I don’t know how many times I’ve run into people I know at a Texas Rangers game. You would think the 90 miles or so between Tyler and Arlington would be enough of a buffer zone to where that doesn’t happen much but it does, even though there are thousands of fans at the loudest ballpark cheering on their beloved Rangers.
It just comes to show one thing; Tylerites, among millions of other Texans, love their Rangers. It’s been a long wait for baseball season to start back up but the good new is the wait is almost over.
The Rangers open the season at home Monday, March 31 against the Philadelphia Phillies. I’m not crazy about opening up on a Monday night nor about opening the year against a National League team but I’m pumped about the season either way.
There are a lot of new faces this year as the team has had a complete makeover. Ian Kinsler is a Tiger and Prince Fielder is a Ranger. David Murphy is an Indian. Nolan Ryan is out. Shin-Soo Choo is in.
It’s going to be different for sure, and perhaps a bit sad. OK, there’s no perhaps about it and it will take a long time getting used to it, but I’m ready to watch the Rangers take part in America’s pastime. So all I can say is, “Take me out to the ballgame.”
There’s a lot of talk about a movie called “Divergent.” To me, it looks like a movie that would have the same audience as Hunger Games, but what do I know? I never read the books or saw that movie either.
We’re deep into high school playoff basketball and the road to the state championships come through the Rose Capital of the World. Tyler Junior College is slated to host several playoff games in the Regional Semifinals.
Do you remember the NBC special of Noah’s Ark back in 1999? It starred Jon Voight as Noah. There were so many things wrong about it, I don’t know where to start. Lot was in the movie even though he didn’t come until what, 1,000 years later. That wasn’t even the worst part about it…There were pirates. Yes, pirates. You can still find it online. Just go to Youtube and search something like “Jon Voight Noah’s Ark.”
The Monuments Men, a movie with an all star cast, is slated to hit the bit screen nation wide Friday, Feb. 7. This action drama is based on a true story of what has been referred to as, “the greatest treasure hunt in history.” It’s a World War II story where a platoon which is tasked by FDR goes into a Germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves to return them back to their rightful owners. The art is trapped behind enemy lines and the Germans have specific orders to destroy everything in their path. This platoon of seven guys is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. These guys are museum directors, curators and art historians, not military experts. Time is running low for these Monuments Men as they attempt to avoid the destruction of 1,000 years of culture and dodge the Germans. George Clooney directs and stars in the film. His co-stars are Matt Daman, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and Cate Blanchett. The movie was originally slated to be released in December of 2013 but Clooney asked for more post-production time due to special effects and other details not being completely ready. The fear was the movie wouldn’t get the proper accolades without them.