Category: OLD SPORT SHORTS (Page 45 of 68)

An old guy’s perspective on all sports

Old Sport Shorts: Double Cheese Please #855

February 28, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It’s been a tough decade for Indiana University basketball. Spoiled fans like me aren’t easy to please. Teams like Michigan State and Wisconsin have dominated on the Big Ten courts, especially in games against my team. This season has been particularly difficult, but oddly not because of these traditional nemeses. The Hoosiers are 2-0 against the Spartans and Badgers, with at least one last battle yet to come.

I’ve already written about how difficult it’s been to win in East Lansing, dating back to the construction of seemly impenetrable Breslin Center. (See Post #829). The victory over “Sparty” this year was monumental and appeared as if it might be the beginning of salvation for the struggling Hoosier team. It was if a huge weight had been lifted off our shoulders, as this group of young men had been able to somehow accomplish what even the great ones couldn’t – a win at Breslin. It was indeed a proud day.

Unfortunately, the sweet smell of success soon turned sour again with five more consecutive losses, and Wisconsin viciously knocking at our Assembly Hall door. Just for the record, before tip-off, Indiana did lead the all-time series against the Badger Cheese Heads 95-74, while Wisconsin held just a 28-53 record when playing in Bloomington. However, the Cheddar’s had also won five straight against the Cream and Crimson since late January 2016 and 19 of the past 21 meetings dating back to Jan. 31, 2008. Even cheeseburgers have not tasted good for I.U. fans in some time!

Michigan State, on the other hand, simply hit a rough spot on the schedule, registering all three of their total BIG losses in a short 9-day span to Purdue, Indiana, and Illinois respectively. Lowly I.U. has remarkably recorded the only home court loss for the Spartans this year. Michigan State then easily rebounded with 5 straight victories, including wins at Wisconsin and Michigan. They can extract some revenge on the unpredictable Hoosiers this week by returning the home-court disfavor.

After briefly bathing in the limelight of this “Top Ten” road victory over Michigan State, the sole positive in a 13-game Hoosier slide, it would be unbelievable for I.U. to double-up on the Spartans this year! As a reminder, “Sparty” did lose to Louisville earlier this year, another of Indiana’s surprising non-conference victories over a ranked team. Add Marquette and now Wisconsin to the mix and this gives the bottom-dwelling conference Hoosiers four tourney-quality wins against ranked opponents. Would a double Spartan victory ultimately turn some more heads of the NCAA selection committee?

I.U. lost heart-breakers to Iowa in overtime, and to Purdue on a last-second tip. This has been the norm as to how the ball has bounced for the Hoosiers this year. It was long-overdue good fortune that led them to the double-overtime Wisconsin win. The Cheeseheads apparently caught the same shooting disorder that has plagued I.U. all year. Granted, that’s a mere 3 victories in the last 22, but saying to my restaurant server, regarding the next hamburger order, “double cheese please” will sure feel good. Oh, and by the way, a “Double Spartan Burger with cheese” just might be served this weekend.

Retirement is not without Hassles: Living In The Past #851

February 24, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

“Living in the Past” is (or should I say was) a 1969 song by Jethro Tull. I was in my final year of high school, 50 years ago. Although they were a British group, their lyrics perhaps reflect the war in Vietnam?

Happy and I’m smiling
Walk a mile to drink your water
You know I’d love to love you
And above you there’s no other

We’ll go walking out
While others shout of war’s disaster
Oh, we won’t give in
Let’s go living in the past

Once I used to join in
Every boy and girl was my friend
Now there’s revolution, but they don’t know
What they’re fighting

Let us close our eyes
Outside their lives go on much faster
Oh, we won’t give in
We’ll keep living in the past

Oh, we won’t give in
Let’s go living in the past

Oh no, no we won’t give in
Let’s go living in the past

With all the recent genealogy work I’ve been doing, I feel like I’m “living in the past,” trying to piece together the story of my adoption. There are all these strangers, mostly dead now, that shaped my life, and I seem consumed in finding out more about them. As a result, I spend a lot of time reading obituaries and consulting Find-A-Grave. It feels a bit morbid to live in this ancestral world.

My other pastime is collecting sports memorabilia, that on the surface seems more uplifting. However, yesterday I realized that there are many similarities. In sorting out the authenticity of certain items and determining their value, I found myself once again utilizing the same resources of obituaries and graveyard data. It’s another odd way that I “live in the past.”

