Tony Island Blog - Sane Thoughts for an Insane World

Welcome to my blog! As the baseball trading deadline inches closer (July 31), a lot of tongues are wagging in Boston and Red Sox Nation about what to do with Manny Ramirez. Should he be traded or hung on to until the end of the season then let go (his contract expires this year)?? If he's not traded, will he play his best for the remainder of the season or "call in sick" as he did last weekend against the New York Yankees? Love him or hate him, everyone has an opinion on Manny! What are your thoughts? Should the Boston Red Sox trade him? Keep him? Renew his contract? Buy his options? Submit a comment below and let us know! In the meantime, cross your fingers - it's gonna be a BUMPY ride for the next month in Red Sox Nation! Thanks for reading my blog!

Welcome to my blog! That's right! I've snagged some tickets to see Tina Turner in concert! She's coming out of retirement to tour the US/Canada and Europe in Fall, 2008 and Spring, 2009! I love her! She looked great on the Grammys with Beyonce ! In case you missed that performance (as I did) , here it is for your viewing pleasure! Do you love Tina ? Are you going to see her in concert? If so, where and when? Have you seen her in concert in the past? Let us know! Share your love for Tina by leaving a comment below! Thanks for reading my blog!

Hi! Welcome back to my blog! So, there are rumblings around the world as the Olympic Torch makes its way to China for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. There are anti-China protests in the streets and calls for boycotting the XXIX Olympics altogether. What's this world coming to? OK, I agree that China is NOT a model country as far as human rights are concerned, but that's not the purpose of the Olympics. They're a sports competition meant to unite the world. Athletes from all countries gathering together, competing in friendly competitions, forging friendships that span time and space. Boycotting the Games is simply wrong - we tried this with Moscow in 1980 and the results were devastating. Athletes that had spent their lives training for the 1980 Olympics had their dreams dashed. The "alternate" Olympics paled in comparison. It wasn't the same for the athletes nor the spectators. Didn't we learn anything from that fiasco 28 years ago? Apparently not. Peo...

Well, not quite, but almost a year since I last posted an entry in my blog! The last entry was dated June 26, 2007... Anyway, I'm back -- more or less. Things have been floating on my mind for a while and I thought I should let them out to share with the world (lucky world!) So...read on...leave comments...let's chat. Thanks for reading my blog!

Welcome back! Less than 2 weeks ago, I wrote about how bad the Sox were doing -- and now I'm posting about how well they're doing! How times have changed! We're in a 9 game win streak (winning today's game over the Phillies in 12 innings with a walk off single by David Ortiz!). We're up two games over the Yankees - things are going well. The only problems -- the last 9 games were played against (poor) National League teams -- and we're heading into a 3 game series with the Mets - who are at the top of the National League. Will we continue our winning ways or revert to our mediocre selves? This 3 game Met series is a two-pronged reunion: 1) this is the 20th anniversary of the 1986 World Series Red Sox vs Mets (Sox lost of course). 2) Pedro Martinez returns to Fenway Park for the first time since leaving as a free agent in 2005. Wonder what kind of reception he'll receive as he takes the mound at the bottom of the first inning on Wed (6/28)? Will you be watchi...

Welcome back! Well, as you can see by this entry's title, Team USA lost (1-2) vs Ghana. We made a spectacular goal at the end of the first half only to be "equalized" by a phantom (as called by US announcers) penalty/free kick against the US. It was fun while it lasted - now, it's time to point fingers, blame the officials and move ahead to 2010 World Cup play. While the 2006 FIFA World Cup chances are over for Team USA, Tony Island Blog is here to stay! Leave some thoughts about our 2006 World Cup play by clicking the comment link below! Thanks for reading my blog! Tags: fifa , world cup , usa , ghana , 2006 , 2010

Welcome back! Well, we're at half time in the USA vs Ghana 2006 FIFA World Cup game. Ghana scored first when our captain went down trying to defend the ball. With less than one minute left in regulation play, the USA scored its first goal of the 2006 FIFA (the goal scored in the vs. Italy game was an "own goal" scored by an Italian player). Now into stoppage time, the referree calls a foul against the USA giving Ghana a penalty shot. This is an unobstructed shot by one player against our goal and goalkeeper from 12 yards! Of course, the Ghana player makes the goal and the score finishes at 2-1 going into half-time. It was a fairly good half, but the USA wasn't making the moves it needed to make until the very end (and it was a spectacular goal!). They need to turn up the pressure in the second half - they have nothing to lose. If I were the head coach, I'd pour it all on - getting fouled left and right. The hell with it all - we NEED to win! BTW, Italy is ahead in...