November 30 , 2005

Finally, we get to quote Pink Floyd. It must be Christmas.

In case you were stoned throughout the 1970’s, when btw, the Dodgers won three pennants, Pink Floyd’s “Obscured by Clouds” album included a song called “Burning Bridges.” In honor of Tommy Hawkins, who missed the “the last impression is the lasting impression, don't burn your bridges” lecture at Notre Dame, check these lyrics:

“Flickering between the lines. Ancient bonds are breaking.” Both sentences, quite obviously baseball references.

“Moving on and changing sides. Dreaming of a new day, Cast aside the other way.” The Hawk can relate, man, and so he’s burned his bridges. Obliterated them. Blown them to teeny, tiny, Johnny Egan-sized pieces.

“Every time I see some of the decisions being made or some of the people that have been fired or some of the people that were brought into positions who have never spent one hour in baseball, I want to throw up.” To be clear, that’s a quote from Hawkins, not Pink Floyd, who was a little more creative with its choice of words.

And I’m not sure which is funnier; that Hawkins threatened to hurl at the precise moment he was visiting KSPN, or that he failed to include himself among the people once brought into a position with the Dodgers without having spent a single hour in baseball.

Some of my readers are going to be pissed; well, one in particular, but I’ve got to defend the McCourts here, sorry. They’ve hit bottom and are on their way back up.

Yes, Chavez Ravine was in complete and utter disarray in 2005. Like, duh. But now, slowly but surely, disarray is being replaced with, uh, array. Or something. Tommy Hawkins can barf till he’s Dodger blue in the face. In fact, here’s a finger…

Garth Barf: Trivia: Which former San Diego Padre utility man also recorded a song called “Burning Bridges?” Hint: it's not Tim Flannery…

Barf, Final Thoughts: Pads announcer Jerry Coleman once said the following: “Rich Folkers is throwing up in the bullpen…”

Stocking Stuffers: Old friend Jon Weisman has put the best of his fine “Dodger Thoughts” website into book form. Get your copy of “The Best of Dodger Thoughts” in time for the holidays, at Lulu.com.

Stocking Stuffer, Part Deux: Almost as cool as Pink Floyd is "The Cathryn Beeks Ordeal," who will be playing this Friday, December 2, at the Escondido Center for Performing Arts. The latest CD, "Songs for Sale," is available at cathrynbeeks.com.

Hall of Fame Predictions: Rich Gossage gets in; Bert Blyleven doesn’t; Jim Rice finally does, thankfully; and unfortunately, Steve Garvey still doesn’t…

Low Jack: Not stoned during the 1970s, or at least not throughout, I had the distinction of going to high school with Tom Delay crony-in-crime, Jack Abramoff. Played with him on the soccer team one year. Well, I played. He sat.

Abramoff was one of those guys who, though he didn’t contribute to the team even remotely, bought and regularly wore a letterman’s jacket as if he had. I was more surprised to learn that he’d gone on to become a successful weight lifter a couple of years later than by his eventual choice of career paths.

Investors Wanted: Invest a thimble full of venture capital today, make major league minimum tomorrow…

Statue for Sandy: The Koufax in bronze campaign continues, so please scroll down to the photo below and vote yes on 32…

Remember, glove conquers all….