And, more to the point, understanding salvation through this sports analogy that I will explain here. The scriptural basis for the analogy are the writings of Paul, and the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse).
Entire churches of faithful, believing and presumably, but not assured, "saved," are chastised as a whole by Paul, with loving charity and concern, but very strong language. Likewise in the Apocalypse John hears the chastisement of entire faithful, believing and presumably, but not assured, churches, "saved bodies of the faithful," before the revelation of the final days commences.
Notice that in no place is a single Christian isolated for correction within an otherwise correct church. Paul criticizes the entire church when SOME of them receive the sacrament of the bread with unworthiness, or worthily but with lack of respect.
If people are "saved," as some Evangelical Protestants attest, while being surrounded by those who commit wrong (yet consider themselves saved too), then Paul, in the abundance of his guidance, would have included at least one example of chastising a hypocrite or one in error within an otherwise worthy church body.
The same is of course true when the Angel of God, through Christ, evaluates and chastises entire faithful churches, at the end.
This is why you must understand salvation as it actually is, as the Bible states in Truth, not in your "auditing," "good deed" and "fire insurance" mindset. The sports analogy will demonstrate this for you.
American baseball is characterized by a dual purpose. It is of course a team sport with the objective of winning. But it is also equally an individual sport where each player accrues statistics of his performance (each and every game) that are his lasting legacy and that travel with him from team to team.
Thus you can have a great player with a great heritage of statistics and honor, even if he never played on a winning team. You can also have winning teams without great individual players. Most avid baseball fans follow individuals and their statistics, often separate from a local team that they actually support.
Salvation is like that, but here we need to fulfill the analogy by describing the disastrous effect that use of steroid and other performance or other addictive drugs have had on the entire sport.
We can and do have an entire era of "high performing individuals" who received their statistics while using immoral and illegal drugs. We also have teams that have won games due to these unethically enhanced individual players.
Suppose you are a great player, but you are on a team that is winning (and thus adds to your statistics) because other people, your team mates, are using performance enhancing drugs. You accumulate valid statistics and play straight (since you do not "use") but you know your team mates "use" and in return your statistics are enhanced because the "users" pull in more win and run and other opportunities for you with their presumably enhanced performance aids.
Salvation, and the possibility of losing your salvation, is exactly like that. If you are a "saved" person among other "saved" persons, but you deviate in any way from the ethics of God, no matter what the reason, the entire body of the "saved," including your own "salvation," is in question.
Don't ask me: read the Bible.
The entire Old Testament demonstrates God addressing and rewarding/punishing the hoard of Israelites as a whole. Presumably not every single person, man woman and child, danced in front of the gold calf while Moses was with God. Yet all are chastised. God does not document in the Bible "except for Moishe, Sarah and Fred, who sat the profane dance out and just watched on the sidelines while silently disapproving." The entire Old Testament validates what I am explaining to you, which is that God does not single out people among the wicked, (or those who are "good" but in error) and give them a salvation "pass" card, even as they eat, live, love and worship with the body that is IN ERROR.
Likewise the Gospel and the other New Testament books demonstrate that even with loving concern, Jesus, Paul, and the other Apostles, chastise entire towns, entire church bodies, entire groups of the "faithful," without once singling out the "good guy" whose rear end is just warming the pews but "is not going along with the error of the rest."
The Bible demonstrates over and over that it is God's will that people are saved, or not, as a GROUP in addition to individually. You all have taken that truth and turned it into the error of competing denominations (destroying Jesus' instructions on unity) rather than understanding that the saved individual must not only strive for continual obedience and purity but also, like a plant, survive or fall with the purity of the presumably "saved" fellow members and community. You can deny it all you want but the Bible is the Bible and God's word is final. You cannot say that God's word is perfect, but then make up scenarios that God did not choose to endorse in the Bible, and instead, God condemns.
Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baseball. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sports talk, Rose, Vick, rehab and recognition
Here are my thoughts since these subjects are in the news.
I think Pete Rose should be considered for and voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Here is my reasoning. Yes, gambling and the implications, if not the reality, for throwing a game is rightly considered the greatest enemy to the integrity of the sport. (I would argue that illegal drug use and performance enhancers have overtaken gaming/game throwing to share the greatest threat category, however). So I was certainly in agreement when Pete Rose was banned for life, even though as a fan, I felt the agony along with him of such a finality.
