Category: OLD SPORT SHORTS (Page 52 of 68)

An old guy’s perspective on all sports

Retirement is not without Hassles: Here We Go Again #603

July 22, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I never got around to writing yesterday, a luxury that I have in retirement that might not be possible if I was on deadline for a publication. Nonetheless, I’m way ahead of the one-a-day goal that I established. My wife and I went for the normal weekend walk/run with the dogs after sleeping in until 7:30 a.m. After all these years, it still feels good to wake-up at 6:00 a.m. and know that you don’t have to get-up yet. I sat down at the computer when we got back to the house and thought I had discovered a branch on the family tree that I had been searching to find. “I See Dead People!” Six hours later, it turned out to be another “dead-end,” after consuming most of my day. The Cubs game was on the TV as I tediously plotted along, and the men in blue won the first of a double-header against the rival Cardinals. I also took a minute to reluctantly reserve a couple of 7:00 p.m. seats for the movie, Mama Mia – Here We Go Again. It was really the only decent option for our “Movie Night,” despite serious concerns about sequels.

“Here We Go Again” has significant meaning for me. (See Post #454). Circumstances have made the Mama Mia Broadway and theatrical productions some of the most watched in my life. It seems to be playing on stages or in movie houses everywhere we go, not to mention bits-and-pieces that I see on TV. I was somehow able to avoid it as it played on our last cruise, but even some of my former business conferences somehow incorporated it into the spouse entertainment packages. I’ve seen it in New York, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Chicago, and points- in-between. My wife loves singing and dancing as much as I love baseball, so I often find myself monitoring scores as she sits enamored watching the performers.

Last night was no exception. Normally, even though I always have my phone on vibrate, I also turn on Cine-mode, but the Cubs and Cardinals were in the final inning of their day-night doubleheader. During the previews of coming attractions, I was keeping an eye on the scoreboard with no sound or video. We always sit in the very back row, and in this case I was seated at the very end with no one to my right. I was not distracting anyone, as even my wife did not see the light of my phone screen, otherwise she would have surely said something unkind. I put the phone away as the movie started, and prepared myself to be unhappy. The Cubs had just lost, allowing the Cardinals to tie the 5-game series, and I would have to wait until the movie was over to find out what had happened?

SPOILER ALERT!!! Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed the movie, maybe even more than the original. The Greek island scenery was phenomenal, the acting tolerable, and the singing outstanding. The producers made a wise decision in not allowing the men to sing much this time, and 72-year old Cher was a show-stopper. Granted, her dance steps were a bit shaky, but her voice is still incredible. She looked and sounded great, as did Meryl Streep in her cameo appearance. Apparently, like me, the cast members also “see dead people,” as Meryl appears as the ghostly Donna at her grand daughter’s baptism. It was at this critical moment that my phone developed a mind of its own and started to play video clips of the ballgame. I could not turn it off, as Donna continued her sad, love song. My ribs were already sore from my wife’s elbows, and I’m sure that others were giving me that evil glare for being so rude & disruptive. My wife was hoping that M&M guy would come rushing into the theater and reprimand me with “Cell Phones Ruin Movies.” Fortunately, I was in the last row on the end, so the embarrassment was somewhat contained. As if to mock me, I could hear the announcer talk about how the Cubs had blown the game, as I desperately tried to shut it off. Finally, it stopped, just before I considered running out of the theater. I still don’t understand what happened? I always keep it silent because I rarely use my phone to watch video, so it still makes no sense why this happened, especially at the very moment when the theater was in tears, as dead Donna sang her love song and then disappeared.

