Host Peter Sagal's guest contestant on this week's "Not My Job" segment of the NPR comedy, popular-culture quiz show Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me...! is former NBA star Terry Porter, who had a lauded career with the Portland Trailblazers. He coached several NBA teams and currently is the basketball coach for the University of Portland.
0 Comments
I didn't plan to post anything else about the Cubs today. I almost didn't even read this article -- I've read plenty enough about last night's game, so did I need one more? But my recently-mentioned friend Eric Boardman sent me the link to a piece in the Washington Post, and I'm glad I clicked. That's because I immediately saw it was by Thomas Boswell, who's my favorite baseball writer. (As I told Eric, I almost added, "probably my favorite," but then realized that's wrong.) Boswell (and what an appropriate name is that for a writer) has written numerous books (that are collections of his Washington Post columns) on a variety of sports, but he shines with baseball. Two of his books leap out -- How Life Imitates the World Series and Why Time Begins on Opening Day. If you do love baseball, I can't recommend these enough. (And since they're both a few decades old, the available price for each can be found for as low as a penny -- plus shipping -- depending on the quality of the copy.) He's a gem of a writer. Conversant, matter-off-fact, full of stories, and eloquent. One of my favorite of his columns is the masterful, "99 Reasons Why Baseball is Better Than Football." One reason is -- "The poet Marianne Moore loved pitcher Christy Mathewson. No woman of quality has ever preferred football to baseball." Another reason is -- "Listening to a car radio on a summer night." One of my favorite of his lines in another article is when he writes that people always wonder what a manager says to a pitcher when going out to the mound when the player has gotten into a jam, and figure it has to be something like, "Babe Ruth is dead. Throw strikes." This article about yesterday's game is pure Boswell. Conversant, matter-of-fact, full of stories and eloquent. I even suspect people who don't follow baseball might like it, because it's about more than the game, but about the perspective of things. You can read it here. And as long as I'm posting at the moment, I figure I might as well add a couple of photos which I just came across today. This first was sent to me by my cousin Peter Leviton (who I believe was instrumental in the Cubs success as he was on the field during the team's recent reconstruction of Wrigley, as the Cubs' fortunes began to turn, of which I posted a photo here). His son Eric -- also my cousin, of course... -- went down to Wrigley Field last night and took some photos of the festivities after the game. Somehow, he's a White Sox fan, but he at least had the good sense to be part of history and appreciate it. (By the way, I'm really impressed that there was no car-turning or rampaging after the pennant-clinching win last night, just pure joy throughout the city.) And also, here's evidence that one change which won't be a carryover from the Obama Administration if Hillary Clinton wins. He's a White Sox fan - she however is a lifelong Cubs fan! (And even threw out first pitch at Wrigley Field when she was First Lady.) Here she is last night when one of her Cubs-fan aides, Connolly Keigher, was live-streaming the game, and gave Clinton an instant replay of final out.