It must have all started in Game 4 of the 1959 World Series when #10 John Sherman Lollar came to bat for the Chicago White Sox. I had just turned 8 years old and honestly remember watching the game at home on our black and white television, maybe one of the first baseball games I ever saw. An unbelievable crowd of 92,650 sat in the stands. The game was held in the expansive Los Angeles Coliseum with a make-shift home run wall. The Dodgers, who had moved the year before from Brooklyn, were leading the series two games to one and had a four run lead in the seventh inning.

Wow! Sherm Lollar hit a three-run blast to tie the game, and in the process won my heart forever. The White Sox went on to lose the series, but Sherm’s #10 became my lucky number. His game-worn 1955 jersey is part of my collection and I installed a mirror so you can see the #10 on the back. I also wore #10 throughout my little league and softball years, but probably never did it justice.

For his defensive efforts alone as a catcher Sherman Lollar should be in the Hall of Fame. I’ve written several letters on his behalf and contacted his son, Kevin, about a potential campaign. I continue to write about his remarkable career on this blog (See Post #5). You can imagine my surprise when I was contacted the other day by a gentleman who had some of his memorabilia for sale. Personally, I was thrilled that he had come across my name associated with this childhood hero and actually read some of my articles in this blog. He immediately struck an ego chord – the first step to making a big sale.

His list of Sherm-related items included:

White Sox hat with “10” written on the underside brim
20 baseball cards, none of which are signed
Post card from Sherm Lollar’s Lanes (his retirement project)
1968 Oakland A’s official scorecard from the Yankees game signed by Sherm Lollar and Joe Keough
Oakland A’s, Tim Mcauliffe brand lime green hat,
Very early (1940’s) Baltimore Orioles jacket
Two ticket stubs from the May 8, 1968 Oakland A’s game where Catfish Hunter threw his perfect game. One of the stubs is signed “Jim Hunter”
Oakland – Alameda County Coliseum parking concessionaire stub

After yesterday’s follow-up conversation, it was revealed that he was not necessarily a baseball fan, but had purchased a storage locker full of items from Jerry Bo Lollar, Sherm’s nephew. He turns out to be the son of Sherm’s brother, Major Jerry Lollar, who was the stand-in recipient for his 1973 induction into the Chicago White Sox Hall of Fame. Included was a newspaper article and photos related to this honor. Sherm died in 1977 at age 53.

This is where yesterday’s step back into the past started. I was curious about this relationship, especially since these items should have probably been kept in the family. It’s where genealogy and baseball card collecting crossed paths, as I Googled obituaries, checked Facebook pages, and checked into graveyard data. Obviously, the seller had done the same thing, carefully researching his options on profiting from these items.

I’m not a collector willing to spend big bucks on mementos from the past. It’s why I focus on Sherm Lollar rather than Mickey Mantle and other Hall of Fame members that command big investments. I did, however, feel strongly that these items had a great story and should probably be kept together, so I made an affordable-for-me offer. Similarly, the A’s and Oriole’s stuff was not important to me, but were part of Sherm Lollar’s history as a coach. By the way, prior to this step, I did consult with about a dozen of my close collector friends to determine value. They may not have known what they were talking about?

These collectors all felt that the Orioles jacket had the most value, followed by the signed ticket stub. Like me, they reasoned that the Sherm association would not generate much auction interest. It seemed more likely to all of us that the jacket was probably from 1964-67 rather than the early 40’s. There was no manufacturer’s tag or means of identifying it as belonging to Sherm, other than it was in his nephew’s storage facility. None of us caught the “gold mine” the ticket stub might be.

The seller sent me an e-mail last night that nearly knocked me off my chair. I was at a fundraiser with my wife. There have been two previous purchases of similar “Perfect Game” ticket stubs. One sold for $4500 and the other for $1000. Neither was signed like the one currently in his possession. Unlike the others, there is a hole punch that might discourage some buyers. I was embarrassed at what I offered him, thinking that he probably was now leery of my honesty and that I might have been trying to take advantage of him. All of my friends are absolutely amazed at the price this might command, once he spends the money necessary to validate it’s authenticity. However, he might also find that it’s a fake. I can’t imagine that Jerry Bo Lollar went to that kind of trouble, although “Catfish” autographs typically include his nickname. This one just says, “Jim Hunter.”

