Phillies vs Yankees - World Series Preview

Ahh...it's good to be back.

That is the sentiment of most Yankees fans, who return to the World Series for the first time since 2003 (yes, it really has been 6 years!). Riding on the heels of ALCS MVP CC Sabathia (2-0, 1.19 ERA) and a relaxed and rejuvenated A-Rod, the Yanks have all the confidence in the world as they seek their 27th championship. But, oh, wait, so do the Phillies, who are eyeing a World Series repeat. The last team to win back-to-back World Series'? Why, it was the Yankees, of course.

So will the Phillies be the new Yankee dynasty? It's hard to tell whether the Phillies remind you of the old Yankees or the current ones. Hard-to-retire slugger? A-Rod, check. Howard, check. Clutch shortstop? Jeter, check. Rollins (whose 2-out 9th inning hit in Game 4 sealed the NLCS), check. A former Indians ace who's lights-out in the postseason? Sabathia, check. Lee, check.

So on paper, and well, on the field too, the Yanks and Phils play the same kind of game, in just about the same kind of park, too. Yankee Stadium and Citizens Bank Park have been launching pads for hitters, so we may see some atypical Home Run Derby-esque ball games, which would make the series even more entertaining to watch.

So who has the edge? Now I can't speak for the Phillies but if you watched the Yanks this season, they have the makings of a championship team. From smacking home runs to playing small ball to pitching shutouts to walk-off wins, this team truly is "special" (one of A-Rod's favorite words), and thus, I'm going with the Yanks in 6.

Like Alicia Keys and Jay-Z says and will say tonight at the stadium,

LET'S HEAR IT FOR
NEWWWW YORKKKKK!

Top 3 of the Week: Why Halloween Isn't What it Used to Be

1) Oh, Yeah, the Candy
There was a time when the main objective of this holiday was to get AS MUCH CANDY AS POSSIBLE. If Halloween took place on a day during the week, we would race home or to a friend's house in our costumes, only to grab our bags (which later became the much cooler, pillow cases) and stormed our way out in search of hitting up as many houses as possible. My personal favorites--the houses that gave the real-size chocolate candy bars. Least favorite?--bag of pennies (really, people?) And did anyone else empty the candy out at the end and trade with their friends? But as we get older, Halloween is not about the candy at all. Read on.


2) Costumes Serve Different Purpose
Remember the days when dressing like a Teletubby was cool? The only way that's cool for us ladies out there is if you put "Sexy" in front of "Teletubby." The mere thought of a Halloween costume that doesn't make girls look hot defeats the purpose of this very holiday. Halloween is the one time of year when non-skanky girls (and, well, the skanky ones too) can get away with dressing like one. But it's all in good fun, right boys?



3) Where to Go Out?
Just like New Year's, there's always the expectation of having to do something big, and when your activity no longer consists of knocking on your neighbor's doors, one must attend a party, bar or club to fully appreciate the American holiday. And in a place like New York City, there's nothing funnier than seeing a monkey costume chase a banana costume down the streets, or spot a vampire, Cleopatra and Barack Obama costumes on the subway.

Rant of the Week: Sorry--But Looks ARE Important!

What is the purpose of SPAM Mail!

What is spam mail, and why do we get it. Seriously--who is sending this stuff out and what is its purpose?

Maybe I'm ignorant, but I'm so baffled by the idea of spam. I'm sorry, but no, I don't want any weight loss pills, I certainly don't have use for a penis enlarger, I'll gracefully decline my winnings of awarded the sum of £950.000.00 GBP,and I'm sorry that you are stuck in Iraq, but I don't know anyone there, and I am not wiring you any money.

Now I get the idea that companies profit off of selling your email to other companies--but because the content of the spam emails received are so beyond anything that any one of us would ever open and consider, that I just DON'T GET IT!

Top 3 of the Week: Movies I Love That No One Else Does

1) Click
Now I'm not a huge Adam Sandler fan (for every Billy Madison gem there's a Little Nicky flop) but Click somehow seems to capture my interest--mostly because I think the message speaks to all of us workaholics nowadays. Putting all your attention on work forces you to fast foward your life and miss out on what's really important. Ok, maybe there were stupid moments here or there, but because I love the moral of the story, it remains high on my list.

2) Shark Tale
There are a lot of animated movies that have garnered attention for their child-pleasing entertainment and adult-appealing humor--and I think Shark Tale fell off the radar. Maybe it's my odd sense of humor, but between the scenes with the shrimp, the mafia sharks and the financial advising hermit crab, this movie really did crack me up!

3) The First Wives Club
You don't own meeeeee. I must have been a 50-year-old trapped inside a 9-year-old's body when I first saw this movie, but I seriously could watch it over and over again. Maybe its the all-star cast of Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler, or maybe its the empowering feeling that women can get revenge on their scumbag ex's, but this movie really makes me want to jump into the scene at the end and jump on the tables singing with Goldie, Diane and Bette!

Rant of the Week: How Do You Believe Horoscopes?!

I'm Sorry, Kris Allen

Dear Kris Allen,

I would like to send my sincerest apologies to you. Upon what some like myself believed to be a shocking run at the title of "American Idol," I had my doubts that you were worthy, that you could really survive as the artist middle America voted for.


But with your latest hit, "Live Like We're Dying," I feel compelled to owe you an apology. Your tune has a bit of Jason Mraz in it, and if you can continue this trend, you can earn yourself a comparable career.