I promise to use Cine-mode next time, even though the incentives they offer are worthless. I just hope they don’t make a Mama Mia 3, or it will be all about ghosts. These movies have kept the music of ABBA alive. This new version, “Here We Go Again” will undoubtedly be headed “again” to Broadway and “again” to future ABBA pay-days. I think one of the reasons that I’m captivated with the somewhat-silly plot is because promiscuous Donna does not know who the father of her baby really is, and ends up settling for her child to accept three different dads; nor was she married when she gave birth like my suspected birth-mother. As an adoptee, I feel a connection since I’m searching for my birth father, while fortunate to have had the father who raised me. I feel a bit shorted since I have two fathers rather than three, and don’t have Cher as my Grandmother.

Retirement is not without Hassles: Thirsty #602

July 20, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It was a cool 48 degrees outside this morning when I started my run, so the warm sunshine felt good on my face as it popped up over the surrounding hills. I like the sensation of cold air in my lungs, reminiscent of the ski slopes. I was a bit hungover from last night’s Outstanding in the Field dinner at Archery Summit. The long table for about 200 of us was set in the midst of a vineyard overlooking the distant mountains, and the wine was flowing. One of my wife’s co-workers and husband-to-be from Austin are in town for a long weekend, and they had planned around attending this event. We will go to their wedding in a few months, returning to the Lonestar State for the first time since we moved to Portland. It’s been Texas-like hot here the past week or so, but more comfortable temperatures settled-in last night.

I’m looking forward to today’s “Leadership Luncheon,” a “tongue-in-cheek” title I’ve given to our end-of-week get-together at Buffalo Wild Wings. At one time in my business career, I used to attend Leadership brainstorming breakfasts and luncheons where we would offer solutions to city problems. The retirement version is much less serious and usually involves some day drinking. It will be an early start today because of the Cubs vs. Cardinals game on the big screens. There may be four of us today, which qualifies it more as a “conference.” If five or more show up, it’s a “convention.” The term “tongue-in-cheek” is a variation of biting one’s tongue to keep from laughing. Laughter is what “Leadership Meetings” are all about when you’re retired, like the majority of the attendees.

After running, my morning ritual currently involves watching the Tour de France coverage, trying to remember how long it has been since I’ve been on a bicycle. There’s one in the garage with a flat tire. I do have a tight-fitting rider’s jersey that I bought promoting the Ravenswood Winery racing team from Napa Valley wine country, keeping with the eating and drinking theme of today’s blog. I do have several friends that take their riding seriously, but I haven’t ridden competitively since Indiana University’s Little 500 back in 1972. That’s only 45 years ago and another reminder that my 50th high school reunion is coming up next year. This is probably why genealogy has become a recent fascination.

I took the pups on a car ride yesterday to break-up their daily routine a bit. Tinker has trouble getting in and out of the car, but her ears still perk-up at the mention of the word “ride.” It’s right up there with “hungry” and “go.” Younger Tally gets stuck in the back seat, particularly if I don’t have the elevated bed set up. Today will undoubtedly be a convertible day. Yesterday, we went to the library to pick up some more Ken Burns’ DVD documentaries. In retirement, I do make every effort to balance watching sports with continued education. The Central Park Five along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony will be next week’s history lessons. I’ve watched over 25 of his productions since I’ve retired, starting with Baseball, and have enjoyed the diverse nature of each and every one. (See Post #430). I guess I’m also thirsty for knowledge.

Old Sport Shorts: Comeback Kids #598

July 15, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Last year at this time I was in Miami at the All Star Game with my son, Adam. I will see him and his family at Wrigley Field in Chicago in a few weeks, where I’ll meet my new granddaughter, Nora Grace, for the very first time. It may seem like an unusual place for a meeting with a baby, but for our family it’s the next best thing to a baptism. My first grand daughter, Maddux Alexander, was named after Cubs’ Hall of Famer, Greg Maddux, while it’s probably no coincidence that this one’s middle name is Grace, perhaps after first-baseman Mark Grace, who had to go to the Diamondbacks to win a World Series. My son claims that the name Grace was actually in honor of his favorite grandmother. Only my grandson, Gavyn Riley, has no apparent name connection to the Cub’s, but his mother was not a lifetime Cubs fan like my son’s wife, who put her stamp of approval on Maddux and Grace. Gavyn, Adam, and I do have our own “3 GENERATIONS” brick at the ballpark, a gift from my wife, that is now eleven years old, commemorating Gavyn’s very first Cubs game at Wrigley Field. We’ll all undoubtedly gather around the brick for a family photo. I should mention that Gavyn’s last name is Jordan, so maybe Michael Jordan was an influence, since my oldest grandchild was not born in baseball season like his two younger sisters.