Sherm Lollar was Jim Catfish Hunter’s pitching coach and undoubtedly advised him on strategy for that “Perfect Performance.” There are only 21 in modern era baseball history starting with Cy Young. I happen to have a ball in my collection signed by Mark Buehrle of the White Sox from his 2009 gem. It’s interesting that the great Ted Williams claimed that the White Sox would never have made it to that 1959 World Series of my childhood without Sherm Lollar, who was known to be an outstanding “diamond general” behind the plate. He guided that pitching staff to the lowest ERA in the majors. He also caught a no-hitter for Bob Keegan and a complete game for Bob Feller. If there was a hit, he had a cannon for an arm.

I’m excited for the seller of this storage locker bonanza. He makes a living as a “picker,” and perhaps has found a diamond in the rough. My friends all thought that I hit the mother lode as a Sherm Lollar fan when I got that initial phone call and photos regarding this find. I feel like I’m part of it, even if everything ends up out of my price range. It was fun to share this story with my collector friends because we’re all treasure hunters in some sense. I may never find a “pot of gold” like my new “picker pen pal,” but I did learn a few more things about Sherm Lollar and his family. It’s another great story that proves that one man’s (nephew’s) junk can be another man’s treasure.

Old Sport Shorts: Mr. Clutch #850

February 23, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Top draft choices need to be clutch – “Wherefore Art Thou Romeo?” Mr. Basketball, Mr. BIG Ten Freshman of the Year? Mr. NBA Top Ten projected draft choice, but still no signs of Mr. Clutch during his first and only season of I.U. Basketball. For example, last night against Iowa he missed the potential game winner and failed to score in overtime. He did score 14 points but made his final shot with 10:27 left in regulation. That’s no points in over 15 minutes with only an assist, turnover, and two fouls to show for his efforts. We were looking for a savior, but gotten a bit of a dud.

Langford’s play was about the same in the loss against Purdue earlier this week. Despite being the leading I.U. scorer with 14, he missed a key free throw with 23 seconds left that allowed Matt Haarms from Purdue to win the game with a lucky tip-in. He did make both free throws with 2:32 remaining to make up for two turnovers and a foul, plus another one-and-one with 13:36 on the clock. No other shots that he launched fell in the second half. His final bucket of the game came with 21 seconds left in the first half, and 9 of his 14 total points came from the free throw line. Sadly, the only one he missed was in the clutch. He seems to disappear at the end of the game. Are NBA scouts paying attention?

Romeo had ten points against Minnesota, but did not score in the last four minutes of the game or in the first 13:34 of the 2nd half. To make matters worse, he didn’t score in the last 9:25 of the first half, despite 10 points overall in this miserable rout. Should I go on? He did hit a three with 19 seconds left in the first Iowa match-up but then missed one, although it would have made no difference in the loss. Overall, he had 22 points, and 15 were during the second half, but we once again fell short. The big win was at Michigan State, where he once again led the Hoosiers. He did, however, miss the game winner, managed only a three in overtime, and was not a factor in the last 3:13 of the game. I.U. somehow managed to win as De’Ron Davis did the clutch work. Our hobbling Hoosiers were coming off a loss to Rutgers, where we allowed them 22 straight points. Langford did hit a three to keep us in the game with a minute left after only a couple of free throws in the last 6 minutes. He once again led Indiana with 20 points, despite not scoring in the last 11:56. He also didn’t score in the first half against Michigan – another bad loss – or in the first four minutes, his only basket in the entire first half.

These are some of nightmares that led me to write my recent poem. (See Post #848), as Indiana basketball continues to struggle with leadership. 12 losses in the last 13 Big Ten games have taken us out of any post season consideration, and have resulted in a losing record. Coach Archie Miller is feeling the heat, fans like me are angry, but Romeo Langford will soon be a millionaire in the NBA. He won’t have to worry about getting injured in the NCAA Tournament like Zion Williamson, and he’ll leave me with a sour taste in my mouth for I.U. basketball recruiting. Is there a Mr. Clutch out there that can help us restore “The glory of old I.U.?”

Old Sport Shorts: Basketball Nightmare #848

February 21, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I was raised a Hoosier basketball fan and had little choice in the matter. Both of my parents went to I.U., met there and got married. While they were in school, I.U. won their first National Championship. The year I was born they won it again, so it was all I.U. merchandise for Christmas. There are many photos of my in I.U. gear at an early age. I tried to break the family mold by going to Albion College, but soon transferred to Bloomington and the main Indiana University campus.

