Chapter 80: This Would Be Nice

It's been a difficult post-season for me. I have no vested interest — even less now that Chicago is out of it. But the Boston Globe put a smile on my face this morning. They reminded me that Don Zimmer is associated with the Tampa Devil Rays. Of course, he's been associated with several different teams; that's what happens when a guy's been in major league baseball for over 60 years.

Zim managed the Red Sox when Bucky F. Dent hit his infamous home run. He got tossed to the ground by Pedro Martinez during the 2003 ALCS. He was an original Met (and went 1-23, if memory serves). He managed the 1989 Cubs to the playoffs. He was on the Dodgers when Don Larsen tossed the only perfect game in World Series history. Even when he worked for the Yankees, Zim was fun to have around.

His stint with the Yankees really solidified his association with Joe Torre — not that they didn't know each other already, but when you serve as someone's bench coach and take over managing the team when that guy deals with butt cancer, you've kinda got a level of relationship that is above mere teammate. And he stood up to George Steinbrenner. Good for Zim!

So I for one would love to see the Rays meet the Dodgers in the playoffs. It would mean the Dodgers eliminate the Phillies, which as a Met fan would make me happy. And while I like the Red Sox and have family who are huge Sox fans, I can't help but like the baby Rays from the other Bay area. B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, a surprisingly consistent starting pitching staff (which basically was the reason for my first fantasy baseball championship ever) ... what's not to love?

So that's what I'm rooting for: Dodgers vs. Rays in the 2008 World Series. Let the interviews with Don Zimmer continue.

Chapter 52: Smoking Gun on Health Insurance

If a story from the Boston Globe is to be believed, then at least one company is on the way to destroying health insurance in America. Lawncare giant, Scott's, apparently has a policy that precludes any employee from smoking -- including off the job. Why are they acting as Big Brother? I can only surmise that they know what smoking does for the health of an employee and they don't want to pay for a smoker's health care, especially as they get older and the problems persist.

I'm not in favor of smoking, but I'm less in favor of legislating a person's private life. If the company is allowed to maintain such draconian policies, the measures will be replicated elsewhere. There's no telling where such actions would stop. Do you eat eggs? Well, you can't anymore because the cholesterol contributes to heart disease. Work somewhere else? It's not our problem no one else will hire you either. If that's Scott's policy, then they should simply not offer health coverage at all. Then, only employees who can afford to self-insure would work there. Competitive disadvantage? Of course, but that's they're bed. If smoking were illegal, that would be a different story. Drinking alcohol is legal, but driving while intoxicated isn't, and if I were to do that and get caught, an employer has a right to be concerned. But I wouldn't want to work for a company that is dictating my legal actions outside of the office.