Entries from April 2005 ↓

FA Cup Semi-Final

Robin van Persie scored two goals in the final moments of today’s semi-final match against Blackburn Rovers, adding to Robert Pires’ first-half strike as Arsenal booked a place in their fourth FA Cup Final in five years.

The Gunners won despite not having the services of Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell who both missed out due to injuries. Hopefully at least Henry will be fit for Wednesday’s massive match at the Kremlin against Chelski.

It seems spring has sprung in upstate New York, and Uncle Joe’s been hard at work. Here’s his latest progress report….

“Hi folks. The weather has been great here the past few days and it has allowed me to get some work done outside. 153 feet of track is on the ground. Half of that is ballasted. The horizontal alignment is done for all, the vertical alignment not yet determined for those sections not ballasted. I took some ground elevation measurements today for service spurs in the woods and need to figure out where I want to be with the track (vertically speaking). Horizontally has been decided.

The latest pictures show the main line just in front of the camera and continuing to the upper left of the pictures. The track going toward the upper right leads to the ballast spur, unloading spur and shop spur. Those are the tracks whose horizontal alignment has been determined, but not their vertical alignment. The tracks between the two switches are a section of 100 foot radius and a section of straight track. The photos sure make it look tighter than that! The track going down the pictures toward the right leads to the basement Bilco door and is all of 50 foot radius.”

Robert Pires’ 73rd minute goal was enough to give the Gunners all three points at the Riverside this afternoon.

Dave scooped me on Zogworld, but here it is all the same…

Daniel Craig, best known for playing Paul Newman’s creepy son in “Road To Perdition” has been chosen as the new James Bond.

My initial reaction is that he is a good choice, when you consider he’s:

a.) English
b.) the right age
c.) a relative unknown

Thanks to my cousin Jeff, I got to go to an opening day baseball game for the first time in my life. It was a gloriously sunny, if somewhat blustery early spring day in Philadelphia. Our seats were twelve rows up on the first base side, just slightly beyond midway between first base and right field. It provided a great vantage point for some really good pictures, which you can check out by clicking on the photo above.

The Philbillies played well, winning 8-4 over the Washington Nationals. Today was the first game for the “Nats,” who you’ll remember were the Montreal Expos in a previous incarnation.

I had a great time, and even bumped into Wooly and Mitchell, who were busy standing out in Ashburn Alley, heckling the Nats relief pitchers.

Baseball’s back, and I couldn’t be happier.

Yanks start season off on right foot, crush Boston 9-2 in home opener

Randy Johnson had six strong innings, giving up only one run and struck out six in his Yankees debut.

The Yankee offense was at it again, as everyone but Bernie Williams got on base.

Of particular interest were the performances of Jason Giambi and Tino Martinez. Giambi got on base three times - singling once - and was twice hit by a pitch. As we were watching the game, fellow AOMer Scott commented, “That’s amazing, considering he’s a much smaller target now!”

Martinez only had the last two innings to show his mettle, but didn’t waste any time. Almost immediately upon replacing Giambi at first, Tino made a great diving catch to record the final out of the 8th inning.

One down, one hundred sixty-one to go.