The Weekend In Review

What a great weekend for my sports teams! The Red Sox swept the Orioles, inching closer to clinching the American League Wild Card and giving themselves a slight chance to catch the Yankees in the East. You have to feel bad for the Orioles, who the Red Sox went 16-2 against this year. Interesting fact: 1956 was the last time the Red Sox won 16 games against the Orioles in one season, and it was also the year of the Orioles biggest comeback in a game in the team's history, which was against (you guessed it) the Red Sox. That is, it was their biggest comeback until (you guessed it again) this year against the Red Sox. I was at that game on June 30th in Baltimore, and it was awful, as the Red Sox led 10-1 in the middle of the seventh and lost 11-10 in nine innings. I'm hoping the Sox are within three or four games of the Yankees come Friday night when they head to the Bronx. If they are, a three-game sweep would put them right back in contention for the division title.

Also, it was a much better weekend for my football fandom. Notre Dame held on for a close victory at home over Michigan State. It was the first time since 1993 that the Irish defeated the Spartans at home. The Syracuse Orange, led by Syracuse native and quarterback Greg Paulus, earned their first victory of the season at home over Northwestern. I was at the game, and let me tell you, the home field advantage the Carrier Dome provided in the 80's and 90's is coming back. People are excited about the new coach and hometown boy playing quarterback. And today, my Buffalo Bills held on (unlike last week) for a big win at home over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's going to be tough next week, as the high-powered offense of the New Orleans Saints comes to Orchard Park.