The year 2004 was a miserable year personally. Why? The year was the first one without my grandmother who died from complications of lung cancer in October 2003. Also I was almost kicked out of University of Cincinnati for the second time within a year because I wrote a sexually charged letter to a professor that wasn’t that much older than me. In retrospect I should have been kicked out of school, even though a teacher can dress professionally or dressing up like a student doesn’t give me the right to make her uncomfortable. After being confronted by the professor at Uncle Woody’s bar I punishing myself by stopped watching Scrubs and SpongeBob SquarePants for 4 years. Why? Scrubs were on the televisions inside the bar as I eternalized Zac Efron’s miserable character. Also on the next day I tried to watch SpongeBob to make myself feel better, but I only started to act like a 10 year old as I eternalized him too.
I was involved in stalking incident to start the year with a classmate who though I was stalking her. If the readers hear read my Autism blog about what occurred you already know. For readers that don’t know what happened I had a classmate who was deaf and she game me her phone number. At one point I tried to kiss her but beyond that I didn’t do anything out of the normal for any 19 year old back then. Police from her hometown of Cleves, Ohio was threatening me to have me kicked out of school.
I did write an editorial for University of Cincinnati regarding Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shawn Green not willing to play during Yom Kippur. I wrote in the article that Shawn had the right to handle the holiday his way and if He was affiliated in any religion and he wasn’t a MLB baseball player the subject wouldn’t have been so venomous. There was one bright spot of 2004 when my older sister Jackie gave birth to her first son Darren on March 7, 2004. Three days earlier I was packing out of my old home at West Price Hill on my way to University Heights.
The year of 2004 was the greatest year to be a Sports fan for me as I turned 20 years old. Here is a list of the achievements of my favorite teams and athletes in the year.
MLB notes of 2004
Boston Red Sox end the “Curse of the Bambino” by sweeping my former team the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series. Red Sox were aching for 1st championship since 1918 so I wasn’t terribly upset by the occurrence.
Speaking of Red Sox, in the ALCS they became the first team to be down in the series 3-0 to win the series in 7 games verses their nemesis the New York Yankees.
Florida Marlins earn winning record but fell short of playoff contention with 83-79 record. Marlins won World Series in the 2003 season
Minnesota Twins win AL Central Division.
Toronto Blue Jays earn a losing season.
Anaheim Angels struggled with Oakland Athletics in final series of the season in Oakland. Angels held on to win AL West with 92-70 season. Angels left fielder Vladimir Guerrero wins AL MVP.
Steve Finley for the Los Angeles Dodgers hits game winning walk-off grand slam verses the San Francisco Giants in the second to last game of the season to win NL West Division. Giants left fielder Barry Bonds named NL MVP.
St. Louis Cardinals win NL Central Division
Expos played in final homestead as a franchise in Montreal as fans booed and threw garbage on the field. Marlins were the visiting team in that series. Expos moved to Washington D.C. to start the 2005 season.
Homegrown Cincinnati Reds slugger Ken Griffey, Jr hits long home run verses the St. Louis Cardinals on Father’s Day to reach the 500 Home Run club.
Atlanta Braves pitcher of finesse and on point location of all of his pitches Greg Maddux records his 300th career win.
NBA notes of 2004
Detroit Pistons humiliated the Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Finals which only went 5 games
Indiana Pacers led by Reggie Miller and Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) to Eastern Conference Finals
Minnesota Timberwolves led by Kevin Garnett reached the Western Conference Finals for the 1st time. Timberwolves lost series to the Los Angeles Lakers. Garnett was named regular season MVP
My Dallas Mavericks struggled to integrate Antwan Jamison and Antoine Walker to starting lineup. Jamison was named 6th man of the year.
LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers was named Rookie of the Year.
Portland Trail Blazers missed postseason play for the 1st time in 21 years.
Utah Jazz missed postseason play too for the 1st time in 20 years. Jazz were a last place in a 7 team Midwest Division with a record of 42-40.
Memphis Grizzlies reach postseason play for the 1st time in franchise history. What a far cry for the franchise that moved out of Vancouver 3 years earlier.
Charlotte Bobcats were born. Charlotte is given second chance of another NBA franchise. My former team the Hornets moved out of Charlotte after the 2001-02 seasons.
Rivalry between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers boiled over as the “Malice in the Palace” ensued after a flagrant foul by Indiana Pacers Metta World Peace on Pistons center Ben Wallace. Many players were suspended in the incident but Peace received the worst punishment as he was suspended the last 73 games of the season not including the playoffs as well.
