mattmehaffey

Bring on the Hot Stove

The off-season for the Yankees is almost always as exciting as the season itself. There has already been a whirlwind of speculation, coaching changes, free agent talk and trade rumors. With A-Rod heading off into the sunset in search for higher paychecks and less wins he leaves behind a hole I am excited to see how management will fill.

I am already pleased with the news Girardi will be replacing Torre. I love Joe. I almost named our dog after him but instead we went with Jeter. That being said, it was time for a change.

I will be shocked if Posada, Rivera and Pettitte aren't back in pinstripes next year.

I can't wait to see a full year of Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy and hopefully Pettitte.

One free agents I would love to see become Yankees:
1. Mike Lowell (if you can't beat him sign him) at 3B

Things are about to get interesting!

Shaking the Dust Off My Cleats

I hate the Red Sox. Hate is not a strong enough word. However, I tip my cap to the 2007 World Series Champs. They were the best team in baseball (by far) this season.

What I hate even more than the Red Sox is the way A-Rod and his agent Scott Boras used the World Series as a stage to announce #13's free agency during the 8th inning of the game. They represent everything that is wrong in professional sports. I guess he figured this was the only way he could participate in a World Series since he'll never play in one. The focus should have been on the Red Sox sweep.

I hope A-Rod gets all the money he asks for ... in Tampa Bay.

Living Up to the Skype

I usually stay current with new technology and where it is heading but I am way behind on Skype. I made my very first Skype call today with Brent Foulke. For the handful of people who are there who are even further behind than me, Skype basically allows you to make calls from your computer and hold conferences via your webcam and the basic package is free.

Brent is in New York and I could hear him with crystal clarity in our brief conversation.

My Bad

A couple weeks ago, Jose and Nicole Lopez (friends from Indy), stayed with us for a few days. I had heard a lot about the grand opening of Ikea 15 minutes north of us and asked if they wanted to go and check it out. They did.

We made the drive and found out it didn't open until the next week. I never thought I'd see Jose cry. It's not pretty sight.

Family in Town

Several members of my family are coming down to visit this week. My sister Daria, her husband Dave and my two-year old neice, Reagan are flying in this afternoon and I can't wait to see them. Daria and I were very close growing up. Daria taught me living as a Christ follower can be an unpopular choice. I saw this lived out in her life in High School. Many were baffled when she chose Christ over being "the most popular girl in school." She's a remarkable person.

Reagan is the cutest little girl ever.

My parents have already driven down to their condo in Ft. Myers and will be coming over later this afternoon. The hardest part of our transition to Miami is definitely the fact we aren't used to being so far from family. It will be refreshing to have them so close by.

Boss's Day

Janie (my wife) is a very valuable team member of The Pursuit Christian Church. Not only is she taking care of the external communication (brochures, websites, enews) but she has been doing things above and beyond her job description as a "part-time" employee of the church (all this on top of her role as consultant for Fishhook).

This past Tuesday when I woke up, I walked to my desk in our house and there was a card. I opened up the envelope and in it was a Boss's Day card from my wife with an iTunes gift card inside. I know the dynamic of being a married couple on staff is an odd for some people but it works for us.

When Janie and I used to be on staff at Traders Point Christian Church, I used think she was a bit of a suck up when she gave our boss's gifts. It may have something to do with the fact that she made me look foolish because I rarely remembered. Now that I am reaping the benefits of the made up holiday (a Green Day album and a new ringtone "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve) I am extremely glad my wife is the sweet and generous woman she is!

First Experience at da U!

I am blogging today from The Orange Bowl watching the Canes play Georgia Tech. Since this is the last year until they move to Dolphin Stadium I had to come experience a game here.

I came prepared wearing my Edgerrin James Colts jersey.

Eric Hafner, grad student at U of M and member of The Pursuit Christian Church got the hook-up and bought 4 tickets for $4. He invited Paul Smoot, Alex Diaz and me to join him. This is Alex's first American football game and it has been fun explaining the rules as the game goes along.

The place is rocking because the Canes just scored. 7-0. Can't imagine what the place was like when the U was dominant every year.

Update: Miami lost 14-17.

I Made the Herald!

A few weeks ago I blogged about my new interest in boxing. Shortly after that blog, the Miami Herald showed up at one my classes to interview Danny Santiago, an accomlished boxer nicknamed "The Bronx Bomber," who recently fought on ESPN's The Contender. Danny was telling me how he grew up across the street from Yankee Stadium and how the lights from the "House that Ruth Built" shone in to his bedroom. Danny is a good guy.

I just opened the Miami Herald website and on the front page is Danny and my back! I did get mention in the caption though. Check it out here.

Blast from the Past

I was flipping through the channels tonight and saw the episode of The Weakest Link I was on. The show seems so dated now but it had a nice little run back in the early 2000's. Anne Robinson was a trip and she made me look like a moron several times but I think I held my own.

Janie and I had a good laugh. Weird how emotions I was feeling when the show was being taped came flooding back to me. I was feeling confident when I went the first two rounds nailing all of my questions. I was humbled when I went the next two rounds getting zero right. I was relieved I didn't get voted off after going two whole rounds without answering a question correct!

It is still very surreal to me I was on that show. I had an absolute blast and most of the people on my show were people I really enjoyed. Still, coming in 2nd place, leaving $58,000 (before taxes) and "leaving the show with nothing" still hurts a bit.

I need to seek professional help, I think.