It is really a sad commentary involving St. Louis Cardinal baseball when you lose two of three games to the perennially pathetic Pittsburgh Pirates and the first contest against the Strasburg-less Washington Nationals in the heat of an agonizingly tight pennant race. But that is what the Redbirds did. After dwindling the Cincinatti Reds' Central Division lead back down to 2 1/2 games the Cardinals underachieved again.

Even though the Nationals and the Pirates have absolutely nothing to play for the rest of the summer besides pride and better draft pick slot in 2011. They handed the confusing club from St. Louis three humiliating losses in a row. Three losses that truly define this maddening season. Three crucial defeats that may signal the beginning of the end for this talent rich squad.

After Friday nights loss to the Washington Nationals in extra innings the St. Louis Post Dispatch's front page Cardinal coverage honored Albert Pujol's 400th moonshot of his fabulous career. Making El Hombre the 3 youngest player to accomplish that milestone in the history of the game behind only sure fire Hall of Famers Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. It eerily reminded me of the summer of 1998 when Mark McGwire entertained the city by swatting 70 home runs, allowing winning baseball games to take a backseat while the long ball road shotgun. I am in no way comparing Pujol's seemingly performance enhancing free accomplishments to Big Mac and the cloud of steroid abuse that forever will follow him. I am suggesting that, while 400 homers was a feat worth mentioning in the sports section, shouldn't the front page have lead with a more appropriate headline. Maybe a headline mentioning the devastating loss just suffered in extra innings pushing the Birds back in the standing to 4 games out?

I am not intentionally knocking the Post, I have read it and respected it religiously for almost 30 years. It is just a bit disturbing putting an individuals achievements ahead of what was a very crucial loss during a very crucial time. If we were 12 out and the season was a complete loss than it could be justified, but not while the home team is in the middle of its most serious pennant race in over a decade. Not while the Reds are cruising like a disturbing Iranian missile and we are falling faster than the stock market.

What is the reason this baseball team has been riddled with sloppy play and inconsistency? Poor fielding and even poorer base running. Mediocre relief pitching and some of the absolute worst RISP hitting. Steven Hawking would have a better chance at driving in a runner in scoring position than some of the Cardinals. And not because he drives a wheel chair and talks in a cool robotic computer simulated voice either. I know that should not be funny, but neither is this completely frustrating season!

Who is to be held accountable for this developing debacle. The obvious answer is Tony LaRussa. And he rightfully should shoulder a great deal of the blame. For it is also he who basks in the adoration of adoring fans and the throngs of media that label him genius and put him on a pedestal for team accomplishments. Though I am not a rabid supporter of Tony's, he has helped guide St. Louis teams to unprecedented success over these last 14 seasons. Some may argue that the surplus of talent on the field that he has always possessed allowed for his success, but either way he has continued to add to the glorious tradition and rich history of Cardinal baseball. That cannot be argued.

What is currently at issue here is the core talent that this particular squad boasts. St. Louis rosters two of the elite starting pitchers in all of Major League baseball in Cris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. They also have arguably the best rookie starting pitcher in Jaime Garcia. On the offensive side of the diamond there's Ryan Ludwick, oh no that's right, we traded him for Jake Westbrook, a savior, I mean pitcher who has performed admirably, but is a disappointing 1-4. Matt Holliday is a top 20 hitting outfielder, or at least he is getting paid like one and of course there is Albert Pujols. Hands down the very best that baseball has to offer. Yet with all of this weaponry we cannot compete against the Pirates and Nationals in the thick of a division race?How is this possible? It reminds me of the Oakland Athletic team of 1990 that LaRussa captained. It too was loaded with both pitching depth and a feared power laden roster. Though that team did make the World Series, they somehow were swept by the inferior National League representative Cincinnati Reds 4-0! Same as the 2004 Cardinal team did against the Boston Red Sox. The nation chalked that up to destiny and Curt Schilings Superman act, but realists knew better. LaRussa has a reputation for choking in the big games. It just seems like he has started to do it a bit earlier this season. Pinch hitting pitchers in the clean up spot and changing his line up more than John Kerry changes his mind.

After tonight's 4-2 victory in Washington the Redbirds were still treading water as the Reds were also winners keeping St.Louis at bay. Thankfully there is a wild card possibility too. The Cards are nipping at the heels of the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Fransisco Giants as they limp into September.

As an eternal pessimist I fear that this season may be lost, but it is not over yet. There are plenty of games remaining on a daunting schedule in which the Cardinals will have played 44 games in 45 days dating back to August 20th. The final 31 without an off day. With marquee match ups against the Division leading and suddenly despised Reds on Labor Day weekend at home and another tough four game series against the currently first place Braves in Atlanta. Wow! That will test this troubled team allowing the fans to see what type of character it has. Because what a tragedy it would be if Albert Pujols wins the Triple Crown, but is golfing in October instead of playing in front of standing room only crowds in Busch Stadium.

