So the House passed its healthcare reform bill, while selling out women … with 64 Democrats, for reasons that pass understanding, vote with the GOP to effectively strip meaningful access to abortion from the bill.  Disgusting.  I am sick at heart about this last bit of inexcusable and incomprehensible pandering to the right.  What the hell are the Dems so afraid of?  Boltgirl has written eloquently on the subject … check it out.

Meanwhile, here’s a sample of the level of debate that the process involved … as a series of Republican lawmakers “object” meaninglessly and make it impossible for a series of Democratic Congresswomen to speak.

The behavior is childish and obstructionist … and reflective of the desperation of a bankrupt party whose members see the writing on the wall (I think).  That makes it all the more frustrating that those 64 Democrats would walk over to the dark side.

Okay, so enough about healthcare.  I feel like the groundhog … poke my head up into the “real world” of politics and such, see my shadow, and retreat back to more manageable (and arguably more interesting) fare … like the A-Rod as Centaur story.

Just when I had started to think maybe he wasn’t as empty and ego-maniacal as I’ve generally surmised … I learn that he’s got not one but TWO portraits of himself as a centaur  in his bedroom.  The story comes complements of an ex.  Even factoring in the likelihood that she has an ax to grind … it seems unlikely that it’s complete fabrication.  Hell, even one Centaur-portrait is weird, don’t you agree?  Kate Hudson … what the hell are you thinking?

Moving on, I am late in stating my sadness and frustration at the repeal of Maine’s Gay Marriage bill, having really thought the great State of Maine would turn the tide on that one … and the polls apparently did, too.

On the whole question, however, I think that we are taking the wrong tack entirely.  There should be a push, in EVERY state, to make Civil Unions the government-sanctioned method for hooking up for life.  Period.

The government has no business sanctioning or not sanctioning marriages.  Let marriage be entirely the purview of religious organizations.  Then the f--cking fundamentalist hoardes can deny marriages to whomever they hell they want to.  That way the sanctity of the holy rite can be protected from all manner of despicable folks … and meanwhile, the government can offer equal rights and the pursuit of happiness as the Constitution demands, without upsetting the holy-rollers.

Why do we keep walking into this meaningless squabble with religious bigots?  It’s a power struggle over a prize that we should just let them keep.

Marriage schmarriage.  In fact, I really do think that government having anything at all to do with the word is an artifact of this country’s Judeo-Christian heritage and should be put down.  Seriously.  Civil unions for everyone -- take the damn word out of our laws entirely.

It makes me crazy!

Thanks, AMR, for sharing thie video below of the University of New Mexico’s Elizabeth Lambert demonstrating how NOT to play the game of soccer.

I am glad to see that New Mexico suspended this player, but even so, ya gotta think this kind of match play didn’t suddenly arise out of the blue.  How does a player come to think that this is even remotely okay?  She says … “This is in no way indicative of my character or the soccer player I am.”

I am sorry -- and this is said with your best interests at heart, Liz -- but you can’t behave like that and then walk away and say that it’s not indicative of your character.

It happened.

You did it.

It sure as hell indicates SOMETHING … and right now, I’d say it indicates something about your character.

What you do next also indicates something about your character.

It’d be really good for your character if you did some soul searching right about now.

… and one last tip of the hat to the Philllies on a great season.  Here’s a nice post from Phillies Nation … “Proud to be a Phan.”  Now I’ll put it away …

The news out of Fort Hood Texas is so bad, so sad, so disheartening and incomprehensible, that I don’t know what to say about it … except that I wish to god that we had the political will to institute meaningful gun control.  And please, no bad jokes about psychiatrists and/or mental health.  With the levels of rage, disenfranchisement, and hopelessness in this country, people need to be encouraged to seek out help … to defuse and deflect potential violent scenes like this one.  Oh, and no backlash against our fellow Muslim/Arab citizens, okay?  Could we have a more nuanced response than our right wing brethren usually treat us to?  Could we muzzle the likes of Glenn, Rush, Sean and Bill?  Ah, how refreshing the silence would be!

I’m adding a couple of important links today … and for those of you who’d like to see JordanCornblog function as your homepage, I’m open to other suggestions …;>)

What am I adding?

Foothills Physical Therapy … hands down the best collection of physical therapy professionals in Central New Hampshire … nah, in all of New England!  How’s them apples?  Check them out – not only are they excellent, they are FUN!

The New Hampshire Community Loan Fund … award-winning and innovative community economic development powerhouse that has had a direct, positive impact on countless NH citizens.  And now, with ROC USA, they have taken their innovative model and their expertise national!

