, or maybe the last month, the Giants have jelled as a team and have shown that football is a team sport. Is Brady better than Manning, yes. Is Moss better than Burress, yes. I can go on and on but on Sunday Feburary 3, 2008 when it mattered the most, The Giants were the better team.
What more can bring grown men to tears and bond father and son better than a Superbowl victory. This, as they say, is one for the ages.

Division News:

The Monthly meeting will be this Thursday at 7pm at the K of C hall on nPine Rd. The main topic of discussion will be the Family St. Patrick's Day Party. Plans are comming along and 90% of the entertainment is set. We will have a little of everything. The day will start with a production of Mairim Gallagher's play "Carolan's Cap". It last about 40 minutes and is a tale of the Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan. After that, the music and dancing will begin. This year we are holding the party at the Saratoga Elks Club and you get all this entertainment for just a $5 donation. Check the website for more information or come to the meeting.
Other notable items for the meeting are the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the National Convention in New Orleans in July, and, well you'll just have to show up to find out.