Trouble on the coast and the new toast

There was a line in the movie "Blood Diamond" where an old man in a village greets Danny Archer, Leo's character, and Danny is amazed by the chaos and devastation that has been happening because of diamonds.....the old man looks at him and says.....something like......

"Thank God they haven't found oil.....that would really be a problem."

This morning The LA TIMES reported that Chevron has discovered a sizable reservoir of oil off the coast of ANGOLA.

I haven't done any stories about oil companies because I was so depressed about the defeat of 87 in the last election that I decided to ignore the entire gasoline/oil issue.

If the people don't care about gasoline prices and excessive profits of oil companies....then no amount of ranting and raving is going to change their perception.

The recent profit reports of the big three oil companies are staggering. Numbers that are so high I can't even remember them....like the hummingbird wing beats per second number.

In fact as I write this article I realize I still don't want to discuss oil companies but all I can say is....
Watch out Angola!

Like African countries don't have enough problems to deal with......I do wonder how land reform is going in those countries that seem to constantly be in a state of revolution.

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This is one of the coolest stories that I've ever heard......in the world of sports.

In the late 90's there was a very valuable rookie baseball card, that everyone needed to have in their collection. A young left-handed pitcher that was a lock for future greatness. He threw 100 miles an hour and the buzz was that the new Sandy Koufax had arrived. He was drafted by St. Louis and was on the fast track to the major leagues.

Rick Ankiel made the roster and made the starting rotation and then a funny thing happened.

He couldn't throw a strike.

I'm being generous when I say he couldn't throw a strike....because I remember watching clips when he couldn't even throw near the catcher. I'm sure some of those clips will start to re-surface as the current story unfolds.

Yesterday, six years after he was sent back to the minors he reappeared for the St. Louis Cardinals.

This time he showed up as a home run hitting outfielder.

In his first game back in the Major Leagues, as an outfielder, he hit a three run homer and helped the Cardinals win 5-0 over the Padres.

It turns out that he had hit 32 this year in the minors......he turns out that he might be the new Babe Ruth.

OK...that's a stupid comment....but I can't think of another pitcher who became a hitter and made people forget about his pitching.

The difference of course is....The Babe was a great pitcher. I'm sure if you look at Rick Ankiel's stats while in High School you would see that he was overpowering and was regarded as a great pitcher.....so there are people who knew Rick Ankiel when he was a great pitcher.

Will he make it as a 26 year old outfielder?

I don't think it really matters if he has great success as a hitter....even though it would be a further feather in the cap of this incredible comeback story.

The fact that he wanted to be in the Major Leagues is the story....and the fact that he was going to do whatever it took to be in the Major Leagues is the story. How long that experience lasts doesn't really matter.

The story is an HBO movie.
The story is a Steven Spielberg epic.
The story is a John Grishman/Steven King/Dean Koontz combo novel

The story of Rick Ankiel is truly one for the ages....and it really doesn't matter what happens next......more stuff is just icing on the cake.....and every other cliche that can be thought of when referring to great comeback stories in the world of sports.

This is the greatest comeback story of all time......because I'm telling you....the guy couldn't throw the ball within ten feet of the catcher.

HE WAS TOAST

and today he is the talk of the baseball world and the toast of the town in St. Louis.

I will love hearing the whole story which will include some amazing family and friends and coaches and supporters and so on and so on.....because something like this couldn't be done alone.

Welcome back Rick......

Michael Timothy McAlevey