It’s been quite a season already for the Cubs, who once again won in comeback fashion last night against the Padres. I believe it is the 30th game they’ve won this year in that manner to lead the Majors. They’ve won 54 games (updated to 55) and regardless of what happens today (they ended up winning 7-4) will lead the National League Central Division at the All Star break (by 2.5 games), a big improvement over last year. They have more losses than my White Sox have wins. The Boston Red Sox lead the Majors at this point in the season with an impressive 67 victories (just updated to 68), another first-half record, while the Yankees, Astros, and Mariners each have more wins than the Cubs. These Cubbies are this year’s version of the “comeback kids,” not exactly comforting from my standpoint. Their relief pitching seems to be better than their starting pitching, but this is deceiving since they also score a lot of late runs. Last night, it was 11 runs, the 15th time they’ve scored in double digits already this season. The bad news is that they are a very slow starting team (but thankfully not today with a 5-0 edge) and this could ultimately “come back” to haunt them. We’ll see what happens after the All Star break this week.

Go Cubs and starting MLB All-Stars Javier Baez, Willson Contreras, and Jon Lester! So long, coach Mike Matheny who’s been fired by the rival Cardinals (they won today under an interim coach).

Old Sport Shorts: Pesky #592

July 8, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

The Come-back Cubs have won two straight come-from-behind, late-inning games from the Reds, while the White Sox lost four straight to the Astros. The Cubs were actually down 7-2 during my baseball card luncheon, but had rallied by the time I got home, after I had prematurely bashed them to my co-collectors. I don’t mind my typical lack of optimism, or being completely wrong, considering the victory – whatever it takes to get the “W!” I took home with me a like-new, vintage 1960’s catcher’s mitt endorsed by Sherm Lollar, as well as some other cool items for my collection. Plus, I added over 200 baseball cards to my collection and a foot-high autographed, cut-out of “Charlie Hustle,” gamblin’ Pete Rose. “Mini-Pete” will have to meet Yadi. (See Post #174) and pose for some photos. I last saw Yadi at last year’s All Star Game in Miami. I’m proud to say that he will be replaced this year as the starting National League catcher by Willson Contreras of the Cubs. Yadi Molina will surely be a Cooperstown inductee, while Sherm Lollar and Pete Rose are both still in the parking lot waiting for the nod. Today’s Cub victory was a result of an extra-inning walk-off WALK!

The Sherm Lollar autographed mitt is on display in my office, next to the 1950’s version of the same glove (See Post # 505). There were some Cubs and White Sox players mixed-in with the batch of 1960 Topps cards that I bought for $1 each, but no players of Hall-of-Fame stature that typically command much higher prices. I also got a copy of the book, The Grand Old Minor League, by Dick Dobbins, who identifies the book “an oral history of the Old Pacific Coast League.” I had my new buddy, 96-year old Vince Paveskovich sign one of the pages, after being introduced to him for the first time by my friend Matt yesterday. He’s as close to a Hall-of-Famer that I’ve ever met. His brother Johnny is known as “Mr. Red Sox,” and the right field foul pole at Fenway Park in Boston is named “Pesky Pole” in his honor. It’s the shortest home run in the Majors, just 302 feet from home plate, although Johnny himself, a contact hitter, only had 17 career home runs (6 at Fenway). He’s a member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, who’s uniform #6 is retired in the exclusive company of Bobby Doerr #1, Joe Cronin #4, Carl Yastrzemski #8, Ted Williams #9, Jim Rice #14, Carlton Fisk #27, and Pedro Martinez #45.

