Just watched the latest press conference related to the "balloon boy" incident, and I've got to say, I think the authorities are overreacting a bit.  And no, that's not the cop-hater in me talking.  I was able to look at the individuals as they spoke without feeling revulsion or anger.  I just listened and tried to be objective, and after hearing everything they said, it baffles me that they want to press felony charges on these folks.  I do feel that they need to make restitution for leading the authorities and media on a wild goose chase, certainly, but "contributing to the delinquency of a minor" and a boatload of other potential charges?  You've got to be kidding me.  What do my readers think about this whole thing?  I'm just curious. 

Words really fail me this evening.  So many of you have posted absolutely eloquent entries about what transpired today.  I'm nowhere in that league when it comes to sports writing.  But I need to try to write something anyway.

Suffice it to say that my emotions are very conflicted and I'm still pretty upset.  I figured this was coming, of course, as Manny's recent actions and words had become detrimental to the cohesiveness of the team and he just kept egging things on.  I guess he really did want out of Boston, so if being traded brings him the mental peace he said he wanted, I hope he's happy.  At the same time, I'm devastated.  Although I latched onto the Sox last fall, it took until earlier this season for me to get bitten by the Manny bug, and until recently, VERY recently, I couldn't get enough of him.  Yeah, I was sort of fangirling in a way.  I guess being peeved with him has taken care of that, but at the same time I'm going to miss him so much, for so many reasons.  The hitting prowess, the personality, the big goofy smile and glorious flowing dreadlocks, all the times he made me laugh when the camera caught him in the dugout...or elsewhere, for that matter.  Boston as a whole (the city, not just the team) won't be the same without him.  I loved what Steph said when she envisioned the way she thought he would have retired before all this happened.  I wish it had been so.  I hope that as time moves on and the sting of the recent ugliness fades, everyone can remember the good times.  I had been so annoyed in recent days (and anticipating the exit) that I took down all my Manny icons.  I'm thinking, though, that in memory of the good times, I'll probably add back in one or two, or maybe use pictures of him with his Dominican Love Posse buddies -- those never fail to make me smile.

For now, I'm still pretty stunned.  I didn't get much done this afternoon at work, mostly just shuffled papers in between posting or checking websites. I wanted to cry but couldn't very well do that at the office.  By the time I headed to the grocery store I felt like a total zombie, and at some point I again started feeling like crying but stuffed it lest I should have a meltdown on aisle #4.  Now I'm home and I'm just numb.  The tears won't come, yet I know I need to get them out because tomorrow is going to be really busy at work (including a meeting of my diversity committee) and I have to be sharp and focused.  I might put on some sad music after awhile, I dunno.  I'm still trying to process all of this, as I imagine many others are as well.

I just wish I could write about this as beautifully as everyone else has...but thanks anyway for reading this, if you did so.