So when you won and beat the unique Adam Lambert, got passed the feel-good story of Danny Gokey and the talented Alison Iraheta, my expectations were that of gray-haired cooky winner, Taylor Hicks.

But you proved me wrong. Keep up the good work, and best of luck to you,

-Brooke

Top 3 of the Week: Why I I'm Not Sure If I Like Concerts

Now before you proceed, please note that I've been to plenty of great concerts. Green Day put on a stellar show, Adele is flawless live, and even N'Sync entertained back in my teeny bopper days. But because I have the following sentiments, it makes me wonder if I truly enjoy going to concerts like I should.

1) All I Want to Hear Is the Famous Songs

Ok, more times than not, if I splurge on a ticket for a concert, I have to enjoy about 60% of their songs. But regardless, at a venue, all I want to do is hear the famous tune that got me into the artist in the first place, which makes me think I'd have just as much enjoyment playing a song on repeat at home.

2) I Kind of Can't Wait For It to End

A lot of times, I find myself wondering how I'm going to avoid the chaos of leaving a concert, getting through a large crowd, or sitting through an hour of bumper-to-bumper traffic in a parking lot. And if I'm standing on my feet the whole time, well the one thing I can't wait for is to lie down in bed. And what if I'm so far in the back, that I can't even make out their faces on stage? Then I find myself watching the tv screen, thus losing the allure of seeing it live. I know..total Debbie Downer, right?

3) Do They Even Sing Good Live?

Sometimes, I really have to do research on an artist to see if I'm going to get my money's worth when I go to a concert. I can often tell on TV performances that an artist like Duffy (who I loved in concert) can sing great live, while someone like Katy Perry obviously gets some help in the studio. So if I'm not even getting a performance that sounds remotely close to their songs on the radio, then what's the point?

Rant of the Week: Fashion- If It Looks Good--Still Wear It!

Thanks to Chris Morton for the suggestion!

Yankees: Winning It All Comes At A Price

For the first time in what feels like a decade, the Yankees are back in the postseason. (Ok, it wasn't a decade, it was a year, but that's like dog years for the Yanks). What has been a decade is the last time the Yankees won the World Series (2000 to be exact). But now more than ever, the Yankees are primed for a championship, and as a Yankees fan, it worries me a bit.

Why you ask?

Well for the first time since the spending years, you know--the years that the likes of Tino Martinez, Scott Brosius and Paul O'Neill checked out and Jason Giambi, Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Gary Sheffield, and yes, Alex Rodriguez came to town, the Yankees haven't won. So spending millions on talent was irrelevant when a championship never followed. Now, it would be hard for ANY baseball fan to swallow the fact that a championship could be bought so long as your checkbook is big as the Steinbrenners.


This team though, is more than just high-priced stars. The Bronx Bombers have a combination of All-Star talent and good team chemistry. The Yanks invested over $400 million in players including an MVP candidate in Mark Teixeira and a Cy Young candidate in CC Sabathia. But adding guys like Nick Swisher and A.J. Burnett who bring character to the club and pies to the faces of Yankees after walk-off wins, give the Yanks a sense of comradery they've been missing.


So as we embark upon a new year of Yankee postseason baseball, I am more confident than ever this team is deserving of a World Series title. But if it does happen, Yanks fans will hear heat for the first time knowing that their team's payroll is more than double every MLB team. And if the Yanks do bring home a World Series title for the first time since 2000, the Yankees unlimited budget will come into question more than ever.

Top 3 of the Week: Why It Was Depressing to Go Back to Homecoming

1) I Feel Old
Ok, I know its been only a year and a half since I graduated, but my god! There are children going to college now! Did I really look that young when I went to school, I wonder? I feel like I've aged tremendously when I see these young kids roaming around, only to realize they were ME not so long ago!


2) I Barely Recognize Anyone
Nothing was more fun in college than to go out and mingle with people you recognize at this bar or that party. That was the true beauty of going out in Binghamton, where I went to college. If I want to go out to a bar with strangers, it's going to be in New York City with hot guys in their late 20s, not in Binghamton with college boys in their late teens.


3) I Don't Drink Like I'm in College Anymore
And this is a good thing. I was never a crazy wild child when I went out, but every so often I'd let loose and have fun. Considering I hate to let myself get wasted for respectability and safety issues when I'm going out and commuting in NYC, I've lost all desire to pound shots. So going back to my old stopping grounds and being content without having a drink makes me think I've matured, outgrown college, and avoided any potential AA meetings!

Reading Books for Leisure: Thanks, But No Thanks

For most people, reading books is a leisurely activity. Take it with you on a vacation, curl up on the couch, or snuggle up under the covers before bedtime. For me, I can't seem to find the enjoyment in reading novels. And mind you, I majored in marketing...AND English in college. Eek.

I think the problem I have with books is that I was forever conditioned to be tested on what I've read through years of schooling. Hence, it was never just for pleasure. And any book I read outside of school always felt like it was taking away time from my studies (I'm nerdy, I know.)

My feeling is if I'm going to read a book, it SHOULD be educational, not just nonsense. Instead of reading "The Time Traveler's Wife," I should be reading a book on "How To Get Ahead in Life." Instead of reading "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" I should be reading "The Divine Secrets of How to Invest Your Money."

Books do have its purpose in life, but if I want some mindless reading, I'll grab a magazine like People or Entertainment Weekly. If I'm going to sit down and read it book, it better give me some insight on life!