The entire baseball family is from the Portland, Oregon area, but Vince “Pesky” Paveskovich has out-lived siblings Johnny, Tony, Ann, and Millie. Only older sister Catherine, who lives at Maryville Nursing Home and recently celebrated 100-years still apparently survives. Vince now lives at the Regency Park Assisted Living Facility, and greeted Matt and I with open arms. He claims that “we made his day,” but really he made ours. Matt had actually given me the book and “Mini-Pete,” both prizes he had won at the baseball luncheon. He already had a copy of the book, as a serious collector of Pacific League memorabilia, and felt no real connection to the Big Red Machine, so kindly let me keep both. He’s known and visited Vince for years, and I’m glad he took me to finally meet him. I think we’ll go back to honor his upcoming 97th birthday with beer and pizza, especially since it falls the same week as both of ours.

The picture at the top of this post shows Vince and I holding a plaque with a photo of him and Jackie Robinson as displayed in his place of honor at Regency Park. Although his hearing is impaired, his enthusiasm certainly is not. He talked about how the brothers earned their “Pesky” nick-name because of their trouble-making nature that is obviously still part of his spirit. I’m sure he’s quite the character with the care-givers, and that they enjoy his celebrity friendliness. He played four years of baseball and championship hockey at nearby Lincoln High School. He then pitched four years at the University of Portland and two years in the New York Yankees farm system, before returning to his alma mater as head baseball coach. Vince was impressed with the Oregon State Beavers “NATIONAL CHAMPS” t-shirt that I was wearing, having earned it by attending the College World Series last week. It brought back memories of his playing days in Omaha. He was also thrilled that his native Croatia had just beaten Russia in soccer’s World Cup.

Vince chuckled as he told us the story about a black childhood friend, Billy Bell, who went on to be a member of the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II. Bell was shot down over Croatia and only his familiarity with the language that he learned from Vince’s mom (words like apple and bread) ultimately saved him. Rather than executing this black stranger who somehow spoke Croatian, they put him underground and spared his life. His stories like this were charming, but his local influence as a coach, teacher, and administrator for 44-years makes him one of the most beloved sports icons of Portland. It all started when the two brothers were in grade school. Vince was bat boy for the Portland Beavers, while brother Johnny was clubhouse boy. This is why I was thrilled when he signed his autograph next to the Portland Beavers jersey in my book, but I was most impressed that he remembered the name Sherm Lollar and recognized him as a great catcher.

Thanks, Matt for a great day! It will give us all something to talk about at the next Leadership Meeting.

Old Sport Shorts: World Stage #591

July 7, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Today I’m headed to a baseball card luncheon, where I hope to add a couple of items to the Sherm Lollar collection. My friend Joe is doing a presentation on identifying reproductions and fakes, that can be the scourge of any collector. I have two items in my office that are reproductions, including a glass sign for Comiskey Park tickets and the front page of the Chicago Daily News from September 28, 1920. The headline reads, “EIGHT OF WHITE SOX INDICTED.” It is clearly identified as a re-print on the back, but framed it appears to be original. Both of these where given to me by Joe, who spends his free time at garage sales, antique shows, and estate sales looking for hidden treasure. Being able to identify non-originals is a skill, much like in the art world. When you make a big investment in a collectible, you want to be sure it’s authentic, so Joe is a valuable resource to our baseball card group. Is it real or fake? “Joe will Know.”