I eat, sleep, and drink I.U. basketball. It can make or ruin any day. I’ve watched them in person win two National Championships and lose in one Final Four. I followed them on TV for another National Championship banner and just when I thought they were invincible in the final game I found out they weren’t. Through the years, I’ve invested a lot of my time and sweat equity into the program. I’ve also sat in the stands twice in Maui to watch them play, so I can say I’ve stalked them to the corners of the earth.

The last 20 years have been tough. The teams have been hard to watch and success has waned. Coaches have come and gone in conjunction with embarrassment, cruelty, and cheating. I often have to leave the room if they are playing on TV, although a simple victory still lifts my spirits. Unfortunately, there have been too many losses.

There was a surge of hope with Coach Archie Miller and the recruitment of Indiana Mr. Basketball Romeo Langford. Everything looked promising on paper, but in reality the team chemistry is as bad as I’ve ever seen. They simply can’t shoot and scoring output in the 40’s have been norm of late. They somehow beat Michigan State in East Lansing (See Post #829) to end a losing skid, but then quickly started another one. Poor fundamentals and inexcusably inaccurate free-throw shooting have added to their consistent inability to hit big shots in the BIG Conference. The were blown out by in-state rival Purdue in West Lafayette, but had a chance to beat them in Bloomington. Predictably, they missed the last shot. To curb my growing frustrations, I wrote this “humorous” poem, rather than scream.

Nightmare On Hoosier Street

It’s a basketball nightmare,
We can’t hit a shot.
Not a single player,
Can find their sweet spot.

It looks so easy,
When other teams play.
But we can’t seem to click,
On any given day.

We miss underneath,
And can’t hit a three.
We don’t make a bucket,
Even if it’s “Free.”

There’s a lid on our rim,
And a hole in my heart.
For a win at the buzzer,
Bring back Keith Smart.

Do the players need glasses?
Or more practice time?
To lose at I.U.’s,
An unforgivable crime.

When you wear the stripes,
Of Crimson and Cream.
March Madness,
Should be more than a dream.

You’ve played all your life,
Hours in the gym.
It’s the same old ten feet,
From the floor to the rim.

Please wake me up,
Tell me it’s not real.
To play for the Hoosiers,
Should be a big deal.

My wife tries to tell me,
It’s only a game.
But when you can’t score,
It’s more than a shame.

Where’s the fundamentals?
Hold on to the ball.
Why don’t our attempts,
Ever seem to fall?

It’s not a peach basket,
But nothing goes through.
Percentages show,
We’re long overdue.

It’s called a net,
And not in a knot.
It makes a “swoosh,”
When you hit the shot.

Instead it’s a “clang,”
Or an “Air Ball.”
That just shouldn’t happen,
At Assembly Hall.

It can’t be the coach,
When you’re 00h for ten.
Then somehow you manage,
To miss once again.

I try to wake up,
But my team is cursed.
To make it even worse,
Purdue is tied for first.

Retirement is not without Hassles: Dogg #838

February 11, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

If a couple of bad I.U. basketball losses this week aren’t enough to lower my spirits then certainly reading the first draft of my latest Last Will will! I’m in the final stages of updating this document, along with healthcare directives. It’s contents are certainly in that same life or death category as I.U. basketball. At least, unlike most college basketball enthusiasts, I’m not waiting for that first National Championship. Been there…done that.

With my wife out of town on business, the dogs and I watched the Grammy Awards last night. It looks like the “Snowmageddon” that they were predicting for our area has instead turned to rain. There should be few problems in getting to the airport tomorrow morning for an early flight. Our pet sitter will be here to take over my responsibilities, as I’ve updated the specific “Pet Care Instructions.” I’m sure she will give them more attention than I do. Tinker, our eldest schnauzer turns 15 in a few weeks and needs more help than Tally. Tally can never get enough walks, while Tinker can never get enough naps. They were hoping that Snoop Doggy Dogg might finally get a Grammy after 17 nominations. I told them that I thought the 47-year old rapper and actor had given up after a third straight year of no recognition. They particularly liked his second album, Tha Doggfather and assumed it was written about me. (See Post #763). One of my close Portland friends has a brother who’s currently touring with poor, win-deprived, Snopp.

