Geeks unite

How come I 'get' guys collecting sports jerseys, but I don't 'get' guys collecting sneakers, kicks, shoes? Maybe I've watched too many episodes of Sex and the City.

ESPN 2 focuses today on shoes, including a 'shoe bracket'. My athletic shoe purchasing requirements used to be price, then feel, then look. Yes, I'm a cheapskate who once purchased a replica Kellen Winslow powder blue Chargers jersey on ebay for nearly $100. I'm aware that the Chargers never wore the powder blue jersey while Kellen Winslow played there. It's pretty. Also he went to my alma mater, the University of Missouri. As far as I'm concerned, he has no son.

We're all geeks of some order. I work with people who are perfectly content arguing with complete strangers on a message board about why Peyton Manning should or should not be a number-one overall fantasy football draft pick. At my 'real' job one of my co-workers is about to retire and looks forward to spending more time quilting. Another co-worker breeds cats on the side. She takes the cats to shows almost every weekend and the ribbons that they win are a big deal to her. I'm just getting used to the idea of changing the litterbox.

When my wife wants to threaten me, in a joking manner or otherwise, what's the first prized possession of mine on the chopping block? Either my DVD collection or my jersey collection. While I probably could do without the Doug Christe jersey that my so-called friends made me wear at my bachelor party, I might get somewhat emotional if my Frank Thomas or Steve McNair jerseys were at risk. I even bought my wife a jersey, thinking that initiating her into the club would make my collection more safe. So far I've been unscathed.

In today's series finale the White Sox are nine outs away from going 9-0 against the Royals this year. I think that's ten games to go. Excellent. All five Sox runs today have scored with two outs. It's going to be sweet to get that 50th win against the Cubs this weekend. The winning streak is great but they need to step up against a crowd that will be packed with blue-clad Cubbers. Its' better than the usual site of empty blue seats.