Yesterday’s “Leadership Luncheon” was at Buffalo Wild Wings, as usual. However, the place was abnormally packed for the World Cup match between Belgium and Brazil, and the crowd was lively. I was also watching the Cubs lose their fifth straight game to the Reds, a team that has improved dramatically since overcoming a bad start and some management changes earlier this season. The Cubs are currently two games behind the Brewers as the All-Star break approaches, and hold a similar position as to last year in the Central Division standings. (See Post #196). On the positive side, the Cubs infield has performed much better than last year with several All-Star candidates on the slate, including Javier Baez who recently stole home for the second time this season. Kris Bryant continues to be on the disabled list but is still a top vote-getter. Outfielders Jason Heyward, Kyle Schwarber, and Ben Zobrist have each shown improvement over last year’s “hangover” to start the season. Willson Contreras continues to be a rising star in proving himself to be a world-class catcher.

This morning, television sports are all about the world stage, as the Tour de France gets into gear, and England beat Switzerland to be the first World Cup finalist. I enjoy watching both of these events, but baseball still tends to be my favorite this time of year. Basketball has recently gotten a lot more attention than normal with Lebron James, DeMarcus Cousins, and Carmelo Anthony dominating the headlines. I’m also looking forward to the start of Indiana University basketball this fall. In the meantime, the first sprint to the Stage 1 finish has just begun.

I have not been to a World Cup, Tour de France, NBA All-Star game or even a Super Bowl, but I’ve crossed-off most of the baseball goals off my bucket list these past couple years. Honestly, none of these are a majority priority since they all involve big crowds, ugly fans, and overpriced tickets (that could be fake). “Joe will Know.”

Retirement is not without Hassles: My Life by the alphabet: #586

July 3, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

If I had to describe my life alphabetically, this would be my answer:

A Adam my only son; A- blood type; Albion College Sigma Chi; 5-year Austin resident; Alpha Media President’s Club

B Banister at birth; Burt my dad; Baseball cards; Burger Chef & B.J. Thompson; Blue Blazers; Beardsley Bombers

C Certification with RAB & IAB; mother Cathy; NewsCenter 17; ACBJ Chairman’s Club; Colts; Coverdale Lake

Dee loving wife of now 17 years; Daytona 500 w/grand kids; Detroit Marathon; Diet Coke; George Dickel; Disney

E Eliza, my daughter-in-law; Elkhart High School graduation; Eagle Lake; Ernie Banks; Ford Edsel

F France trips, Future European travel, Final Fours, and World Series Finals

G Gavyn my first and only Grandson; Greek Parthenon visitor

H Homes in Indy, Sarasota, Edwardsburg, Union, Zionsville, Decatur, Austin, and Portland; Hall of Ivy

I Italy, my favorite country to visit; Indiana born Hoosier; Indy 500 team member; Indy Ad Club President

J Johnston name for life at adoption; Judy, my sister’s name; johnstonwrites.com

K Kitties named Marilee, Macey, Dimey, & Frankie; KXL, KINK, KXTG, KUFO, KUPL, KBFF, WE 96.3; Kidney Stones

L Lin Television retirement pension, Love of sports; Sherm Lollar; Lake Decatur; Lookwell Dairy; Limoges Boxes

M Megan & Miranda step-daughters, Granddaughter Maddux; Marriott Rewards; Middlebury Independent; Mustang

N Nora Grace my youngest Granddaughter born this year; North Side Junior High; No Alaska or Maine

O Over 40 years in the media business including agency, radio, digital, newspaper, magazine, & TV

P Politics, religion, & Bobby Knight not to be discussed; Portland current home; Poet; John Purdue Club

Q Quit working last year to retire at 65; Qualified blog writer

R Running Streak of 10 years; FOX 12 Hood to Coast Relayteam; Reggie Miller Pacers fan; Rice Krispies; Roxie

S Schnauzers: Gizmo, Tinker, Tally, and Roxie; States lived: Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and Oregon. Sherm Lollar fan.