Having said that, however, I have always felt he should be inducted according to his real accomplishments in the sport, minus the punishment he received. Punishing for a wrong doing must logically be separated by a fair minded people from now erasing, shunning or denying what was good and valid in his achievements. If his performance and statistics were achieved because he had clubbed guys on the opposing team on the head before the game, LOL, thus lowering their stats to increase his, of course that would be different. I'm being a little silly in that example just to make a point. Gambling and game throwing, while a severe threat to the sport overall, do not automatically mean either his accomplishments were ill gotten gains either via performance enhancement OR performance degradation of opponents, unless a conspiracy was uncovered where everyone was throwing games in unison. Without such evidence it is obvious that Pete Rose was correctly punished for his proven singular role, but he should still be recognized for his valid and legitimate accomplishments.
This is particularly obvious because after Pete Rose, we now have decades of "asterisk" baseball, where a muddle of baseball achievements will always be questioned because of the years of performance enhancement, such as steroid, usage. This era, by negative example, demonstrate even more the singularity of Pete Rose's misdeed and bad choice. While he committed an error that is considered a grave threat to the sport, the sport itself is now filled with statistics that result from widespread collusion in the use of performance enhancing drugs. This makes what Pete Rose did put in its proper perspective: punishment by banning from the game, yes, but ignoring his legitimate achievements, no. Consider him eligible and be honest in appraising his record and put him in his place in the Baseball Hall of Fame, is my advice.
This makes me think of Michael Vick, as I have thought about him during this week and these past months. Again, as a people, not just sports fans, you must ask yourself one question: Do you believe in punishment followed by a chance at rehabilitation and redemption, or not? Don't be hypocrites. Either you believe in the theory that one punishes according to the crime (and he was given a prison sentence, which he served, fines, loss of his income and job, etc, all as punishment and consequences, such as loss of endorsement opportunities) or you don't. You either believe a fit sentence is adjudicated, served, and then considered completed, or you do not. If you do not that means you don't think anyone can ever be punished enough, and that is a breakdown of both civil and moral code. Secondly, either you believe in rehabilitation and redemption, or you do not. Do not be a hypocrite and say that you are enlightened etc yet you will never trust someone again once he or she had erred. Either you believe in opportunity for redemption, or you do not. If you do not then you seem to fall into a category of considering others (not yourself of course) of being "once stained always stained." Like the hypocrisy of some about punishment, hypocrisy of not believing in redemption is also a breakdown of both civil and moral code.
So I believe that if a team wants to give a chance to Michael Vick, he should be made eligible and allowed to get on with life, consistent with what people SAY they believe about both punishment and rehabilitation/redemption.
Best of luck to both men, and all other people who find themselves in such a situation, and also those in the responsible positions to decide not to be hypocrites.
I think Pete Rose should be considered for and voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Here is my reasoning. Yes, gambling and the implications, if not the reality, for throwing a game is rightly considered the greatest enemy to the integrity of the sport. (I would argue that illegal drug use and performance enhancers have overtaken gaming/game throwing to share the greatest threat category, however). So I was certainly in agreement when Pete Rose was banned for life, even though as a fan, I felt the agony along with him of such a finality.
Having said that, however, I have always felt he should be inducted according to his real accomplishments in the sport, minus the punishment he received. Punishing for a wrong doing must logically be separated by a fair minded people from now erasing, shunning or denying what was good and valid in his achievements. If his performance and statistics were achieved because he had clubbed guys on the opposing team on the head before the game, LOL, thus lowering their stats to increase his, of course that would be different. I'm being a little silly in that example just to make a point. Gambling and game throwing, while a severe threat to the sport overall, do not automatically mean either his accomplishments were ill gotten gains either via performance enhancement OR performance degradation of opponents, unless a conspiracy was uncovered where everyone was throwing games in unison. Without such evidence it is obvious that Pete Rose was correctly punished for his proven singular role, but he should still be recognized for his valid and legitimate accomplishments.
