... it's gonna be the Yankees that the Phillies have to put in their place to take the World Series again. Be there, starting Wednesday night ... as two ex-Cleveland aces go up against each other in their new(er) uniforms. That's CC vs. Cliff Lee. Let's go, Phillies, you can do it!

And I love hearing that George Will has gone after Dick for his "dithering" comment noting that a little "dithering" by the Bushies might have been helpful before invading Iraq.

This is not the sort of morning that I'd relish watching a soccer game ... but two of my intrepid housemates (applesrisp in hand) will be heading to Lewiston momentarily to watch the Bobcats tangle with the Panthers. Would be so nice if Bates could defeat Middlebury ... and while it's probably in the unlikely category, what I love about sports is that "it could happen.

Oh, and loved this article by Jayson Stark, sent by a friend ... worth a reprint here. Onward!

By Jayson Stark
ESPN.com

PHILADELPHIA The magic is in the moment.

The frozen moment when a baseball soars through the night and your mind begins to understand what's unfolding before your eyeballs.

Wow what a game! The Dodgers set a record for hits ... but left 10 runners on. Ruiz and Ibanez each had a 3-run homer. Lidge and Madson scared us but got it done. Ryan Howard hit another clutch double.

I love it AND I'd love to see a much bigger lead in Game 2, guys, okay? Today it'll be Pedro for the Phillies after lots of rest.

Of course, I was a Phillies lover before, but after last night's top-of-the-9th heroics, how can you not love that team? Bring on the Dodgers ... and let's have a repeat of last year! I went to sleep thinking of my Dad, and how excited he'd have been (gave him a congratulatory phone call, in my mind).

First off here's a nice interview with Pia Sundhage about her focus in coaching, and her preparation with the USWNT for facing Germany on 10/29/09.

On the Fantasy Football front, Flying Pigs and Sir Hits Alot are tied heading into tonight's game ... where Flying Pigs still have a player left.

Running late, but wanted to weigh in on the defense of marriage.

Yup, I'm with John Marcotte if we're going to defend traditional marriage, lets defend it all the way. No more half measures ... after all, this is a sacred institution.

'Til death do us part ... hear that?

Oh, and while we're at it (totally unrelated) the Breakers lost a couple of stalwarts in the expansion draft.

I'm working from my "basement office" today because our floors are being buffed and poly-urethaned. An adventure. Ruby is with me, under house arrest, as she has already helped herself to part of one of the guys' lunches (a feat she accomplished while Willie and I were walking down the driveway to get the paper).

Obama was just great last night, IMHO clear, inspiring, presidential. I am still amazed to hear complex thoughts uttered from that bully pulpit, having (unfortunately) gotten used to the smirking chimp.

Joe Wilson, meanwhile, is an embarrassment. Between Joe and the antics of their Guv, South Carolina definitely needs to hire a PR firm.

... that the Euros were pretty much all there is that's newsworthy in the world, if you limited yourself to JordanCornblog. It's just that with healthcare denial the apparent top priority of Congress, and Obama dangerously on the prowl, accosting schoolchildren with his socialist ideas ... I'm basically too discouraged and/or angry to write about anything other than England's history-making run on the soccer pitch.

So happy that England won yesterday (and it was even available on line)!

Stay tuned today it's Germany v. Norway ... same link as yesterday for the webcast (and same time, too ... I'm thinking).

If Norway could knock off the Germans ... how cool would that be??!!

Check out Justin.tv for the live feed on NOW!

I don't know what to say. Van Jones has been picked off ... and Glenn Beck is maniacally happy, wherever he is. He is probably thinking that this indicates that he's in some way right. He ain't but nothing would convince him of that anyway. So, we move on, I guess.

Reading about Van Jones this morning, I find that I agree with him on many things .

What is it with people? The flap about Obama speaking to students has me wondering if we, as a nation, can survive. It is so discouraging. I tried writing a letter to the editor about it ... but there's no arguing with delusion. There is no application of logic that will get through.

Need to let it go .

First off apologies to HollyCornblog ... who I offended by describing September as JBD's birthday month. It is HollyCornblog's birthday month, too ... and that fact should be duly celebrated by everyone ... most especially everyone who likes a nice hoppy beer from time to time!

Second .