I watched the Ray Romano comedy special on Netflix yesterday. My wife and I both met him at the Final Four in Indianapolis back in March of 1997 just after CBS launched Everybody Loves Raymond. The popular TV show first aired on September 13, 1996, so he was still a virtual unknown celebrity to most of us. My future second wife and I had yet to get together but worked for the same CBS affiliate WISH-TV8. We were the suite hosts at the RCA Dome for him and did the introductions to some of our advertising buyers. Twenty-two years later, the Netflix special reminded me of what a great guy he was to meet, and it still doesn’t look like success has gone to his head. Although it was hilarious, I still somehow managed to fall asleep after getting up a 5 a.m. for an unexpected drive to the airport. After my nap, I watched the last 15 minutes and would recommend it to anyone. Pretty clean, too!

Arizona beat Kentucky that year to win it all. Any Kentucky loss is a big win for me! Indiana last won the National title in 1987, but surprisingly got to the Final Four in 2002 when it was played in Atlanta. I mention this because it was really the last good year of I.U. basketball, now struggling with a 17-year drought. Basketball life has not been good, but I now have the “Will to live,” once these final revisions are made. The pets are mentioned in our “exit plan,” along with the division of our other important assets. Speaking of 17 disappointing years (and 105 dog years), I hope for the dogs sake that Snoop Dogg finally wins a Grammy Award. Which will come first to win the trophy- I.U. or
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr ?

Retirement is not without Hassles: Happy Hunting #836

February 10, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I put on my chauffeur’s cap this morning, as I awoke from a deep fog. My poor working wife had gotten up at 4 a.m. on a Sunday morning to catch an early flight. I had planned on sleeping in and taking the dogs out in the morning sunlight for a change. It’s been cold here in Portland, with some snow flurries and icy roads. My wife’s boss thought it would be a good idea to arrive early for their budget meetings in Phoenix and get ahead of more anticipated snow. She was probably right in being diligent about their responsibilities. Unfortunately, there were no Uber drivers to take my wife to the airport this morning and I got the nod.

It’s no big deal since I’m retired and therefore do not distinguish Sunday from any other day of the week. They’re all the same in my world. I’ll fly out in to join her in the warmer climate once her meetings have concluded. In the meantime, I’ll save us a few bucks in pet sitting fees and enjoy life as a homebody. I’ve got an I.U. basketball game to watch in a few hours and I hope it doesn’t lead to late morning drinking. It’s been that kind of season, but at least with the West Coast early start, it will be out of the way for the day. I had honestly not planned to leave the house until my flight, but instead I got an early startle, dogs out, airport visit, daily run, and some writing in by 8 a.m. I’ll even have some time to do some “hunting” for Banister relatives on the Ancestry.com site. In all, that’s more than most people do all day…even the U.S. Army,as they like to boast!

I’ll probably need a nap after the game, but basketball adrenaline will boost me until that time comes. It’s been a tough week of bad decisions on my part that have only added to my wife’s work stress. Even an attempt to humor her with a Limoges box and poem went wrong. It was supposed to be a celebration for the 20th anniversary of our first “date,” when we typically observe Valentine’s Day. At least that way I get two chances to make it right, so there’s still time for a make good.

I have several themes that I follow when I gift my wife a Limoges Box. It’s been another of our 20-year traditions and I have bought hundreds for her collection. There are holiday boxes, those that are travel-related, romantic, and whimsical categories that I look for. I typically purchase them on-line from reputable sources since it’s rare to see them in the stores any more. For those of you that are unfamiliar with Limoges, they are French, hand-painted, porcelain boxes that are hinged to sometimes reveal a surprise inside. I put a poem inside each one that I give her and once proposed with a hidden diamond ring. In that particular case, the design included a rabbit with a carrot (or karat). (See Post #146). They also each feature a distinctive clasp as part of the hinged lid. The FOX BOX had a gold HEN where it opened and hens were painted on the inside. I enjoy “hunting” for the right one to fit the occasion, but I’ve also made a few mistakes.

