First, the Dew Tour has been mentioned in the comments a couple of times and I’ve been meaning to get to that. The bad news is that I’ll be out of town (check yr email, DtM) and won’t be able to go this year. The good news, though, is that I’m sending photographer Andrew Nagl on behalf of the Loss Column. He’ll be taking some pics for the site and writing up a rundown of what it was like.

For anyone who’s thinking about going, do it! The Dew Tour was one of the best sporting events I’ve been to in years, and it’s impossible to understand the things these guys do until you see it in person. I recommend it without reservations and I’m bummed as hell that I won’t be able to make it.

Also, if you go, show the love for Bucky Lasek.

Second, I’ve seen a few new names in the comments lately and I want to say “welcome.” Here’s hoping everyone sticks around and helps make the community even stronger.

Third, I’ll be a guest tonight on a podcast produced by the folks at Drunk Jays Fans. The actual interview is tonight, and there’s a link right on their page to where you can get the audio. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Finally, could it be? Are we on the verge of sweeping said Jays on the road? I refuse to get excited about it because road sweeps are hard to come by. But, it’s nice to be in that position now and then.

It’ll be Radhames Liz looking to follow up a strong debut (and cement his rotation spot) against Roy Halladay.

Like I said, road sweeps are hard to come by.

EDIT: I knew I’d forget something, and I’m a true dumbass for this: rest in peace, Jim McKay.

McKay was before my time but his name towered over the world of sports broadcasting, much like Walter Cronkite‘s does over the news. And McKay’s work at the Munich Games might forever stand as the best ever.

And I plan to do so again, now that I’ve learned that the Open will be returning to Charm City this summer.

The press release went out last week announcing June 19-22 as the time when hometown hero Bucky Lasek and the rest of the crew will descend once more upon the Camden Yards “sports complex” (which last year meant “parking lots”) for skateboarding, freestyle motocross, and BMX.

June seems like half a lifetime away when the temperature hovers around twenty degrees, but look for more coverage as we get close.

Some of you might remember the cover story I wrote for PressBox earlier this year, highlighting Lasek and the Dew Tour in general. Lasek was a two-time defending champion coming into the season, but injuries hampered him early on. That opened the door for Shaun White, who skated lights out and accumulated enough points to clinch the title in the second-to-last event.

Lasek showed up in large fashion today, though, turning in some amazing runs to clinch the event title and second place overall. And you have to love this quote:

“I’m stoked. I’m 100 percent right now,” Lasek said. “I’m skating better than I ever have and there will be no torch passing.”

Salaries and steroids and scandals make it hard sometimes to really, truly root for any of the athletes and teams we love and discuss so much. A guy like Lasek, though, makes it easy to remember why we ever cared about sports in the first place.

Respect.

At least the Caps-Penguins matchup was fully awesome. Moving on to today’s slate:

It’s an eight-something first pitch in the deciding game of the ALCS, with Jake Westbrook taking the hill against Dice-K. When the Indians lose this one you can all go ahead and blame me. I jinxed the hell out of the Tribe when I put up that stupid post about how this Red Sox squad wasn’t a memorable one. Idiot.

The Ravens are in Buffalo with their b-squad looking to step up on the road. The Bengals host the Jets, while Pittsburgh travels out to Denver for Sunday Night Football. Down I-95 in Raljohn the Redskins host Arizona.

Should you find yourself in need of any context for that Bills-Ravens game, I present you willisistrash.com. Awesome.

And in case you need a break from football, Baltimore’s own Bucky Lasek and the rest of the world’s top skaters will wrap up the AST Dew Tour season today in Orlando. Lasek, alas, will not win his third consecutive Dew Cup — that honor has already been wrapped up by carrot top Shaun White.

But, duty calls. It’s not exactly a pleasure trip even though I do plan to make the most of it. I’ll almost certainly chime in at least once or twice while I’m gone.

By the by: hometown boy Bucky Lasek came in second in the skateboard vert comp at the Right Guard Open in Cleveland over the weekend. He looked poised to take the top spot until Shaun White turned in a ridiculous run on his last try. I’ll keep you all posted on the Dew Tour as it rolls along. Bucky’s still in position to take the Cup, but it looks like White will have to stumble in a big way for that to happen. Should be fun to watch.

Dan the Man is your leader from here to next Wednesday. Treat him well, leave a lot of comments, and I’ll see you when I see you. Thanks as always for reading.