So before you fold up your tents, pack away your Cardinal hoodies and wait for the NFL season to start, let's watch this exhausting race to the finish with an open mind. And remember at least we aren't playing for a better draft pick spot.

Witnessing Greatness

By: Chris Kalna August 17th, 2010

(Cue Jeopardy music now.) Answer; Michael Jordan, Jerry Rice and Wayne Gretzky. Question; Who are the three most dominating athletes of basketball, football and hockey history? I know you are asking yourself what does this have to do with Cardinal baseball. Well each one of the athletes mentioned above have completely dominated their sport during their era. And almost without consideration or second thought each of these professionals are considered the very best to play their particular sport.

Just hearing there names forces you to envision greatness. During the 1980's and 1990's these three mega stars of their respected sports wooed and wowed us with their grace and athletic superiority like no others had before or since. All three were ultra competitive and shared a drive for perfection that is unfathomable.

Whether it was Wayne Gretzky coasting through defenders like a figure skater and putting the puck into the back of the net. Jerry Rice running a route across the middle while catching the football in stride by his fingertips to score a touchdown or Michael Jordan lifting off from the free throw line, suspended above the court before viciously slamming the ball through the net, we knew that we were witnessing greatness.

I look back on those moments and recall just how much I miss them. How much I would give to see one of those great players suit up for just one more game in their prime. It is natural for people to take things for granted. Those three athletes were so very dominant that it seemed as if they would even be victorious against Mother Nature and play forever. Of course life's clock eventually runs out on everyone and you look up and poof they are gone. No more one time slap shots, no more juggling catches and no more last second buzzer beaters. Left with only memories and the feeling that someone had just died instead of retired a multi-millionaire. We ache for their greatness and pine for the next model of perfection.

St. Louis Cardinal baseball fans need not look any further than on the lush green grasses of Busch Stadium. There they will find #5, Albert Pujols. It is there that they will find true greatness.

Pujols hit his 30th home run of this season on Sunday becoming the ONLY player in the entire history of America's pastime to do so in his first 10 seasons. But that is not what makes Albert great. His greatness is his consistency. In what some experts claim to be the most difficult thing in sport, hitting a baseball, Pujols has made it look remarkably easy. The numbers that he has compiled through his first 10 seasons is nothing short of astounding.

If you were to average out his career stats into a 162 game season they would be as follows. 123 runs scored, 42 homers, 128 RBI's and a .332 batting mark. His very worst season in each category is still monstrous by any era's standards. In 2002, his second season he "only" hit .314 and in 2007 he compiled only 99 runs, 32 homers and 103 RBI's. That's Albert's worst statistical line all years combined. The only thing more amazing than that, is that he is under appreciated. His statistical body of work is unparralled by any one player in modern baseball. Yet if his average hovers around .300 or he goes 60 ab's without a home run, even Cardinal fans scrutinize this national baseball treasure that we have the honor of witnessing.

St. Louis had the opportunity to see defensive greatness for over 15 seasons in shortstop Ozzie Smith. He made fielding an art form. To become that good at his craft, Ozzie practiced for endless hours up until he retired. That is what made him what he was while winning 13 straight Gold Gloves. I can't speak for anyone, but myself, but I took that wizardry for granted. And I sorely miss his defensive greatness and would give anything to watch him dive deep into the hole, spring up and throw one more runner out. Wouldn't you? Well let's not ever feel that way about Albert. Realize what we have and cling to it desperately.

I once heard a quote by the late legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi, this is not verbatim. He gathered his new football team, the Green Bay Packers, that had been swimming in mediocrity for years and told them. "We are are here to win. To do so we will strive for perfection. We will never reach it, but along the way we will attain excellence." That is what we are watching, excellence, each time Pujols slips that Cardinal uniform over his impressive frame. Obviously time will take it's toll on #5 just like all superstars of sport before him, but do not allow yourself to take him for granted. Enjoy this time because the moment will not last and someday Cooperstown will be calling. Then you will beg for just one more at bat, just one more clutch hit, because one day, poof, he'll be gone.

A Return to Glory?

Just 12 summers ago San Diego Chargers safety Rodney Harrison changed the fate of an organization, a city and two men's lives forever. Heading into the 1999 NFL season, the St. Louis Rams had a good chance to become the worst franchise of that decade. They had assembled a 45 and 99 record and had been 22-45 since relocating from Los Angeles in 1995. Only the Bengals of Cincinnati rivaled their futility throughout the 90's carrying the baggage of a 48 and 96 win/loss mark. But hope was on the horizon in St. Louis as hometown quarterback Trent Green held the reigns of the suddenly renewed Rams. In 32 pass attempts during the '98 pre-season he had completed an amazing 28 of them. With All Pro wide receiver Isaac Bruce in his prime and newly acquired running back Marshal Faulk ready to bring some notoriety to the organization and end a lifetime of gridiron suffering for many fans of St. Louis football.

