Classified Ads---Senior Management

Philadelphia, PA Executive that led vendor technology leasing start-ups for US Bancorp and Wells Fargo. Hired and managed vendor teams in technology, office equipment, telecom and transportation. Email: jjacee@verizon.net

Europe 25+ yrs exper. management roles Chase, AT&T Capital, Heller Financial, SFS. Develop biz from “scratch to success”. Looking for challenging & pioneering job. Email: frans@alliedproperty.net

Philadelphia, PA 27 yrs. exp. sales, ops., credit, strategy, P&L mngmet. Most recently created & executed the biz plans for 2 highly successful Bank-owned small ticket leasing subsidiaries. email: mccarthy2020@comcast.net

Philadelphia Metro Area - 30 Years experience Healthcare sales/ management- 3 years experience newly create "small-ticket" healthcare division. Good success - Mitch Utz 215-460-4483 Email: mitutz@msn.com

For a full listing of all "job wanted" ads, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

To place a free "job wanted" Leasing News ad:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

ELFA Career Center: Job Seekers (free):
http://careers.elfaonline.org/search.cfm

HL Leasing/Gordon Roberts Bizarre Twist
by Christopher Menkin

1993 Photograph Gordon R. Roberts

This is basically to clear up the rumor floating the leasing channels that 1993 Western Association of Equipment Leasing President Gordon Roberts was arrested again. He was not. On August 24, 2009 he was in Denver District Court regarding part of his probation that concerned restitution. The prosecutor has indicated the matter will be worked out, according to Lynn Kimbrough Communications Director, Denver DA's Office.

There are several in the leasing industry familiar with the case that indicates there is a lot more to the story that has not been published to date. It is obvious that it was John Otto who pressed the charges against Gordon Roberts. What really happened is said to be known by ex-employees and friends of Gordon Roberts and due to circumstances has never been made public. I personally believe them.

.

In 1995:

"Roberts was manager of Centerpoint Financial Services from January 97 to April 2003. He was charged with theft because in June 2002 he used Centerpoint money to pay $12,000 on his truck loan, in August 2002 he use $68,000 of Centerpoint money to pay off his home mortgage, in September of 2002 he took $3500 of Centerpoint money and gave it to his wife via by writing a check to her leasing company, and in February of 2003 he put $50,000 of Centerpoint's money in a bank account of his. The DA has reserved the right to ask for additional restitution once we have documentation and I believe the restitution amount will go up from the number you have."
Lynn Kimbrough Communications Director, Denver DA's Office.

Court Record Conviction:

"08/02/2005 Sentence Resulting fm Plea Active

Judge/Magistrate: CHRISTINA MARIE HABAS

Probation: 4 YEAR(S)
Probation Supervision Fee: $2400.00
VAST min for off after 5/1/03: $162.00
Victim Compensation Fund: $125.00
Court Costs - T, M, CR: $35.00
Drug Standardized Assessment: $75.00
Drug Testing - Cost Recovery: $15.00
Request for Time to Pay: $25.00
Restitution: $133,647.00 (editor)
Community Service: 250 HOUR(S)
Useful Public Service: $10.00 "

From the court transcript:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Randall_Gordon.pdf

John Otto

Centerpoint's principal was John Otto, founder and CEO of Heritage Pacific Leasing and HL Leasing, Fresno, California, who committed suicide pending an FBI Investigation into a major Ponzi scheme, centered on leases purchased allegedly from American Express Business Finance that do not appear to exist. It is reported that Centerpoint is still collecting payments, residuals, settlements, as well as HL Leasing and Heritage Pacific Leasing. The FBI is continuing its investigation, seizing assets, as well as the California Department of Corporations is considering "Receivership," plus there is a class action case active in Fresno, California, and other cases pending across the United States.

Gordon R. Roberts Convicted of Theft, 2005
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Gordon_Roberts.htm

HL Leasing stories:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/heritage_leasing.htm

Credit Availability Still Slowing Expansion & Leasing

As we all head into a three day "Labor Day Weekend," many of us ponder will September be better than August? Will these months ahead make up for the months that have past?

