johnstonwrites.com

Today's thoughts

Category: OLD SPORT SHORTS (Page 60 of 68)

An old guy’s perspective on all sports

Retirement is not without Hassles: Mom and Dad #298

October 13, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Three years ago my Dad passed away.  His incredible mind left him years before, and I was lucky on those days when he recognized me.  He departed 25 days after my mom died, exhausted from many frustrating years of trying to deal with his Alzheimer’s.  It’s poetic that they went together at the age of 92, since they were born just hours apart and married for nearly 70 years.  My sister Judy and I read these poems at their respective services:

.

Eulogy to Dad

.

Together with Mom,

As it should be.

Someday we’ll reunite,

As a family.

.

Born one day apart,

She needs you there.

We’ll let you go,

It’s only fair.

.

We’ll miss you here,

But now we’re free.

Unsupervised,

It’s clear to me.

.

They tore down Miles,

Messed with your brain.

But we’ll never forget,

Your memories remain.

.

You’ll get your keys back,

Have a drink or two.

And one more thing,

No bills are due.

.

No lawn to mow,

As we used to kid.

I mowed all the time,

Judy thinks she did.

.

That log we shared,

I don’t ever want back.

Once delivered to me,

In a fed-ex pack.

.

A giving man,

Without a doubt.

Gave us a home,

When we were without.

.

Gave us everything,

We could ever need.

And taught Judy and I,

How to succeed.

.

Hopefully you’re somewhere,

Where the Cubs will win.

World Series Champs,

Again and again.

.

A place where IU,

Wins a football game.

Where “hamburger” refs,

Aren’t to blame.

.

I’m sorry that,

We couldn’t agree.

But the White Sox,

Were the team for me.

.

And in Indian Guides,

I just couldn’t be.

Your “Little Turtle,”

“Straight Arrow “for me.

.

So Big Turtle,

I’ll say good-bye.

We didn’t always see,

Eye-to-eye.

.

You saved,

So I could spend.

Despite our differences,

You’re my best friend.

.

All my life,

So proud of you.

My hero,

Oh, so true.

.

Send Mom my love,

All Grandparents too.

I’ll be here,

There’s mowing to do.

.

Love,

Mike and Judy

10/12/2014

.

Eulogy to Mom

.

She rests in peace,

She knows no pain.

She’d ask for sunshine,

Not for rain..

.

She lived to laugh,

And loved us all.

She’d never want,

A tear to fall.

.

A beauty queen,

Tiny yet strong.

She’d let us know,

When we were wrong.

.

She wouldn’t cook,

She’d microwave.

She’d make in bulk,

Then freeze and save.

.

Heat and serve,

Her specialty.

You would laugh,

If you could see.

.

Her freezer filled,

In orderly rows.

What’s inside,

Each label shows.

.

Tidy stacks,

Of frozen bits.

Thaw it in,

The bowl it fits.

.

I Love Lucy,

Her favorite show.

Like the Eveready bunny,

Always on the go.

.

Simple tastes,

No Rolls Royce.

Milky Way’s and Snickers,

Her meal of choice.

.

And in the end,

Dad at her side.

Always there,

Beside his bride.

.

Thanks to Judy,

She got good care.

She’s probably thankful,

I wasn’t there.

.

One heavenly task,

She’ll have to face.

Being disciplined again,

By Ross and Grace.

 .

Love Always,

Mike and Judy

Old Sport Shorts: Battle of the Blunders #297

October 12, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Rain delays have played major roles for the Cubs in these last two years of  baseball playoffs.  Last year, a delay in the 9th inning sent the Cubs to the locker room where Jason Hayward made an impactful speech to rally the team. It allowed the Cubbies to compose themselves while destroying Cleveland’s momentum on the way to the 2016 World Series title.  This year there was a bit of revenge by Mother Nature, as the weather worked against the Cubs and rain delayed game 4 at Wrigley.  With an extra day of rest, Nats’ ace Stephen Strasburg was able to make the start despite feeling “under the weather.”  He pitched a brilliant game to at least delay elimination and give new hope for a series victory.  Then, gale-force winds that kept the ball in the park all night, seemed to suddenly pause as Michael A. Taylor hit a grand slam clincher into the right field basket.  His heroics were a painful follow up to the damage that Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman inflicted in Game 2.