And then CRACK, Trent Green's left knee was mangled like a trailer after a springtime tornado tore through its park. The twister being Harrison who had came crashing into the left knee of Green, ending his season, while crushing the hearts and hopes of an entire city. Though then Ram coach Dick Vermeil assured everyone that the team would be just fine, using phrases such as "rally around" and "confidence." his tears told us the true story and his heavy heart spoke volumes.

After finishing the '08 season 4-12 St. Louis and its PSL owners would have been thrilled with a competitive squad in '09 that would possibly finish above .500 for the first time since arriving from So-Cal. Enter Kurt Warner. An unknown ex-grocery store shelf stocker and Arena League chucker. The rest is history as Warner went on to throw for 4,353 yards and 41 TD's leading the Rams to Super Bowl glory and leaving the poor Bengals as the losingest NFL team of the 90's.

Now the next potential savior of St. Louis has slipped his #8 jersey over his impressive frame and has the weight of the world on his broad shoulders. While thousands wait to see if Sam Bradford, 50 million dollars richer is the next Peyton Manning or the next Ryan Leaf. Only time will tell the true story, for adjusting to life in the NFL at the most cerebral and challenging position in all of football has been a struggle for many of the games brightest stars.

Troy Aikman, former Dallas Cowboy Hall of Fame quarterback can attest to the obstacles that a talented young first round draft pick will have to hurdle. Dallas drafted Aikman out of UCLA first overall in the 1989 NFL draft. Zero wins and 11 losses later, a concussed Aikman was left to watch the rest of his season from the sidelines as his new team finished the year 1-15. The Cowboy captain who eventually would lead America's Team to 3 Super Bowls in the decade ahead experienced a very brutal NFL education early in his storied career. To match his dismal starting record of 0-11 Aikman threw for 1,749 yards and just 9 touchdowns while heaving up 18 interceptions. His completion percent of 52.9% was horrible and his Quarterback rating of 55.7 that year was equally dreadful. The next year, 1990 he did not show much of an improvement either as he tossed 11 TD's, another 18 int's while compiling a completion percentage of only 56.6% with his QB rating a lowly 66.6. Although the following season he showed marked advancement he still flung up almost as many ints, 10, as TD's, 11. But his completion percentage rose dramatically to 65.3%. Then, after being surrounded with an awesome offensive line and Hall of Fame offensive weapons, Troy flourished and guided his team to a 13-3 regular season record in 1992 and a 52-17 Super Bowl victory over the Buffalo Bills while also being named the MVP of the game.

Patience is a virtue. Just ask John Elway the first round and first overall pick of the epic 1983 quarterback heavy draft. Drafted out of Stanford by the Baltimore Colts, Elway refused to play for that franchise and ended up in Denver bringing success to a floundering organization. But only after a slow start. His first season with the Broncos he navigated the team to a 4-6 record, compiling stats that could embarrass even JaMarcus Russell. He threw the ball at a 47.5% clip, tossed 14 int's and reached his targets in the endzone only 7 times compiling 1,663 yards in passing. Though several seasons later he would guide the Denver blue and orange to 3 Super Bowl appearances he never could win the big game. Atleast not until he was surrounded by the right talent. Like Kurt Warner and Troy Aikman, Elway flourished once Denver rostered true talent. Terrell Davis, one of only a handful of running backs to ever rush for over 2,000 yards in a season drew plenty of attention allowing #7 to exercise his strong arm while winning back to back titles. Along with Davis, Elway had two spectacular threats at pass catching positions. Shannon Sharpe, arguably one of the greatest tight ends ever and Rod Smith an All Pro receiver provided excellent targets for the aging Elway. Retiring after his 2nd Super Bowl party in '98, Elway entered the Hall in Canton five years later.

Maybe the worst freshman campaign of any Hall of Fame quarterback belongs to Pittsburgh Steeler great, Terry Bradshaw, another first overall selection of the 1970 draft. During that season Bradshaw hit only 38.1% of his intended targets and apparently the other 61.9% of those wounded ducks landed in the oppositions mits because he heaved up 24 interceptions to go with just 1,410 yards passing. The eventual 4 time Super Bowl Trophy hoister did not become a champion overnight. As soon as the Steelers began enveloping Bradshaw in talent, the Pittsburgh franchise became the dynasty of the 1970's. Lynn Swann, John Stalworth, Franco Harris and Rocky Blier on offense helped usher Terry Bradshaw along and develop him into a championship caliber quarterback.

