Dein erstes Forum » er, contending that he has spoken frequently

ESPNs Buster Olney is on vacation this week, but hes still compiling roundups. View his latest roundup here.I dont know exactly when my grandfather, a construction worker by trade, fell in love with baseball. For as hard as he worked, it never occurred to me that there would be enough time for anything except rest preparing for the next day. But I can still see him listening to the games lying down. And now it all makes sense. I dont know when he became a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, but I can remember when I did.It was the summer of 1967. My friends and I used to play baseball in front of Russell Walkers house. He and I both lived in cul-de-sacs. I didnt realize until much later that cul-de-sac was just a fancy French word for dead-end street.When I saw my grandfathers gray, four-door Pontiac (with a black vinyl top) coming down the street, it usually meant I was in trouble for staying out past my curfew. But that couldnt be it today. The street lights hadnt come on yet. We all stepped aside to let the car circle the street. As he drove by, his drivers-side window rolled down, the smell of Pall Mall Reds wafting from inside the car, he looked at me and said, Get in.We drove north up Interstate 5, and I tried to figure out where we were headed. My first clue was seeing the Stadium Way exit. It was about a mile and a half up Elysian Park Avenue.Ill never forget seeing Dodger Stadium for the first time. Little did I know that going to Dodger games would become a tradition for my family.By the end of the 1980 season, the impact of Fernando Valenzuela had caught everybody off guard. Throwing almost 18 innings of shutout relief was insane, and the reaction of all Dodger fans was like nothing I had ever heard before.But wait, Valenzuela: Thats us. This guy looks like us. He could pitch, he could hit and when he ran, he looked like he was barely going to make it to first base -- just like us.That great move of looking to the sky before every pitch added to his identity. Who doesnt look at home plate when hes pitching? you could overhear people say.My grandmother would say, Hes asking God to help him throw a strike, huh, George? To which I would reply, Yeah, Grandma.Starting the season 8-0 caught the city by surprise. It was almost impossible to get a ticket. But the night that Valenzuela single-handedly beat the San Francisco Giants by driving in a run and shutting them out? I was there, sitting high up in general admission.That was also the night a female fan in a Valenzuela shirt ran on the field, caught Fernando off guard with a kiss and then raised her arms high in the air. We all raised our hands in the air and pumped our fists, too. It was impossible not to take the ride with Valenzuela.He was the subject of what appeared to be every conversation. It got so crazy that instead of people believing he was 20 years old, there was talk that he was in his 40s. No 20-year-old could possibly be that good. Plus, he was born in Mexico and didnt have a birth certificate. That was hilarious.My grandmother worked nights at the time. One morning, I woke up and saw a Fernando Valenzuela T-shirt, hat and button on the counter. I couldnt figure out where they came from. When I asked my grandmother, she said, Oh, there was somebody selling them at work.Wait, there was somebody selling Fernando Valenzuela stuff at a factory in Van Nuys, California?Thats how crazy Fernandomania was.News conferences before a game were unheard of. But Valenzuela would have them and back them up with a win. I cant remember a time before or since that I wouldnt miss a game either on television, radio or in person.Valenzuela galvanized Dodger fans with both his talent and his playfulness. Seeing him kick around a baseball in left field like it was a soccer ball was something fans would go early to watch.Manager Tommy Lasorda would even use him as a pinch hitter. There was nothing Valenzuela couldnt do.Fernando made us believe that no matter where we came from or what we looked like, talent was the equalizer. He did this by showing us, not telling us; hes not comfortable with accolades, which is why I find a way to sneak it in. Ive never forgotten what I learned from Valenzuela, and it has helped me become another living proof example.Ive gone to Dodger Stadium with regularity in the years since Fernandomania. Every time I go, I remember my grandmother and grandfather and how much fun we used to have cheering and feeling proud every time Valenzuela did something great.My seats now are a lot better than my 75-cent ticket to the left field pavilion, but nothing is better than looking out from the seats behind home plate and imagining them both still out there.Ive known Fernando for a few years now. When were both on the field, we always make a point of saying hello. Hes a great guy, and Ill always find a place to tell him how much hes meant to me over the years.And then the conversation will switch to how much we both love golf. Cheap Vans Shoes . