Lost: Sports and A.I. Edition

To my own surprise, I haven't been regularly watching Lost for the past few weeks. I think I'm waiting for the second season to arrive on DVD to get my island fix all in one weeklong marathon. It isn't that I've lost interest in Lost. It's just that I've lost interest in the show, which airs at the same time on the same channel, called Grainy Reception. Until I'm willing to pay for satellite or cable television, GR will stay on the air.

Last night, everybody I wanted to win, lost. That goes for hockey, basketball, baseball and American Idol.

In hockey, San Jose lost to Edmonton in the third overtime period of what became the longest game in Sharks history. The game was painful to follow because the Oilers always seemed to be winning, even when they were losing. The fact that they made more shots on goal (57-34) and won more face-offs (69-45) than the Sharks helped to foster this perception. San Jose now leads the series 2-1. Game 4 is tomorrow night.

In basketball, the Phoenix Suns lost to the L.A. Clippers. I'm rooting for Phoenix because I'm a Steve Nash fan. I would claim that I know him personally, but that claim would fall into the not-exactly-true category. My only connection to him is that we went to the same university during the same four years and that I saw him a time or two on campus. Apparently, that's all it takes to win my loyalty as an occasional basketball observer.

In baseball, the Giants lost to the Cubs by a score of 8-1. The game was notable for two reasons:

1. Barry Bonds' failure to hit No. 714 to tie Babe Ruth's record.
2. The sheer number of boats amassed in McCovey Cove waiting for Bonds to hit No. 714.

I'm sure the armada will be assembled in the bay this afternoon in anticipation of a home run ball that will greatly improve somebody's quality of life. I hope they remember to wear plenty of sunscreen.

By the time I found out the results of American Idol, I had a healthy disappointment streak going, so the news of who lost didn't have as great of an impact as it normally would. Ever the optimist, I tried to see it as keeping the streak alive. Only two of the four contestants I predicted for the Final Four remain. With any luck, Elliott and Katharine will survive next week's vote to compete for this season's title.