Perhaps the most accurate indicator for the finance and leasing industry comes from the National Association of Credit Managers (NACM), headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, supports approximately 19,000 business credit and financial professionals worldwide with premier industry services, tools and information. NACM and its network of Affiliated Associations are the leading resource for credit and financial management information and education, delivering products and services, which improve the management of business credit and accounts receivable.

"There was still some positive movement in the Index as a whole, but there are obvious weaknesses showing up in terms of credit availability, credit applications and sales. There were also areas of concern in terms of dollar exposure, disputes and other negatives. There was a sense that bigger economic issues began to overtake the sector, slowing down some of the progress noted in the last few months," the August, 2009 report notes.

This report may as also be talking about the finance and leasing industry.

NACM believes "...the proposed recovery is a little weaker than some of the indicators reflect, especially in terms of availability of money. The reduction in credit applications indicates that there is less willingness to lend and that companies seeking credit are being put through more hoops than in the past. The number of additional disputes and delinquencies also suggests that some sectors of the economy are still struggling.

NACM Economist Chris Kuehl, Ph.D. stated that these readings do not necessarily mean that the other signs of economic recovery are not accurate but, he indicated, "the credit system has not healed and it may be some time before there is a sense that the biggest issues are behind the economy. There are some shoes left to drop, most notably the commercial property sector.

"Other data that has been used to assert that the recession has started to bottom out is accurate and encouraging. Housing starts are returning back to growth and it is encouraging to see durable goods orders back to normal, but the money situation remains a solid concern for business as it seeks to expand into other sectors to capture some newly available market share."

Manufacturing Section:

(click graphic to make larger)

The growth that had been seen in manufacturing slowed in August as well. There was still a gain in the manufacturing index-from 48.3 to 48.5-but this was far less dramatic than expected. With the advance of the PMI and the improvement in durable goods orders, it was thought that the manufacturing sector would show a similar increase. The tiny gain essentially reflected a flat month. The biggest shifts took place in the number of new credit applications. There was a nice surge in July as the index moved up to 55.3, but the drop to 48.6 was steep and this suggests that the enthusiasm evident in manufacturing for July slowed as the more constrained month of August dawned.

(click graphic to make larger)

The factors that kept manufacturing growing in August had more to do with the current consumer base. There were fewer dollars past term, fewer disputes and fewer bankruptcies. The clients that exist in the sector are getting their financial houses in order, but this may also be more of the worst companies leaving the scene as opposed to any general improvement in the status of current customers.

Service Section:

(click graphic to make larger)

There wasn't much in the service sector that provided encouragement, but there was more progress than in the manufacturing sector as the service index crept upward from 47.7 to 48.1. The most significant change was a reduction in sales. The other factors remained very close to what they had been in July, but this is not unexpected news. The retail sector has been hurt and has been slow to rebound. At the same time, there has been relatively little growth in other service sectors as financial sector prospects remain low: real estate is down and many of the corporate service areas have been reduced in reaction to the problems in the economy as a whole. The only modest gains have been in health care services and the government

(click graphic to make larger)

It is notable that some of the problem areas have seen some improvement. There have been fewer disputes and delinquencies and there is less dollar exposure than before. "This is good news as it suggests that some of the worst is over in these service sectors. The stability of the economy has started to manifest in these traditional areas that serve as barometers for the wider economy. Retail has not recovered and may not this year, but the backsliding seems to have halted and those that have survived the recession seem to be hanging in there," said Kuehl.

Computer Operating Systems

Netapplications.com indicates Windows 7 has broken its 1% share.

"With Windows 7 due to go on sale October 22, 2009, NetMarketShare.com is tracking its usage market share at 1.18% with the release candidate made available by Microsoft.

"Trending indicates that share seems to be coming directly from Windows XP users who have skipped upgrading to Windows Vista, but are now upgrading to Windows 7. And, many analysts have predicted that exact pattern."
www.netapplications.com

Letters?

(primarily in chronological order)

Menkin pleads "guilty"
by Christopher "Kit" Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/September%202009/09-02-09.htm#Menkin_Pleads_Guilty

"Thank you for response and printing my letter. I look forward to building a very positive and mutually beneficial working relationship with you."

