Starting Off

I missed the Inuaguration Speech yesterday. I did see this quote that gave me pause:

By our efforts, we have lit a fire as well as a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power, it burns those who fight its progress, and one day this untamed fire of freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world.

Is anyone else troubled by "fire of freedom"? Shouldn't it be, "Let Freedom Ring" not, "Let Freedom Burn"? Probably not the best metaphor he could have used.

Conventional

Thus begins Dorkfest 2005. I've never gone to a Cubs convention. I've never gone to a Star Trek convention (seeing "Trekkies" convinced me that this is the right decision). I don't plan on ever going to either type of event.

That said, I'd love to have an opportunity to ask some frank questions of Jim Hendry.

"Who decided to release the video of Sammy Sosa leaving early? Cubs staff or Trib corporate?"

"What are you going to do with your overload of minor league starting pitchers?"

"How much input does Dusty Baker get in determining who gets how much playing time. Can you tell him to play rookies ahead of veterans or does he get free reign?"

"With Felix Pie looming and Corey Patterson's struggles in getting on base consistently, what is the future of both of these players within the Cubs?"

"Why did you get involved in the Steve Stone / Players issues from last year? Isn't that outside of your area of oversight?"

"Why hasn't anyone from your organization called Sammy Sosa? Are you prevented by the Trib from making overseas long-distance calls?"

"How much pressure is on Dusty Baker to win in 2005? How much in on you? What would you expect will happen to you and Dusty given a non-playoff finish in 2005?"

"What does Andy McPhail do? Really."

"Who made the decision to fire Wendell Kim and the training staff?"

I'm sure there are more. That's all I can come up with this morning.

More Blago

Gee. Dick Mell has retracted his charges of job peddling in the Governor's office. It was a "heat of the moment" calculation. Now his son-in-law, Rod Blagojevich, gets to look all high and mighty and above machine politics. Rod gets to look independent and be a crusader for the people, not tied to clout heavy politicians.

It almost makes Rod more "presidential." Ya' think?