On the other side of the coin you have a few QB's who have defied logic and had productive Rookie season's. Dan Marino, who also came out of the '83 draft and piloted the Dolphins to many winning seasons did not start his football career slowly. He hit the ground running and had a 7-2 record in 9 games started, passing for an impressive 20 td's and only 6 int's. Marino's qb rating for his first 11 contests was a remarkable 96 and his completion percentage was 58.4% Though he only went to one Super Bowl, losing handily to the San Fransisco 49ers, Dan Marino is still considered in some circles as the best qb to ever fling the pigskin around a stadium. The '84 schedule, Marino's first full season, seemed to be a breeze for the qb and his Dolphins, as they went 14-2. He completed 64.2% of his passes and tallied 5,084 yards through the air! His qb rating was 108.9 because he tossed 48 touchdowns, a record then, to only 17 ints. But the athletes that made up that exciting young team of '84 were as equally responsible for such success. Marino's number one wide receiver, Mark Clayton received 73 of his qb's passes that season equalling 1,389 yards while hauling in 18 td's! On the opposite side of the field the other wideout, Mark Duper exploited defenses league wide with 1,306 yards and added 8 TD's in addition.

Very comparable to Marino's fast maturation process, Peyton Manning, 1998, first overall draft pick out of Tennessee excelled early and often in his career shedding an early light on his long term future. Although Manning's Colts went only 3-13 during Peyton's rookie debut season, he still managed to throw for 3,739 yards and 26 TD's, but flung 28 ints too. In 1999, his second season in the NFL, Peyton made giant leaps forward. Manning passed for 4,135 yards, 26 scores to 15 int's, while witnessing his QB rating soar up to 90.2 from 71.2. Again though, Manning's success can easily be traced to the talent that he played along side. His Colts had a ridiculously fast wide receiver in Marvin Harrison racking up 1,663 yards and 12 td's. To coincide with that unreal passing attack, the Colts had another weapon in running back Edgerrin James who totaled 1,553 yards rushing, scoring 12 different times.

Are you sensing a pattern yet? An NFL team can have a good quarterback, but without surrounding talent, they will be mediocre at best. So investing a possible 80 million dollars in to Bradford's shoulder, the Rams must exercise patience with this young man and realize that success may not come in 2010. So too should the fans. Let him learn on the fly, by trial and error and maybe soon this franchise will see the light again.

So when you experience frustration during the upcoming Sunday's just remember what happened to the Bradshaw's and Aikman's of early draft pick fame. But also recall that these qb legends have plaques in Canton, Ohio to make up for their early career struggles.

So in summation, let's remember that the NFL draft is a crap shoot, and resembles more a box of chocolates, than an exact science. And like Forrest Gump once said, "You never know what you're gonna get." So please remember to exercise patience while waiting eagerly for this franchise to finally turn the corner and umbrella Bradford with the talent that he deserves to play with for years to come. And maybe St. Louis will witness a return to glory.
Chris Kalna
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Traitor Talk

The San Diego Padres are the new beneficiaries of one of baseball's hidden gems. In a trade that seems less popular than Sarah Palin at a PETA fund raising event. The St. Louis Cardinal traded one of their more consistent offensive players, Ryan Ludwick, for a pitcher who is about as exciting as drawing up your own will.

In what was a three team trade between the Padres, Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis is now the tepid owner of 32 year old right handed hurler Jake Westbrook. A 10 year veteran and a career sub .500 sinker ball pitcher. Get out the champagne, so that I can drink enough to forget this trade!

Westbrook, the former Cleveland Indian has been the definition of mediocrity most every year that he has pitched in the big leagues. He is 69-71 lifetime with a 4.34 E.R.A. He is not a strikeout pitcher to put it mildly. Although he does devour innings, the most K's he has ever totaled in one season was 116 after eating up 215.2 innings in 2004, his best year in the majors. That season he had a 3.83 earned run average and a respectable 14-9 record. This year he is 6-7 with a 4.65 E.R.A. in 127.2 innings pitched while fanning just 73 batters. Unspectacular to say the least. Wait, it gets better. Cy Westbrook, I mean Jake is just two seasons removed from having Tommy John surgery causing him to miss the entire 2009 campaign.

Having to part with Ryan Ludwick to acquire Mr. Mediocrity is very disappointing. Ludwick's bat has generated some clutch hits during the last 3 1/2 seasons and his approach to the game was that of dedication and professionalism. Watching #47 play you just knew that he was always giving 100% both at the plate and in the field.

After scoring just 1 run in 18 innings before Saturday's mauling of pathetic Pittsburgh and being shut out 4-0 by a struggling New York Met team for the 10th time this season, was giving up our 3rd best offensive player the right move? The former All Star's career averages are not average at all. If you took his lifetime stats and averaged them out into a 162 game season his totals would be as follows. 80 runs scored, 27 home runs, 96 RBI's and a .272 average. Comparable if not surpassing some of baseball's better rightfielders. Philadelphia Phillies Jayson Werth, one of the brightest new stars in the National League averages 87 runs annually, 24 hr's, 85 RBI's and a .269 batting mark. Another All Star in Los Angeles, Dodger rightfielder Matt Kemp tallies 93 runs, 22 homers, 85 RBI's and a .292 clip. And the Indian's talented Shin Sin-Choo who patrols right field in Cleveland has similar stats for his career averages. Batting .295 while crossing the plate 94 times a season, with 20 round trippers and 91 ribbies. Ludwick averages more RBI's and home runs then all three of these elite All Star outfielders and would probably have even more inflated numbers if Cardinal manager Tony LaRussa would have played him more consistently. In Ludwicks only full season in which he had 617 plate appearances he hit .299, scored 104 times clubbed 40 doubles, 37 dingers and drove in 113 runs. That is what we just traded away to get Jake Westbrook?