Regards,

Steven

Steven R. Hughes
Executive Director
National Equipment Finance Association
3525 Piedmont Road
Five Piedmont Center Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30305
404.760.4236 (office)
404.803.0636 (cell)
404.240.0998 (fax)
shughes@nefassociation.org

P.S. - Save the Date and plan now to attend The National Equipment Finance Summit - FALL 2009, September 24 - 27, in Monterey, California.

----

Same subject, from a member of the NEFA Executive Board:

"As is my daily routine, I always read your newsletter the first thing in the morning every single day no matter if I'm in the office or out. Today was no exception.

"Kit, you did us a great service today as you reiterated your position and how you came to it and also gave our association what I considered a positive vibe as well. Very balanced in my eyes, and that was actually more than I expected. Thank you for doing that.

"Thank you again!"

Best regards,

Randy

Randy Haug
Sr. Vice President / Partner
LeaseTeam, Inc.
(800)531-5086 x 1014
www.leaseteam.com
randy@leaseteam.com
Innovative Solutions, Extraordinary Results!

-----

Same subject, from a member of the NEFA Executive Board:

"Thanks for today's article and for emailing me the link. I think it puts NEFA's membership numbers in better perspective and discusses some of the more positive aspects of the various associations, including NEFA. As the article points out, NEFA's purpose is to support the efforts of advanced lease brokers, small to mid-size independent lessors, funding sources, and service providers looking to grow their businesses profitably while offering the very best service.

"Also, thanks for taking the time to give me a call to discuss the association. It was very thoughtful of you and the article showed that you are willing to consider other perspectives.

"Keep doing the very valuable work of covering news and issues within our industry.

"I love this industry, have worked in it my whole career, and believe that the individuals and companies that comprise the industry, by and large, perform a tremendously useful role for our country. We have a key position in the larger effort of getting equipment and resources to those who need it to keep our schools running, to provide healthcare, to feed our nation, to transport goods, and to provide all the other important functions required by our economy. When our industry is not functioning well, to some degree, everyone feels it. And so, I like to remain positive, and along with following the news, see a healthy dose of uplifting/encouraging coverage for our industry.

"Thanks again."

Regards,

George Parker

George A. Parker
Executive Vice President
Leasing Technologies International, Inc.
221 Danbury Road
Wilton, CT 06897

Phone: 203-563-1100, ext. 214
Fax: 203-563-1111
Website: www.ltileasing.com
Email: gparker@ltileasing.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sales make it Happen---by Christopher Menkin
Changes in the Leasing Marketplace
http://leasingnews.org/archives/August%202009/08-26-09.htm#Salesmakeithappen

"Make a note of the date, August 26, 2009. I agree with almost everything in your article. There is an old lament that, "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer". It's most likely true. The rich continue to do what makes them richer and the poor continue to do what has kept them poor. In the same vein, I think the independent broker must look at their business model and see what is working and what's not. Continue and improve on what is working and discontinue or modify what is not working. I for one have been guilty for too long of continuing to do what I have done in the past out of habit. No more!

"Let's call it 'old dog, new tricks day'."

Bob Bell, CLP
United Funding, LLC
1455 Lockridge Drive
Suite 100
Cumming, GA 30041
800-685-7571
FAX: 770-844-0242

------

Should you buy stock in a leasing company?
http://leasingnews.org/archives/August%202009/08-19-09.htm#Stock_Leasing_Company

"I read Bruce Kropschot's article from 2000 with much interest. Bruce is one of the sages of our industry with valuable experience and perspective through several economic cycles. His assessments and conclusions at that time were spot on. It is interesting that we are hearing the exact same musings today that Bruce observed nine years ago. He was surveying the landscape at the bottom of the economic cycle then as the financial pundits are doing today. Leasing is a highly cycle industry. THE LEASING INDUSTRY WILL SURVIVE ANOTHER DAY AND PROSPER. Our history has proven this expectation time and again.

"Bruce can remember what things were like at the top end of past cycles as well. He benefited along with everyone else during those periods. While the timing of the cycle is hard to predict, patience will reward those who are willing and able to wait. Let's keep the faith in ourselves, our industry, and our economic systems. Opportunities will present themselves as the cycle evolves for those who understand and take reasonable risks. The markets have shown very positive improvement over the last six months. Let's stay the course with confidence. Thanks for the reminder Kit."

