I thought Jose Reyes was the new "bad guy"? I mean he threw his glove on the ground, come on.

or Ryan Doumit or Ryan Ludwick.

Baseball needs its bad guy back. Why won't anyone sign Chris Truby?

first justice, now kriegel

what's the world coming to?

kev must be having a time with his blood pressure, tell you that

I thought Jose Reyes was the new "bad guy"? I mean he threw his glove on the ground, come on.

Not bad enough. He's bad like your neighbor who plays his stereo too loud or whose dog poops on your lawn. Not Dr. Evil bad.

I asked someone this the other day, but what is up with all the Ryans? usually tv influences the naming of children so was curious late 70's early 80's who was "Ryan"?

I know General Hospital was big at the time, but don't know if there was anyone with that name.

Not bad enough. He's bad like your neighbor who plays his stereo too loud or whose dog poops on your lawn. Not Dr. Evil bad.

Reyes is the Diet Coke of bad.

Why must Baseball always go with the same bad guy?

Seriously, it is starting to suffer from the same problem that the Superman film franchise has always had: Luthor this, Luthor that. Baseball needs to move on to it's Brainiac, or at least a General Zod.

at least a General Zod

Naw. I think he was a juicer. Brainiac, too--seen the guy's head?

I asked someone this the other day, but what is up with all the Ryans? usually tv influences the naming of children so was curious late 70's early 80's who was "Ryan"?

I know General Hospital was big at the time, but don't know if there was anyone with that name.

Ryan O'Neil man Ryan O'Neil

Naw. I think he was a juicer. Brainiac, too--seen the guy's head?

Fine then, bring in the evil iron man, Metallo. He'd be like Cal Ripken, only a total jackass.

I asked someone this the other day, but what is up with all the Ryans?

Do you have a problem with the name?

Do you have a problem with the name?
none at all, just notice that there are an awful lot nowadays.

Naw. I think he was a juicer. Brainiac, too--seen the guy's head?


Wouldn't that make him a good reason to be a bad guy? we wouldn't want someone clean like the Toyman portrayed as a villain. Get Bizarro, Doomdsay, Brainiac, or the Bondsbasher you know the ones ruining the integrity of a clean villain that way you can dislike them on more than one level.

But what does kevin think about this?

none at all, just notice that there are an awful lot nowadays.

Personally, I think the increase in the use of the name is a great improvement. After all, it's a wonderful name, as it perfectly captures my awesomeness.

and Ryan Crudale.

They were all conceived when their parents were stuck in traffic on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

Dan Ryan Expressway

was there this weekend, Chicago drivers have surpassed Koreans(in Korea) as the worse drivers I've ever seen in my life.

dang, do a search for Ryan on bb-reference and notice the number of bolded names (indicating active)

I always wondered why there isn't any Harrison's my age. From 1977 to the mid 80's he was huge. He was a man's man plus he would occasionally play the romantic lead in a chick flick. Based on all the evidence there should hundreds of thousands of 25 to 30 year old men running around with the name Harrison yet I have never run into one.

was there this weekend, Chicago drivers have surpassed Koreans(in Korea) as the worse drivers I've ever seen in my life.

Head up to Wisconsin and you'll have new name at the top of the list.

what is up with all the Ryans?

Ryan O'Neil man Ryan O'Neil

McCoy may be right.

According to the Social Security Administration, the name Ryan was the 811th most popular in 1946, making a steady but by no means dramatic or unprecdented ascent up the charts until 1970, when it was at 140th. Lots of names do this over decades, and no single jump in Ryan popularity seems all that crazy when you figure that it doesn't take much for a name to move when you're in the 500s and 600s in popularity. It's harder to make a big leap, though, when you get to the higher ranks (lower numbers) because you're dealing with a much greater number of babies with any given name in the vicinity.

In the year 1970, the movie Love Story, starring Ryan O'Neil came out. In 1971, the name Ryan jumped from 140 to 51, and by 1976 it settled at 16. Since 1976, the name has stayed steady between 16 and 11 (it's 16 in 2007), which may indicate a cap in Ryan support.

Preliminary conclusion: something in the culture was clearly driving Ryan popularity in the post-war years, but it was Ryan O'Neil in Love Stoy which put it over the top.

CROSS CHECK!

