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Category: OLD SPORT SHORTS (Page 55 of 68)

An old guy’s perspective on all sports

Old Sport Shorts: Romeo #513

May 1, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Romeo, Romeo “Wherefore art though going?” Langford has finally made his one-and-done commitment to Indiana University’s Archie Miller, sending a sigh of relief all over the Hoosier state. It is the most celebrated boost to I.U. basketball since Damon Bailey in 1991, announced via television coverage at New Albany High School. Romeo picked the IU hat in the middle of the podium over the other two choices of Vanderbilt and Kansas, and wore it with a big smile of happiness after years of speculation. Unlike the early 90’s, the impact of social media made this decision the most talked about recruiting achievement in recent history. The biggest difference is that Damon had four years to prove his worth to the team, while Romeo will only have one. There was little doubt that Bailey was always headed to IU, but Langford kept us all waiting with anticipation.

Langford is the 27th Mr. Basketball to attend Indiana University since 1939 when the state’s first recipient was awarded:

  • Romeo Langford 2018
  • Cody Zeller 2011
  • Jordan Hulls 2009
  • Eric Gordon 2007
  • A.J. Ratliff 2004
  • Jared Jeffries 2000
  • Tom Coverdale 1998
  • Luke Recker 1997
  • Damon Bailey 1990
  • Pat Graham 1989
  • Lyndon Jones & Jay Edwards 1987
  • Delray Brooks 1984
  • Steve Alford 1983
  • Steve Bouchie 1979
  • Ray Tolbert 1977
  • Kent Benson 1973
  • Dave Shepard 1970
  • George McGinnis 1969
  • Dick & Tom Van Arsdale 1961
  • Jimmy Rayl 1959
  • Hallie Bryant 1953
  • Bob Masters 1948
  • Bill Garrett 1947
  • Tom Schwartz 1945
  • Ed Schienbein 1940

If all goes as planned, he’ll join fellow-alumni Victor Olidipo as a rising star in the NBA. He’ll surely only stay a second year, if for some reason he’s unable to play. Strange things have happened through the years, so fans are used to tempering their expectations. I was surprised when I saw the IU Band in attendance at the public announcement event, leery that they might just be sent packing on a long bus ride back home. In fact, there might have been a riot at the announcement site yesterday, should he have chosen to go anywhere else. Instead, the band is still playing today!

The fact that IU got another Mr. Basketball does not necessarily mean another National Championship, since only Steve Alford, Ray Tolbert, and Steve Bouchie are in that select group of banner producers. However, it does mean that that IU is once again competing with the elite in recruiting state and national talent. The program has unfortunately never recovered from the Knight era, but this may be the start of the next great chapter. The Romeo impact should only be for a year, but the rumble it’s created will wake-up the sleepy Hoosier Nation for many seasons to come. A surge of electricity has hit the Bloomington campus and alumni like me all over the world feel a sense of rejuvenation. If this continues, I might even buy a new t-shirt this year! Thanks, Archie – it’s indeed Miller Time! (See Post #35). 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Brick #511

April 29, 2018 / / 0 Comments

The other night when I was walking the dogs, I picked up a brick cast aside in a nearby woods. I needed it for the recipe that I’m preparing next week called Chicken Under A Brick so I brought it home with me. Apparently, the Italians have figured out magical way to grill chicken that uses the weight of an aluminum foil covered brick to press the bird forcefully against the the grill. After my success with Beer Can Chicken, I’m hoping for another “winner-winner-chicken-dinner.” It also got me thinking about bricks. 

Eleven years ago I got a unique birthday present from my wife, when the Cubs were offering personalized commemorative bricks to be placed on the grounds of Wrigley Field. “3 Generations – Mike Adam Gavyn 9/10/2007.” My dad, Burt, should probably have been included as the Fourth Generation and his dad, Bill, the Fifth in a long line of family Cub fans. However, as my wife explains, it was the date of the first Cubs game for my grandson in the company of myself, my son, and my only nephew (three generations). In a similar manner, I bought my parents their own brick in front of Nick’s on the campus of Indiana University where they met, and I’m pretty sure they included my name on one of the pavers in the downtown plaza of our hometown of Elkhart, Indiana.