i
Okay, so what did you think I was going to write about this morning? What's so odd here is that most baseball teams win their league championship to get into the World Series, they're very excited and celebrate...but it's more of the "jumping up-and-down" variety, not one with a sense of profound emotional release for both the team and fans. But with the Cubs, the celebration might still be going on. This is only Step One. It's not winning the World Series, which is the ultimate goal. The holy grail that's been off at a distance for over a century, 108 years. But boy howdy, was it a big step. More like a leap. After all, as far as "big steps" go, this one took 71 years to get here. It's a very bizarre, ethereal feeling. No, the Cubs haven't won the World Series. This is only winning the National League pennant. Only, indeed. After all, this the first time in my entire life when the Chicago Cubs have even been in the World Series. I have no focal point to balance things. It's another world. So, for starters, I'm exceedingly happy to take what I'm given. And then we'll see if we can build on that. I certainly hope so. But this is a fine accomplishment. Here's how unlikely and odd it is. A couple months ago, I bought theater tickets for two events...this week!! Even with the Cubs having the best record in all of baseball, It didn't occur to me to check the World Series schedule to even risk avoiding a conflict. As it stands, one of the events is a one-night only production. The other, I'll hope to change the date -- but I don't know if I'll be able to. And if not...well, then I'll just simply be blowing off two theater events this week. That's the way it goes, but simply playing in a World Series does not come often in a person's lifetime. Like, up to yesterday, never for me. DVR doesn't cut it. So, goodbye theater. I have to admit, there's a bitter-sweet quality to this. My dad grew up walking distance from Wrigley, and would walk over to games when he was a little kid. He followed them for 95 years, and in that near-century never saw them win a World Series. (He did go to Wrigley Field to watch them play in one, though, which to Chicagoans is impressive enough -- he thought it was 1938, 78 years ago.) But he passed away in May, so he won't be here to see this World Series. He was high in my mind throughout the ninth inning. But happily, he did get to see the team start the first month of the season so well, with the best record in baseball, and was thrilled about it. So, I like to think he helped give them their start, and then the team took it from there. Who knows what will happen in the World Series? However it ends, though, it's going to be wonderful, because the Cubs' opponent, the Cleveland Indians have the second longest streak for not winning a World Series -- their last one being in 1948. That's 68 years ago. A long time, however just a paltry slump for the Cubs. Still, if the Cubs do lose, I'll be really glad that Cleveland will be who wins. That's as far as my graciousness goes. My thoughts here are not of other teams, I hope the Chicago Cubs win the World Series. After 108 years. But I'm guessing you figured that by this point. Note to any Cubs players reading this: In case you need some additional motivation -- just know that if you win the World Series, you will never, ever have to pay for a meal for yourself and your family in Chicago again...ever, for the rest of your life. Go, Cubs! And here is what winning your first National League pennant in 71 years looks like. The last pitch, with one out in the top of the ninth inning and a runner on first. You can almost hear the disbelief in announcer Joe Buck's voice as he can barely be made out above the crowd shouting, "The CUBS have won the pennant!!!!" All of which leads to the packed house begin to sing Steve Goodman's song, "Go, Cubs, Go!" But the most charming moment is the very elderly Cubs fan with a beaming look of joy on her face.
This week's episode is a repeat -- actually a multiple repeat -- though I find even if you've heard it before, it's usually still almost the same challenge to guess. The contestant is Caroline Cassil from Sutherlin, Oregon. What I wrote previously was, "If you don't get the composer style within three seconds (and the specific piece it's based on), you're not trying. The hidden song is tougher. Until halfway through, when a passage leaps out. But they're very well interwoven, so you have to catch the passage. There's also a wonderful musical joke between the classical piece and the hidden tune."
