That’s right, The Get Up Kids are back.  It seems time heals all wounds.  There was ridiculous banter between songs and everyone seemed happy to be there. Go watch Matt Pryor fumble a romantic memory of his marriage proposal into a story about about his “3 ass kids” just before “I’ll Catch You.” I wish I could find a recording of James Dewees quoting Highlander after Jim told him he looked like a dark lord from Dungeons and Dragons.

I don’t know that I’ve ever been to a concert where literally every person knew every word to the songs before. When Matt let the crowd sing to “Mass Pike,” I think it was louder than when he had the mic.  “Holiday,” “I’m a Loner Dottie…,” and “10 Minutes” probably got the biggest reactions from the crowd. It was insane for all of them.

The band seemed to appreciate that their fanbase had “finally broken the age barrier,” noting that now they tipped their bottles instead of forming circle pits during the anthems. I was a little unsure of how an older crowd would react to music so obviously written for (and by) teenagers, but the great thing about music is how it can immediately throw a listener back to a specific time or place. For last night, we were all ten years younger, remembering what it was like to sing every one of the words with conviction.

As far as the set goes, TGUK played straight through STWHA in its entirely, then played “Campfire Kansas,” “The One You Want,” “On the Roof,” “Mass Pike,” “No Love,” and “Walking on a Wire” for their encore. I would have enjoyed “Shorty” or “Don’t Hate Me” off of Four Minute Mile, but I won’t complain. I’ll just have to wait until Spring 2009 : ).

Next step, clean my car?

How do you like them apples?

• America sent a clear mandate, giving Obama over 333 electoral votes.
• This represents a giant leap forward in the long path of racial equality in America. We’re not there yet, but its progress.
• America’s reputation with the rest of the world just took its greatest leap since the end of WWII.
• While America may never have more than a two party system, Barack Obama redefined the way we do politics. He motivated an insane number of people and raised an enormous amount of money by leveraging the Internet and other new technologies. In doing this, he was able to out-politic a Clinton and essentially come out of nowhere to become president.
• We once again have a president capable of inspiring Americans to get off of their couch and take action.

It will be very interesting to see where we go from here.

Why is Ryan Howard even in the same sentence as the other greats in the game? 200 strikeouts is an embarassment to baseball, let alone the names of Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and company.

Brad Lidge had an UNBELIEVABLE season. Honestly, having no blown saves, and helping your team go like 79-0 with a lead after 8 is incredible. Unfortunately, your career will always be remembered by a soul crushing home run you gave up to Albert Pujols in 2005. I’m glad you finally got over it, no one else ever will.

I still wish it had been Boston vs. Los Angeles. Can anyone honestly say that even one moment of this series was as interesting as it would have been watching Manny Ramirez return to Fenway the very same year he was sent packing? I’ll take one game in Fenway or the Chavez Ravine over like 10,000 in the Trop or Citizen’s Bank. I predict it will take approximately two years until no one can remember who played in 2008.

Baseball needs to ensure that the umpiring situation that occurred in this series never happens again. There were so many missed calls that it became quite embarrassing.

Fox’s “pitch track” is a blatant lie. I would be very interested to see the results of an independent study of the correlation between an umpire’s call and the location “calculated” by the pitch track. I am amazed that Joe Buck is able to keep a straight voice when he analyzes where some of those pitches were or weren’t in the zone.

To the Rays: I’m sorry you missed this opportunity. Sure, your team is in an incredible position, but you play in the AL East. You compete every year against the Yankees and Red Sox. Good luck. That’s all I can say.