I grew up in Indiana as a fan of both basketball and auto racing. The one-class Indiana High School basketball tournament and the Indy 500 were both captivating annual Hoosier traditions. I certainly launched my fair share of “bricks” off the rim trying to perfect my round-ball shooting skills on the basketball court. A “brick” is an errant shot but not as bad as an “air ball.” I grabbed a ball at a local fitness club recently after years of not touching one, and the result was nothing but “bricks and/or air balls.” 

On a couple of special occasions I’ve driven a race car, but never as part of a race. I once got to drive my personal car on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway known as the Brickyard.  In 1909 the original surface of crushed rock and tar was replaced with 3.2 million bricks. In October 1961, it was all topped with asphalt leaving only a 36” strip at the start/finish line now known as the “yard of bricks.” It’s worth kissing! I also attended the inaugural Brickyard 400 back on 8/6/1994 won by a Hoosier high school graduate named Jeff Gordon. This year it will be known as the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line. The naming rights must have cost a pile of gold bricks! . 

When I think of brickyards, for some reason I recall a former neighborhood in East Chicago, Indiana primarily inhabited by African Americans, many of which were employed by a nearby brickyard. When I was in high school, the East Chicago Roosevelt Roughriders were the top basketball team in the state, including the championship in 1970. The East Chicago Washington Senators won it the following year. The area was a basketball hotbed, with great shooters who rarely laid a brick. Speaking of Chicago, I also recall WGN TV and Radio play-by-play sportscaster Jack Brickhouse on Cubs and White Sox games growing up. He was the predecessor of Harry Carey, who are both enshrined as Hall of Fame broadcasting legends.

The long lasting endurance of brick construction dates as far back as 7500 BC, while the tallest brick structure in the world is the 1,046 foot high Chrysler Building in New York City, also home of a gastropub named The Brickyard. Nearby Newark, New Jersey is nicknamed “Brick City.” Plus, everyone knows the story of The Three Little Pigs and how the Big Bad Wolf huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow down the brick house, after destroying the others made out of straw and sticks. You’ve also heard the phrase, “Built like a brick sh**house,” and sang along with the The Commodores 1977 dance hit, Brick House. On a similar note, Jethro Tull’s album Thick as a Brick was released in 1972, and Pink Floyd’s rock opera Another Brick in the Wall came out in 1979. Finally, there is an Atlanta-based band named Brick that coined the word “dazz” after their unique disco-jazz style of music.

You don’t have to go far to find a restaurant, bar, or pizza joint named “Brick House” – just “follow the yellow brick road.” It not only leads to Oz, but also takes you to the slot machines at the Las Vegas MGM Hotel. All the big stars are promoted on the giant marques that you find only in Vegas, and engraved on what could be considered to be “star-shaped bricks” on the sidewalks of Hollywood. Does a brick have to be square or rectangular? No matter what shape, it’s a form of immortality that you can buy. The bottom line is if you can’t have your name in lights, at least put it on a brick. 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Adventure #509

April 27, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Five straight days of being a homebody. There was no evening dining out, with the only outside events of my choosing. A college baseball game, a dental appointment, a leadership meeting, and some errands were the only things that interrupted my lazy, binge-watching this week. I sat through a couple of  Lost in Space episodes with my wife in the evenings and several seasons of Justified during the daytime hours. From “Danger Will Robinson” to the “Dixie Mafia” of the Kentucky backwoods, there couldn’t be much more range in this week’s viewing habits. Even though the weather was perfect, I ventured outdoors only to run, walk the dogs, get the mail, read on the back deck, and ride around in the convertible. I’m glad I don’t have to deal with the hassles of outer space aliens and poison moonshine.

We did venture out for carry-out burgers & onion rings from Skyline last night. I made chicken with barbecue sauce for dinner one night, had hot dogs and the nachos at the ballpark, and enjoyed lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings today with some friends. The Cubs beat the Brewers while we were eating, and preparations were being made for Round 2 of the NFL draft, while we sipped on cold beers and solved most of the world problems. This is what leadership is all about! On the more constructive side, I did do some laundry, vacuuming, dusting, weeding, dish-washing, picked up the dry cleaning, and fixed the water heater, so don’t even begin to think that retirement is spent strictly on the couch. I also was able to wrangle a $150 in Amazon Gift Cards from Delta Airlines customer service after repeated efforts to resolve our travel complaints from a month ago. I was not as successful as I hoped to be, and I hope there will be additional compensation as they continue to review our case. This is something that I would not have time or motivation to do if I was still working. I’ve yet to get into coupon-clipping and contesting, but I suppose those will be the next steps in retirement.