This is particularly obvious because after Pete Rose, we now have decades of "asterisk" baseball, where a muddle of baseball achievements will always be questioned because of the years of performance enhancement, such as steroid, usage. This era, by negative example, demonstrate even more the singularity of Pete Rose's misdeed and bad choice. While he committed an error that is considered a grave threat to the sport, the sport itself is now filled with statistics that result from widespread collusion in the use of performance enhancing drugs. This makes what Pete Rose did put in its proper perspective: punishment by banning from the game, yes, but ignoring his legitimate achievements, no. Consider him eligible and be honest in appraising his record and put him in his place in the Baseball Hall of Fame, is my advice.
This makes me think of Michael Vick, as I have thought about him during this week and these past months. Again, as a people, not just sports fans, you must ask yourself one question: Do you believe in punishment followed by a chance at rehabilitation and redemption, or not? Don't be hypocrites. Either you believe in the theory that one punishes according to the crime (and he was given a prison sentence, which he served, fines, loss of his income and job, etc, all as punishment and consequences, such as loss of endorsement opportunities) or you don't. You either believe a fit sentence is adjudicated, served, and then considered completed, or you do not. If you do not that means you don't think anyone can ever be punished enough, and that is a breakdown of both civil and moral code. Secondly, either you believe in rehabilitation and redemption, or you do not. Do not be a hypocrite and say that you are enlightened etc yet you will never trust someone again once he or she had erred. Either you believe in opportunity for redemption, or you do not. If you do not then you seem to fall into a category of considering others (not yourself of course) of being "once stained always stained." Like the hypocrisy of some about punishment, hypocrisy of not believing in redemption is also a breakdown of both civil and moral code.
So I believe that if a team wants to give a chance to Michael Vick, he should be made eligible and allowed to get on with life, consistent with what people SAY they believe about both punishment and rehabilitation/redemption.
Best of luck to both men, and all other people who find themselves in such a situation, and also those in the responsible positions to decide not to be hypocrites.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Yankee Stadium memories by Billy Crystal
A poignant and concise memory in honor of the last game being played today at Yankee Stadium. All baseball fans can relate to what Mr. Crystal writes, even those of us who attended games there only in spirit, not in person, LOL. Though I was excited to see it once from the subway as I trundled by on the way to visit a Bronx outpost of the Jewish charitable agency that I briefly worked for (until they ignominiously dumped me on my one year anniversary when I was supposed to receive a bonus percentage of the for profit part of the company). Even the glimpse of it during the day, when there was no game, was moving.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/sports/baseball/21crystal.html?8dpc
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/sports/baseball/21crystal.html?8dpc
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Working on arts crafts birthday gift for friend
Listening to baseball games on XM radio for company. Working on painting and decorating two craft projects, one intended for a friend for his birthday several months from now and the other is for me (as I got the idea while working on my friend T's gift). I think the gift for my friend is coming out so cute, if I say so myself; I'm just so pleased at how my art idea is turning into a sweet and fun tribute art work.
The crafts help endure what has been terrible hours, days, weeks, months and years. It has taken a lot out of me to watch humanity's own depraved self implosion day by day. Even when I'm not the actual body being punched in the face on a particular day, I hate seeing what is happening to "humanity." The hypocrisy is the worst. The more "spiritual" they claim to be, the more craven, greedy, narcissistic, anti-life and anti-God they are in truth. I'm hoping that this is becoming clearer and clearer to those who have been stooges and who have been victims and enablers. Smiting and seeing the consequences of one's own heretical folly helps to get the attention, but ultimately one has to fall off one's personal high horse, put away one's self gratifying lion statues, acknowledge the one God, and start over again from a baseline of abject humility.
The crafts help endure what has been terrible hours, days, weeks, months and years. It has taken a lot out of me to watch humanity's own depraved self implosion day by day. Even when I'm not the actual body being punched in the face on a particular day, I hate seeing what is happening to "humanity." The hypocrisy is the worst. The more "spiritual" they claim to be, the more craven, greedy, narcissistic, anti-life and anti-God they are in truth. I'm hoping that this is becoming clearer and clearer to those who have been stooges and who have been victims and enablers. Smiting and seeing the consequences of one's own heretical folly helps to get the attention, but ultimately one has to fall off one's personal high horse, put away one's self gratifying lion statues, acknowledge the one God, and start over again from a baseline of abject humility.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Reading Orel Hershiser book
"Between the Lines: Nine Principles to Live By"
Orel Hershiser with Robert Wolgemuth, foreword by Tommy Lasorda
2001
A wonderful book by a great guy and one of my favorite baseball pitchers.