During the 2008 and 2009 seasons combined Matt Holliday, the Cardinals overpaid leftfielder has 201 runs scored, 49 home runs and 197 runs batted in. Ludwick during that same time scored 167 runs, hit 59 round trippers and drove in an impressive 210 runs. Again you must factor in the idea that if LaRussa would have started Ludwick more consistently during his overlooked and under appreciated time here in town those stats would have been even greater.

I just don't understand the logic behind a move like this. The excuse of "well we had to get something for Ludwick before the organization would be unable to sign him after this season and we would get nothing for him."To me that does not justify this lopsided swap. In this intance I believe that nothing was a better option than this something! Westbrook is another average junk ball starting pitcher that may eat up a few extra innings at best. Definitely not the difference maker that the Cardinals were wanting to acquire this summer. We gave up too much offense for a back of the rotation starter. Hoping that Yoda Duncan might be able to pull out one more miracle from his reclamation project hat.

I feel that not only was Ryan Ludwick cheated by not being able to continue to play for this great city, but I believe that the fans are hurt even more so. There has been rumors that LaRussa and Ludwick did not always see eye to eye. Big surprise there, huh? Not to the degree of the Scott Rolen incident in 2006, but there was a supposed underlying tension between these two men. Stemming from Ludwick's inconsistent playing time, the player suggested in 2009 that he deserved more of an opportunity, and in the United States of LaRussa that is a giant mistake. Unless you are a homeless Calico cat or an orphaned Dalmation you are not immune to Tony's wrath. Hell hath no fury like a Tony scorned. Ask Ozzie Smith, Jim Edmonds, Kerry Robinson and Scott Rolen.

Hopefully this deal was not the product of pride or I would have to liken LaRussa to Benedict Arnold. The infamous Revolutionary war General. Because there is a good chance that we may have to face the San Diego Padres in October. If Old Abner has anything to say about Cardinal fate, I am certain that the competitive Ludwick would relish the opportunity to pay back his ex-manager, who in my opinion was the catalyst for this deal getting finished. And if that happens, LaRussa like the traitor Benedict Arnold, should consider putting on another uniform.

Chris Kalna--August 1, 2010

Queer Eye for No Guy

The dictionary's first definition of the word gay is; lighthearted and carefree, characterized by cheerfulness or pleasure. The secondary description of that word is homosexual. Intended for or used by homosexuals. Am I crazy or shouldn't that be changed? In the world that we are currently residing in should not Webster's define the term gay as homosexual first then lighthearted and carefree? Because that is what we are constantly inundated with on network television and in theaters.

Long ago network television would not even allow a man and woman to be shown beneath the covers together in bed. Today you see both men and women not only in bed, but even kissing. In today's society everything is excepted. It is 'a whatever feels good' now mentality and NO ONE is held accountable for ANYTHING!

In the last 60 years our society has taken many giant leaps forward. From racial equality to major technology. Yet our morals have quietly disappeared. This country was built upon a foundation of family values and Christianity. Now neither of these core institutions are anywhere near the top of today's American agenda.

Just 12 years ago I did not have a cell phone. Now, I am not exaggerating when I say that I do not believe I could live with out one. What a truly sad commentary this is. An average middle income family is considered lower class if they do not have a babysitting DVD player in their high tech mini-vans! It is disgusting! iPads and iPhones are as important to us today as eyeballs!

My grandparents spent their golden years living in a trailer inside the confines of a trailer park. Even though my grandfather was a lifelong carpenter he felt that it made sense financially to rent during his last few innings of life, saving his money for necessities. In today's superficial, I am better than you world, it is frowned upon to disgrace one self if your home does not sit two stories high and does not bankrupt you. What is even funnier are the people who do live in the lower class trailer parks. The ones that have a satellite on top of their rectangular kingdom, while a $40k SUV sits parked outside of the pad right next to the ski boat that these freakin' hoosiers take to the river every weekend. This is America, where freedom does and should come first, but at what cost?

Most things socially have gone to Hell in a handbasket today. It may have started as early as Woodstock, but I believe it began more recently with a 1994 episode of Rosanne. It shocked network television and nothing has been the same since!

Rosanne's friend Nancy, an open lesbian, had a girlfriend, played by actress Mariel Hemingway, who kissed the rotund funny woman during prime time television! Since then it seems as if most everything is socially accepted. Now there are show's named "Queer as Folk" and "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy!" Will and Grace, Rosie O'Donnel, Ellen Degeneres and even the Simpsons have resorted to pushing the GAY agenda upon Anytown U.S.A. Even though only ultra liberal cities can really relate to and appreciate all of the same sex propaganda on television today.

