Nepotism is Alive and Well

Issue: Nepotism is not usually condoned most places, why here?

Short Answer: Because it's my blog.

Reasoning: For those of you who are still confused, "nepotism" is defined as "patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship."*  Generally, in the "real world," nepotism is frowned upon, as well it should be.  However, when someone writes their own blog, there is no one to stop the favoritism that I am about to bestow on one of my family members, i.e., the first family member to have an entire post dedicated to him (guess that officially rules out my mother, stepmother, and sister - sorry!).  Yes, I have mentioned my brother Casey here numerous times, since he sends me articles and videos that he believes may be appropriate for the blog.  But, I have never written an entire post on him alone.

For those of you who know me and my family, you have probably already deduced who I am talking about: my little brother Michael.  For everyone else (who doesn't know), Michael is the starting shortstop for the Indiana Hoosiers.  They are having a fairly good year so far (24-12, 6-3 in Big Ten), including a win over #23 Louisville last night (they also have wins over then #18 Coastal Carolina and #14 Connecticut).  Currently Michael is hitting .295, with 10 2B, 3 HR, 16 RBI, and a .495 Slugging %.  Not bad for a sophomore (although, I know he will be reading this, so, DUDE - you aren't drawing enough walks.  5 in 105 at-bats?  Stop thinking you need to get a hit every time up and start being a little more selective at the plate).  Indiana has won its first three series in Big Ten play, taking 2 of 3 from Michigan, Ohio State, and Iowa.  They play Minnesota this weekend, which is the consensus best-team-in-the-Big-Ten, unless, of course, Indiana goes in and takes 2 or 3 games from them.  We shall see.

Back to the Ohio State series though.  Indiana dropped the first game of the series 6-1.  Ohio State's pitchers combined to give up exactly 0 earned runs over the nine inning game, and, well, Indiana was never really in it (Michael ended up 1 for 4).  Saturday though, the Hoosiers turned it around.  The score was 5-3 after three innings, and, strangely enough, 5-3 was the final score (could have been an Odd Stat of the Week).  Michael had himself a good one, going 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.  Then came the Sunday rubber match.  Win and you have had a heck of a weekend; lose and you have just dropped a home series to a team that probably will not contend for the Big Ten title (Ohio State is in a down year).  The game was more high scoring than the first two (as per usual on Sundays, when weaker pitchers are generally starting), and ended in crazy fashion.  Indiana came into the bottom of the ninth inning down by 3 runs (9-6).  An error and two singles meant the bases were loaded for the Hoosiers, but, after a strikeout, there were two outs, and they were still down three.  But, as Yogi Berra once said: "It ain't over 'til it's over."  I wish cellphone cameras were around when I was playing baseball, because what happened next can't be explained in words, only in pictures:

Nice job bro.  Man, do I miss playing baseball.

*Dictionary.com