And then there’s the Concord Feminist Health Center … staunch … steadfast … key member of the healthcare community since the ’70’s … and holding to that word “feminist” through thick and thin.  Did I say staunch?  You betcha!!

JordanCornblog’s predictions proved slightly inaccurate, perhaps because the biking didn’t start soon enough in the series.  Or perhaps because she didn’t wear her Utley shirt for those last two games … or the Phillies hat … or maybe the barometric pressure was all wrong (that was the problem the year the Eagles lost to the Pats in the Superbowl … I’m pretty sure).

It’s a big burden, keeping those guys on a winning path.  Clearly, JordanCornblog wasn’t up to it.  Not this year, anyway.  Next year.  Next year!

Had it not been for Matsui, the score would have been 3-1 … a Phillies win.  JordanCornblog comforts herself with that thought.

In addition, there’s that whole payroll thing.  And that $1.5 BILLION ballpark.  JordanCornblog finds that kinda comforting as well – that it took millions to put away an upstart team with a fraction of the bucks taking the field!  Of COURSE the Yankees won.  Good grief.

On the positive side, between Boltgirl’s excellent modeling and these last two World Series games, JordanCornblog has gotten some exercise under her belt.  That’s never a bad thing.  Next year she’ll be in better shape … and ready to bike for the Phillies OR the Cubbies!

And DaddyCornblog?  He’d have loved to have seen a Phillies repeat … but he has a much broader perspective on these things than we mere mortals do.  Any words of wisdom, Dad?

One plus that he’d be sure to remind us of … more sleep.  Now we can all get more sleep!

;>)

That’s where I’ll be as I watch Game 6 tonight.

Bold prediction time …

The short rest is gonna catch up with Andy Pettitte, as the Phillies bats will chase him out by the 3rd inning … and it’ll be an even more precipitous downhill slide for the Yankees from that point on.

Meanwhile a rested and highly motivated Pedro will pitch himself a shut-out … one for the ages.  It’ll almost be a no-hitter, but Derek Jeter will ruin that scenario in the 8th with a single.

After that, no more hits and it’s on to Game 7.

Wow – did that ever feel great to write.  (I’ll have to pedal hard to make it all true!)

Other news this sunny November morning?

Sadly, the Belmont girls’ soccer team lost a heartbreaker to Campbell in the second overtime yesterday.  The final score was 1-0.  Well done, BHS.  Congrats, graduating seniors.  The rest of you?  Your high school soccer future is looking very bright!

PS  One more bold prediction – a two-parter:

• Ryan Howard shaves his beard and gets his mojo back!
• Ryan Howard doesn’t shave his beard and gets his mojo back!

I discovered last night that what I had been needing to do all along was ride the stationary bike during these World Series games.  Sorry for the omission – I’ll be on board for games 6 and 7, guaranteed!

Oh, yeah – and I’ll try to pace myself so that I’m not on the couch for those late innings … allowing the evil-ones to catch up!

And how about Chase?  Awesome job!  Now, if Ryan can just get his bat going these last two games, it’ll be awesome.  Just awesome.

Did I say awesome already?

Awesome.

I’d write more, but these late games are leading to late mornings … gotta rush out the door!

PS:  Go Belmont girls’ soccer today!  You can do it!!!!!  You and the Phillies.  Awesome!

There’s Manny being Manny … and then there are the Phillies being the Phillies.  They blew a hard-won 8th inning tie last night in the top of the 9th and then went down quietly to defeat.  The only good thing about it was (selfishly) I got to go to sleep earlier than expected.

Cliff Lee’s on the mound today.  Can we turn this thing around and get back to NY?  Stay tuned.

On a happier note .. congratulations to Boltgirl, who is sharing tales of her inspiring (and yes, nauseating) return to the gym after spending weeks laid up with the flu.  It’s way more than 67% good … keep it up!  (I’m inspired and will be joining you shortly … yup … tomorrow … definitely!)

HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew visited the lake this past weekend and fired up the newly re-installed woodstove.  Sounds like the newly insulated floor is really helping a lot on the warmth front … maybe winter visits won’t be out of the question!

They got in some kayaking … got soaked … and came into the cozy house for cheesesteaks and beer.

It’s looking great, guys … all your hard work has certainly paid off!

Can’t wait to see it in person.

As I wait to get myself back on the exercise track, though -- there’s nothing better than watching the USWNT run around on the pitch.  Want to watch?  How about that recent 1-0 win over Germany?