T Toastmaster’s DTM, TV GM; Travel enthusiast; Toyota Solara; Taylor Univ. Jr. BB camp; Timbers; Top Dog Award

U University of Indiana (IU) diploma; Ukulele player wanna-be

V Viking Cruises to Normandy, Athens, and soon Egypt; Volcano Pizza

W World cruise on bucket list; White Sox, Bears & Cubs; WYEZ, WTRC, WIBC radio; WISH, WLFI, WAND TV

X-Wife Marcia of 27 years

Y is for Yesterday the last book that my favorite author Sue Grafton wrote as part of her alphabet series

Z Zanna my 96-year old Mother-in-Law

Retirement is not without Hassles: Fireworks #585

July 2, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It’s soon to be another Fourth of July, and like everything else I’ve kept track of the fireworks my wife and I have watched throughout our nineteen years together. Of course, I see animated fireworks frequently after winning a game of “Spider Solitaire,” but these were all occasions of celebration with each other, family, and friends. This will be our 20th 4th of July as a couple, and this year we’ll be entertaining my stepdaughter’s boyfriend for dinner at the house. We live in a quiet neighborhood where the dogs won’t have to spend the night in panic, so seeing fireworks this year would require a bit more planning. Here are 44 special moments in time when fireworks made our day:

My wife’s birthday dinner at Dunaways’ Indianapolis rooftop as part of Indy Jazz Fest
Rochester, Indiana Airport 4th of July display on a blanket
Epcot Center Disneyworld
Rochester 4th of July celebration with my wife’s mother
Cinderella’s Castle Disneyworld
Conner Prairie 4th of July concert Symphony on the Prairie
Disneyworld my 50^th
Conner Prairie 4th of July concert Symphony on the Prairie
Gershwin Conner Prairie concert Symphony on the Prairie
Conner Prairie 4th of July concert Symphony on the Prairie
Rochester lake deck 4th of July with my wife’s mother
Side of road on way back to Rochester from the Strongbow Turkey Inn Valparaiso with my wife’s mother
Huatulco Beach wedding party for strangers
Conner Prairie 4th of July concert Symphony on the Prairie
Rochester 4th of July with my wife’s mother
Venetian Festival Chicago Cruise
Labor Day Sky Concert Indy
Conner Prairie 4th of July concert Symphony on the Prairie
Disneyland Anaheim
Par Tee fundraising event Decatur, Illinois
Conner Prairie 4th of July concert Symphony on the Prairie
Busch Stadium St. Louis vs. Cubs
Drive-by US Cellular on way to Orchid Show
Navy Pier Chicago after business meetings
Decatur bridge drive during 4th of July celebration
Decatur Country Club Fireworks on the 4th through the trees at our neighbor’s house
Rochester 4th of July with my wife’s mother
Auditorium Shores Austin, Texas 4th of July celebration
South Padre Island, Texas – Steamers dinner on dock Memorial Weekend
Rochester 4th of July fireworks with my wife’s daughter and our own Tennessee-bought display
Guest Bedroom Window through the trees– Austin New Year’s Eve
Rochester Fourth with family on lake house deck
Corpus Christi, Texas festival fireworks – Toastmaster’s convention
University of Texas Graduation fireworks off tower
Cinderella’s Castle Disneyworld with grandkids
Harbor in Port Aransas, Texas 4th of July – dogs cowering out of fear
Rochester 4th of July from inside lake house living room – sadly no longer in the family
Labor Day Indigo West apartment distant viewing
Steamboat Mountainside Winter Carnival
Blues Festival Portland
Labor Day Oregon Symphony at Willamette
White Sox Guaranteed Park scoreboard
Steamboat Mountainside Winter Carnival year 2
Busch Stadium Cubs v Cards

Symphony on the Prairie was a must-go concert event when we lived in Indianapolis. The shows typically ended in an impressive fireworks display, particularly as the William Tell Overture played each Fourth of July. We saw at least 7 of these shows in the early years of our relationship. It was an annual tradition to go to Conner Prairie before or after traveling up to my mother-in-law’s Rochester lake home for more fireworks. We did this for at least 9 years, making my wife’s hometown the place where we’ve seen the most pyrotechnics. My wife’s mother always enjoyed our 4th of July weekend visits to Lake Manitou and her pier is where I made my July 1st marriage proposal 18 years ago. We could see and hear the Rochester fireworks show clearly from the small airport directly across the lake from her house. In the early years of going, we would also drive her to some of the neighboring town celebrations. She liked these shows as much as we did, but the house has now been sold and she’s in Assisted Living, while we’re unable to get there again this year. Hopefully, my wife’s sister will drive her to a viewing spot where she can relive 96-years of 4th of July memories.