Kyle Schwarber, who hit 30 home runs for the Cubs this season, was nearly the goat in Game 3.  His double error in left field allowed the Nationals to score their only run.  It might have been enough to win, but Anthony Rizzo wanted some “respect.”  He expected to be walked with a runner on second in the 8th.  Instead he hit a seeing-eye bloop single into left to put the Cubs ahead.  No one in the stadium was more relieved than Kyle Schwarber.  However, he may never get another chance to redeem himself, and will probably be traded to the American League to be used as a designated hitter.

The victory spelled redemption for Nats’ manager, Dusty Baker, who was the subject of criticism all week for pulling Max Scherzer in Game 3, and then allowing Anthony Rizzo to hit with an open base available.  It’s the same Dusty Baker who helplessly watched Cubs fan, Steve Bartman, supposedly interfere with a “catch-able” pop up in foul territory back in 2003.  His Cubs fell apart back then, but his Nationals now have a home-field advantage in tonight’s deciding game.  Even fourteen years later, the late innings have not been good to the Cubs.

Yesterday was like a Shakespearean tragedy.  A rare error by Addison Russell at shortstop, a couple of wild pitches by Carl Edwards, Jr. and a shocking home run pitch from steady Wade Davis helped the Nats cause.  Did Joe Madden pull Jon Lester too soon?  Will this turn out to be another Cubs collapse in the post season, or another disappointing season-ender for the Nationals?  The “Battle of the Blunders” continues tonight…..

Retirement is not without Hassles: Divine Intervention #296

October 11, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Tomorrow I’ll be getting on a plane, so it will be difficult to keep up with my writing.  We’ll spend the first night in Beverly Hills and the next two on Santa Monica Beach.  Hopefully, rain won’t interfere with our activities as it has here in Portland.  We’d like to order some sunshine for the weekend.  Maybe the Cubs will get to join me in L.A., if they can just pull off one more victory against the Nats.  If so, we might go to a game.  While my wife is making some business calls, I will have some time on my own to see the sights and maybe have an In-N-Out burger.   I’ll sit down and put together a plan today.

I’m cooking another “Beer Can” chicken tonight for dinner, so I just pulled out my recipe binder.  The can is gimmicky, but it really works.  The moisture from the liquid works from the inside to make the meat juicy.  I will use a Diet Coke instead of a beer can for the 90 minutes it stands on the grill.  Rain…rain…go away.  I hope that it turns out as good as the first time!  (See Post #234)  I must redeem myself from the under-cooked Cornish Hens of last week, as I continue to try to find my way around the kitchen.  My personal binder is now filled with 16 different recipes that I’ve prepared as part of my retirement plan.

Talk about hassles, I just reset my Apple password for the 10th time this week.  I’ve spent too much time with Apple support, since my phone was working fine but the I-Pad was not.  I think they’re finally in-sync after this morning’s phone call.  I seem to be all thumbs when it comes to technology, but as a friend of mine likes to say, “the older you get the more technology you need.”  It’s frustrating, but I will persevere.  I don’t want to end up like the past generation of retirees, who refused to learn computers, and keep telling myself that technology is my friend.

With all the tragedies that have affected our great nation over the past three months, I have to wonder if there’s a God?   I want to believe that there is one, because that was how I was raised.  We’ve had hurricanes in Houston, Florida, and now Puerto Rico.  We’ve had news of a mass shooting in Las Vegas, and deadly fires in California.  I have to ask myself why I can sit here in the comfort of retirement, while others have to suffer.  I can’t see how any God could spare one man over another.  Maybe God decided to retire some time ago, and we’ve been left on our own.  There are many men who have lived much more prosperous and successful lives than mine.  They always seem to make the right decision and be in the right place at the right time.  War Generals that were battle targets but always dodged the bullet;  Business people that took great risks but more times than not had the “Midas Touch;”  Athletes who always seem to find a way to win.  In each of these cases, someone else has to lose.  How is that determined?  Who gets victory and who gets defeat?  Is this a result of divine intervention or divine favoritism?  These are questions that we all ask ourselves from time to time.  Are we in control of our own destiny, or are we puppets on a string?