Here it is, in “chapters” on YouTube.  If you double click the video below (where it says You Tube) and move over to YouTube to view it, you’ll be able to access the rest of the segments of the match.

Enjoy!

Here’s the segment with Abby’s goal -- @ the 34th minute … Pia looks so happy!

Oh yeah -- and in some good Philly news (on the phootball phront) the Eagles took it to the Giants and moved into first place in the NFC East.  Now THAT’S the way to play a NY team.  Are you paying ttention, Philllies?

SirHitsAlot (aka Mo) rode into town yesterday with his marauding minions, used his head, and wreaked havoc in the Concord soccer world.

In plain English, his talented upstart U-13 team toppled the mighty U-14 Concord Express Team 2-1 on a windswept field where the Merrimack River meanders through Concord and soccer aficionados gather, hoping for just this sort of contest.

The Lightning struck first (according to my intrepid reporter) and then the Express came back with the equalizer.  The action was furious as each team tried to push through and score the go-ahead goal … in the teeth of two staunch defenses and a howling Halloween wind.

But the game was deadlocked as the final seconds ticked down.

It’s starting to look like this will end in a tie.  Then the Lightning win a corner.  One more chance.

The kick goes up – a nice cross into the box.  Rapt fans watch.  The screaming wind blows. Out of nowhere, in comes a flying SirHitsAlot.  He leaps into the air, surrounded by defenders on every side.

Suddenly time slows down.  Everything goes quiet.  Even the wind seems to stop.

Thunk!

Head connects with ball.  Ball careens into goal.  Make that 2-1 Lightning!

The final seconds tick down … and the fans go wild as humble SirHitsAlot strides off the field to celebrate this sweet victory with his marvelous marauding minions from the Upper Valley!

Wish I could have seen it … and wish the Phillies could have done, last night, something like what the Lightning did yesterday afternoon.  Ah well – tonight will be different for the good guys, I am sure.

Meanwhile – congratulations to the Lightning and to you, SirHitsAlot.

Savor your win, Mo … because you are going DOWN in FFootball!  The 2 Blitzen’ Babes have your number!

;>)

The USWNT beat Germany 1-0 on Thursday.

And I’m liking that 1-0 score this morning, as the Bates Bobcats (that’s the women’s soccer version) ended their season on a high note, beating the Colby College Mules 1-0.

Meanwhile, here in NH that 1-0 score was the result in an upset of Hopkinton by Belmont in the Class M Girls’ Soccer tournament.  It’s the first time (in my recollection, at any rate) that Belmont has beaten Hopkinton in soccer.  It’s also the first time since the State Championship run of 2005 that the Belmont team has made it to the final 4.  Keep it going!  (Next up, Campbell at 4PM on Tuesday!)

I’m superstitiously hoping that all these good results will spell a Phillies win tonight, as the World Series moves to the home field … and hopefully the Phillies bats come alive!  Come on, guys … wouldn’t it be sweet to close it out at home?  But one game at a time … one game at a time.  So be there tonight … first pitch, 7:57 PM (ET).

Oh, and guys?  While a 1-0 win is absolutely acceptable … I would greatly prefer a wider margin, okay?  MUCH wider, actually.

And in other women’s soccer, news, here’s the FIFA Women’s World Player 2009 shortlist:  Nadine Angerer (Germany), Sonia Bompastor (France), Cristiane (Brazil), Inka Grings (Germany), Mana Iwabuchi (Japan), Simone Laudehr (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Kelly Smith (England), Abby Wambach (USA).  A good showing by the WPS — and nicely done by the Breakers’ very own Kelly Smith!

Other news?  How about this correspondence out of California?

Well, personally, I am in awe and admiration of the creativity of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s staff, who were apparently able to compose the above letter to the California Legislature … in which the first letters of each line combined to spell: “F— you.”  This is an accomplishment to be celebrated, not denied, IMHO.

Score that:  Schwarzenegger 1, Legislature 0.

On the Dickish front, I see that the former VP is suffering from some memory problems when it comes to the Plame Affair.  Indeed, according to Mother Jones, when he was interviewed by the FBI (info recently released under the Freedom of Information Act) there were 22 things that he could not remember … just a year after the events.

I continue to have the sense that, even now, a wee bit of water-boarding might bring a few things back.  Why are we dithering?  Let’s do it!

And speaking of dithering ditherers, I love this bit of hypocrisy from our friend Joe Lieberman, who in 1994 came out strongly against the filibuster.

“The whole process of individual senators being able to hold up legislation, which in a sense is an extension of the filibuster because the hold has been understood in one way to be a threat to filibuster — it’s just unfair.”