Great advice for people who are trying to balance their priorities yet still be achievers.
Orel Hershiser with Robert Wolgemuth, foreword by Tommy Lasorda
2001
A wonderful book by a great guy and one of my favorite baseball pitchers.
Great advice for people who are trying to balance their priorities yet still be achievers.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Baseball Talk: Don Drysdale
Had a huge spell of nostalgia for great pitcher Don Drysdale yesterday evening. He's another of my favorites from way back when, so I enjoyed doing some surfing about him and ordered his out of print autobiography. I loved his incredible strength and talent as a pitcher, and had no trouble at all with his brushback ethic!!
"In Brooklyn, it was as though you were in your own little bubble. You were all part of one big, but very close family, and the Dodgers were the main topic of everybody's conversations and you could sense the affection people had for you. I don't know that such a thing exists anymore." Don Drysdale
"In Brooklyn, it was as though you were in your own little bubble. You were all part of one big, but very close family, and the Dodgers were the main topic of everybody's conversations and you could sense the affection people had for you. I don't know that such a thing exists anymore." Don Drysdale
Monday, August 6, 2007
Why Baseball is my Favorite Sport
Like most kids in high school I felt personal loyalty to my school through our football team, and so I enjoyed football as my primary sport. However, I also followed very closely our wrestling team, having a close friend on the team, and also I enjoyed the sport. It was then that I noticed that a team sport that is comprised of individual matches is doubly interesting. It is possible to not only cheer for the team, but enjoy each team member's development and personal record. My friends and I loved attending the wrestling matches and bringing the house down cheering for each of our guys as they fought for the pin in their match. We were loud!
It is this love of a great clean sport that carried me over into being a really big baseball fan. I love a good baseball game and actually, I consider all baseball games good ones. I will pull over to the side of the road to even watch a local game. I tend not to have a favorite team because I'm pretty much pulling for everyone to do their best and most of all, love their sport. I can be watching a game where one team is getting the worst drubbing, but I'm still watching each team member to see how he is doing with his pitching, catching, fielding or at bat. I'm watching his stats not because I'm putting pressure on, but because I'm cheering on each play as being not just part of the team effort, but their own individual effort, their own individual history. And then the third crown in the enjoyment of baseball, after the crown of the team and the crown of the individual performance, is the wonderful history of statistics, records and historical facts and trivia that is enriched with each and every player on each and every team. I guess there is also a fourth crown, which is the farm system, which is also so American in its opportunity, its drama, and its goodness of sport. Anyway, this is why I love baseball and consider it the "best of all sports!" Though I've also recently developed a taste for watching snowboard and skateboard ;-) It's just not the same though!!!
It is this love of a great clean sport that carried me over into being a really big baseball fan. I love a good baseball game and actually, I consider all baseball games good ones. I will pull over to the side of the road to even watch a local game. I tend not to have a favorite team because I'm pretty much pulling for everyone to do their best and most of all, love their sport. I can be watching a game where one team is getting the worst drubbing, but I'm still watching each team member to see how he is doing with his pitching, catching, fielding or at bat. I'm watching his stats not because I'm putting pressure on, but because I'm cheering on each play as being not just part of the team effort, but their own individual effort, their own individual history. And then the third crown in the enjoyment of baseball, after the crown of the team and the crown of the individual performance, is the wonderful history of statistics, records and historical facts and trivia that is enriched with each and every player on each and every team. I guess there is also a fourth crown, which is the farm system, which is also so American in its opportunity, its drama, and its goodness of sport. Anyway, this is why I love baseball and consider it the "best of all sports!" Though I've also recently developed a taste for watching snowboard and skateboard ;-) It's just not the same though!!!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Baseball Talk: Stan the Man Musial
While listening to baseball tonight I'm leafing through some of my books and reminiscing. Every once in a while I blog about one of my all time favorite players and tonight I'm thinking about "Stan the Man," who played all of his 22 years with St. Louis Cardinals. Like a lot of the ball players during WWII he served during the war, and was in the Navy 1945-6.
