Every day, someone throws common sense to the wind and declares that This! Is! The! Year! This year the Pirates won't suck so bad! This year the Pirates will play .500 ball! This year the Pirates will make the playoffs! This year the Pirates will win the World Series!
I had a really hard time typing those sentences. I was laughing way too hard. I mean, this optimism, it has to be a joke, right? RIGHT?
Apparently, Ginny (my blogging hero from That's Church) isn't joking when she says that she really believes that this is the year. She has grabbed hold of the reins on that bandwagon and is riding that sucker around in circles, hooting and hollering and gathering up free bobbleheads. I offered her a lighter and some gas so she could set the whole thing on fire, but she declined.
A quick look at some Pittsburgh tweets shows that she's not alone. There are actually other people riding around on that broken down jalopy of a bandwagon. But, I'm also not alone in my thinking that NO WAY are the Pirates going to turn it around this year. I firmly believe the team ownership has found a way to keep the cash rolling in, and it's for them to spend money on t-shirts and bobbleheads. They don't need to win, they just need to hand out free stuff as a bunch of giant pierogies race around town. Sure, eventually they'll manage to stumble their way to a winning season, but it ain't happening this year.
I'm willing to put money on it. The Pirates will not have a winning season this year. Period.
Are you willing to put money on it? Do you think this is the year? (If so, you're nuts. ;-) ) Or, are you with me in thinking that optimistic napkin holders are just a ruse designed to distract us from the fact that they still have crap pitching?
Here's the deal: Ginny and I have joined forces and are asking you to put your money where your mouth is. All it takes is $5. Declare your loyalty, donate $5, and in the end, the kids will be winners, no matter what the Succos do. There might even be a little something-something in it for you. The details:
- Voice your opinion by clicking on the appropriate button below. You'll be taken to a PayPal page where you can donate $5. Feel free to declare your loyalty over and over and make as many donations as you want, but don't let us catch you changing sides. WE WILL KNOW.
- If the Succos continue to suck this year, 75% of what is donated will go to Christmas Crazy for Kids. If This is the Year! the Pirates turn it around, then that 75% goes to Make Room for Kids. That is to say, 75% will go to the "winning" charity and the other charity will get 25%. There are no losers in this little game. (Unless you count the Pirates. Ahem.)
- If you correctly predict the Pirates season outcome, you will be eligible to win prizes such as gift cards and some other fun stuff which will be announced later. The winner will be selected in a random drawing from all donations made on the "winning" side, so make sure your your email address is correct on the PayPal screen.