2003 Year in Review Rough Draft

To commence the year we had the unfortunate onset of war in Iraq. Northeast Blackout in August. Locally the Ice Storm in April. Catastrophic forest fires in California. Recall of the Governor in the state of California. Plame. Saddam captured, years of anguish ceasing but never forgotten. Legends from all walks of life leaving us Brinkley, Arlidge, Peck, Otto Graham.

On the much lighter side, sports, a monetery escape from the chaos in our lives and around the world. It started with the Ohio State Buckeyes winning their 1st National Title since 1968 in a double overtime thrillier over the Miami Hurricanes. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the poster team of losing, winning their 1st Super Bowl over the Oakland Raiders in convincing fashion.

The Syracuse Orangemen, hell yes, winning their 1st National Title thanks to a super freshman named Carmelo Anthony whose making out quite well in the NBA. Freshman Gerry McNamara and Billy Eidlin, Hakim Warrick, Kueth Duany the lone senior, Jeremy McNeil, the instrumental Josh Pace. Hell yes. Jim Boeheim finally capturing that elusive title in New Orleans, where his team had lost 16 years earlier. Once again, Hell yes. Julie Boeheim, hell yes.

Steve Bartman. Josh Beckett. Ivan Rodriguez, Juan Pierre, Jeff Conine, Luis Castillo, Jack McKeon. Pedro Martinez v. Don Zimmer, Wakes v. Aaron Boone, Fly ball v. Jose Cruz Jr., Steve Bartman v. Fate. Choke by the bay, A's and Giants blow 1st round series to Red Sox and Marlins. A postseason for the ages, may the Red Sox and Cubs not be in those positions for decades to come for to do it year after year would tarnish the novelty of the atmosphere surrouding the baseball classic. More later