I'm a huge fan of his accomplishments, of course, but also really gravitate toward liking consistent players. And I've consistently liked him, from when I was wearing baby booties to now!!
24 All-Star Games... Three MVP Awards... 475 Homers... 331 Batting Average... 3,630 Hits... 1,949 Runs Scored... Three World Series Rings... 1,951 RBIs... 3,026 Games... Seven Batting Titles... A Plaque in Cooperstown... from www.stan-the-man.com
I'm a huge fan of his accomplishments, of course, but also really gravitate toward liking consistent players. And I've consistently liked him, from when I was wearing baby booties to now!!
24 All-Star Games... Three MVP Awards... 475 Homers... 331 Batting Average... 3,630 Hits... 1,949 Runs Scored... Three World Series Rings... 1,951 RBIs... 3,026 Games... Seven Batting Titles... A Plaque in Cooperstown... from www.stan-the-man.com
Friday, July 6, 2007
A Yanks Fan Once Asked Me....
... if I play guitar like Santana.
I don't but I bet I pitch like Santana.
Ha ha, except I'm right handed.
I don't but I bet I pitch like Santana.
Ha ha, except I'm right handed.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Another reason to read Cal Ripken, Jr's book
I posted before that I bought Cal Ripken, Jr's book, being a big fan of baseball and of him personally. The book is called "Get in the Game" and it's written by Cal Ripken, Jr. with Donald T. Phillips, Gotham Books, 2007. It's considered kind of a business advice book combined with baseball fan book, but now I recommend it for parents!
As I read the book I'm so impressed at how Cal looks back on his home life while growing up and the important lessons his father taught him just in the simple acts of being a caring, wise, and demanding dad! For those of you who are parents, either a mom or a dad, I think you will get a lot of support in reading this book. It's a reminder of how good "normalcy" is, and that parenthood is not a competition with your child and their friends about who is the most "cool." While Cal's dad managed a baseball team, it was not a glamorous life and thriftiness and hard work were vital to the family's success. His family did not get a short cut to celebrity, and therefore skip the character building basics of life and self worth that every child needs to grow up with. In addition to parents, I'd also recommend this book for people who grew up without a dad's positive influence.... either because the dad was missing, or because they were cheesy or irresponsible. Reading this book you can "borrow" Cal's dad (I'm sure he won't mind at all.) It's never too late to read about a good role model and apply even a few of the simple lessons to one's own life and family.
As I read the book I'm so impressed at how Cal looks back on his home life while growing up and the important lessons his father taught him just in the simple acts of being a caring, wise, and demanding dad! For those of you who are parents, either a mom or a dad, I think you will get a lot of support in reading this book. It's a reminder of how good "normalcy" is, and that parenthood is not a competition with your child and their friends about who is the most "cool." While Cal's dad managed a baseball team, it was not a glamorous life and thriftiness and hard work were vital to the family's success. His family did not get a short cut to celebrity, and therefore skip the character building basics of life and self worth that every child needs to grow up with. In addition to parents, I'd also recommend this book for people who grew up without a dad's positive influence.... either because the dad was missing, or because they were cheesy or irresponsible. Reading this book you can "borrow" Cal's dad (I'm sure he won't mind at all.) It's never too late to read about a good role model and apply even a few of the simple lessons to one's own life and family.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
When everything's insane at least baseball's good
I'm grateful the worst we have to worry about in the great sport of baseball is steroids and some players being waaaaay overpaid. When the news is just so terrible, at least there's a place families can go and not be traumatized.
I listened to the fantastic Colorado Rockies v. NY Yankees game yesterday. The coverage was so good I felt I was there. In the past I've listened to Rockies games when the Padres have been in town. Congratulations Rockies on a really exciting and fun game.
I listened to the fantastic Colorado Rockies v. NY Yankees game yesterday. The coverage was so good I felt I was there. In the past I've listened to Rockies games when the Padres have been in town. Congratulations Rockies on a really exciting and fun game.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Pitchers' duel or Slugfest?!
I love them both! Baseball is so great.
I think of a pitchers' duel as vanilla ice cream. When two great pitchers duel, it's so smooth, especially when backed up by great defense. Nothing like a great pitchers' duel.