For my wife and I, Disney probably provided the next most frequent place for us to watch fireworks magic, having enjoyed their displays on at least five different occasions. Ballparks, carnivals, festivals, weddings, events, and ceremonies also made our Firecracker Hall of Fame list. Then, there were those unexpected moments when we were driving along in the car and happened upon a fabulous aerial explosion of color. The most memorable of all impromptu spectacles was the first birthday dinner that I planned for my wife-to-be. We were enjoying dessert on the roof-top of an Indianapolis restaurant when the sparks flew from the neighboring Jazz Festival finale. We knew at that moment that we were in love, and that fireworks would always be an important part of our relationship. Unfortunately, dry conditions in both Austin and Portland, where we’ve spent the last ten years, have reduced or cancelled many of the planned fireworks shows, so our recent experiences have been limited to brief bursts at ballparks and the unforgettable Winter Carnivals in Steamboat Springs, Colorado the past few years. However, there are still plenty of fireworks in our marriage every day.

Have a Safe & Happy Fourth and remember those that have given us Freedom!

Old Sport Shorts: Dog Pile #583

June 29, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I wasn’t there to see it, but my good friend was in the crowd. We had gone to Omaha together, but a rain delay moved the final game back a day, and I simply couldn’t stay. I watched the game on my I-phone at 30,000 feet, in the terminal, at baggage claim, on the parking shuttle, and in the parking lot. I also listened to the radio broadcast on the way home from the airport and watched the replay of a stunning 5-0 win over Arkansas and their “Pig Sooie” shenanigans. I couldn’t have been more pleased with the victory, having suffered for 6 days in Omaha as a major minority. There were Omahogs everywhere, and they were confident that they would finally win the College World Series on their ninth attempt. They almost did! Some divine intervention changed the course of history as a catch-able foul ball that would have ended the game in their favor dropped harmlessly to the ground. The rest was history.

Oregon State won their 6th consecutive elimination game, tying their own College World Series record. In the process, they handed the Hogs their first shutout of the season. Freshman pitcher Kevin Able went a record 4-0 in the World Series tournament with 23 strikeouts and 2 runs allowed in 21 innings of work. His battery mate, Adley Rutschman, responded with a record 17 CWS hits, 13 RBIs and the Most Outstanding Player Award. The resilient Beavers came back the night before in the top of the ninth on a Razorback team that was 44-0 when leading after eight innings. They did it despite the injury to center fielder, Steven Kwan, and without a single hit in Omaha from their Senior leader, Nick Madrigal, who will go on to make millions in the pros. The traditional season-ending dog pile was exactly what the Arkansas’ fans were anticipating the night before for their team….but the ball somehow eluded three players rushing to catch it.

I’d like to write more but I’m headed to Crater Lake. A hard-to-get reservation was the reason that I had to leave Omaha and miss the dog pile. I also had to take the dog to the vet. I’m glad it worked out for my travel companion, who was able to get me one of the first National Championship t-shirts. GO BEAVS….Au revoir Omahogs!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Crater Lake #582

June 28, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Tonight I’ll watch the final game of the College World Series, but it won’t be from the stands. With an arrival time of 6 p.m. in Portland, the game will be two hours old when I finally arrive at the terminal. My friend is sitting in the same section we did last night but about 10 rows higher. He will pay another $600-$700 for that extended time in Omaha. Plus, his flight will not arrive until very early Saturday morning. By that time, my wife and I will be asleep in our Crater Lake cabin, anticipating an afternoon boat tour followed by dinner at the lodge.