I don’t know how to comprehend why some people lose their homes, their loved ones, or their lives.  I’ve already out-lived one-third of our Presidents, as well as 15 First Ladies.  Many of those that I graduated with sadly never lived long enough to enjoy retirement.  I’ve never really been hungry, gravely sick, badly injured, or homeless.   I’ve never had to declare bankruptcy or be needy for money.  How is this all fair, in perspective to those who have endured these challenges?  Does this make me smarter or tougher?  I am certainly thankful, but how does this help others?  Is there really someone or something that hears our prayers, or has that line been disconnected?  Does God have a blog, and if so, what’s the url?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Sport Shorts: Be Happ-y #283

September 29, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I keep thinking there’s nothing left to write about this season.  The Cubs have clinched the Central Division for the second straight year, while only Milwaukee still has a mathematical chance of overtaking the Rockies for the last Wild Card slot.   While resting most of the starters, the defending World Champion Chicago Cubs continue their winning ways, with their 14th victory in the last 17 games.  It was Ian Happ once again making the difference with a two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the 8th and Jason Grimm with the save for another dramatic one-run victory 5-4.  Happ-Happ-Hurray!  Don’t Worry be Happ-y!

The Yankees are 2.5 games behind Boston, but assured of at least a Wild Card Playoff appearance.  The Red Sox need to simply win one of their final three games against the A.L. West Champion Astros, who can claim their 100th victory with one more win.  Aaron Judge is in the Yankee spotlight, having just broken Mark McGuire’s 30-year old rookie home run record with 51.  It was also his 32nd long ball at Yankee Stadium this year, tying Babe Ruth for the most by a Yankee player in one season.  Topps Now has issued commemorative trading cards for both of these milestones.  All Rise!  The Ruth record has stood since 1921.  I also bought the limited-edition card when Judge won this year’s Home Run Derby in Miami.  Giancarlo Stanton had won it the year before, and has three more games left this season to top the Roger Maris home run mark of 61 in 1961, and perhaps surpassing Sammy Sosa (66), Mark McGuire (70). and Barry Bonds (74) records before it’s all over.  Stanton currently sits at 59.  Hopefully, it’s just something like cabbage or spinach that is fueling his success!

I also bought Topps Now collector cards for three Cubs’ highlights in their drive for the Division title.  The first was Jose Quintana’s 10 strike-out complete game 3-hitter to wrap-up the Brewers series in Milwaukee that gave his club a one-game edge for the year.  The second card captures Addison Russell diving into the stands for a foul ball during the first victory in St. Louis.  He did not come up with the catch and instead was covered with nacho cheese, but graciously replaced the fan’s order that was spilled on the field.  The third card is captioned, “Clinch N.L. Central Division Spot for 2nd Straight Year.”  I enjoy collecting these limited supply baseball cards that are only available for a 24-hour period following the highlight moment.  I think they will have greater value in the future, as baseball card values continue to be a function of supply and demand.  Earlier this season I purchased a Rizzo and Schwarber “Stay Classy” card that shows off their funky road trip outfits. (See Post #101).  The road trip was a disaster, so that card lost value quickly!

As Addison Russell knocked over the Cardinal fan’s plate of nachos the other night, it reminded me of an incident at Wrigley Field many years ago.  I was part of a season ticket syndicate that shared nine premium seats between the Cubs Dugout and home plate.  They were supposedly installed in the original wide walk-ways  just after Ryne Sandberg signed his final contract with the team many years before, hoping to off-set some of that investment.  These special  seats had enough room for spectators to pass both in-front and behind until the game actually started.  At that point, two retired ladies “guarded” that walk-way to prevent passers-by from obstructing our view.  The genius of the management decision to use little-old-ladies was that no one would have paid attention to an usher, but stopped quickly in their tracks when these grandmotherly women would kindly re-route them.  Half the fun of sitting there was watching them work.  The guarded pathway was also the most direct route for celebrities to get on the field, so it was not uncommon to see former players, movie stars, and other “ceremonial first pitch” types walk in front of us.  Ryne Sandberg, for example, regularly sat a couple of rows in front of us with his wife.  I took a close friend to the game one Saturday afternoon, who was a bit ambitious with the beer vendors, and had a full cup of Old Style sitting at his feet.  I wasn’t paying much attention, but a man was trying to pass in front of us just as the game started, and I was patiently waiting for the ladies to stop him.  Instead, he kicked-over my friend’s beer!   As it turned out it was Ryne Sandberg himself, rushing off the field to get to his seat.  Everyone sitting behind us saw him kick this beer, at the same time my friend, oblivious as to who he was, raised a fuss.  Once Sandberg got back to his wife, he somehow realized what he had done.  Perhaps, it was the cold, hard stares of the crowd.  My heavily sedated buddy stumbled to the restroom after the first inning, and once he was gone I noticed a tap on my shoulder.  It was Ryne Sandberg with a replacement beer, just as Addison Russell did the other night with the nachos.  I made him sign the cup, that turned out to be nothing but a blur, and it was long before modern phone cameras, so when my friend returned I had no real proof of the visit.  all the neighboring fans raved of Sandberg’s generosity, but I still don’t think he believes me to this day.  “Nacho Man,” however, was able to take a photo, millions around the world witnessed it, and Topps produced a card.