I will be able to enjoy one more week of relaxation before we head to Hawaii, and deal once again with airline schedules, rental cars, and hotel accommodations.  Sometimes these arrangements suck the energy out of me, so couch potato time can be a welcome relief. I’m kidding, of course! I still ADORE (See Post #396) travel and the sense of adventure associated with it. Just as the dogs like to GO – so do I. (See Post #506). Good things do not necessary come to those who wait! You have to GO out and search for them. I wish we had the resources to do more travel, and fortunately we’re restricted by my working wife’s vacation schedule, otherwise I probably would have already spent our nest egg. Being at home gives me time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going next. Days on the road go by so fast that life becomes a bigger blur than it already is, while staying at home slows down that hectic pace. Also, the dogs miss us when we’re gone, as they are currently waiting by the garage door for the sound of my wife’s car. We don’t get that kind of a greeting in hotel rooms or on cruise ships. There’s no place like home, at least until the next retirement adventure!

Old Sport Shorts: Gold Glove #505

April 23, 2018 / / 0 Comments

In 1957, sporting goods manufacturer Rawlings worked with Major League Baseball to create an annual Gold Glove Award. Last year was the 50th anniversary of the prestigious defensive award, issued each year by position. The very first award for an catcher was won by Sherman Lollar of the Chicago White Sox. It was the only year where there were not individual position awards in both the National and American Leagues, so Sherm was the sole catcher recipient that year. Other notable 1957 winners included Gil Hodges, Nellie Fox, Willie Mays, Al Kaline, Minnie Minoso, and Bobby Shantz. There were three White Sox players (in bold) out of the nine positions awarded. Historically, the player to earn the most of these awards in a career is Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux with eighteen.

Sherm Lollar went on to win the award two more times as a catcher, but would have won many more if the honor would have been established earlier in his career. Recent Hall of Fame inductee Ivan Rodriguez won 13 Gold Gloves to lead all catchers. Other backstop greats recognized by Rawlings include Johnny Bench with 10 awards, Yadier Molina 8, and Jim Sundberg 6. The catcher position has always fascinated me, even though it was a position that I never played. Sherm Lollar was my favorite player growing up, starting with his World Series appearance in 1959. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been collecting some of his memorabilia that I proudly display in my office. I also wrote several letters to the Golden Era Hall of Fame Committee suggesting that he be considered a Hall of Fame candidate. (See Post #5), especially in light of the fact that that he is one of the top defensive players in the history of the game.

For Christmas this year, my wife bought me a game-worn Sherm Lollar #10 Sox jersey from 1955. (See Post #494). I also have autographs, photos, cards, pins, and a drink cup in honor of his 18-year career as a catcher plus several more years as a baseball coach and manager. I don’t really understand this fascination with a man I never met, but I now joke about having one of the world’s largest collections of his merchandise. It’s really not much of a museum, but you’re certainly welcome to visit it. Today, I just received a 1950’s era Rawlings leather catcher’s glove endorsed by Sherman Lollar that I purchased on e-Bay. I just couldn’t resist displaying it next to the pin-striped, #10 wool jersey and a Hillerich & Bradsby Louisville Slugger bat autographed by Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio, another of my White Sox idols from the 1959 World Series. They may have lost to the Dodgers, but they won my heart!

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Santa #504

April 22, 2018 / / 0 Comments

I reluctantly leave Santa Monica, with the songs of Sheryl Crow and The Beach Boys stuck in my head. It was another sunny day here, drying out my damp Portland bones. The only thing to look forward to in going back home is a reunion with our pups and cat. Overall, we had a very Happy Anniversary, southern California style.