In determining whether the Love Story hypothesis holds true, science obligates us to see whether the movie's co-star, Ali McGraw, had the same effect on girl's names. Unfortunately, the evidence is bleak in this regard. The girl's name Ali has been way, way down since the 80s (like in the 800s) and doesn't even register in the top 1000 for the 1970s. Nevertheless, I don't believe that this torpedos the Love Story hypothesis, for a couple of reasons:

1) Ali McGraw's character died of cancer in the movie, and that's not someone you want to name your kid after;

2) Ali McGraw left her husband Robert Evans for Steve McQueen within two years of Love Story coming out. Steve McQueen was cool and all, but I don't think I'd want my daughter to marry him, so that whole sordid episode may have blunted the Ali-appeal. Yes, Ryan O'Neil has proved to be a tremedously bad father and person in his life, but that all came to light well after the Love Story effect would have taken hold;

3) Muhammad Ali was at the peak of his popularity at this time, and any self-absorbed, melodramatic white couple who may have wanted to name their kid after McGraw may very well have been scared off by the possibility that someone would think that she was really named after the boxer.

Final conclusion: I have no life and I am neglecting both my legal and blogging duties to an unacceptable degree this afternoon.

This guy was pretty good in the early 70s, too.

Although he didn't make his first all-star team until 1972, so the the Ryan O'Neil theory is probably more likely.

I looked it up and Harrison Ford doesn't really look to have an impact on the name.

Unfortunately it looks like Luke Skywalker might have had some impact on that name, blech that was my least favorite character in the trilogy.

I always wondered why there isn't any Harrison's my age. From 1977 to the mid 80's he was huge. He was a man's man plus he would occasionally play the romantic lead in a chick flick. Based on all the evidence there should hundreds of thousands of 25 to 30 year old men running around with the name Harrison yet I have never run into one.

Harrison is just not a good name (of course it probably gets cut to Harry frequently) I don't think the name Pacey jumped up dramatically after dawsons creek, but I'm pretty sure Dawson did. A name has to be good and 'somewhat' unique to make a jump due to pop culture (at least that is the way I imagine it) I know that there were a bunch of articles written about this when Dawson Creek was big.

Head up to Wisconsin and you'll have new name at the top of the list.
was in Wisconsin last year and from a quick view they weren't bad. I honestly can't imagine any place that has space to be too bad when it comes to driving. My quick guess is that if I go to Philly, Boston or New York that I will feel equally about those drivers (although my experience with Chicago drivers show that they have more patience than I imagine would be from those cities--only one horn honk, although plenty of creating new lanes, accidents and jumping medians--and that was in only two days--and the pedestrains are just as bad, I don't think they ever use a crosswalk or even look when crossing)

everyone in the know tells me that Florida is the worse, and I've heard similar comments about DC, I find it hard to imagine open areas having the issues that a dense city would have. I lived in California, and although the skill of the drivers weren't high, their recklessness was a lot lower than Chicago, St Louis, Okinawa, Korea or I imagine in east coast cities.

Based on all the evidence there should hundreds of thousands of 25 to 30 year old men running around with the name Harrison yet I have never run into one.

My friend named his kid Harrison. He claims it had nothing to do with the actor, but I'm not too sure about that. The kid will be six next month. He's the only one I know.

Ali MacGraw's real name is Alice, which is sorely out of favor now, but I wouldn't be surprised if she were responsible for a fair number of the Alisons running around.

Ali MacGraw also inspired one of the greatest quotes of all time, from her ex-husband the producer Robert Evans: "She was looking at me, but she was thinking of Steve McQueen's ####."

The first Harrison I can think of was Chinese-Australian. I don't know what that does to anyone's theory.

Why wouldn't the Love Story Hypothesis suggest a bump for Oliver and Jennifer instead of (or in addition to) Ryan and Ali?

When talking about Tom Cruise do you say "Tom Cruise" or do you say Maverick or Cole Trickle?

The movie Ryan's Daughter also came out in 1970.

I say "lunatic scientologist."

EDIT: and yes, I know that's redundant.

Jose Reyes needs to break a coconut over Chase Utley's head. When that happens, I will gladly anoint him the new number-one bad guy in MLB.

