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| Third base bag from last regular season game at the Metrodome. |
We have been treated to another bunch of examples of sports people wanting to turn away from significant issues.
I am pumped by this year's World Series! As a life-long baseball fan to have a "historic" Series like this does not happen often. My personal greatest was the 1980 World Series where my Phillies won their first ever Series after two earlier widely separated tries. I was there for the first game at Veterans' Stadium- which was the first post season game they had ever won.
Anyway, that is why this year could be quite a time. If both teams live up to their season-long exhibition of skill, it may rank as one of the greats. Only time will tell if either- or both- fizzle and turn it into "ho-hum" baseball in spite of the hype.
I went back and did a little research into the "last time" these teams were in the World Series. For the Cubs it was 1945, as we have heard so often. Seventy-one years.
1945 CubsAccording to the Wikipedia article on the Series:
- Charlie Grimm was their manager
- There were no future Hall of Fame players on the team. That should be no surprise since it was the end of World War II and many of the top players had been drafted or enlisted.
- They lost to the Detroit Tigers in seven games.
Warren Brown, author of a history of the Cubs in 1946, commented on this [lack of stars due to WW II] by titling one chapter "World's Worst Series". He also cited a famous quote of his, referencing himself anonymously and in the third person. When asked who he liked in the Series, he answered, "I don't think either one of them can win it."More recently, merely 19 years ago, we have:
In a similar vein, Frank Graham jokingly called this Series "the fat men versus the tall men at the office picnic."
One player decidedly not fitting that description was the Tigers' slugger Hank Greenberg, who had been discharged from military service early. He hit the only two Tigers homers in the Series, and scored seven runs overall and also drove in seven.
1997 IndiansWikipedia reports:
- Mike Hargrove was the manager
- No one from that team has yet been elected to the Hall of Fame, but a number of them are clear contenders including former Twins favorite, Jim Thome.
- Lost to Florida Marlins in seven games. The Marlins were only in their fifth season as a MLB franchise- a record.
The Marlins, who were underdogs, capped a stunning season. They [won] their first World Series championship, making them the first wild card team to ever win the World Series.So it begins tonight. More sports, more baseball, more of the Fall Classic- # 112. I hope it lives up to- and even exceeds- the hype.
This was also the third (and most recent) time where Game 7 of the World Series went into extra innings, after 1924 and 1991 both of whom involved the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins franchise.
It happens every time.
Whenever I wear my Packer hat anywhere outside of the Upper Midwest, someone will come up to me and start talking. Usually starting with
"Go Pack! Go!"So- as a warning to any introverts- don't expect to be unnoticed when wearing any Packer gear away from home territory. (It's actually fun!)
Naturally I mean the Super Bowl. Seahawks and Patriots. I'm kind of afraid to take sides. Like most sports fans I tend to be superstitious. I have had a terrible record over the years with my favorite sports teams. They lose. Often. It makes me worry that it's my support for them that does it.
Okay- I know that I'm not that powerful. If I was, I would hire myself out to the team willing to pay me the highest salary to root against them so they would win. But if you are a true Seahawk fan, don't blame me when they lose today.
Which I am afraid they are going to do. I don't want them to, of course. The Patriots, in my pantheon of disliked teams, are just a little lower than the 1st place tie of the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys and only slightly above Dah Bears. It would be a joy to see Russell Wilson (with UW Badgers connections!) take them down like he did my beloved Packers. Even if he believes God wills them to win, I think God remains on the sidelines. If they lose, will that mean God wanted the Patriots better? Nah. Never.
But these are the Patriots. I don't trust them. I don't want to see them win. No, they are probably not the incarnation of the Evil One, but let them lose! Let it be fair and square. Let the Seahawks take over the field and never let it go.
But the hype is almost over. This is scheduled to post at 9:00 am. The hype should be all queued up and ready to go. The hours of interviews, cute pieces, up-close-and-personal moments, the hundreds of camera angles and books full of things to say in any situation are all there.
So, in fear of losing the whole state of Washington as readers of my blog:
Go Seahawks!