Paul J. Menzel, CLP
President & CEO
FINANCIAL PACIFIC LEASING, LLC
3455 South 344th Way
Suite 300
PO Box 4568
Federal Way, WA 98063-4568
Email: pmenzel@finpac.com
Phone: 253-568-6121 or 877-222-8558 x121
FAX: 800-510-0101

----

Disclosing a Leasing Company

"Thank you for your response, but we seem to have a communication disconnect here. I sent you a rather lengthy email explaining how a ******** rep misrepresented himself to my customer and my vendor explaining to them that he was working with me on a transaction. He fraudulently had the customer send him a credit application with social security numbers on it, when the customer was under the impression that she was dealing with someone in my office. He then called my vendor and again misrepresented himself stating that he was working with me on the deal, and had the vendor send him the equipment description and pricing.

"He then called the customer and told her that she should not deal with me any further and should only deal with him. With that, the customer canceled the deal costing my vendor a sale.

"That is the story I am trying to convey to you. The fact that he also lied about the interest rate was just one more component of the deal.

I appreciate your explanations, but as mentioned, I have been in the business for 25 years and have taught classes on this stuff. So, I really don't need a refresher course at this time nor am I looking for explanations of what add on rates are. Notwithstanding your comment that everybody in the leasing business quotes add on rates, in my opinion, anybody that offers add on as an interest rate without disclosing it as add on is a crook.

"The question is Do you have an interest in exposing ********* for fraudulently misrepresenting themselves to an end user and a vendor for the purpose of obtaining confidential personal information which the customer would not have provided had she known who she was dealing with???"

(name with held)

(I have received many complaints about this company, so I think it is more than just one bad apple salesman---but I am sorry this is not a legitimate Bulletin Board Complaint as it will become "he said, they said" without substantial documentation. Editor)

-----

Wants to get into leasing

"Any of the training classes, sales coaches, etc. listed throughout your site worth a flip? Definitely don't want to be part of the "majority" that you mentioned in your email. Going to follow your advice on NAELB as well. I've been checking out their website."

(name with held)

(It depends on your financial condition and seriousness of your decision.

(You will learn more by working just on commission only than going to a school, although a school or lease coach will give you a "quicker start," meaning the ability to make sales and understand what you are doing.

(It is not just getting the sale, the skill is in placing the lease at a source at the rate you quoted or at a source where you can make a higher commission because they have a lower rate and will accept the transaction.

(Please go here: http://two.leasingnews.org/Books.htm

(Leasing Books

(Books on Equipment Leasing by Source:

(Master Index

Books
Direct Purchase
Certified Leasing Professional (CLP) Foundation
Equipment Leasing Association
Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation Reports
United Association of Equipment Leasing

(Best books for you at this point:

("Power Tools Small Ticket Leasing"

("Power Tools for Successful Leasing"

("Technology Leasing

(All available at:)

http://www.leasingpress.com/OrderForm.htm

---- https://twitter.com.careerexaminer

"I owned Midwest Leasing Group from 12/92 until I closed it in 09/08. In the 2007-08 economy, I had several customer defaults, followed by some personnel issues that accompanied the current economic decline, and I found myself paying employees, but not me. I closed the company. Linda Jolicoeur, a long-time friendly competitor, asked me to come into her organization and sell, and to assist her in the management of her sales team. Linda is a terrific friend, and I have been doing that work since last September. However, I have also looked for supplemental work to provide additional income during my period with Linda, since the leasing business has been somewhat precarious.

"In March of this year, two members of my church lost long-term careers, through layoffs. Seeing the depression that went along with those layoffs, I felt I should provide some assistance, since I had spent six months in a job-search mode, even though I was not searching as hard as many.

"Expecting 2-3 folks to show up to my first meeting, I had 16, and my roundtable discussion turned into a full presentation of job search techniques, current issues in the jobs market, unemployment compensation, new-job training issues, networking, on-line job boards, interviewing techniques, the effects of social networking like Twitter (you can see my article links from my Twitter account: https://twitter.com.careerexaminer, and many other topics. The agenda is growing in each workshop. I knew 4-5 people personally in the first workshop. The two groups I've had since then have contained no one I knew prior to the sessions; by the time we finish, I feel they are all friends.