My experience is that drivers in the semiurban areas of the South are worse than elsewhere, because you get a lot of meandering about. But drivers in NY-Chicago-Philadelphia-Boston etc. seem worse because there are so many of them so close together often on very poor roads. So the environmental opportunities for disaster are much greater.

I always wondered why there isn't any Harrison's my age.

If you work or live or visit Any Ghetto, USA, you will run into a number of black men, age 32 now, named Kunta Kinte*. On occassion, you might also run into a female with a varitation on that name, such as Sha'Kunta LaKinte. However, you will never, never, ever run into someone with the first name Harrison, though I did once meet someone named Q'Shawn Harrison-Ford.**

* If you are too young to know, Kunta Kinte was a featured character in the popular 1970s TV mini-series, Roots, which was based on the book of the same name by Alex Haley (the same fellow who somehow authored Malcolm X's autobiography). Kunta Kinte was supposedly an ancestor of Haley, who was taken out of African, sold into slavery and brought to Alabama without a banjo on his knee.

** Just kidding.

Why wouldn't the Love Story Hypothesis suggest a bump for Oliver and Jennifer instead of (or in addition to) Ryan and Ali?

probably because Jennifer is already a popular name, and Oliver is too old fashioned. Names would still have to appeal to the 20-30 yr olds that are having the kids. (I was going to mention the upswing in the name Luke also, I know it's attributed to both Luke Skywalker and Luke from General Hospital---the first article I ever read about this phenemenon was talking about General Hosptial Luke, in the 80's) being popular or big isn't the only criteria to make a movement.

My experience is that drivers in the semiurban areas of the South are worse than elsewhere, because you get a lot of meandering about. But drivers in NY-Chicago-Philadelphia-Boston etc. seem worse because there are so many of them so close together often on very poor roads. So the environmental opportunities for disaster are much greater.
.
I just noticed that in Chicago the drivers seem to like to create their own roads whenever there is a backup in traffic, in two days I saw two people drive over medians to merge onto a highway. I saw two minor accidents (I think I'll see maybe one a year in my normal driving patterns) I saw a bicyclist run into a car, pedestrians just walk into the middle of the street at non-crosswalks, without looking, and expected traffic to stop. There was, in my opinion, a noticeable lack of police cars but tons of cabs who seem to think parking in the middle of the street is perfectly valid driving technique, not even bothering to move close to the curb or the cars on the side. Again they were very patient and weren't ignorant or honking, which indicates to me that this is considered normal driving there.

But drivers in NY-Chicago-Philadelphia-Boston etc. seem worse because there are so many of them so close together often on very poor roads. So the environmental opportunities for disaster are much greater.

In New York you have more drivers, going faster, over lousy roads, in closer proximity, than almost anywhere else.

As a result New York drivers -- the ones that survive -- tend to be good drivers. It's a Darwinian thing.

I just noticed that in Chicago the drivers seem to like to create their own roads whenever there is a backup in traffic, in two days I saw two people drive over medians to merge onto a highway. I saw two minor accidents (I think I'll see maybe one a year in my normal driving patterns) I saw a bicyclist run into a car, pedestrians just walk into the middle of the street at non-crosswalks, without looking, and expected traffic to stop. There was, in my opinion, a noticeable lack of police cars but tons of cabs who seem to think parking in the middle of the street is perfectly valid driving technique, not even bothering to move close to the curb or the cars on the side. Again they were very patient and weren't ignorant or honking, which indicates to me that this is considered normal driving there.

You were on the North Side, huh?

And popular names are unfortunate. Better to be the only person in the universe with your name--easier to find you (good if you are a good person, incredibly bad if you want to hide from your misdeeds).

The same with vanity license plates, especially in smaller towns.

You were on the North Side, huh?
wherever Wrigley field is at. (I wasn't at Wrigley but in the area) I saw several street names I recognize from Wrigley discussions (Clark being the most obvious I think)

Yeah, it's funny you mention that. I have had the same vanity plates since high school: <firstname><lastinitial>35 (for Frank Thomas' number)

So I've basically got my name--a completely unique name/initial pair in North America--on my car.

When I started at my current school, I was told that my car would be keyed/baseball batted/tire slashed within the first week. "The kids are so bad, they will steal anything off your desk the moment you turn away!"