Sorry, I was going to take the weekend off from writing about politics, but late last night I saw video of a TV conversation which changed that. Readers here will recall my several articles about former baseball pitcher Curt Schilling and his off-the-ledge, beyond far-right-wing hate-filled postings -- as well as my brief Twitter exchange with him, which I wrote about here. Schilling has recently discussed his interest in running for the U.S. Senate and was discussing this and other topics on CNN with Jack Tapper. And then he got around to this...that's so bad even other networks were covering it -- Before I dive into some more detailed comments about the fellow, a few brief matters to clean up and get off the table first . Curt Schilling asks -- You're Jewish. Why are Jews Democrats? Democrats hate Israel. Hey, Curt Schilling, I have an even better question. You're human. Why are humans Republican? Republicans hate humans. Or another question for Mr. Schilling. Why are women, minorities, the poor, non-Christians, and the college-educated Republicans? Republicans hate women, minorities, the poor, non-Christians and people who are college-educated. Oh, and an even better question still. Jesus was a Jew. Why aren't Republicans Jewish? But let's be fair to Curt Schilling, a courtesy he doesn't always grant those who have opinions different from himself. After all, Curt Schilling asked a question and no doubt reads these pages, waiting longingly for an answer -- Why are Jews Democrats? And Democrats, you note (hi, Curt!), hate Israel. Well, for starters, you should understand, Curt, that most Jews tend to have a deep-seated, long-standing, and natural aversion for associating with white supremacists. So, that makes joining the Republican Party profoundly counter-productive to their safety, security and general welfare. Also, by your own statement, many Jews are Democrats, so that means by your very logic -- that Jews do necessarily support Israel -- clearly Democrats do not hate Israel. And your premise is not only wrong but ignorant. Democrats do support Israel. Always have. Just because so many religious-right Republicans support The Rapture, which is why they want to see Israel protected, that isn't the same as supporting the people and the state of Israel. Belief in The Rapture is not support of Israel. It's support of far right Christian doctrine. Many Jews are Democrats because -- like the Democratic Party -- they believe in helping and protecting the needy, believe in government using its significant, collective resources to bring a greater good to society that individuals can't do alone, and believe greatly in education for everyone and higher education which raises us all and helps become the antidote for helping wipe out stupid idiot IGNORANCE, not only throughout society but often so brutally displayed on television interviews. And as Jake Tapper notes, he doesn't speak for The Jews. Nor do I. Nor does anyone who is Jewish. Not only are most groups of people made up of a great many viewpoints, but in particular Jews seem to have a rabbinical and Talmudic heritage to ask questions and argue and therefore, perhaps more than most, likely have as many viewpoints as possible. And so, to ask a person "practicing the Jewish faith" what Jews think would most generally bring a proper answer of -- I can tell you some possible reasons out of the many there are, but it's far better if you think for yourself and come up with some ideas that we can then discuss. Because right now, it does't seem like you really do want to learn, but to accuse. What an small, nasty, ignorant, intolerant piece of work Curt Schilling is. I do wish that Jake Tapper had a better response to Schilling, although I do understand he was put in an incredibly awkward position, trying to be an objective journalist, rather than telling Schilling what a small, nasty, ignorant, intolerant white supremacist he is. Later in the day, Schilling was on MSNBC with Chris Matthews, and unfortunately Matthews was at his sloppy worst and bumbled around, letting Schilling dominate the conversation and go into his "poor, little attacked-me, who is only asking questions because I just want to know, and liberals are pigs, most especially Hillary Clinton who is disgusting." At one point, Schilling said, "I'm apparently an anti-Semite now because I had the gall and the audacity to ask someone of the Jewish faith why, or how they believed people of the Jewish faith could vote Democrat." Spare us, you hate-filled, small-minded, paternalistic, little excuse for a human life force. No, you are not apparently an anti-Semite now. You appear to have been an anti-Semite for decades. And a racist. Maybe even a misogynist. All for much of your life, since these shriveled attitudes don't tend to just pop up out of people on a whim. And no, sorry, shrug and nod as you might, your questions aren't just naive inquiries for answers. If you were actually serious about running for the United States Senate, you would have a mind that looked at the realities of the world around you and come up with at least a semblance of some answers to why many Jews do vote Democratic. The fact that you pretend not to know means either that you are deeply disingenuous or you indeed are as ignorant as you appear. Someone who is an adult and tries to think should at least have a clue as to why, and most especially someone who wants to be a United States Senator most definitely should -- I'd think it's almost a requirement for the job. That's why so many people watching your comments are sharp enough to grasp that, rather than (shrug, gee whiz) just asking question, you were instead suggesting All Jews Think as One and that Jews should only have a single issue to care about and that