I was probably trying to be too clever in selecting a FOX themed box. However, she used to enjoy collecting peacocks when she worked for the NBC affiliate. A Limoges box, on the other hand, is a bit too pricey for our $50 limit on this type of whimsical collecting. When she left NBC, she gave them all away, except for the Peacock Limoges. She now works for FOX, but the budget meetings, especially the early arrival, had her in a bad mood. As a result, she did not think the Fox Limoges was funny, plus apparently I had already given her a “Hunting FOX.” This is one of the predictable casualties of too much in a collection, despite the fact that I keep a list. The search function failed me, as I failed her. I sent it back for a replacement, but here’s the poem.

Fox and Hen

It used to be peacocks,
But those days have passed.
It’s amazing how many,
Of those we’ve amassed.

Now the channel has changed,
And it’s time to start anew.
The FOX transition,
Is two years overdue.

With the Valentine display,
Full of porcelain hearts.
The collection of foxes,
Now officially starts.

This box an exception,
To the less than $50 rule.
But the HEN on the clasp,
Makes this one cool.

The FOX & Hound,
Was an early rendezvous.
Back when I was quickly,
Falling in love with you.

Your love of Broadway,
As I learned to know.
“Light in the Piazza,”
Our first FOX show.

The Fabulous FOX,
For Spamalot, too.
Like the Jersey Boys,
“Can’t take my eyes off you.”

You have A FOX coat,
But fur it’s not.
Unlike those that I,
Paid Bill Wallace a lot.

You’re my FOXY Lady,
I’ve always thought,
A vixen of beauty,
That I finally caught.

Maybe you’ll see me,
As your “Fantastic Mr. FOX?”
While our love story continues,
Through another Limoges Box.

FOXES mate for life,
Let’s hope that’s true.
Now twenty for us.
With many more due.

That night at Eddy’s,
Opportunity Knocks. ‘
In a FOXY “Tan-T,
Red Sweats, & White Socks.’

We met through our work,
And it led to play.
You’ll join me in retirement,
And we’ll cruise away.

Throughout your career,
It’s been your tradition.
I know you’ll continue,
To OUTFOX the competition

Happy Valentine’s Day,
To the love of my life.
You’re a proud mother HEN,
And my FOXY LOXY wife.

The are references to several famous FOXES in this work of silly rhyme, including The Fox and Hound – a now shutterd Indy restaurant, St. Louis’ Fabulous Fox Theater, Chicken Little’s Foxy Loxy, and the George Clooney movie, The Fabulous Mr. Fox. There is also a reference to a poem that I wrote for her after that first “date” 20 years ago, and her love of Broadway shows. Ironically, I had also bought advance tickets on Fandango for a movie last night at the Regal Fox Theater that I forgot to include in the poem. As it turns out, the weather was bad so we couldn’t drive downtown to the movie. Just as I thought that I had made another foolish purchase, Fandango kindly issued me a credit. As we discussed, it did not make sense to spend $50 on an Uber ride for a $20 movie (Senior Citizen discount). I might not have been able to even hire an Uber, considering their lack of availability this morning.

With a new Limoges box on the way, a new poem to write, and the real Valentine’s Day yet to celebrate in Phoenix, I still have a chance to make this right. Let’s just hope that the budget meetings go well. At least she’s there in plenty of time, while I’m trying to be as constructive as possible in her absence.

Retirement is not without Hassles: “Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do!” #835

February 8, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Another week is coming to an end and warmer Arizona temperatures are thankfully in the forecast. Here in Portland there is talk of up to 14 inches of snow accumulation over the next week. Our pet sitter will have to navigate the neighborhood hills and use our crampons to safely walk the dogs. Phoenix will at least be in the 60’s for our “Valentine Getaway.” It starts with budget meetings for my wife and ends with friends in Tucson, but in the meantime we’ll get some alone time at a Marriott Vacation Club villa.

The next stop on our “Travelin’ Tour” will be Seattle for a baseball weekend with college friends. Our Indiana Hoosiers will face defending National Champion Oregon State in one of several college baseball match-ups at Safeco Field, home of the Mariners. Just after we get back from Arizona, Major League spring training will start along with several similar college pre-season tournaments. Last year I attended one in Surprise also featured Oregon State, so I’ll see my first game a few weeks later this year. Nonetheless, as Spring quickly approaches it’s time to “Play Ball.”

Indiana basketball did not fare well against hot-shooting Iowa last night, so my Alma Mater is once again not likely to make the post season. There was a brief breeze of hope with last week’s unexpected victory in East Lansing, but this home court loss puts an extra long nail in the coffin. It’s funny how the I.U. Alumni Association caught up with me last week in my temporarily insane condition and it resulted in the purchase of a digital directory to support the 200th anniversary of the school. Try getting that money out of me this week?