It's year three and there's not a scratch on the car except where I Chicago-style parked a bit with the back bumper.

wherever Wrigley field is at. (I wasn't at Wrigley but in the area) I saw several street names I recognize from Wrigley discussions (Clark being the most obvious I think)

Yeah, worst drivers I have ever experienced. I would get bumped crossing in the crosswalk at a four-way stop at least one or twice every month we lived there.

That isn't because they are bad drivers, it is because they knew you were a sox fan.

Chicago drivers are pretty bad, I'll agree. My girlfriend would constantly warn me about how bad Chicago drivers were (this was before I drove with any regularity in the city), but I just figured she was exaggerating - you know how those wacky women are! Well, she wasn't. Driving in Washington, DC is a more hellish experience (nothing can ever compare to the suicide-inducing experience that is the Beltway during rush hour) but the caliber of driver is significantly worse in Chicago. True story: two weeks ago I was driving south on Lake Shore at night, and nearly killed myself by smashing straight into two cars which had stopped in the middle of Lake Shore Drive, side by side, straddling three lanes, to have a hootin' & hollerin' conversation. WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS OFF. Insane.

I very nearly had my first-ever incident of road rage...I wanted to pull over, go back to those two cars, and splatter the drivers' brains all over the pavement for their near-criminal negligence. But it would have been too late: I got home and turned on the news to find out that - you guessed it - they had been hit by another hapless driver minutes after me. Two dead.

STUPID DRIVERS DESERVE TO DIE.

[/angry Chicago traffic rant]

Drivers on the South Side tend to create their own traffic rules, but are pretty good remembering the main rule of all driving: keep everybody safe. They remind me of China a little. Except for a high rate of observed drunk drivers, I find driving on the SS very safe, and that's driving about 25-30 miles everyday.

I've started to drive North to drop my wife off at her rotation at St. Joe's and there's about 2-3 near accidents based on general stupidity almost everyday. So the Lake Shore story doesn't surprise me, although I appreciate you telling me--I wouldn't have thought of it, but if I see that, I'd probably intervene next time.

My favorite driving move: the left turn out into the center lane until there is room to merge.

That isn't because they are bad drivers, it is because they knew you were a sox fan.

Nice. Incidentally, did you see the article last weekend with the people saying they'd rather NOT make the World Series than play the other Chicago team and risk losing to them?!?!

I really can't think of anything baseball related that would be better than seeing you guys in the Series.

I'm not a fan of either Chicago team (as my current moniker makes clear), but I have to admit that a World Series with both teams would be far more insane, in terms of citywide rivalry, than the 2000 Subway Series. New Yorkers who have trouble believing this need to understand that I wouldn't have believed it either until I came here. But my god, the hatred each team's fans have for the other team and their fans is incomprehensible to outsiders. The White Sox won a series in 2005, for chrissakes, and yet the easiest way to piss off a room full of old Sox fans is to bring up the Cubs. It's like the Blues vs. the Greens at the Hippodrome in Justinian's Constantinople: during interleague games I almost expect a revolution to break out.

Getting to the World SEries and then losing to the Sox would suck tremendously. It would take all the joy of actually getting there for the first time in over 60 years. Man, people thought Bostonians were depressed after the Buckner incident, that would be nothing compared to North Siders after a series loss to the Sox.

for the record if my team doesn't make it, I hope the Cubs beat the Rays in the World Series this year.

I would be happy if the Cubs won except for my insufferable Cubs fan relatives.

In New York you have more drivers, going faster, over lousy roads, in closer proximity, than almost anywhere else

Try Montreal some time - narrow roads, hyper aggressive drivers who love to speed, bad road maintenance (potholes deep enough to lose your car), and 9 months of winter. Add in pedestrians who don't bother checking to see if a car is coming, and you've got the recipe for comedy.

We have this discussion in the Lounge frequently, but never forget that aggressive drivers are much preferable to passive drivers. Austin drivers couldn't merge if their life depended on it. They try to merge into 55 MPH traffic at 40. They have no clue where they're going, so they'll drift aimlessly across three lanes of traffic on a surface street and make a turn. Give me somebody who's an ####### with a plan. I have to treat every one of them as if they're mentally handicapped and/or stoned, until they prove otherwise.

Also, they don't use turn signals. Not using turn signals is the single laziest thing you can do in modern life. If I were emperor, not using your signal would be punishable by death.