The Zen of Bobby V

Anyone watch the documentary on ESPN2? I recorded it on Tuesday but just watched it tonight, and I thought it was pretty good. I know next to nothing about Japanese baseball, so, for me, I found the attitudes of the players and the behavior of the fans to be the most interesting part of the film -- the pep rallies, the chanting, the banners, etc.

It was made by three NYU film students and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. It seemed less corny than most ESPN productions, though it did have the obligatory "montage with kinda sad music" moments, but they weren't overdone.

It also focuses on Valentine's -- along with the whole Chiba Lotte Marines organization's -- efforts to create a farm system in Japan to try to strengthen the league and eventually help prevent the best players from leaving for the United States.

All in all, worth a viewing, I'd say.

If you're interested, here's the New York Times' take on the film .

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Also, Friday is Bike to Work Day. If you have a bike and live fairly close to your place of employment, jump on that shit! I try to ride three days a week, but with laziness and hangovers, it usually ends up being one or two. But yay Friday!