Time to strip him of his chairmanship and kick him out of the caucus, folks.  Seriously.  Why are we dithering?  Let’s do it!

You know what I’m talking about.

As I went to sleep after the Phillies succumbed 3-1, I was reminded of a passage from “Two Tramps in Mudtime” (Robert Frost) – a great description of my feeling as the Series evened to 1-1 …

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.

You know how it is with an April day

When the sun is out and the wind is still,

You’re one month on in the middle of May.

But if you so much as dare to speak,

A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,

A wind comes off a frozen peak,

And you’re two months back in the middle of March.

Okay, maybe not March – but definitely not May this morning!

What else is happening?  Yesterday the USWNT beat Germany 1-0 on a Wambach goal … which is about all I know.  Interestingly, the Gates-Crowley Beer Summit appears to have some legs … while we are sad to report that Halloween candy is, apparently, very, very evil.  Who knew?

So now I am running late, depressed, bummed about Halloween candy, AND sleep deprived … tough way to end the week.

Come on Phillies, cheer me up tomorrow!

I so love it when the Phillies pull off a win and don’t scare the bejeezus out of me in the process.  And it doesn’t hurt if they make the Yankees look powerless and confused in the process.  All those well-paid dudes going down swinging.  Love it.

Somewhere I read that the payroll differential between the Yankees and Phillies is in the vicinity of $80,000,000.  (Wonder what that comes to per strikeout?)

Anyway – let’s see what Pedro can do tonight.  If the good guys prove Jimmy Rollins wrong and take it in 4, I won’t mind. (I could use the sleep!)

In other news, the USWNT faces off against Germany … some places I see it listed as 12 Noon ET and other places I see 1PM.  Either way, it ain’t on TV … but you can follow it on MatchTracker (I believe) at the USSF Site.  Here’s a tidbit about the coaches … which is interesting but appears to be off by at least a decade … shame on you, USSF!  (I’m sending you an e-mail.)

SUNDHAGE AND NEID MEET AGAIN: The international playing careers of U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage and Germany’s Silvia Neid ran somewhat parallel courses with the Swedish international and German international crossing paths on more than several occasions. None was bigger than in first round play at the 2005 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sweden. In its first game of the tournament, Sweden had been upset, 1-0, by Brazil and was on the verge of elimination in its own country when it fell behind Germany, 2-0, after 42 minutes. The Swedes mounted a furious comeback in the second half, scoring three times, including an 80th minute penalty from Sundhage that tied the score. Malin Andersson scored the dramatic winner in the 86th minute. Both Sundhage and Neid played the entire 90 minutes. Both teams would eventually advance out of the group, but Sweden fell in the quarterfinal to China in penalties and the Germans advanced to the championship with consecutive wins against England and China, only to fall to Norway 2-0 in the title game. Sundhage and Neid both played in the 2006 Olympics, which marked the final international matches for both players, who then launched what have become extremely successful coaching careers.

Oh, and Levi continues to go after Sarah … a squabble being played out in the press.  I am thoroughly enjoying it (I know, very unChristian of me).

My new liberal fantasy involves a Hell House centered around the Palin’s – and occasionally visited by the likes of a drug-crazed Rush Limbaugh, an eating-disordered and nasty Ann Coulter, various and sundry licentious GOP law-makers, greedy Wall Street tycoons … you get the picture.  I think it could catch on!

Ah well – on to the day.

Alice – are you rooting for the Phillies?

The day has arrived, as the Phillies square off with the Yankees in pursuit of a back-to-back MLB Championship.  They can do it, I am confident.  (And just in case they need any help, I am sure all Phillies Phans out there will be superstitiously pursuing all sorts of ritualized behaviors to help carry off the win for the good guys.)  I believe that Yankees’ fans are too sophisticated and cocky to indulge in such activities, which will be their downfall.  (Or is that downphall?)

In other news, I see that the BHS girls’ soccer team won their first tournament game (yesterday over White Mountain) and face off against Hopkinton on Friday.  (The Gilford girls lost their opening match-up and are out of the tournament … an unusual (character-building) ending for that squad.  The Red Raiders team is trying to recreat the glory days of the 2005 State Championship season … good luck ladies – you are off to a great start!

On the political front, how irksome is Joe Lieberman?  Really!  Self righteous twit – I wonder who is lining his pockets.

“Is the heavy concentration of the insurance industry in Connecticut influencing his vote?

“It has nothing to do with it,” he said.

Yeah, Joe … and we should believe you because … ?