We’ll spend a second night at the popular Oregon National Park before heading back to Portland, and will look forward to the Fourth of July holiday, that will gladly break-up her work week. I have a baseball card show to attend that following weekend, and can then maintain homebody status for a couple of weeks. The next stop on the retirement tour is Wrigley Field, where I’ll meet my baby grand daughter for the very first time. Next, it’s off to our Nation’s Capital to meet my step daughter’s potential fiancé. It will be good to be home for awhile this month before the next wave of coast-to-coast travel.

I hope my friend’s additional investment in Omaha pays off, and that he brings home the bacon, stealing it from the greedy Hogs. That would mean a happy ending and a “hot night in the old town tonight,” at least for Beaver fans. Temperatures could exceed 100 degrees, and I could feel the stifling humidity on my 3-mile run this morning. It will of course be relatively cool and pleasant in Portland for me.

It may be too late for me to help the Beaver cause by the time I arrive. There will be a guaranteed gathering of Beav fans around the bar TV’s at the airport. Regardless, of the outcome, I should be able to avoid the “Pig Sooie” chants of the Omahogs. (See Post #578). I at least left town a winner, as Crater Lake is calling.

Retirement is not without Hassles: B’s #580

June 28, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Baseball, Beavers, Brats, Bars, Beer, Bricks, Beefsteak, Burgers and Botany. These Nine B’s pretty much sum-up my trip to Omaha and our College World Series experience. I’m going home with a no-decision, but nearly left with the bitter taste of defeat. Thanks to 9th inning heroics, Oregon State will have one more game this season. It’s Hogs versus Beavers for all the marbles, while I navigate my way back to Portland and attempt to find a TV screen to catch-up on the action. I should get back for the final few innings. My friend decided to stay in Omaha, and fend for himself in that endless sea of Arkansas red. I probably shouldn’t say “Red Necks,” but many prefer that title.

I cannot wipe the smile off my face after last night’s stunning victory. Razorback fans were ready to storm the field and join the dog-pile of team jubilation. We were once again surrounded by chants of “Pig Souie,” outstretched arms, and gyrating fingertips reminiscent of a Baptist Church congregation. They were loud & obnoxious, and had long before gotten on my nerves. There were only brief moments of silence, but you could have heard a pin drop in the outfield stands after the misplayed foul ball that would have won the Razorbacks their first CWS title.

It was sweet revenge, after the previous night of multiple breaks for the Arkansas squad. The Beavs made some uncharacteristic errors and the umpires didn’t help matters. After the game, we went to a nearby bar packed with obnoxious Razorback boosters, celebrating our misfortune and their victory. I was annoyed with both their shenanigans and their accents. I even lost my fondness for bacon. Sooie!

If it weren’t for the stadium vendors dressed in the bright orange shirt colors of Oregon State, we would have been even more outnumbered in the stands. It was hard to spot anything but red shirts and hats in the crowd. Even the locals sported Nebraska red, a color that I’m used to wearing fondly in support of Indiana. I bought my first orange shirts in Omaha, forever cementing my devotion to Beaver baseball. However, I’m surprised that Hog fans weren’t asking me to vend them a beer.

I at least got to see the Beavers win twice in Omaha, along with “cultural” visits to the Botanical Gardens and Durham Museum. I think we stopped at least once in every bar, since there was little else to do but walk around aimlessly. The rain delay spoiled any chance to see tonight’s third and final game. However, I’m sure it was good for the local economy to stretch the event another day.

I sampled the local fare like Brickway Pilsner, Omaha Steak, Ricky’s Omelet, a Hangover Burger, and Ted & Wally’s ice cream. I also registered over 135,000 steps around town and even into the next state, while completing day 3,469 of my running streak. Finally, I’m taking home some College World Series souvenirs, including a Beaver team autographed baseball, and a lot of great memories. Give me a B…..