Shaquille O’Neal and lingering cold feeling toward Kobe Bryant leads the Los Angeles Lakers to trade Shaq to the Miami Heat.
NHL notes of 2004
My Tampa Bay Lightning defeated Calgary Flames in thrilling finals to win 1st Stanley Cup title in franchise history. Lightning recorded franchise best 106 points.
Martin St. Louis forward for the Lighting won the Hart Trophy (league MVP)
My former team the Vancouver Canucks reached postseason play and won the Northwest Division on the final day of the regular season over the Colorado Avalanche (101 points).
My childhood team the Detroit Red wings won the Presidents’ trophy as usual (109 points = NHL’s best record).
Nashville Predators reach postseason play for the 1st time in franchise history (91 points).
NHL change jersey requirements similar to the NFL as home teams wear dark uniforms as the road team wears white.
NFL notes of 2004
New England Patriots defeated my Philadelphia Eagles to win Super Bowl 39 and won their 3rd Super Bowl in 4 years. Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 38 to start the 2004 calendar year (2003 season).
Seattle Seahawks win NFC West Division with 10-6 record.
Jacksonville Jaguars salvaged a 9-7 record in spite a 6 game losing streak in mid season
Carolina Panthers missed postseason play with 7-9 record.
Atlanta Falcons led by Michael Vick win NFC South Division. Falcons lost NFC Championship game to the Eagles. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and Falcons quarterback Michael Vick became the first African American-Black quarterbacks to start in any conference game against one another in NFL history.
Starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers Tommy Maddux ended up hurt in the first game of the season. Steelers number 11 pick from Miami University of Ohio Ben Roethlisberger was named starter and won all 15 games as a starting quarterback. Steelers went on to lose AFC championship game to the Patriots. Roethlisberger was named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
San Diego Chargers reached postseason play for the first time since Skee-lo shook up the rap world with his song “I Wish” (I was a baller) in 1995.
St.Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings both win Wild Card round games in spite both earned 8-8 records. Rams haven’t reached postseason play since then.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning was named MVP
MLS notes of 2004
DC United wins 4th MLS Cup. United causes stir throughout the sports world by signing 14 year old Freddy Adu.
Columbus Crew earned Supporters’ Shield (MLS best record)
New York Metro Stars Amado Guevara was named MVP as he recorded 30 pints as league’s top scorer.
WNBA notes of 2004
Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson lead Seattle Storm to first WNBA title in franchise history.
Sacramento Monarchs reach postseason play as the last Western Conference team to qualify with 18-16. Monarchs withstood second half charge which fell just short led by Rookie of the Year Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury. Speaking of Diana, she was named number 1 pick in WNBA draft
Detroit Shock just squeaked by to reach postseason play with 17-17 record.
Alana Beard was named number 2 pick in WNBA draft by Washington Mystics.
Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie was names MVP
Cleveland Rockers folded to end 2003 season.
NCAA Basketball notes of 2004
My Connecticut Huskies led by Diana Taurasi won 3rd consecutive NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship and the 4th championship within the last 5 years.
Connecticut Huskies led by Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon won NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship
Cincinnati Bearcats lose in second round to Illinois. Bearcats would not qualify for the NCAA tournament for the remainder of the decade after 2005.
Xavier Musketeers men’s basketball reaches elite 8
NCAA Football notes of 2004
Auburn Tigers end season 14-0 by winning the Sugar Bowl but should have played in the BCS Championship game
Southern California led by Heisman trophy winner Matt Leinart humiliated Oklahoma Sooners 55-10
Here is a self portrait of Diana Taurasi I drew in 2009.
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| Drawing of Diana Taurasi from 2009 |
Here are my photos from the last few days.
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| Sorta coach 2134 |
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| Sorta coach 2134 has same Xavier ad 4005 does. I took this photo on 4005 a month ago. |
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| Berry tree growing in Oakley on Wednesday. |
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| Sorta coach 963 at Marburg Avenue cut-off. |
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| Big win by the Cincinnati Bearcats over Georgetown Hoyas in Big East Tournament today. Add is on left side of Sorta coach 963. |
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| Bed bugs anyone? Sorta coach 963 have this ad on the right side |
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| Marriage anyone, call Richter and Phillips |
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| Ate the 3 new Doritos Loco Tacos and a Burrito Supreme from Taco Bell for dinner. |
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