Did I say self righteous twit already? It feels good.

Hell House is the Fundamentalist Christian version of the haunted house … a predictably simplistic and melodramatic effort to scare young people into accepting Jesus as their personal savior.

Hell House represents right wing views on religion, family values, morality, you name it … as true.  The so-called secular world is represented by demons.  What could be simpler?  These Bible-thumping, mouth-frothing, shrill, narrow, moralistic views are shoved down the throats of young people in a series of gory tableaux.  It’s soul-saving gone nuclear.

I see this as representative of a couple of simple, arithmetical equations:

Delusions+money+power=RELIGION

Delusions-money-power=MENTAL ILLNESS

As you can see, the only difference is whether there’s $$/power backing the delusion.  The content can be pretty much the same.

And I am not slamming all religion by any means.  But if the Fundamentalists’ Jesus is so great, why do people have to have the crap scared out of them to believe in him?  Why all the pressure and sales/propaganda tactics?

This is sick, sick stuff.  I wish there were some way to make it illegal -- but while they are not shy about shoving their views down any/everyone’s throats, I do actually feel constrained by my values.

Maybe some civil lawsuits could be mustered, though.  I don’t know -- how about pain and suffering?

This crap certainly causes me mental anguish -- it’s a shitty way to start the day!

… 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.  Nicely done, George!  It’s a long clip – but kinda fun – and the salient part starts at @ the 11-minute mark!

What else?  The USWNT are in Germany preparing for their 10/29 match vs. the German National Team.  That’s at 1PM (ET) … and no TV from what I can tell.  Why not?????  We’ve got the US Under-17 men on TV … no offense to the guys, but WTF??!!!

I was bummed to learn, yesterday afternoon, from my roving reporters, that Bates lost to Middlebury after a valiant and mud-spattered game that was scoreless until @ 5-minutes from the end.  At that point, Middlebury took a corner after which the ball bounced around in the box and was eventually hit into the net (after what some say looked like a Middlebury hand ball).  It sounded like a heart-breaking loss for the Bobcats, who hung tough with the Panthers throughout the contest.  Excellent effort, ladies!

The Bookeaters met at Brazos in Portsmouth last night and had a lively discussion of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle – an ambitious book in which we were all somewhat disappointed.  (And I entirely missed the fact that the plot paralleled Hamlet.  I’ll blame that on the cold meds.)

Next up?  Persuasion.  (And the big questions will be … what sort of restaurant goes with Jane Austin?!  Suggestions are welcome!)

HollyCornblog has added to her beer-making repertoire, trying her hand at making a keg!  She said it turned out well.  Here’s the keg in its sleeve – a neoprene KEGlove with an ice jacket inside to keep it cold (up to 8 hours).  She and CharlieHopbrew are off to the lake this morning to put the rugs back down and, maybe, repaint the woodstove (which gets re-installed this Wednesday).  Aside from some tree work up there, I think that means the place is all set for the winter.  (Phew!)

What else today?  Nice to see the sun out after some torrential rain yesterday.

We’ve got FFootball … the 2 Blitzen’ Babes are up against Brigitte’s Boys (and the Babes fully expect to lose … how’s that for trash talk?).

Yankees-Angels were postponed to tonight – and Phillies Phans the world over are rooting for this match-up to be stretched to 7 games.  Go Angels!!

Lots to do today … better get myself moving!

This is not the sort of morning that I’d relish watching a soccer game … but two of my intrepid housemates (apple crisp 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-at-best category, what I love about sports is that “it could happen.”  (Of course, my problem is that I so often come to believe that it will happen -- a discussion for another time.)

Speaking of Bates, I noticed that it’s right near the top of the list of most expensive colleges -- not a piece of publicity that they relish, I am sure.  I’ll be interested to see how that shifts, as the big honking endowments of the wealthier schools (yeah, that’s you, Middlebury) have taken huge hits as the economy has tanked.

Anyway … Go Bobcats!

And here’s a piece from the WPS site about players “on the move.”  While not mentioned in the article, I am most excited about the Breakers’ acquisition of Tiffany Weimer.  She seems a very energetic, creative player who will be fun to watch combining with the likes of Kelly Smith.  (No Euros next year, WPS fans, so watch out -- we’ve got Kelly and Alex all season long!)

… and here are some dancing Cossacks from CB …

… exhausting to watch.  I find myself curious about what these guys’ thigh muscles look like … and the state of their knees when they hit their 60’s!

Meanwhile … Angels … keep it going!!!  ;>)

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

Phillies walk off into history

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.