"I applied to be an "expert" writer on career searching (and was accepted) at http://www.examiner.com/x-10186-Detroit-Job-Search-Examiner, where I publish articles on subjects related to those I review in my workshops. I've also written several articles for trade publications, mostly in leasing, which I love to do; writing is a passion.

"This coming week I will end my third workshop group (three weekly meetings of 2+ hours each), although this group of 20+ has already determined that they'd like 1-2 more meetings to allow us to go deeper into a couple other subjects. My first three-week workshop went five weeks, as well. It's very gratifying in that these folks don't know each other, or me, at the first meeting, and they become friends and a support group by the second week.

"I post the event on LinkedIn, under GET TO Workshop, and I have a group there under the same name. I receive no compensation for doing these workshops, although the costs of copying, and prep time is beginning to take a toll; even so, I expect to continue. I've been approached to go further out-state, and I may have to charge mileage, just so I'm not losing a lot of money while I try to do these sessions.

"I'm sure this is more than you want, and I hope if you write this, you'll use your own version, but you can see my workshop description at my examiner blog above, and you can see what we discuss and what I write about there. If this is newsworthy, I'm just trying to get a few more people involved. If it's not newsworthy in this venue, that's ok, too. I appreciate your time, and have enjoyed reading Leasing News for many years."

Thank you.

Curt MacRae
248/553-0444
FAX: 248/553-0508
734/775-2500 (cell)

----

Influential Women in Leasing

"When I read your newsletter yesterday I was flabbergasted. When you started the list of Most Influential Women in Leasing and added Debbie Monosson and Bette Kerhoulas' names. Secretly I thought to myself, what an accomplishment it would be to see my name with theirs. And then it was-Oh my God!

"It brought tears to my eyes and left me speechless. I will never be able to express my gratitude of being thought of and acknowledged by my peers in a manner such as this. This is truly something that I will never forget. It is one of the most humbling experiences of my life."

Thank you.
Shari Lipski

(This ad is a "trade" for the writing of this column. Opinions contained in the column are those of Mr. Terry Winders, CLP)

Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croce

"Taking Hollywood" and "It Might Get Loud" make a solid musical double-bill in theaters, while this week's DVD releases offer viewers a chance to discover a trio of unfairly overlooked gems.

In Theaters:

Taking Woodstock (Focus Features): Director Ang Lee ("The Ice Storm," "Brokeback Mountain") has the right, gentle spirit to capture the famous 1969 concert through human eyes rather than through easy nostalgia in this coming-of-age story. In the Summer of Love, it looks like young Elliot (Demetri Martin) and his parents (Imelda Staunton, Henry Goodman) will lose their rundown hotel due to unpaid bills. But salvation comes Elliot has the inspiration to contact the Woodstock organizers and help them bring the bands to the family grounds, where business booms and life lessons are learned. Even those for whom Woodstock is a legendary event or a vague memory should enjoy this low-key and often affecting comedy-drama, with a cast that includes Eugene Levy, Emile Hirsch, and Liev Schreiber.

It Might Get Loud (Focus Pictures): For viewers coming out of "Taking Woodstock" craving more rock music, Davis Guggenheim's first-rate documentary might provide a fulfilling second-feature. Its subjects are three exceptional electric-guitar players, U2's The Edge, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, and Jack White of The White Stripes. Though there are thrilling jam-sessions in which the three get together and just about blow the roof off the recording studio, the movie is just as interested in the rockers' more reflective moments, during which we get insightful glimpses into the difference between stage persona and behind-the-scenes focus, as well as each man's wistful stories about life and art. A musical platform that's appealing to devotees of the rockers as well as to viewers just looking for a rousing show.

New on DVD:

Netflix tip: To avoid longer waits for requested movies, schedule your movie-watching earlier in the day so that you can send discs back before the last mail delivery in the afternoon. It greatly diminishes lines, especially with the more recent releases.

