If someone were to ask me who my favorite baseball team was, I'd probably say the Pirates cause I grew up in Pittsburgh.  But in reality, I'm more a fan of individual players over teams. Blame Free Agency.  Blame Fantasy Baseball.  Blame the fact the Pirates are and always will be horrible.

But, Josh Hamilton  is one of those guys I really like and it saddens me that he's gone from the Reds (and the chance for me to see him play a handful of times each year), though I completely understand the deal.  I was in Texas 3 summers ago and at that time Edinson Volquez was an untouchable prospect.  He still could be a very good starting pitcher and the Reds have plenty of OF depth.

But Hamilton is a class act that's gone through so much (as we documented this year in our two interviews with him).  I hope he does well i ...

I’ll be the first to admit I don’t understand everything about the sports of Bowling or Wrestling.  We’re learning the terms and the intricacies of both sports, with each week that we cover them.  But I must say I enjoy both because of the passion that both the athletes and the fans bring to the event.

My brother gave me a  $30 gift card to Sonic last week (Gift Cards are Officially my favorite gift nowadays).  The note said "This should buy ya plenty of Lemon-Berry Slushes but won't cover the dentist bill."  I first fell in love with their magical slushes 3 summers ago when I was doing play by play for a Summer Collegiate League baseball team in Mineral Wells, Tx.  Each day I would get a slush from Sonic around 3pm and then head to the ballpark to work on my game prep.  An amazing refreshing treat.

That gift got me thinking.  What were some of my favorite Christmas gifts as a kid?

1. Baseball Stars for Nintendo.  No one could beat the American Dreams with Babe R. and Henry A.

2. Penguins tickets when i was 10 or so.  Nothing beats growing up watching the greatest hoc ...

I call this Andy's Ramblings for a reason.  Here's what's rambling through my head on a Monday as I sit in an Indianapolis suburb.

*The Ottawa-Glandorf students always find a way to surprise us with their creativity.  Saturday at the Napoleon Swimming Invitational was no exception.  As I entered the natatorium they made sure to say hi from the other side of the pool.  Then during a 15-minute intermission, I went over and talked with a few Titans.  The exchange went something like this:

O-G Swimmer: If I find a permanent marker, will you sign my forehead?

Me: Sure.

O-G Assistant Swim Coach:  Actually, you can't have any body markings for this event.

O-G Swimmer: Man.

 & ...