It all happens so fast in this sport. One instant, you are watching a team down to its final out, about to dig itself a mess of trouble. The next, the baseball flies off the bat, and the whole universe changes.

This is where the defending World Series champions, the Phillies, found themselves as the giant center-field clock ticked toward midnight ET on what was about to become a Monday night they would never forget.

Jimmy Rollins’ double in the bottom of the ninth ended a dramatic night in Philadelphia with a 5-4 Phillies win.

One more out, and they were going to be tied with the Dodgers, at two wins apiece, in the 2009 NLCS.

One more out, and they were going to guarantee themselves a coast-to-coast plane flight they didn’t want to take.

One more out, and their dreams of heading back to the parade floats were going to be in a serious state of muck.

And then it happened.

Jonathan Broxton’s theoretically unhittable smokeball came roaring toward home plate at 98.8 miles per hour. Jimmy Rollins’ bat flashed.

And as that bat met that baseball, everything you thought you knew about this National League Championship Series was about to become instantly defunct.

It all changed the moment that baseball began floating toward that patch of grass in distant right-center field where no one in a Dodgers cap was going to catch it.

It all changed as the two most unlikely track stars in town, Eric Bruntlett and Carlos Ruiz, began pumping around the bases.

It all changed as Rollins sprinted around first, stomped on the second-base bag and shook his fist till the mob scene engulfed him.

It all unfolded in a matter of seconds. But once the meaning of it all sank in, you began to realize what you’d just witnessed:

Namely, an October baseball game that is going to be talked about for the rest of our lifetimes.

Try to understand what just happened here. You can count the postseason baseball games that resemble what happened at Citizens Bank Park on this indelible Monday with two fingers. And those two fingers would be used to count games that can best be described with one word: “LEGENDARY.”

It was Jimmy Rollins’ heart-thumping two-run double with two outs in the ninth that turned defeat into triumph, turned a 4-3 loss into Phillies 5, Dodgers 4. But now let’s do our best to put that game-winning hit into historical perspective.

There have been 1,251 postseason games in baseball history. Only two others — two — ever ended this way, with a walk-off extra-base hit by a team that was one out away from losing.

One was The Kirk Gibson Game — Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, Gibson homering off Dennis Eckersley, Jack Buck warbling: “I don’t believe what I just saw.”

The other was The Bill Bevens Game — Game 4 of the 1947 World Series, when Yankees pitcher Bill Bevens got within one out of the first no-hitter in World Series history, and then lost it all. Lost his win. Lost his place in immortality. Lost it on a two-run double by Cookie Lavagetto with two outs in the ninth.

And now here we are, still talking about it today, more than six decades later. Why? Because the October dots connect it with this game. OK, now get the picture? This wasn’t just another walk-off win that unfolded in South Philadelphia on Monday. This was history.

And you’d be hard-pressed to find a ballplayer in this solar system who would rather be heading for home plate with a chance to make that kind of history than Jimmy Rollins.

“He likes the moment,” said his manager, Charlie Manuel. “He wants to be there, and he can control his adrenaline, and he can handle the moment. Those are the things that are very important when you get in the postseason. … Jimmy Rollins — he thrives. The bigger the stage, the better he likes to play.”

If you looked at Rollins’ numbers in this particular postseason before he arrived in that batter’s box in the ninth inning, however, you might have a tough time believing those words.

Heading into that at-bat, the shortstop was 3-for-18 (.167) in this series, 8-for-37 (.216) over this whole postseason. And normally, let’s just say nobody would write any Mr. October poetry about a guy like that.

But look closer. Look at WHEN Jimmy Rollins got those hits. He now has batted six times in the ninth inning this October — and gone 4-for-6 (.667). So he’s 4-for-31 (.129) in innings one through eight — but a .667 hitter in the most important inning of the night.

Now, however, let’s look closer still. In his five at-bats against two of the best closers in the National League — Colorado’s Huston Street and Broxton — in this postseason, he has hit .800 (4-for 5). And three of those hits were right in the middle of magical game-winning eruptions — including this one. Think that’s a coincidence? Yeah, sure it is.

“He thrives on moments like that,” said Rollins’ buddy, Shane Victorino. “Everybody wants to be that guy. But he really does thrive in that kind of situation. He’s the kind of guy, he can be 0-for-40, and it doesn’t matter. … It just shows what kind of player he is.”

But he also wasn’t the only player in this mind-boggling script. And on this night, the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Non-Hacking Role would go to …

Mr. Matt Stairs, ladies and gentlemen.