However, a slugfest is just as great, and I think of it as chocolate ice cream! When those batters go to work and fight it out (like I'm listening to the Mets and Yankees now) that is so exciting!
I think of a pitchers' duel as vanilla ice cream. When two great pitchers duel, it's so smooth, especially when backed up by great defense. Nothing like a great pitchers' duel.
However, a slugfest is just as great, and I think of it as chocolate ice cream! When those batters go to work and fight it out (like I'm listening to the Mets and Yankees now) that is so exciting!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Minnesota Twins "Get Back" to .500
Twins get mad, beat Sox
Pierzynski stirs pot, angry Twins expose Sox's flaws in opener
By Mark Gonzales
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-070528soxgamer,1,4100319.story?coll=chi-sportstop-hed
I agree with writer Mark Gonzales, who implies in this headline that the Twins played a better game because they got mad. Every athlete and team is different, and how they get "in the zone" of peak performance differs wildly from one person or team to the next. For example, when I was learning golf, my female golf instructor kept telling me to "relax" my shoulders. Well, whenever I "relaxed" I cut a lot of slices, often missing the ball completely! See, because I've had years of training in Tai Chi and Kung Fu, when I "relax" I REALLY relax. I've lowered my blood pressure while wearing a cuff to show doc's how it's done. Anyway, I found that her idea of my "relaxing" my shoulders was to put the golf club in what I considered a strangle hold and make a rigid T of my shoulders! Go figure.
Anyway, the Twins are one of those teams that I have a mild interest in and am glad to see them working their way back up to .500. Pre-season Jason Bartlett was called a "sleeper" but I think he's doing pretty good. I dunno, time will tell. I do know one thing for sure: I'm very glad I did not choose Damian Miller for my fantasy baseball team.
Pierzynski stirs pot, angry Twins expose Sox's flaws in opener
By Mark Gonzales
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-070528soxgamer,1,4100319.story?coll=chi-sportstop-hed
I agree with writer Mark Gonzales, who implies in this headline that the Twins played a better game because they got mad. Every athlete and team is different, and how they get "in the zone" of peak performance differs wildly from one person or team to the next. For example, when I was learning golf, my female golf instructor kept telling me to "relax" my shoulders. Well, whenever I "relaxed" I cut a lot of slices, often missing the ball completely! See, because I've had years of training in Tai Chi and Kung Fu, when I "relax" I REALLY relax. I've lowered my blood pressure while wearing a cuff to show doc's how it's done. Anyway, I found that her idea of my "relaxing" my shoulders was to put the golf club in what I considered a strangle hold and make a rigid T of my shoulders! Go figure.
Anyway, the Twins are one of those teams that I have a mild interest in and am glad to see them working their way back up to .500. Pre-season Jason Bartlett was called a "sleeper" but I think he's doing pretty good. I dunno, time will tell. I do know one thing for sure: I'm very glad I did not choose Damian Miller for my fantasy baseball team.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Lou Piniella calls out to the Lord...
From Cubs writer Paul Sullivan for the Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070527cubsgamer,1,499269.story?coll=chi-sportstop-hed&vote30086303=1
The Los Angeles Dodgers found a way to beat the Cubs without even putting the bat on the ball in the 11th inning of their 2-1 victory Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
"Oh, Lord," exasperated Cubs manager Lou Piniella said afterward. "Oh, Lord."
*****
I love all baseball and don't really have "my team" (though I've consistently liked the Mets for many years.) Mostly I just enjoy good baseball. The Cubs were never on my radar until the 2005 season when I lived in Albuquerque and had season tickets to the Albuquerque Isotopes (Marlins farm team.) It was the first time I had home plate season tickets and loved it, except for some fans who sat near me who were, well, pigs. I don't mean a good lusty heckling of the opposing team, but I mean lots of potty talk and just being gross (even though it was a very family friendly establishment.) People behind me stuck their feet in my face, and I kinda got spat on too. Any hoo, I noticed that in between screaming about Rosanne Barr's naked butt, these particular fans loved the Chicago Cubs. So they got on my radar and I kept track of the standings. The Chicago White Sox, of course, went on to win the World Series.
