Day 1

Dateline: Boston

Time, Thursday evening.

Comments: Convention big success so far. Saw Nomar hit a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth for our second great baseball game in a row at a TFL convention (last year the Rockies also beat the Mariners on a home run in the bottom of the ninth).

Casey hasn't been arrested yet. Yes, we're all amazed too. But he is trying.

11 of the 14 owners will be at the draft in living color on Saturday, our biggest turnout ever.

Continelli joins the fray on Monday, so 12 of the 14 will have participated in some manner. Still don't know where the draft will be. Hotel rooms not big enough, so we're looking for a meeting room.

Mr. and Mrs. Don Carlock arrived today, but after the long drive were in no condition to spend the day with us. The rest of us (Lacy, Tuttell, Taylor, Brogan, Sagan, Katz and Sain) walked the Freedom Trail.

Highlight of the day was the Lacy vs. Taylor pizza eating contest. Both tackled a 16-inch pie for lunch, and both finished it, although it was a struggle. Taylor was declared the winner since his pizza was loaded with sausage and mushrooms, and Lacy's was a simple cheese pie. Lacy will hereafter be known as "The Wimp."

Planning on going out for dinner tonight. Friday highlights include the touch football game (after we roll Taylor and Lacy to the field). We will try and havge it late enough for Bourque and Reidy to join in, but that may depend on them getting here before the sun sets.

That is all.

Day 2

We began the day at about 3 p.m. trying to get Lacy and Tuttell out of bed. Okay, so it was more like 11 a.m., but you get the point.

We all went our own ways during the day. Donny, Scott, Tina and Casey played golf. I believe Scott, Tina and Casey are still on the course, but Donny is ready for the U.S. Open. He shot a 74 on a par 70.

When they finally returned to the hotel, the Reidys and Bourques had joined the fray and everyone else had returned from parts unknown. We all went to the famed North End for some great Italian food recommended to Reidy by a friend at work. The bill was like $300, but when you have 12 friends out enjoying themselves, who keeps track.

There are rumors of another outing to the bars tonight, but they are unconfirmed. What is confirmed is the touch football game happens at 10 a.m. Saturday, then we all get ready for the big draft.

It should be interesting.

Aftermath

If you're scoring at home, the 1998 TFL Convention ended Tuesday at 8:11 PM EDT when I dropped Little Bro off with his Aunt Wilma in Stamford, CT. We had a nice drive down with Mr. Reidy, who allowed us to play football with two-year-old Carolyn. I'm here to tell you: Carolyn's a cutey, and she's got better gridiron moves than her dad.

It was good to see all you folks, save for Bourque (I did enjoy his laptop though.) It's quite gratifying to see such wonderful enthusiasm and attendance at these events. In many logistical respects, this one did not live up to previous conventions (marginal hotel, long T rides, etc.) But we are already bandying about ideas for the '99 convention, assuming there is support for it. Perhaps it is time for Vegas, given that town's reputation for cheap lodging and food.

It is a privilege to know all you guys. That said, the Newts are still guaranteeing 10 wins in 1998. Our opening-day victory has us well on the way to our objective.

As Taylor likes to say, good luck to all.
Scott