 

Our rooms were “free” at the J.W. Marriott Le Marigot, thanks to rewards points, but we always feel obligated to do a lot of tipping. We even got locked out our in-room safe, so we had to call for maintenance assistance. Management sent up some complimentary chocolate-covered strawberries as a belated apology for the room switch we had to make, so that was worth a tip. Then they comped us a couple of farewell drinks for a cold burger & fries delivery earlier at the pool, so that cost a little more cash on the side. There were also bell-hops, servers, Uber drivers, musicians, bartenders and housekeeping to properly compensate. Sometimes, I think they just screw up to get more tips from generous me, as I played Santa in Santa Monica. Ho…Ho…Ho.

 

I might get a sunny day in Portland tomorrow and then it looks like the clouds return. It will be back to the slow-paced homebody, retirement routine for the next couple weeks before our trip to the Big Island. It was a good idea to get a little base tan before spending time in the big league Hawaiian sun. We’re there for an auto dealers convention, so I’m once again tagging along on my wife’s business. While she’s in boring meetings, I’ll be hanging with the other spouses, and maybe rent a car to see the rest of the island. Although we’ve been to Hawaii, many times it’s always been to Maui or Oahu, so this is unexplored territory.

 

I’m headed to another baseball game this week. This time the Oregon State Beavers play the Portland University Pilots at Ron Tonkin Field. I watched the Angels lose in Anaheim a few days ago and The Beavers beat Cal Poly in Surprise, AZ a few months ago. We’ll see the Cubs play in both St. Louis and Chicago before the season is over. While we were traveling, my Hoosiers dropped two college games to Ohio State, while the Cubs actually won a road series against the Rockies. Baseball and retirement seem to go together, at least for me, like hand-in-mitt. The Trailblazers were also eliminated from the playoffs, so there will be no more basketball games to attend for awhile.

 

Our flight is on-time, so hopefully it will be another uneventful plane trip home. We’ll relax here at the LAX terminal for an hour or so before boarding begins. We’ve talked about booking a trip to Las Vegas, after reminiscing all weekend about our wedding there seventeen years ago. Although we’ve been back many times since, it was seven years ago that we were last there to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. I have both Alaska and Marriott points to use, so tips, gambling losses, fancy dinners, and show tickets will be our “only” expense. That’s practically free!

Old Sport Shorts: Hot Dog #500

April 20, 2018 / / 0 Comments

I got up at 3:15 this morning, shuffled through a one mile run in the dark, and flew from PDX to LAX. At the LA Airport I hopped on a big blue bus with Mickey’s portrait on the side. I arrived at the Disneyland Hotel an hour later, looking for a place to watch baseball and have lunch. I didn’t have to walk too far to find it.

It was the start of a big afternoon and evening in Anaheim, waiting for the start of the Angels vs. Red Sox finale. Hopefully, young Ohtani will provide a rookie spark and save the Angels from a disastrous Bean-town sweep. I took a bar seat at Downtown Disney’s ESPN Zone to watch the Cubs beat the Cardinals. As soon as I sat down the Cubs had a four-run inning and then held to tie the series. The bartender’s name tag indicated that he was a Cubs fan, so I felt right at home. Fortunately, I had already eaten my delicious Cheese-steak sandwich, or I might have lost my appetite after a poor relief effort by Eddie Butler. This time “the Butler nearly undid it,” giving up 3 earned runs without a single out. Old man John Lester pitched six solid innings of two-hit ball to reduce his overall ERA to 3.1. He’s part of the Cubs slow- starting pitching rotation that began the day as the third worst in all of baseball. The final score was 8-5 on another cold, brisk day at Wrigley Field. I’m now sitting here in the sunshine watching the Astros dominate the Mariners.

I’ll catch an Uber to Angels stadium and probably stay for an hour or so before I head back on Amtrak to Beverly Hills for the night. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Oh My! It will be first time at Angel Stadium and 20th different home field, so I’ll do a lot of walking around. While my wife works tomorrow, I’ll have another day to myself before we move to Santa Monica.

I’ll try my best to keep tabs on the Trailblazers tonight, but I’ve pretty much given up on them. I fully expected them to win game #2 in my presence the other night. They have to beat the odds on the Pelican’s home court to get back in Playoff contention. I stood under Merlin’s giant cap here at Disneyland to send them some powerful wizard magic.