Silent Light (Palisades Tartan): Mexican director Carlos Reygadas ("Battle of Heaven") continues his track as one of his generation's most fascinating filmmakers with this challenging but moving drama. Set in an isolated area of rural Mexico, it follows a family of Mennonites whose bond is tested. The father, Johan (Cornelio Wall), finds himself in love with another woman (Miriam Toews), which threatens to destroy his marriage to Marianne (Maria Pankratz). As events both human and seemingly divine come between the characters, will the characters be able to make it through the affair or will the family be torn apart? Using luminous cinematography and the presence of nonprofessional actors, Reygadas offers a visually beautiful and emotional essay on faith and love. With subtitles.

That Hamilton Woman (Criterion): Though not as well-known as her Oscar-winning role as Scarlet in "Gone With the Wind," Vivien Leigh's performance in this lavish 1941, being released by Criterion in a beautiful restored print, historical romance is every bit as good. Leigh plays Lady Hamilton, a former dance-hall girl who has made her way to the top of British society. Though she's known many men, the love of her life comes in the form of Lord Horatio Nelson (Laurence Olivier), a brooding naval officer who's leading the British fleet in battle against France. Their romance is believably passionate, due in no small amount to the fact that Leigh and Olivier were in love in real life. A rousing costume drama that was reportedly Winston Churchill's all-time favorite.

The Pursuit of Happiness (Sony): Robert Mulligan, the "To Kill a Mockingbird" director who passed away not long ago, was an unassuming but sensitive filmmaker who left behind many gems still waiting to be discovered. This 1971 drama, being released for the first time on DVD, is one of them. It tells the story of William (Michael Sarrazin), a young college student who's sent to jail after a car accident. Struggling with the harsh society around him as well as with his own mixed-up feelings, he tries to learn about himself during his time behind bars. But how will he put those lessons to use when a chance of escape comes along? Reticent, gentle and very well-acted, it's a sleeper that's worth tracking down.

Mortgage rates lowest since May
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage-rates-lowest-since-may.aspx

Stanford is sued by Bellagio
http://www.nypost.com/seven/09032009/business/stanford_is_sued_by_bellagio_187825.htm

Homicide probed in massive LA-area arson fire
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gZ8Zlj-J4JAGBVX44URTwVV53E0QD9AG8QTG0

Antioch rape allegation among details emerging about Garrido's past
http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_13262098?nclick_check=1

Calif. to pay nearly $10M on IOU interest
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-09-03-IOU-calif_N.htm

Redskins Fall to Jaguars, 24-17
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/03/AR2009090304235.html?hpid=artslot

Goodell says Vick eligible to play in Week 3 for Eagles
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/eagles/2009-09-03-vick_N.htm

Wine, etc.: Consumers still love their chardonnay
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/fnw/2009/09/02-41/Wine-etc-Consumers-still-love-their-chardonnay.html

1781- Los Angeles , California was born. The Mexican Provincial Governor, Felipe de Neve, founded El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles, originally named Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula, by Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish army captain and Juan Crespi, a Franciscan priest, who had noticed the beautiful area as they traveled north from San Diego in 1769. El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles translates into the Village of our Lady , the Queen of the Angels ... People who live there call it : L.A. for short. And you are from West L.A. or Downtown L.A. South L.A. or North Hollywood .
( lower half of: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/sep04.html )

THERE Is NOTHING, IN SPORT, LIKE A NEW BASEBALL
BY TIM PEELER

Without seeing one, I can feel it in
My hand, fresh from an umpire's dark blue
Canvas bag: a sweet white sphere-but not as
Smooth as one might think a palomino's
Forgiving hide.

It feels a bit like your dry face after
A very close shave, and the odor is
Quite like a new leather belt or wallet-
A good pitcher could smell the sharp break in
The face of the rock-and every baseball
Has one: a mouth, closed eyelids, a low brow,
The receding hairline of red stitches.

In sport what can you compare with this orb?
A puck? A grainy leather basketball?
Without seeing one, I can feel how it
Rests in the open palm of my right hand,
The excitement of placing two fingers
With or against the lightly rising seams,
Rubbing it with my glove propped between my
Elbow and hip while a batter fidgets
Inside a perfectly fresh line of chalk.

--- with the permission of the author, from his
book of baseball poetry:
"Waiting for Godot's First Pitch"
More Poems from Baseball

direct from the publisher at: www.mcfarlandpub.com