Jews are too stupid to understand what is best for them as defined by you stalking on the outside. And the giveaway to all this that makes your mock-innocence too blatant -- and, yes, so galling and audacious -- is when you try to suggest that Democrats, the Democratic Party supposedly "hates Israel." It's a groundless Big Lie that so many Republicans love to repeat endlessly, it's smarmy, it's self-righteous, it's close-minded, it's pathetic and it's ignorant. Put that all together and, yes, it was anti-Semitic. And just generally hate-filled beyond all that. And ignorant. But no, don't worry, it's not something people think about you all of a sudden "now." It's been thought a very long time. "Now"??? I hope you're not suggesting these are suddenly new thoughts you've begun having, rather than churning in your bile since, as you put it to Mr. Tapper, you were a youth. It's all part of why you finally were fired from ESPN. And why so many consider you a disgrace of a human. So, whine away, poor little victim you. It appears to be a far-right habit. You just haven't figured out, it seems, that when you spit in people's faces, they actually push back. On Wednesday, I was in my bank here in Los Angeles, next in line, and saw a customer laughing with the teller about how "if the Dodgers win tonight, we can clinch it on Friday!" I put aside my first thought to close my account -- we *were* in L.A., after all, so they're hubristic enthusiasm was understandable -- and comforted myself knowing that if the worst happened and Chicago did lose, Cubs fans had 108 years to know how to handle it, but if the Dodgers collapsed it would be a living hell. And so, indeed, the Cubs won on Wednesday night and then again last night. So, instead of starting out Wednesday down two games to one with the possibility of losing the series and not even getting back to Chicago, they are up three games to two, needing only one more win as they head home to Chicago for the final two games. Cubs fans have not just been waiting for 108 years to win a World Series...they have been waiting 73 years just to get a chance to PLAY in a World Series. Cubs fans are indeed diehard -- and the vast majority of them have never even seen their favorite team play in a World Series. Ever. Yet still they follow the team, religiously. Both at home (where they draw 3 million fans in the tiniest ballpark in the National League) and even on the road. And when the team is actually reasonably good, like this year, they are are maniacal, as they have been all season. After the game last night, Cubs manager Joe Maddon was in the post-game press room. In response to a question, he responded in a tone as dry as sand -- "Saturday should be electric in Chicago. I expect a sell-out." And yes, he had a twinkle in his eye and laughed. To be very clear, as Cubs fan who knows the history well, I don't head into these final return home as anything even close to a lock. On Saturday, they face pitcher Clayton Kershaw, arguably the best pitcher of the past decade -- who shut the Cubs out on only two hits in his last game the other day. And so the Dodgers should be favored. And if that means the series is tied three games each with one left, the final pitcher for the Dodgers will be Rich Hill, who shut the Cubs out on just two hits in his previous game, following Kershaw. So...it's still a serious battle. But being up three games to two and back home is a position that's a whole lot better than on Wednesday morning. And so...we hopes. Go Cubs. Fun Fact about Cubs President Theo Epstein. His grandfather & great-uncle, Philip and Julius Epstein, wrote the movie classic, Casablanca. Here's looking at you, Cubs. Okay, so here's a bonus video from last night's game. A significantly important play. Dodgers slugger Andrian Gonzalez is leading off the inning. He lays down a bunt -- and if he gets on then the Dodgers start the inning with a man on first and nobody out. But one of my faves, a very young up-and-coming player who I've been yammering about for three years, despite not quite yet breaking through bigtime...until this series, Javier Baez makes an incredibly one-handed off-balance play to throw Gonzalez out by half a step. (He was initially called safe, but the review overturned that.) But it's an even better play than most people think. Even me when I initially saw it. When I first watched the play, I did so normally, with my eye on the ball, like most people. But because of that, I missed what made the play even more remarkable than it came across the first time. It’s where Baez was playing – you see, because the Cubs have a shift on for Gonzalez, Baez isn't play in the middle of the dirt infield as he usually would be, but is playing all the way out on the outfield grass! And he comes racing all the way in from there to make the play. I totally missed that the first time. So, if you watch it here, force your eyes away from the ball, and re-focus them on short right field where Baez is. And then coming running all the way in. Following a brief commercial interruption. |
AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
|
© Copyright Robert J. Elisberg 2024
|