Be True to Your School

Washington at Atlanta. Nationals 2, Tomahawks 0. About Freaking Time.

Thursday, April 5. Dear Diary,

Ever since I heard Don Imus yesterday I've been so mad and kind of ashamed. I was up all night on the alumni listserv. The whole Rutgers community is taking this personally. And we should. Crimson Knights stand together. Insult one of us, insult us all. I feel so bad for the women b-ball players. Worked so hard, finished second in the country, only to get called horrible names on national radio.

Problem though. Tired, angry, upset. Both arms shaking badly. Both "cannon" and "ballast." LOL. Not funny, really. Having trouble gripping ball, couldn't find slot, release point in warmups. First start of the season couple hours away. I'll hate Imus even more if he messes with my pitching. Concentration a pitcher's foundation. Here goes.

Friday, April 6. Dear Diary,

Disaster. Six walks, got hook in fourth. No concentration, no control. Total blowout.

Worse, Bowden just chewed me out in front of whole team and the press. Even Manny. Feel terrible for Manny; must be embarrassed to have GM go around him. Bowden: "Too many walks." No duh. Thanks, Sherlock, I guess I didn't notice at all. Geez, I thought last night went great, but now you point it out, I guess maybe I could stand to walk fewer guys. What a tard. Figures, though: Came to team from being morning jock on Cold Pizza. Like Imus, but for sports. Probably laughed at Rutgers insult.

Wonder where Bowden went to school. SMU? Amherst? LOL. Probably manager for basketball team. How'd he like it if his alma was made national laughinstock? Let's see him try to pitch then.

Wednesday, April 11. Dear Diary,

Celebration! Alum listserv says Imus fired from MSNBC. Petitions working! Yay! Halfway to victory. Next stop: CBS. Totally psyched, though. Texted Tom we're coming to NY; volunteered to join alum pickets mornings before games.

Dropped down to fifth in rotation, though, by Imus pal Bowden. Should have started tonight; Jerome going instead. Wish him luck, but still.

Thursday, April 12. Dear Diary,

Warming up for tonight's start. (Against Smoltz. WTF? Thanks Bowden!) So Ronnie comes up and he's like, "Did you hear the good news?" I'm thinking he's started some sort of new clubhouse ministry, but no. He's like, "CBS fired Imus. Upstream, red team, am I right?" Patted me on the back. I was speechless. Asked how he knew what was bugging me, and how he knew Rutgers fight song.

Said it was pretty obvious why I was so down. Plus I talked in my sleep on the flight down here! LOL - embarrassing. Said whole team behind me. Then get this: Ronnie goes, "Besides, have you seen my hair? You think I didn't take that old fool's insult personally too?" Hadn't thought of that; wrapped up in Rutgers alum stuff this last week. OK, so then Ronnie says, "Imus may think I'm 'nappy-headed,' but tonight I'm going to prove that I'm a 'ho.' Ho lotta trouble for fools like him, that is." OMG. Laughed ass off. Going to share that line with alum listserv.

Warmup throws felt much better after. Finding slot, release point comfortable. In BP, Ronnie hit line drive KRK! looked like laser beam to the wall. Absolutely flat the whole way. Thumped against padding like a bullet. Then he winked at me. Feeling good about game tonight. This one's for you, Scarlet Knights. Rutgers colors to the fore!