Goofy just walked by and kids are screaming, so I definitely know that I’m at Disneyland. I’ve only been here once before, in sharp contrast to my frequent visits to Walt Disney World in Orlando. There I am Disney Grandpa, but today I’m just out of place “dirty old man” and ready for a ballpark hot dog.

Retirement is not without Hassles: What No TV? #498

April 18, 2018 / / 0 Comments

I think I set a retirement record for not turning on the TV! I did watch a on-demand movie, Molly’s Game, 3 days ago but that was the last time I hit the power switch on the remote. It’s usually at least on in the background, but my computer has been my sole companion this week. This oddity suddenly struck me today, as I sat here writing in silence this afternoon. It’s not as if I haven’t been exposed to TV at all. My wife has had it on in the living room and I’ve seen it on in bars and restaurants that I’ve visited, but I have remarkably not touched a remote control in all this time. A few more days of this and I might have to call the Guinness Book of World Records.

This was not my intent when the week started. I planned to watch the Cubs host the Cardinals, but two out of three of those games were cancelled because of the weather. I would have also watched the Trailblazer Playoff game, but got tickets to the unexpected loss at the Moda Center instead. I ran some errands, did my daily runs, and went to lunch today, but otherwise I was home with the dogs every morning and afternoon. No TV doesn’t sound like a remarkable achievement to you? It was my business for nearly 25 years, so the “boob tube” has been a mainstay for most of my life. Also, like most retirees, sitting in front of a television screen is a primary source of “cheap” entertainment, unless you have hundreds of channels to choose from as I do.

I will not be watching television tomorrow either. We’ll be on an early plane to Santa Monica, and stay in hotel rooms over the next four days. It will likely be a full week before I turn it on a TV again. The laptop was my alternative crutch the past few days where I do my writing, maintain diaries, read e-mail, check scores, and stream Amazon Prime programming. It wasn’t as if I lost touch with the world, just with the TV remote!

Streaming is the same as watching TV, you might counter. I will often have the TV on in my office and be fiddling with the two computers on my desk at the same time while checking the phone for incoming messages. It’s basic multitasking, a viewing habit that I developed many years ago! Watching a program on my computer and not turning on the TV eliminates one of these distractions, so I’m really much more focused on what I’m watching. At the same time, much of my commercial intake is eliminated, so it feels like a different experience. Plus, I carry the laptop from room to room, so I’m not stuck in a stationary spot all day like a “couch potato.” I could do the same with TV since there’s one in every room, but I don’t because there are too many remote controls involved.

I can watch TV both on my phone and on my computers, so as many as three programs could be on at the same time. That hardly compares to stretches in my broadcasting career when I had as many as eight TVs on different channels in my office, so I could constantly monitor the competition. I could see who was a breaking a news or weather story first, how the other stations were handling live coverage of local events, and who was advertising at any given time. As you can see, my working days were often consumed with television. In retirement, I limit most of my viewing to historical documentaries, current movies, and live sports, so I’ve cut back considerably on my viewing habits. This should explain why a week away from TV for me is worthy of the record books. 

 

Old Sport Shorts: The Uniform #494

April 15, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Another rainy weekend with little to do but watch movies. I did get out to a baseball card show but found little of interest at my limited budget. There are always lots of things that you’d like to have, but supply and demand dictates. I did go on E-bay and buy a Sherm Lollar signature catcher’s mitt that I saw once listed at twice the price. It will go nicely with the 63-year old jersey that I got for Christmas this past year. (See Post #257). It is one of my prized possessions. Here’s some history on it that I researched and included as part of the display in my office:

Sherm Lollar #10 Game Worn Jersey 1955

This uniform was worn in these first four home games at Comiskey Park in 1955:

4/14/1955 vs. K.C. Athletics W 7-1 1-3 with a triple, RBI and run

4/16/1955 vs. Cleveland Indians W 9-4 1-4

4/17/1955 vs. Cleveland Indians W 3-1 1-3

4/17/1955 vs. Cleveland Indians L 4-2 2-3 with an RBI

In this uniform, Sherm went 5-13 with a triple. The Sox team ended 1955 with a 91-63 record in 3rd place, 5 games behind the Yankees. 