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Vans Old Skool Clearance . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. http://www.vansshoesclearancesale.com/vans-old-skool-sale.html . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Vans Old Skool White Sale . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Vans Old Skool Cheap . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets have no scores to settle yet this National Hockey League season.But that situation will change this week as the teams play a rare doubleheader in Vancouver with the first game going Tuesday night at Rogers Arena. Both the Canucks (13-16-2-1) and Jets (15-16-2-1) are looking to win more consistently as they play their final two games below the Christmas break.The Canucks, struggling to rebuild on the fly, have only won four of their past 10 games while the Jets, who appear to be a much tougher and more talented team have five wins and as many losses during the same span.We know what it takes, said Vancouver winger Jannik Hansen. We need to string some wins together. We had an opportunity (Sunday in a 4-3 shootout loss to Columbus.) We are going to get another opportunity on Tuesday. Thats what we need. We are playing good hockey now, consistently well. Its the end result that has to come as well.The Canucks have picked up their play markedly since losing nine straight earlier in the season. But they are battling injuries on the back end with Alex Edler (finger) continuing an extended absence and Erik Gudbranson, who has missed the last two games, also due to be out on a long-term basis due to a wrist problem that made surgery necessary.Although center Brandon Sutter is on a three-game scoring streak, the Jets will not have to worry about many obvious scoring threats. However, the Canucks are clear on who they want to hold in check.Jets rookie Patrik Laine ranks among the leagues top scorers with 18 goals. He is also coming off a three-point game following Sundays victory over Colorado, when he had a goal and two assists.Hes a strong player, said Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller. Hes not afraid to shoot the puck. He has some confidence and seems to slow the play down just a little bit to give himself some space. A lot like (Sunday) we are going to have to be skating, chip some pucks, make him go a long way. Maybe get their team a little frustrated. That seems to be the game plan most nights.The Jets, who also boast sharpshooters Mark Sheifele, who has 14 goals and 30 points, and Blake Wheeller (24 points) can ease some frustration by moving above .dddddddddddd500 with a win Tuesday and another Thursday, when the mini-series concludes.We kinda limped into the mini-break we had there, got some rest here at home and took care of business, Jets captain Blake Wheeler told reporters following Sundays win over Colorado. We had to get back on track. It was two huge games here at home, two huge games in Vancouver now and we want to go into this break feeling good about ourselves.The Jets are also feeling better physically. Former Canucks Shawn Matthias and fellow forwards participated in Mondays practice after being absent due to injuries. Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice told reporters that at least one of the three would play in Vancouver.But one players status remains in limbo even though he is healthy. Center Alexander Burmistov has been a healthy scratch for the last five games and has suited up for only three of the last 12 contests after falling out of favor with Maurice.You know, I feel great, working hard -- watching games, said Burmistrov, who has only two assists in 23 games this season and is a minus-six, told the Winnipeg Free Press. Its tough, tough for me because I do not know why Im not playing, you know. I never have a conversation with the coach, so he never (told) me why Im not playing.Maurice begged to differ, contending that he has spoken frequently to Burmistov, who returned to the Jets this season after leaving the team following the 2012-13 campaign for the Russia-based Kontinental Hockey League.All other Jets have been getting plenty of rest lately after starting the season with 32 games in 60 days. The Jets had three days between games last week before getting two days off prior to Sundays contest, and they will have had another two-day break before Tuesdays opening faceoff.Physically we are quite a bit stronger and when you are a little better rested you can stop and start and win battles, said Maurice.He will soon find out whether that applies to a pair of battles against the same team in Vancouver. ' ' '