There was a time long ago when divorce was unacceptable, much less gay divorce. Now not only is divorce ok, but multiple divorce is common practice. It used to be shameful to fail in marriage. Now it is sometimes actually celebrated with divorce parties!

This is not what George Washington and our founding father's had in mind! Do you think that when Patrick Henry coined that infanmous phrase "Give me Liberty or give me death" that he really meant give me liberty or give me gay marriage? Do you think he meant give me liberty or give me free shit? I can't smoke a cigarette in a bar, but two guys can copulate in wedded bliss anywhere from Iowa to Massachuaetts? Good thing Ray Charles was blind when he sang "America the Beautiful" because he sure wouldn't want to see two guys having a tongue war, while true Americans fight a real war just so they can wed!

Long ago it was unheard of to have a kid out of wedlock. Today fetuses can be ripped from the woom just weeks away from birth! The President of our United States believes in just that. He once said that he would one day teach his daughters right from wrong when it came to the birds and the bees, but if they made a "mistake" they did not have to suffer with it! A mistake? Suffer? If only his mother would have thought him to be a mistake! Maybe our country would be on a better path.

That the United States still stands today is a minor miracle. Everything is geared towards eliminating God from most everything. Our pledge of Allegiance has been under attack for years and if you do not believe in separation of church and state, than YOU are the radical!

We as a nation have lost touch with what once made this country the blueprint for the rest of the globe. I can not speak for the majority, only my insignificant self, but when I was a young boy I thought that the Dad was supposed to work, Mom took care of the kids and the word crap was a mortal sin.

Presently teenage girls are blowing more boys than bubble yum bubbles and having more babies than a middle eastern bomber has virgins. Adolescents today know more about sex than I do at age 35!. Why shouldn't they? With double income families being both the norm and the only way to survive because of the luxuries that we deem necessary, parents do not raise children anymore. Daycare's and nannies do! Complete strangers influence our children's future everyday! They mold our youth! The unfiltered education one's untudored and untrained child receives from the Internet and multi-media sources will one day bring our spoiled culture to its deserving knees and soon.

We live in a world where the victim is no longer the victim and the criminal is the protected one. We have people suing restaurants because the coffee was too hot and they win millions, yet if a woman is raped it is her responsibility to prove that she did not deserve it! Hell, you have to do a broad search just to see if a child molester is your neighbor! Yet the ACLU still believes that we should separate church from state? The only argument for that is because we have Priests as pedophiles and alter boys forever altered!

Just the other day I read an article where 7 or 8 homosexual Lutheran Ministers in the disgusting city of San Fransisco were allowed to be pastors! WHAT? Seriously? How is that possible? I have absolutely no problem with two people in the privacy of their home being GAY! Two women making love, two men, yuck, Hell I don't give a damn if you want to screw a beagle and a chicken at the same time. Just don't push your agenda down my throat. NO PUN INTENDED. But having thy audacity to cloak thy religion under the cloud of cum that they stand by while they preach to millions makes me sick and the Lord our Shepherd is going to make us pay! Us? Yes us! Because we do nothing to end the madness. To change the plight of this once proud nation UNDER GOD!

This country has lost its way. The current administration is not to blame, but they are doing everything that they can to further that secular progressive CHANGE that is the liberal movement!

To me it is compelling to watch the steady decline of our society. Eroding slowly before our eyes and iPhones. In the last decade popular television shows such as Seinfeld, Friends, The Office, Entourage and even the macho Sopranos all felt it necessary to cram their queer itineraries upon the American public. So the next time you go to purchase that lap top, dvd or big screen plasma, realize that on them you will be watching the straw that BROKEBACK America's purple MOUNTAIN's majesty above the FRUITED plain!

You want change? Well then change your damned address. Get the Hell out of my country! The only great country still standing, before you bring us all down with you!

Chris Kalna (R)

T.O. Idea KO'd

By Chris Kalna - -July 26th, 2010

Terrell Owens has been an enigma. His career numbers are worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. His career antics are worthy of raised eyebrows. Guilty of being as talented and physically gifted as any wide receiver of his era, yet at the same time being as frustrating and disrupting as any wideout of his generation. A generation that has embraced the "give me the damn ball" persona that fellow wide reciever Keyshawn Johnson created while playing for the New York Jets early in his career.

The position of wide receiver in the National Football League is a demanding one. Requiring its best athletes to possess an air of supreme confidence on the field and apparently off of it as well. Lately the behavior of many of the NFL's premier wide receivers of today has been self serving, irresponsible and narcissistic. Brandon Marshal, Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco, Carolina's Steve Smith, Vincent Jackson, Santonio Holmes, Mike Sims-Walker, Michael Crabtree, Plaxico Burress, Donte Stallworth, Matt Jones, the late Chris Henry, Anquan Boldin, and T.O. all have made some serious headlines over the last several years. Disturbing actions ranging from shooting themselves accidentally, to vehicular manslaughter. Changing their last name, to admittedly not playing hard on every down. This is the baggage that comes with today's primma donna wide receiver.