I got my Valentine’s cards out to the grandkids and wrote the traditional poem for my wife. We celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our first “date” tonight at the Outback bar that has become a regular dining favorite for ribs. “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” is what Elvis might serenade us with. He would have been 84 last month, while Frankie our aging cat (named after Sinatra) is 18 years old today. They once did a great duet of “Love Me Tender” (not the cat).

Mid-week “Date Night” was at Rosa Rosa, the new Paley restaurant downtown that proved to be disappointing. Tomorrow night’s movie will be Stan & Ollie. It may be a challenge getting there in the snow, since I’ve already bought the tickets. Maybe Uber to the rescue? My wife already plans to order a car to get her to the airport the next morning for her business meetings. I won’t fly out for another two days.

As you may have noticed, I continue to avoid specifying the days of the week. It’s been my experience in retirement that they are now all really the same, and there’s no need to use the typical Monday thru Sunday labels. Also, vacations and holidays no longer apply. It’s simply today, tomorrow, and the next day on the retirement calendar. By the way, this week’s 1,000 Places To See Before You Die calendar features India, Malta, and Tokyo that are on our yet-to-visit list, and Slovenia, The Bahamas, and Greece that we’ve already seen. As Elvis might sing to his Valentine, “Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do!” Make that Travelin.’

Oh got a lot o’ living (travelin’) to do
A whole lot o’ loving to do
Come on baby, to make a party takes two
Oh yes I’ve got a lot o’ living (travelin’) to do
A whole lot o’ loving to do
And there’s no one who I’d rather do it with-a than you!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Family Matters #831

February 4, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It’s been an eventful few days of February already, and that’s not because of Groundhog Day, the Superbowl, or the end of an I.U. basketball losing skid. This is not the stuff that matters! It’s family that really matters and a lot has happened of late.

My nine month old granddaughter is crawling, cooing, waving, and eating real food. She’s a doll, and I regret not being closer to my son and his family. We are 3,125 miles apart! It’s also not an easy flight with the 3 hour time difference, so I get to see them only rarely. On the other age extreme, we spend most of our family travel budget and my wife’s vacation time on quarterly trips back to Indiana. Her 97-year old mother is now requiring round-the-clock nursing, while most of her life savings are going to this expense. She could soon run out of money. This is something that every retiree and family member needs to worry about.

My wife’s youngest daughter sent us her new apartment address a few days ago. She and her anticipated fiance are moving from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, California so they’ll at least be in the same time zone as we are. This should allow us to see them more often. Her sister, the only relative who lives nearby in Portland, just showed us her new engagement ring yesterday, and will start a new job soon. Between my wife’s sister’s daughter, who got engaged over the holidays and my wife’s two great girls, we’re anticipating three wedding in the near future. It’s hard to keep up with all these family matters.

As you can see, there’s good news and bad news when it comes to my family matters. My only sister and I have already dealt with the passing of our parents. She bore most of this grave responsibility. We met for lunch over the holidays, but I didn’t get to see her two busy kids, my nephew and niece, as we too remain separated by 2,216 miles and only limited visiting time when we’re back in Indiana. She did bring along one of her five granddaughters. The best I can do is call her every Monday and keep track of the kids on Facebook. It would have been our mom’s 98th birthday today, born one day after dad. Our family matters are now simply about memories, and trying to get together whenever we can.

Retirement is not without Hassles: Overtime #830

February 4, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

My working wife is working extra hours this week. This means that I’ve been relinquished of any stressful cooking responsibilities tomorrow night. She’ll be dining out while I’ll be eating frozen dinners. I love a good chicken pot pie, and it’s just what I need in retirement – less responsibilities. I’m down to running, stretching, sleeping, writing, genealogy, banking/bills, maintenance, trash, personal hygiene, vacuuming, mail, dusting, kitty litter, laundry, dog walking, reading, and TV watching, with very little overtime. This week I’ll include tax and will preparation. Even I can handle that much of a “work” load!

Last night’s Super Bowl was boring, but the baked wings and iced football cookies were great. Congrats to Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the New England Patriots…again. I’m still riding high on the I.U. basketball victory at Michigan State. It made my weekend a 10. We went out to dinner Friday night and saw the movie The Favourite, another must on my wife’s Academy Awards list. It’s a bizarre production, but true in many ways. My wife also rented Roma, but I was busy in “Banister World.” It’s my own little soap opera, based on my true life story of adoption. In the process, I found a few more DNA matches on my massive Ancestry.com Tree.