Sherm Lollar was 30 years old in 1955 and played in 138 games, batting 426 times. In hitting only .261 he was still an All-Star and finished 11th in the AL MVP voting that was won by Yogi Berra. Teammates Nellie Fox (#7) and Billy Pierce (#18) also finished in the top MVP voting. Ted Williams finished 4th and Mickey Mantle #5.

1956 was Sherm’s best year as a hitter at .293. His 18-year career included 9 All-Star appearances, 3 Golden Gloves, and a .264 average. He also earned 2 World Series rings as a player and coach. He played 12 years with the White Sox, 3 years with the St. Louis Browns, 2 years with the Yankees, and 1 year with the Cleveland Browns.

This year’s White Sox team is off to another predictable slow start at 4-8. Since I first adopted Sherm Lollar as my favorite Sox player back in the 1959 World Series, it would be 46 years later until I finally saw them win the World Championship. I will give them another year to build a formidable team, and continue to support the Northside Cubs as a result of their success the past couple of years. Admittedly, I’m a fair weather fan, but Chicago baseball championships are a rarity, so unlike most city loyalists I support both teams to enhance my odds. I will struggle to determine a favorite when I see both teams play against each other in the Crosstown Classic later this year. I’m not sure what I’d do if they both made it to the World Series? The last time was 1906, only a hundred and twelve short years ago, so I won’t lose any sleep over that decision. 

Today is M.L.B. Jackie Robinson Day, so every player is wearing a #42 jersey, but both the White Sox and Cubs players did not take the field due to the cold, wet, wintry conditions in Chicago and Minneapolis. I wonder if they’ll wear their number 42 uniforms in the make-up games, since they are often sold to raise money for charity? The weather was definitely a strong factor in yesterday’s Cubs victory, fueled by an unbelievable 9-run 8th inning rally. I had checked the score after the 4th inning and found the Cubbies down 10-2 to the Braves, so like a true fair weather fan I gave up my intent to watch in favor of a movie. They ended up scoring 9 runs with just 3 hits and won 14-10. I had to buy the Topps Now card to document the victory, so another $9.99 invested in my sports collection. These particular high-quality, limited-edition cards are only sold during a 24-hour period and are a great way to document the season. So far, I’ve bought the Cub’s Ian Happ card showing his first pitch homer on opening day, the White Sox’s Matt Davidson’s 3-HR opening day card, and several Angel’s Shohei Ohtani highlight cards after the Babe Ruth like start by this rookie phenom from Japan. I’m sure there will be plenty of players featured on tomorrow’s Topps Now cards wearing #42 in honor of the player who broke the color barrier in baseball back on April 15, 1947 with the Dodgers, but none from the Cubs or White Sox. 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Sunday #488

April 8, 2018 / / 0 Comments

I thought it was Sunday, but there isn’t even a hint of sunshine. It’s just like any other gray day to a retiree like me. I did my three mile run this morning on the treadmill while I finished up Red Alert by James Patterson and Marshall Karp. The dogs were reluctant to go outside in the rain, but their bladders prevailed. Tally ran directly across the street dodging raindrops to do her business. Tinker, on the other hand, could not find a proper place to pee, and wandered aimlessly through the wet grass for what seemed like an hour. As I sit here drinking a Diet Coke and talking to my wife, we’re thinking about another visit to Cracker Barrel for what would be my third time this week. These are the things that make me a certified “creature of habit.”

There is a certain sense of peace in being a home body, while only venturing out to familiar sites. Buffalo Wild Wings to end each week is a good example. Movie night, cooking night, and date night help distinguish the days of the week. A different movie, recipe, and restaurant are the only decisions that need to be made when you’re in the routine of being home. It’s not boring at all considering the amount of traveling that we do. Nearly one week of every month is spent away from home, a percentage that’s been even higher so far this year. Marriott Hotels are our home away from home, utilizing everything from the lower end Fairfield Inn properties to the high-end JW Marriott and their world class resort hotels. However, there’s no place like home.

Tomorrow starts my wife’s work week – another Monday. Sunday, for me, was always the transition day, preparing for the job while struggling to preserve the weekend. I was never able to look at Sunday as “Funday” because of what always loomed ahead. As a result, the weekend hours began to shrink and pass by too quickly. The week seemed to skip from Friday to Monday to the point where I felt that I was always working, Also, back in the days of mowing, trimming, edging, and raking, weekends were nothing but a labor extension of the work week. Condo life eventually put an end to those responsibilities. My wife misses her garden, while I certainly don’t miss those yard work and home maintenance days. 