Now you NLCS historians know all about Matt Stairs, of course. Last year, in Game 4 of another NLCS, he was the man who shook the universe, much like Jimmy Rollins would shake it a year later.

People in Philadelphia still talk so relentlessly about the game-winning, two-run, 9,000-foot, Game 4 homer that Matt Stairs launched last October, he sometimes feels as if it’s still traveling.

And never more than on this night.

Because on this night, one October later, Matt Stairs would meet again with the pitcher who served up that homer — a fellow named Jonathan Broxton.

Their reunion would come with one out in the ninth inning and nobody on. Stairs was pinch-hitting for Pedro Feliz. Broxton was two outs from his most important October save ever.

Later, Matt Stairs would say he doubted seriously that the memories of that home run were still rattling around Broxton’s head. Huh? Really? Us media skeptics weren’t so sure of that. But either way, we asked Stairs, were those memories still in HIS head as he dug in to face Broxton again?

“Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,” Stairs rope-a-doped, very briefly, before realizing he couldn’t fake his way through this one …

“Yeah,” he laughed. “Of course.”

“As I was standing in that batter’s box,” he went on, “I had one thing in mind — and that was going for that Budweiser sign (which hangs from the facing of the second deck in right field). But then again, that doesn’t change — against anybody.”

It was quite the scene, watching Stairs dig in. He kicked at the dirt in the box, tapped his spikes, waved his bat, looked straight at the man on the mound. Broxton glared right back from 60 feet away. The vibe in the ballpark was pure electro-shock madness.

Asked what it was like to sit around for 3½ hours and then find himself at home plate, facing a guy who throws rocketballs 100 miles an hour, Stairs answered: “Well, it’s not something you want to do every day — but it’s something I enjoy doing.”

But Broxton would make sure there would be no reruns of Matt Stairs’ home-run trot this October — by walking him on four pitches. Manuel admitted later he gave Stairs the old green light on 3-and-0. But ball four was so far outside (at 99 mph), even Stairs couldn’t take a fly at it.

“I’m just glad he didn’t throw me a 3-and-0 fastball [over the plate],” Stairs said, chuckling to himself, “because I was gonna swing as hard as I can and see what happens. I’ve never turned down a fastball, and I never will. I’ll be swinging at fastballs till I’m 50. They might be slow-pitch fastballs, but I’ll be swinging at them.”

Not this time, though. Stairs trotted down to first base and gave way to a pinch-runner, Bruntlett, as the stadium erupted. It wasn’t quite The Walk Heard Round The Cheese Steak Stand. But it was close.

Next, it was Ruiz’s turn. Broxton stretched, fired and … ouch … drilled Ruiz right in the elbow. The only good news for the plucky catcher was, at least he got nailed by a quasi-change-up — at a mere 96 miles an hour.

“Aw, he’ll be OK,” said always-sympathetic reliever Scott Eyre. “We got ice. …The ice budget here is good. We’ve got plenty of ice.”

What they also had at that point, though, was a big-time October rally in progress. Only twice in his career, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, had Broxton ever hit a batter and walked another in the same inning. But his timing, this time, couldn’t have been worse.

He got to within one out of his destination by retiring pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs on a looper to third base. But that just set the stage for history.

As Rollins strolled toward home plate, he knew his body of work against Broxton wasn’t real picturesque (1-for-6, counting the postseason, with the only hit coming two years ago). But the shortstop also said: “I wasn’t afraid.”

“I’ve faced him a number of times before,” Rollins went on. “And that always helps, when you’re familiar with the guy, his movement, what his ball is going to do — and he’s pretty much thrown me all fastballs.”

So from first pitch to last, Jimmy Rollins was geared for the fastball, because he knew, in this situation, “he’s going to give you his best. If he’s going to lose, he’s going to lose with his best.”

The first smokeball came roaring toward Rollins at 98.1 miles per hour, according to Inside Edge. He fouled it back. Strike one.

The second pitch was even harder — 98.5 — but way outside. Rollins took it calmly. Ball one.

Broxton climbed back on the rubber and stared straight down at his feet, visualizing the pitch he was getting ready to fire. Rollins set himself, tapped the plate, rocked in the box. If there was anyone in this ballpark not standing, the only possible explanation was that they’d just passed out.

Now here came one last pitch — at 98.8 miles per hour. According to data compiled by Inside Edge, it was the hardest pitch anyone had thrown to Jimmy Rollins THIS ENTIRE SEASON.

“It was funny,” Rollins recalled of the moment before that pitch left Broxton’s hand. “Right before he threw it, I said (to himself), ‘Hit a ball in the right-center-field gap . . . right over Broxton’s head. That’s at least one run.’ ”

And then it happened … precisely … like … that.

