You learn to live like an animal in the jungle where we play

How happy is HE? (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

So I was able to watch both of Wednesday’s press conferences as they happened and one thing struck me about both Mike Cameron and John Lackey – I suddenly became overwhelmingly excited about having both of them on the team.

For different reasons.

Cameron just seemed so damn happy to be sitting there.  He couldn’t contain his smile when Theo announced Tito would give him his jersey and cap and he couldn’t get that jersey on quickly enough.  (As an aside…I have two jerseys with the number 23 on them:  one has Brian Daubach’s name on it and the other has no name but has Luis Tiant’s autograph.)  He has a positive history with Tito, said all the right things at the presser and was even seen buying his kids Sox gear at the Yawkey Way store after everything was finished.  Cameron will be 37 in January so it isn’t like I’m expecting the guy to make it onto the All Star team in 2010, but he’s talented and hard working and from what everyone says is a great clubhouse presence.  What’s not to like?

Lackey won’t ever be mistaken for a joyful Fenway Ambassador but he knows how to handle himself at a press conference.  Before I go on, let me just say, jokes about his looks are getting really old.  If you’re having trouble wrapping your mind around supporting a player because you don’t like the way he looks – you have bigger issues than I can deal with – tell me you don’t like his attitude, tell me you’re worried about his health, tell me you have difficulties rooting for someone who has been a bit of a rival for a long time and I’m good with all of these – I get that he’s not Adonis (although I’m not repulsed by his looks by any stretch – some people are being downright nasty about him).  And I really couldn’t care less.  The man can pitch the shit out of the ball and that’s all I really care about.  Also a shout-out to the Yankees fans who emailed me laughing that Lackey can’t pitch in Fenway – I’m not even going to get into statistics (which, especially over the last two years, don’t support your comments) but I’ll just say this – he’s never pitched at Fenway wear a Sox uniform.  I don’t have one concern that he’ll have trouble performing at Fenway come April.  Also, it seems that his New Hampshire-native wife might have been a factor in his choosing to sign with the Sox.  More power to him AND her.  Go figure, a married couple making life-changing decisions together.  What will they think of next?

So for now I’m happy.  Cameron and Lackey have a lot to do with that but the fact that I’m choosing to ignore all the trade talk (not rumors or facts, just talk) regarding Jacoby and Clay.  I’m not quite ready to go there just yet.

(Fake Edit):  I wrote this entry last night and never published it.  Before I logged on today to do just that, I read this article regarding the sentencing of Erin Andrews’ stalker.  If you never read one word written about Andrews, you should at least read Anna Clark’s take on the situation (and the use of women as sideline reporters in general).  It sickens me that there are so many asses out there (just read almost any sports message board or the comments on any blog that discusses this) or that Andrews  was involved in it to  promote herself.  She was victimized and it shouldn’t happen to anyone.  She shouldn’t be afraid to do her job because of sick twists like this asswipe.  I’m win Erin, I hope the ass gets as much time as the law allows.  But I’m  not holding my breath on that one.