We ended up going to Biscuits for breakfast, our favorite haunt prior to the recent two Cracker Barrel location openings. Regardless, a hearty breakfast at either location usually leads to a nap. The Cubs, The Masters, and I.U. baseball might allow me to plow through the afternoon. In addition, my wife wants us to watch Pitch Perfect 3. By the way, Game Night was a very entertaining movie last night. It was a Friday Night Lights reunion of coach Kyle Chandler and back-up quarterback, Jesse Plemons, one of my favorite TV series. I often had dinner with the two of them during the filming of the show while we lived in Austin. They were both very good about mixing with the crew and lowly show extras like myself.

It should be a relatively quiet week. There will be no skiing, Broadway musicals, or Leadership breakfasts. The dogs get to go to the spa and we might go to the Nike Hoop Summit on Friday night.  It’s supposed to be spring-like weather tomorrow and then return to cool temperatures. The dogs were shorted their walk/run today, and Tinker responded with a fowl case of Tinkerrhea on the kitchen floor. She is the “Poopingest Pup on the Planet,” and after last night’s storms and the need for her Thunder Shirt was unable to control her output. (See Posts #370 and #371). I somehow managed to sleep through the high winds and heavy rain, exhausted after another tough day of retirement. What day is it again? 

 

Old Sport Shorts: The Weak in Sports #486

April 7, 2018 / / 0 Comments

It’s been a disappointing week of sports, starting with another Villanova NCAA Basketball championship, not that I would have been any happier if Michigan had won it all. Furthermore, the only two Cubs games that I’ve watched the opposition joyously walked-off in victory. Tiger Woods has not played well at The Masters, so his hopes of becoming the greatest comeback sports story in history are dashed. The Portland Trailblazers are still fighting to win their division after a couple of tough outings. Oregon State baseball has dropped out of the top spot in college baseball, while I.U. had finally made it into the Top 10 before being upset by rival Purdue. My White Sox also lost their last two after a great two-win start to the season. It was a “weak week” for all of my favorites.

As far as “upsets,” last week was no different. While on our cruise ship near Greece, I had little access to the world of sports. It was just as well that I was far removed from “March Sadness,” with no teams left to follow. I was instead looking forward to seeing Olympia, the site of the very first Olympic Games and a must-see mecca for any sports fan. Due to high winds our ship was unable to port, so that site still remains on my bucket list. I was hoping to find an ancient gold medal that no one else had stumbled upon. It’s still there!

Despite these setbacks, I still managed to add to my sports collection with a couple of Sherm Lollar photos, White Sox Opening Day cards, and two Topps Now cards of Shohei Ohtani, the Angels rookie sensation from Japan who hit his first three home runs this week. I also wait with anticipation for Indiana high school basketball standout Romeo Langford to finally make his college decision, now that the McDonald’s All-American Game is history. He had 19 points, including three 3-pointers as his East team lost to the West. He’ll next play here in Portland next week as part of the Nike Hoop Summit that I will be attending. I think I’m headed for more disappointment in hoping that he will elect to play for Indiana next year. The only positive for Hoosier basketball in recent times has been the women’s NIT championship that they claimed last week in Bloomington. Go Lady Hoosiers!

The Cubbies much anticipated home opener will be Monday against the hot, division-leading Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs struggled against them early last year, but hopefully The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field will bring out the best from the “Good Guys.” I did find out that my wife and I will be in Chicago for this year’s Crosstown Classic at Guaranteed Rate Filed, so I’ll hopefully get to see both of my favorites on the diamond this September. The only other baseball game I have planned so far this year is Oregon State when they play here against Portland University at Ron Tonkin Field in a few weeks. It will be my second Beaver baseball game this year after seeing them beat Cal Poly in Surprise, Arizona. They won their first 13 games this year, then added a 7-game victory streak, before uncharacteristically losing three out of the next four against Washington and Utah. They’ll face the state rival Ducks for a three-game series in Corvallis before traveling here to Portland to battle the Pilots.

Here’s to a strong next week!

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