It should not come as a complete surprise though. Peter Gent an ex-Dallas Cowboy wide receiver known more for his famous book "North Dallas Forty" than catching passes was a pioneer in trouble making. The book which was successfully adapted into a popular motion picture during the 70's shocked the NFL and its fan base. His dirty fiction tell all was basically a biography on America's Team, the Cowboys of the late 1960's and early 1970's exposing the outlandish actions of the world's most popular franchise.

Another ex-Cowboy wide out Butch Johnson was one of the first inventor's of the post touchdown celebration. After scoring he would emulate an old gunfighter by pulling out both fingers and blowing on them as if they were smoking six shooters. Andre Rison of Atlanta Falcon fame had plenty of trouble. Not only getting into one of the ugliest on field dust ups with cornerback Deion Sanders but also having his house burnt down by his wife,"Left Eye," a singer from a once popular female hip-hop group. So today's wide receivers are just following in the footsteps of their NFL ancestry. Along with over the top media coverage just adding fuel to an already raging inferno of inflated ego's, this behavior only seems to be multiplied and magnified to fit perfectly onto our flat screens and lap tops.

The athlete of today has an appetite for attention. They crave it, they need it and some would almost die without it. We as fans feed there self absorbed and self obsessed cries for love with applause and vindicate their insecurities just because they can run the 40 in 4.3 and jump higher off of the ground than most of us can off of a trampoline.

Having stated all of this I still think the Rams should have signed Terrel Owens. He has accumulated 14, 951 receiving yards while hauling in 144 touchdowns, 61 of those for 40 or more yards! He is a physical freak of nature, with the build of 20 something still much in his prime. He may have lost a step, but his swagger and big play ability still surpasses anything the Rams will roster this autumn.

His age should not be a factor as other older wideouts have proven in the past. Rod Smith of the Denver Broncos and an alum of Missouri Southern State caught 6 touchdowns and totaled 1,105 yards as a 36 year old. Jerry Rice tallied 1,157 yards and 9 TD's at the same age and All Pro Derrick Mason racked up 1,037 receiving yards at age 34 being targeted by a rookie quarterback named Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens. To compare Donnie Avery last season led the Rams charge with 589 yards receiving and hit pay dirt just 5 times.

Media question T.O.'s drive and determination. They question his motives for still wanting to suit up in an NFL jersey at age 36. Well I will tell you why he still wants to play the brutal game that is American football. It is because he has a competitive desire to still win a championship. That is the one thing that his re'sume' lacks. A Super Bowl ring. He has been to one with Philadelphia, playing that game with an injury that was not fully healed while Donovan McNabb ran out of gas while losing to Tom Brady and New England. His 49er teams never made it and Tony Romo's Cowboy's have always seemed to be next years champs.

Now after a non eventful season playing in Buffalo, where the Bills had fired their offensive coordinator just weeks before the seasons kickoff resulting in a horrible offense. Terrell Owens, aging superstar, needs a home. A home that may not offer him a chance at a ring, but a chance at something maybe even more fulfilling. A chance to instill a winning attitude with a little swagger. A home where he can mold our young receivers into well rounded versatile wideouts. Sure he's 36 and his once crisp routes may take a little longer to develop, but with age comes wisdom.

To me it is about putting the most talented team on the field come September. NFL teams are not supposed to play for draft picks. No matter what his past consists of we should not turn a blind eye toward the numbers that he has put up. Those career statistics are not an accident. They were a direct result of natural talent, hard work and a determination that most pedestrians cannot fathom.

So as St. Louis fans anticipate the start of another disappointing gridiron season, they can look forward to their Rams trotting out on to the field pass catching stalwarts such as Donnie Avery, Danny Amendola and Keenan Burton instead of a potential Hall of Fame superstar. A superstar that may have required enough attention from defenses to allow Steven Jackson some breathing room to run and a big enough target for a rookie quarterback to find downfield before being driven to the turf exposing that vulnerable million dollar shoulder.

Now please excuse me a moment while I put the popcorn away.

