Batter up!

I'm very excited.

I'm going to a Mariners-Red Sox day game Wednesday afternoon with a couple friends.

I love to watch Ichiro play. He's an inspiration to anyone who wants to pursue anything seriously. He's superbly disciplined and constantly preparing himself for his next move.

If you are able to watch him play at Seattle's Safeco Field (known as The Safe here), you'll see something you don't see in just about any other baseball field come the end of the season. Because he moves around so much, the grass is still full and green and growing there.

Most other players in their home ball parks tend not to move as much, so where they play their outfield positions, the grass is beaten down and the area worn.

One summer day I was walking my little Pomeranian Oscar around a three mile path at a place here called Green Lake. He was a perfect little gentleman when he walked with me, never paying attention to anyone or anything else but me.

A group of Japanese tourists were chatting away, coming from the opposite direction, when they saw Oscar, who was, if I do say so myself, a very cute little dog. They were absolutely fascinated with him and how well he behaved. I even got down to show them how he would sit and shake hands.

They "ooooooed" and "aaaahed" at my little guy, talking (I imagine) about what a great little dog he was.

I only know how to say "thank you" in Japanese, and did so. But I wanted to say more. After all they were snapping Oscar's picture and fussing over him so much.

So I spread my arms and declared, "ICHIRO!"

They stopped, sort of stunned, were silent a moment, then spread their arms and echoed in unison, "ICHIRO!"

To which I anwered, "ICHIRO!"

To which they responded, "ICHIRO!"

And we simultaneously bowed a number of times as we parted.

Seattle Times columnist (and now Seattle City Counsel member) Jean Godden declared "Ichiro" a "universal language!"

Meanwhile, the Mariners have had a pretty up and down season. It's always disappointing when one's hometown team isn't consistent. A couple of players are, like Ichiro, but the pitching has been, as Randy says, "pitchy." Inconsistent.

And one of my favorite teams has always been the Red Sox. So while I'll be happy if the Mariners win, I have to say the Red Sox are having a spectacular year and deserve the winning season they're enjoying. David Ortiz is someone I love to watch play as well.

Ichiro may leave the team after this season if they're not in contention. Can't say I blame him. He's such a reliable, winning component of the team, but unless all his team members are just as reliable? Especially the starting pitchers? It will be a sorry sorry day in Seattle if the Mariners lost our champion.

In short, I'll be happy if either team wins. But I have to keep that to myself. My mother is a diehard Mariners' fan, and I'd never live it down if she saw me on TV (she watches the games all the time) cheering for the Bosox. And it would be just my luck that I'd get caught on camera the nanosecond I cheered for the Bosox.

It's always fun to go to a game with friends. One of the things I like most about baseball is that it's a game that can be enjoyed along with a great conversation or two.

Awhile back I worked as the news director and morning news anchor for a rock radio station in Seattle - the short lived KSPL FM. The morning disc jockey, Joe Michaels, and I were given Mariners' shirts with our names on the back and we'd go to games and hand out free Mariners tickets to listeners who came up to us during the game and asked us if we were Colleen Patrick and Joe Michaels from KSPL.

PA's (public appearances) like that were always enjoyable for me.

The station arranged for several of them to boost ratings.

One of which was an elephant race. Several stations in town participated - each with its morning team (DJ/Newsie) riding a contending elephant.

Let me tell you - elephants are *very* large and tall and sitting on the neck of an elephant makes one feel as if one will fall over and plunge a couple stories unless one maintains one's balance. Joe sat behind me, sort of hanging on to me and the slightest pressure from him made me feel like I would topple over on the pavement below.

"Get back! Sit back!" I thought I commanded as I was sure he was so close I could feel his breath against the back of my neck. Until I realized I was too scared to speak, and what I felt on my neck was my flop sweat dripping.

I've always believed that those poor elephants wished we would have fallen so they could laugh at us doing such ridiculous things for attention. I bet they wished we would have instead brought attention to the need for them not to participate in such silly activities and be sent home where they belong, to roam freely.

Lessons learned.

Oh - and as I recall our elephant won the race. Probably in a rush to get the crazy woman off its neck who kept screaming - in her own mind - "Get back, Joe! Sit back!"

Took me a week to stop shaking.

Yep. One more thing to talk about at the game. Think I'll have some kettle corn, too.

Winning Hartmann and minds

If you've never listened to Thom Hartmann's radio program, you're in for a shock - but a pleasant one.

Thom specializes in delivering honest-to-goodness real information about our nation and world - how it works, how it doesn't work; what needs to be done to turn it right side up again and feel as if we have some control over our lives.

He speaks at international conferences on a subjects so vast and thought-provoking it feels like he should be leading the country instead of taking any time to educate and empower us to do our duty as citizens and be sure the nation is run by people who actually represent us, our best interest and the constitution of the United States.

This guy is so well informed in every arena influencing politics - history; economics; culture; racial, age, sexual orientation and gender bias; law; spirituality and the constitution - that although he is a genuine progressive, conservatives chat with him almost daily, engaging in some great - and real - debates on his radio program.

No bells, whistles, sound effects or name-calling for this guy. Just real knowledge and listener empowerment.

If that sounds dull compared to the self-righteous shouters we're used to hearing on the radio, his soft-spoken, articulate demeanor says he actually listens to and respects his guests - of all political persuasions - as well as those who listen and call in. Again, of all political persuasions.

Oy! The quality of callers Thom receives is impressive - well informed and educated ordinary citizens as well as those with more familiar names.

They can mention the most obscure political incident in the history of humankind, and Thom breaks a riff or two not only about the incident, but what caused it and then its ramifications on this and several other nations; what's more, how it continues to affect us today. And will tomorrow. And in 2090 because ...

You get the drift.

Unlike the vast majority of other radio commentators, there's very little repetition of the same information about the issues facing us today; the man does his homework and it shows.

Maybe his down to earth, positive and easy style comes naturally because he ordinarily broadcasts from his home station in Portland, Oregon, USA.

There's something fresh, unique, independent and informed about his approach - which matches the essence of the Northwest USA personality; we live among tall trees, clean air and great mountains (OK, a few are volcanic so we're not always so laid back!)

I listen while I write. Fascinating stuff. I believe I'm pretty well informed, but feel like a kindergartner when I listen to this chock-full o' real facts program. IMO, no disinformation is even tried here. That's not to imply that he speaks "over our heads," because he doesn't. He's clear, articulate and speaks in language anyone speaking English can understand.

A point of view? He has one, to be sure. But no attempt is made to twist the listener or influence him or her with anything other than the facts, man, just the facts.

Oh - he's also written a dozen books or so, including a couple describing how to succeed if you're living with ADHD.

Earlier this week, Monday, and today (Thursday) he's broadcasting live from the Czech Republic because he's speaking at the international forum on Transforming Culture: From Empire to Global Community.

Thom has some serious issues with the international corporate financial culture - which has allegiance only to the corporation and profit, not people or nations - and self-anointed "royal" conservative American political families like the Bushes. Despite their folksy exterior, they apparently believe they are several classes above the rest of us; more valuable and important than us ordinary citizens who are defined as "created equally" by our constitution.

I admit, it took a little getting used to Thom's style because he simply draws you in. He doesn't hit you over the head with anything other than solid evidence; he neither pushes you into a defensive corner nor does he try to convince you what or how you should think; he assumes you're smart enough to do that just fine for yourself.

It airs Monday through Friday on Air America, 12-3pm EST/9am-12pm PST.