Sip's Year In Review

I think back to July, sitting in the bleachers of Wrigley Field. We got there about an hour early, drank modestly priced beers and soaked in the Chicago sun.

The Cubs were playing the Brewers that day. As the Brewers took batting practice the Chicago fans berated Mliwaukee players with F-bombs and other forms of abuse. Any of them would have been happy if one of the Brewers had turned around and thrown a batting practice ball into the bleachers.

And then it happened.

A tall righty turned around and starting pointing at the crowd. The fans, many much drunker than Sip, went nuts. They loved this guy, he was their chance at a precious baseball.

He pointed in different directions and each section grew louder that the next. It was his rock concert and he became Bono. The pitcher than held up his million dollar arm and the crowd went silent in anticipation. He reached back and fired that beautiful little baseball. For a few seconds it was glorious.

Until we all noticed.

The pitcher had intentionally thrown the ball as far as he could, about a hundred feet over the bleachers. He laughed with some of his teammates and then ran into the dugout. The Chicago fans booed and threw beer at him. Sip laughed. What a prick, yes, but a clever one at that.

I share this story for two reasons.

The first is that I felt this story was a pretty decent metaphor for the Mets '07 season. This season opened on a cloudless day with a rock show atmosphere. Everything seemed perfect. We all had thoughts of championships, babies and memories.

Only it wasn't meant to be. September happened. We were victims of the ultimate tease. Our hopes were so high only to have them painfully crushed, which sucked, much like not getting the chance to catch a ball.

The second reason I share this story is that it gets me really excited for the Mets' 2008 season. The Brewers pitcher that committed this "asshole" act of the year:

New Met, Matt Wise.

2007 was a great year for Sip. I lived in three cities in four homes, wrote two screenplays that could make me the next Matt Damon (but more likely the same Sippy Momo), played in the World Series of Poker, worked for a major league baseball team and recently got into business school. Oh, and I finally learned how to drive.

But here I am in December finally back where it all started. For at least the next two years I'll be a New Yorker again. That is, of course, after I spend the next bunch of months in Sydney where I will learn to surf, care for kangaroos and pen the sequel to the immortal Point Break, Point Break II: Bodhi's Return.

But before that next stop on Sip's World Tour, I need to reflect on 2007. I'm not going to talk much about sports. 2007 was pretty bad from that standpoint. The Mets blew it, The Knicks became the biggest joke in sports and the Giants are two weeks away from a mid 20's draft selection. But otherwise, things were okay.

Here are some thoughts on 2007:

Mets Moment of the Year

The Mitchell Report and our star Kirk Radomski

In a year where baseball was a bit of a disappointment for fans of the orange & blue it was at least nice to have a former clubhouse attendant at the heart of the report that will forever change the game.

The way I see it, if we can't win a World Series, we might as well tarnish an entire period of history.

Television Show of the Year

Friday Night Lights

If you don't watch this one you're missing out. This is the best show on television since Season 1 of 24. And it's not even about the football, if that's what you're worried about.

It's just a great story in a great setting with really good looking girls for the fellas and strapping lads for ladies. A beautiful marriage and family, a great town and what seems like 15 great characters who some how get perfectly mixed into an hour of perfect TV a week.

Song of the Year

The Homecoming, Kanye West (featuring Chris Martin of Coldplay)

Pretty much combines my two favorite types of music: hip hop and music that makes you want to cry. (Music that makes you want to lift/fight is a close third).

The sweet mix of Kanye West verse w/ Chris Martin pianos really leads to one plain confused Sip. Such a mixture of emotions leads to really weird thoughts which actually helped inspire my second screenplay -- in theaters, June '09.

Yankee of the Year

Hank Steinbrenner

The Yankees have in many ways turned into a joke over the last couple of years. Every year they have the biggest payroll. Every year they find a way to falter. And every year they find a way to make an excuse. But it was never quite right. That was until Hank came around.

Hank Steinbrenner is James Dolan with a hard-on for publicity. Another moron whose father handed him the world, the only difference being that thanks to baseball's lack of a salary cap, Steinbrenner can buy his way out of any and all mistakes.

Still, this guy is great. He is living every man's dream and yet has managed to turn himself into a joke in less than three months. Well done, Hank.

Movie of the Year

Was there one? I can't really remember seeing a great movie all year. I saw a couple of good ones, I Am Legend, Bourne Ultimatum, Knocked Up and Super Bad-probably my favorite of the bunch. But nothing was good enough to be titled Sip's flick of the year, I don't think. So I'll give the 2007 movie of the year to Major League. Why not, right?


YouTube clip of the Year

Three way tie:

1. Jon Gruden and Raiders
2. My New Haircut
3. Darius Miles slamball

When you get a chance check all these out.

Gruden will teach you that it's ok to only speak in Sports Cliches, and his speech at the 4:04 mark really is a life changer if you actually take it for what it is.

"My New Haircut" just does a phenomenal job of making fun of guidos.

And if anyone can translate what Darius Miles says in his supposed interview, I will turnover the Yankees2000 fortune to you and retire.

* * * * *

And on that note, I bid 2007 and our millions of fans farewell. It was another awesome year and we really do appreciate you reading what we have to write. One of these days we're going to become famous, and you can say you new us when.

Vaya,
Sip

(Pics courtesy of mlb.com, usatoday.net, ign.com, orange.com, newsday.com)