I'm sure many readers at the Toaster were deeply saddened by the death of Dungeons and Dragons founder Gary Gygax, on Tuesday. While the only role-playing I've ever had any real interest in was more the "I've been a bad schoolboy, please don't punish me too much, Headmistress," I have fond memories of my brother and his nerdy friends getting all hyped up rolling dice like they were the Rat Pack at The Sands.

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Flipping around last night on TV, I caught an amazing talk show moment. Russell Crowe was sitting on the same Tonight Show panel with Larry the Cable Guy. Has there ever before been a time when the best movie actor and the worst movie actor shared the same couch?

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My buddy, TFD, sent me this NY Times article which touches on the subject I discussed recently about anonymous blogging.  Really thought-provoking. 

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This year's American Idol has the best depth of any year I've ever seen. After last year's crop of dudes with no talent, it's cool to have 3 or 4 interesting male vocalists. Since I expect he will get booted after next week, I hope Chekizie does the Commodores song, Easy. When he sings it, he should replace the chorus with That's why I'm Chekizie, Chekizie like Sunday Morning, yeah!

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I really like the HBO original series, In Treatment, but with new episodes practically every night, it is just too much to stay on top of. Gabriel Byrne gives his calm, intellectual presence to the show, something he brings to every role I've ever seen him in.

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I have no idea if the White Sox will be competitive, but I know that their radio broadcasting team will be the best I've ever heard. Ed Farmer has always been great and with Steve Stone joining him, I can't imagine there will be better analysis of the game anywhere else. The Sox get a lot of blasts for their TV crew, but the ownership should get a lot of kudos for approving these 2 very opinionated former pitchers to broadcast their games.

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Have I already started writing a sketch with John Madden crying like a blubbery girl to Dr, Phil, trying to come to grips with the retirement of Bret Favre? No, but it does seem like something that will probably happen.

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Since I will be in my 50's when my twins are going into Junior High School, I realize it will be difficult to beat them in head-to-head competition. Knowing this, I've been watching the movie, The Great Santini, like it's an instructional video.

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It would only seem just a matter of time until Michael Lewis does a book chronicling this incident which stars a Boston Red Sox scout. Money Shot!

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Keep an eye out over the next couple of weeks for the Juice Blog's Annual Fantasy Baseball League and NCAA Tourney Pool.