My Vacation Connection

Well it's definitely the dog days of summer. Its the day after the baseball all-star game, which means there is literally NOTHING to watch on TV tonite, so I thought I would jump on here and vent about one recurring thought that ran through my mind while out of the country last week.

I find that when I'm on vacation, particularly out of the country, Sportscenter is as refreshing as a poolside pina colada. All of a sudden, this becomes my connection to "the real world." No, not CNN to catch up on current events, not what's happening with the economy, or Michael Jackson's white kids, but rather, how many hits Ryan Braun had vs. the Dodgers last night.

After a long day at the beach or chillin at the pool, when I get back up to my hotel room to relax before it's time to head out to dinner, I grab that germ-infested remote control and surf through the channels until I come across the 6pm Sportscenter. When your in a small Caribbean island like St. Maarten, as sad as it sounds, seeing Brian Kenny's face is like finding a crumpled $5 bill in the jeans you just took out of the laundry machine.

Conversely, if I miss Sportscenter for 2 days, its like I've been living in a tent in the outback of Australia for a month! There is a strange sense of panic that can set in. A thousand questions run through my head: Did the Brewers get swept? Did Chipper Jones get hurt again? Have the Hawks traded Josh Smith? Has Tim Tebow cured cancer yet? An hour in my hotel room with Sportscenter on the tube is like being debriefed in the Pentagon with the latest Mid-East intel. I feel current and ready to continue my vacation.

Well, that's all for tonight. The second half of the baseball season begins tomorrow. There are going to be some fantastic pennant races down the stretch. NBA summer leagues are heating up, and it's always fun to get an early peak at this year's crop of rookies. Of course there is never a dull moment in the NFL, on and off the field, and college football practice is weeks away.

I'll do my best to stay topical, update the blog a few times per week and of course, keep one eye on Sportscenter.