Funnily enough, today, since the above quote the Cubs have lost again, this time to the Marlins. It makes me wonder if perhaps somewhere unbeknowst to them, that maybe the Cubs, to quote a pet sitter I once had, "has pissed off some gypsies?" LOL. Good luck Cubbies!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070527cubsgamer,1,499269.story?coll=chi-sportstop-hed&vote30086303=1
The Los Angeles Dodgers found a way to beat the Cubs without even putting the bat on the ball in the 11th inning of their 2-1 victory Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
"Oh, Lord," exasperated Cubs manager Lou Piniella said afterward. "Oh, Lord."
*****
I love all baseball and don't really have "my team" (though I've consistently liked the Mets for many years.) Mostly I just enjoy good baseball. The Cubs were never on my radar until the 2005 season when I lived in Albuquerque and had season tickets to the Albuquerque Isotopes (Marlins farm team.) It was the first time I had home plate season tickets and loved it, except for some fans who sat near me who were, well, pigs. I don't mean a good lusty heckling of the opposing team, but I mean lots of potty talk and just being gross (even though it was a very family friendly establishment.) People behind me stuck their feet in my face, and I kinda got spat on too. Any hoo, I noticed that in between screaming about Rosanne Barr's naked butt, these particular fans loved the Chicago Cubs. So they got on my radar and I kept track of the standings. The Chicago White Sox, of course, went on to win the World Series.
Funnily enough, today, since the above quote the Cubs have lost again, this time to the Marlins. It makes me wonder if perhaps somewhere unbeknowst to them, that maybe the Cubs, to quote a pet sitter I once had, "has pissed off some gypsies?" LOL. Good luck Cubbies!
Friday, April 6, 2007
Catfish Hunter and Baseball Thoughts
When I was just a little girl, my neighbor, a retired gentleman, loved to lay his lawn chair in the blazing summer sun and listen to baseball games on the radio. Back then, that was the way folks followed the games, since there was no TV coverage. As I grew up, my high school, like most upstate NY schools, was football mad, so I followed their games. Still, I used to enjoy sitting on the hot bleachers when it was baseball season and watch our barely populated team practice. No one watched them with me, but they loved the sport and carried on anyway. I remember the shyest guy was on the team.
I've always loved baseball, even when it's not been easily available to me. Because to me, it's best when it's seen in person. I was furious when the baseball strike came near to ruining the game. And I've loved many of the players from the 50's through now, no matter what team they were playing on. I love the game more than the teams. Good thing because they move around so much now anyway.
I was reading a magazine yesterday about fantasy baseball (I've not gotten to the point of doing that yet) and I thought of one of my favorites from a long time ago, Catfish Hunter. I mostly followed his career when he was with the Oakland A's (sorry Yankees, I wasn't paying much attention to you then, when he later joined.) I can still immediately recall how Catfish looked when he pitched for the A's. I just looked at some photos of him to see if my mental image of him was still as clear as I thought it was, and indeed, the pictures show that same pitching style, the mustache of course, and just his overall stance. I often can't say exactly what it is that makes me admire a particular baseball player. I can only say it's something about their overall package that catches my eye. So I thought about Catfish and how he's on the heavenly fantasy baseball team. His birthday is this Sunday, April 8.
I've always loved baseball, even when it's not been easily available to me. Because to me, it's best when it's seen in person. I was furious when the baseball strike came near to ruining the game. And I've loved many of the players from the 50's through now, no matter what team they were playing on. I love the game more than the teams. Good thing because they move around so much now anyway.
I was reading a magazine yesterday about fantasy baseball (I've not gotten to the point of doing that yet) and I thought of one of my favorites from a long time ago, Catfish Hunter. I mostly followed his career when he was with the Oakland A's (sorry Yankees, I wasn't paying much attention to you then, when he later joined.) I can still immediately recall how Catfish looked when he pitched for the A's. I just looked at some photos of him to see if my mental image of him was still as clear as I thought it was, and indeed, the pictures show that same pitching style, the mustache of course, and just his overall stance. I often can't say exactly what it is that makes me admire a particular baseball player. I can only say it's something about their overall package that catches my eye. So I thought about Catfish and how he's on the heavenly fantasy baseball team. His birthday is this Sunday, April 8.
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