This Friday marks the 20th anniversary of our first “date.” It’s also the 18th birthday of our cat Frankie, with blue eyes like Sinatra. Two causes for celebration before we head to Phoenix next week. There’s snow flurries in the forecast for this afternoon, so some Arizona heat will be a welcome relief. I have to get some sun before we spend a week on the Thailand coast of the Andaman Sea. It’s just six weeks away! I like my routine at home, but travel is what I really want in retirement. Plus, my wife needs a break from research projects and budget meetings that keep her working extra hours. It makes me feel guilty about being older and enjoying retirement.

Old Sport Shorts: Breslin or Bust #829

February 3, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

There are not too many things in life that I get more emotional about than I.U. Basketball. I know that sounds silly – it’s just a game! There are also not many places that have haunted me more than the Breslin Center – home of the Michigan State Spartans. It’s named after Jack Breslin, the former athlete and alumni leader who pushed for the facility. It was built in 1989 and was never kind to me when I visited. The court itself is the very floor that MSU won the 2000 Final Four at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. I.U. has been a consistent bust at Breslin, but before that time the Hoosiers held the slight edge, winning 17 times of the 33 games held in East Lansing since 1949.

Indiana lost in the inaugural year of the new building in 1990 by the score of 72-66, but rebounded for our first win the following year 62-56. The Hoosiers did not win again until 2013, 22 miserable years later 72-68! The reality of “000 for East Lansing,” reflected in my frustrations over that nightmarish time span when Sparty had his way with us. Oddly, with all the good basketball teams we fielded, the closest we came to victory was a one-point O.T. loss in 2011 by one of the least competitive Hoosier teams that I can remember. Only in Tom Crean’s first season as coach in 2008-09 can I recall a worst Big Ten record. That year, we traveled to the Maui Invitational only to be embarrassed by both Notre Dame and St. Joseph’s. Later that season, they lost at Breslin by 28 points, the beginning of what must be a record 10-game Big Ten losing streak to finish 1-17 in the conference. Thanks Iowa! With only 6 total victories that year, it was the least number of wins since 1915-1916.

In 2010, Indiana did not have to travel to Michigan State but still lost to them in Bloomington. It was in 2011 then that we somehow came so close to beating the 25th ranked Spartans at Breslin. We then defeated Minnesota at friendly Assembly Hall, but stumbled to a 9-game losing streak and finished last in the rugged Big Ten at 3-15 and 12-20 overall. Those were some might troublesome days of Hoosier Basketball.

This year has been just as bad. Our two dogs have to cover their ears with their paws as each televised game starts and I begin to rant. I can’t recall even winning an opening tip. Fortunately, many I.U. basketball games have been early starts out here on the West Coast so we can take advantage of Happy Hour at Buffalo Wild Wings and drown our sorrows. After seven straight BIG losses, there was little hope for victory at Breslin against the #6 Spartans. Last year we lost there by 28 points, matching the frustration of 2009. A few more losses and we would approach that team’s dubious ten game conference losing streak, as well.

I let out a childish scream at the TV when Senior leader Juan Morgan left the game with a shoulder injury. Really??? The dogs cowered – my wife turned her TV volume louder. More injuries – a damaged finger – a twisted ankle. We should have won in regulation, but instead it went to overtime. Only in 1983 had we won an overtime game in East Lansing and that was long before the daunting Breslin Center was ever built. It was now Breslin or Bust, with any hopes for salvaging the season on the line. More screams – more foul words – and then actual tears in victory. My hands were shaking. I couldn’t have been more proud of my hustling, scrappy, wounded team.

Even a Tom Brady Superbowl win today can’t ruin yesterday’s Hoosier high. Groundhog Day will be forever memorable after my poor shooting team somehow prevailed in the “shadow” of the Breslin Center. It could be said that if the Patriots win another trophy today then there will be even more weeks of harsh winter than the Groundhog has already predicted. In that time, maybe the Hoosiers can build a winning streak to offset their disastrous January and find their way into the postseason. I never thought that was even remotely possible, especially after losing at Rutgers just a few days ago. But, anything is possible – so go Rams!