Name's Tom. I've got a BFA from Tisch School of the Arts and I'm currently working on my first album as a singer/songwriter. And from time to time, I make a salient point or two about sports.

The story that got me hooked on New York sports is the story my grandfather tells about taking my dad to Yankee Stadium for his first game in the summer of 1962. Story goes, as the Yanks are at bat in the first inning Grandpa points Mantle out to my father and says, "See that guy? That's Mickey Mantle, and he's gonna hit a home run." Sure enough, first pitch comes in and Mick hits it out. So in the third inning, he gets up again and Grandpa turns back to my father and said, "Remember that guy Mantle? He's up again, and he's gonna hit another homer." Mick strikes out on three pitches. So Dad looks up at his father with a 'what the hell?' look on his face, and Grandpa shrugs and says, "Well, one out of two ain't bad..."

(Grandpa then proceeded to go 0-for-the rest of the decade, including the biggest blown call in my family's history - on June 4, 1968 when Bobby Kennedy was shot, Grandpa waved it off and said, "Don't worry about it. He'll pull through.")

I know baseball and I know football. When I'm done trying to make music I'll probably end up going to law school and working in sports management. I can see myself walking into Cashman's office in ten, twelve years looking for a job and saying to him, with an earnest look on my face, "Brian. Baby. Come on. Come onnnn!" How can he say no to that?

Since it's baseball season, here's a quick warning for Mets and Sox fans: if you're gonna step to me, you better have a real grasp on what you're talking about or I'll put a dunce-cap on your head and send you into the corner where you belong.