His bat flashed through the zone. The baseball took off toward that exact spot in the gap.

And for an instant, as you watched it, it was almost if it froze in the sky. And then it hit you: The Phillies were going to — wait a minute, is this really happening? — win … this … game.

Bruntlett — whose pinch-running exploits last October led him to score the winning run in two World Series games — loped home first. “I had the easy job,” he said. “Just go out, turn around and don’t do anything too stupid.”

But right behind him came Ruiz, a man in no danger of being voted the World’s Fastest Human, or even one of the World’s Fastest 1 Billion Humans. This time, though, he was chugging. He had to chug. There was no alternative but to chug.

“He was motoring,” Ryan Howard said. “He knew, man. He knew what he had to do. He had to get going. Fastest I’ve seen him move since Clearwater, in rookie ball.”

Ruiz pounded across home plate. Their ballpark shook with joy. And their teammates were thundering in all directions, not too sure whom to mob — Bruntlett, Ruiz, Rollins or all of the above.

“I was going to third,” Howard reported, “just to try to avoid the rest of humanity. I was the first one there — and then the first one on the bottom.”

“The pile-up and the beat-down … that can be pretty dangerous,” said Rollins, “especially when Ryan Howard is the first guy out there. But then I guess he’s kind of like a shell at the same time — a little bit of protection.

“The only thing I didn’t want to do,” Rollins announced, “was get crushed.”

But he appeared to have virtually all of his appendages still attached as he spoke those words. So mission accomplished.

The bigger mission for this team, however, is NOT quite accomplished. It still needs one more win to make it to the World Series, and then four more after that to hop back on the parade floats. And these men understand how hard it will be to collect those five more wins.

But they have this knack — to write these astounding scripts, to sculpt these October miracles that have become the specialty of their house. So you can’t help but wonder how many more they have left in them.

It might not have seemed possible for them to top Game 4 of 2008. But they just might have done it on this night.

“Hey, that was last year,” said Matt Stairs. “So we’ve turned the page.

“But fortunately,” he said, “it was a real big page.”

Jayson Stark is a senior writer for ESPN.com. His new book, “Worth The Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies,” was published by Triumph Books and is available in bookstores and online. Click here to order a copy.

Those phightin’ Phillies are returning to the World Series!!!  Needless to say, JordanCornblog is ecstatic.  Nicely done!  Now, here’s to the Angels either beating the Yankees or stretching out their series.  We’ll take ‘em anyway, but it’d be more relaxing to face a tired crew of starters and relievers.  Oh, and let’s keep those bats alive through the break, okay, guys?  ;>)

In WPS news, I see that the Breakers have signed Leslie Osborne.  Hope she’ll be able to step into Angela Hucles’ shoes (although the wee cynic in me also finds it noteworthy that the Breakers have acquired one stereotypically attractive blond player after losing a stereotypically attractive blond player).  Nothing against Mitts or Osborne … maybe I’m all wet.

Nicve to have RPE home for @ 36 hours – safe travels back!  Oh, and nice to have some good cough syrup.  Sleep … amazing the healing power it has!

Boltgirl – hope you are feeling MUCH better!

Jimmy Rollins came through in the 9th and the Phightin’ Phillies pulled off another comeback to roll within one win of another trip to the World Series.  Personally, I like those 11-0 barrages better, but I’ll take a thriller every once in awhile.  Kudos to Brad Lidge and the Phillies’ bullpen, too.

It was nice to see the Angels take the Yankees to extra innings and pull out the win out in California, too.  Maybe that will be the momentum shift that the ALCS needs.

In WPS news, I see that Carli Lloyd has signed with her native NJ team – Sky Blue FC .  Hopefully that move will help her to turn around what was a lackluster inaugural season (relative to expectations).

Low energy abides here, and I’m heading to my PCP today, hoping for a cure.  That’s about the extent of it, as the sun rises on a frosty NH morning.

Looks like a gorgeous October day here, as JordanCornblog celebrates a decisive Phillies win and gets ready to call her PCP about this cold that just won’t go away.  In the meantime, she is also licking her wounds, after 2 Blitzen Babes got spanked in FFootball (and the Eagles got spanked by the Rainders).  Congrats to brattybeaglebutts on a win and a new league scoring record … thanks in large part to Tom Brady and his record-setting performance.  Ah well … at least it is a beautiful day!  Perhaps other news will follow … as time, energy, and coughing fits allow.