Chris Kalna -- July 26th, 2010

Gooseggs and Goochers

By; Chris Kalna July 25, 2010

In the late 1980's a movie came out in theaters called "Stand By Me." It was a coming of age movie involving four teenage boys who take a journey across their rural county to look for a dead boy who was missing that had been hit by a train. It was set in the 1950's when times were still simple and listening to the radio was a genuine treat with mailbox baseball being the recreation of choice for any misguided teen with a driver's license. Money was scarce and having little the four boys pooled all of their change together while in route to Ray Brower's dead body to purchase some snacks at a five and dime. To reach the store however you had to trespass through an old junk yard which was guarded by an infamously fierce dog named Chopper. No one wanted to have to hear the dreaded phrase, "CHOPPER, SICK BALLS!" So to decide who had to get the food they chose to flip coins and whoever was the odd man out would have to try and avoid the vicious canine. After flipping the coins all four pieces of currency landed tails up meaning that it was a GOOCHER! To Vern, the husky one that could only mean one thing, doom. Sure it was a silly superstition, but most baseball players have them. Whether it is something as minute as not stepping on the foul line while heading back to the dugout or as extreme as sacrificing a live chicken to regain one's hitting stroke, like in the movie "Bull Durham," most baseball players exercise some form of superstition.

Apparently the Cardinals have had a few Goocher's this season. What else can explain their bouts of offensive anemia. Just after the All Star game, 98 games into the 2010 campaign the Cardinals have been shut out 9 times already. With 64 games remaining they are on pace to lay 16 gooseggs. Compare that with last years Central Division Champions who were the victim's of only 10 shut outs all season long. Referencing this statistic from a historical perspective does not bode well for this team's aspirations of reaching their 18th World Series appearance.

Going back to the Redbirds championship team of 1982, no Cardinal fall classic participant had been shut out more than 8 times in an entire season. The '82 team was blanked 6 times, the exciting track team of '85, 7 and the 1987 club was skunked on just 4 occasions. During this decade the 2004 National League Champs put up just 4 zeroes in 162 contests, the 105 win underachieving club of '05 had 6 and the overachieving 2006 World Series winners had only been shut out 8 times during their unlikely run in to October.

So how can a team with Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, Ryan Ludwick and Colby Rasmus put up this many ovals? And why is it our first priority before the much anticipated trade deadline to acquire an arm before another productive bat?

If our potentially potent offense could contribute as well as our sharp pitching has thus far this team would be many games up instead of running neck and neck with the scrappy Cincinnati Reds for the Division lead. The power laden line up of St. Louis has scored 2 runs or fewer in 31 games. They have tallied 1 run in 12 different games, 2 runs in ten and like I mentioned before, they have been goosegged 9 times. During the 31 games in which the Birds have crossed the plate 2 or fewer times our pitchers have given the offense plenty to work with allowing 3 or fewer runs in 15 of those contests. Our overall record is 3-28 when we score 2 runs or less. Which would be acceptable if our pitching was as porous as the Cardinals lack of timely hitting. The Cards pitching has kept us afloat this season. 22 times this year has our muscle bound offense scored one run or less and yet our moundsman have kept up their end of the bargain by allowing only two or fewer runs to score in 11 of those games, yet they have only one win and 21 defeats to show for it. That is too many high quality starts gone wasted.

Imagine if this team could have capitalized on just over 50% of those 15 pitching gems and won 8 of those very winnable games. We would be 26 games over .500, 3 1/2 games out in front of the Reds and be tied for the best winning percentage in baseball with the New York Yankees.

That is why we need more offense before mortgaging our future away on a soon to be 33 year old pitcher in Roy Oswalt. A win now attitude is great, but if it means giving up too much for the future of this franchise is it worth it? Not in my humble opinion. The obvious concern to me is taking on Oswalt's contract might paint the Cardinals into a financial corner when Albert's contract talks begin again. Sometimes no move is the best move. I truly believe that this Cardinal team has had some bad breaks and the offense will become more consistent and productive as the dog days of August approach.

Sure it sounds like an unstoppable rotation throwing Cris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Roy Oswalt at the competition the rest of the way, but no amount of pitching will help us out of a short post season series against high quality starting pitching if our offensive struggles continue. Plus Rookie of the Year candidate Jaime Garcia's 9-4 record with a 2.21 e.r.a. is nothing to sneeze at. He is the only R.O.Y. we need.

So before this organization rushes to judgement and jeopardises the franchises future by trading for Dan Haren, whom we let go of in the first place or an over the hill Oswalt whose best years are behind him. Just remember those Whitey Herzog teams of the 8o's and even our recent championship squad of '06 when we overachieved and did more with less.

This team is stacked with talent. So let them play. I read recently in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch where Whitey was quoted as saying he would let his players play for 6 innings and if they were behind after that the game was his to win or lose. Well I believe Mr. LaRussa should do just that and take a page from the soon to be inducted Hall of Famer. Stick with a certain line up and just let' em play! No more benching Colby Rasmus for Randy Winn, benching Ryan Ludwick for no reason, and flipping middle infielders like they were those coins in the movie "Stand By Me." Maybe Tony has flipped his line up around one too many times and those Goochers are finally catching up with him! Now offense HIT BALLS!

P.S.,
Congratulations Mr. Herzog, on your induction into the hallowed Hall of Fame. You deserved this honor long ago, but better late than never. Thank you so very much for all of the memories.

Chris Kalna July 25, 2010