sparkle meets SPORTY

Growing up in Pennsylvania doesn't make it exactly easy to be a Mets fan. Before the days of GameDay on MLB.com, satellite TVs and MLB packages, the only means to tuning in to a New York game was by listening to its flagship station, Sports Radio 66 - The Fan!, WFAN New York. [Did you sing along the jingle as your read the type?] My dad, an avid fan, followed The Fan religiously. At a young age, I didn't quite appreciate talk radio, but maybe the poor reception was to blame.

Where we grew up, there were a lot of farms. And cows. And tractors. And, although I must give props, because the area has been built up quite nicely as of late, the area still is not too susceptible to an AM frequency from the NYC. Still, my father, the faithful, loyal guy he is...would always have 660AM tuned in. Once the static kicked in, he knew exactly where it would break ['Dadddd, this is so annoying, just turn it off!', 'Just wait until we cross the bridge, it get better over there']. He was happy for even 15 seconds of audible air, just to hear the pitch count or who was at bat so he could make an educated guess whether the Mets got out of the previous inning unscathed.

I remember listening to Mike and the Mad Dog with him and learning Chris Russo and Mike Francesa's names at an early age. My dad would always chuckle to himself and say, 'these guys, they're nuts, aren't they.' Of course a rhetorical question referring to the show's pit-bull like rants and tactics. (Here's a random fact - Mike and the Mad Dog averaged 659,000 listeners per week since its debut.)

So, to say the least, the split between Mike and the Mad Dog is a sad one. Sometimes, people have to go their own ways, but in the metropolitan sports world, they will surely be missed.

Also, how bout Mike Phelp's freakin finish [such a sucker for alliteration] in the 100 fly last night?! Wow. And, the funny thing is, when you are an 8 and under, learning the techniques of to complete a finish - you are taught to stretch out, reach and extend - not to take that one last, short stroke.