Old Sport Shorts: Pass the Salt #281

September 28, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Please pass the salt!  The Cubs not only won the final series of the season, but also officially eliminated the Cardinals from Post Season play at the same time.  They did it in dramatic fashion with Leonys Martin leaped at the fence to rob Paul DeJong of a tying homer with two-outs in the bottom of the 11th inning.  The Division Champion Cubs, who celebrated on the Busch Stadium pitcher’s mound last night, rubbed salt in the wound tonight, with most of their lineup resting.  The season series weighed heavily in Chicago’s favor at 14-5, with Taylor Davis getting his first major league run-batted-in, a game winning double down the third base line.  The Cubs hadn’t scored since a first inning Ian Happ solo home run.  It was once again former Cub, Dexter Fowler, who tied it up in the 6th with a ground-out that scored Tommy Pham.  Jen-Ho Tseng got his first win thanks to the game saving catch, and will apparently head to the bullpen for the Reds series finale at Wrigley Field.  Tseng was called up from Iowa to hopefully fill a starting role, but was unimpressive in his September 14th debut against the Mets.  Mike Montgomery will get the start instead.

I once again have to give credit to Ian Happ who continues to have an outstanding season.  He got off to a rough start, as the team struggled early in the year. (See Posts #101 and #123).  I also salute Kyle Schwarber, who battled back from a demotion to find his home run swing.  Happ and Schwarber were the only two position players in today’s lineup that had played in at least 100 games.  Kyle Hendricks struck out five and allowed four hits in five innings.  Joe Maddon will have some tough decisions in determining a pitching rotation to compete with the Nationals, as the team begins post season play on October 6th.  Lackey has lacked and Lester has been less, while Quintana showed some magic in Milwaukee.  Hendricks has probably been the most consistent down the stretch, but far from the dominance he showed last year.  Plus, the Nationals will have the home field edge.

There was a point this season, especially as they dropped that make-up game against the Brewers just before the All Star break to fall five games behind, that I thought that the party was over.  Instead, it’s just beginning after an impressive 7-3 road trip.  Go Cubs.

Old Sport Shorts: Sin to Win #280

September 28, 2017 / / 0 Comments

It was not a good day to be a Cardinals fan, whether it’s St. Louis or Louisville.  It truly was a sin that has taken Head Coach Rick Pitino off the University of Louisville bench, while die-hard Cardinal baseball fans undoubtedly see losing the Central Division Championship to the Cubs for the second straight year as an unforgivable sin.  The Cubs celebrated their division clinching victory on the modern day Busch Stadium field for the very first time, as well as for the first time since 1938 on any Cardinal turf.  They did what they have done since the All Star break, with one exception,  and that was win or tie every series.  The one series they lost to the Brewers at Wrigley Field was avenged in Milwaukee.  One more game at Busch and three against the Reds at home will conclude the regular season.  All indications are that their next challenge will be a five-game series against the Nats and their three exceptional starters in D.C.  Once again, the objective is simply to win the series, and perhaps potentially move on to L.A.

There will be no home field advantage for the Cubs in the Playoffs because of their overall record that will barely exceed 90 wins.  Two of their Playoff potential foes have already reached the 100-victory mark, the Dodgers and Indians, who both will seek revenge from last year’s post season.  The Cubs have played the best baseball of any team in baseball the last half of the season, after struggling under the .500 mark prior to the break.  Their pitching has been somewhat disappointing, interrupted by a few gems by Quintana and Lackey.  The 1938 Cubs, who finished 89-63, were swept by the Yankees in the World Series.  The 1935 Cubbies, who also clinched the Pennant at Busch Stadium, had that 21-game winning streak that was bested by the Indians this year.  They lost the World Series to the Tigers after a 100-win season.   Add 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, and of course the 2016 crown to the short list of World Series appearances since the back-to-back accomplishment of 1907 and 1908.  What are the chances of repeating that feat?

Meanwhile in Louisville, they’ve lost a coach, A.D., and two incoming prospects, with other repercussions expected.  They boast the highest Adidas apparel contract in the nation that just cost them their future.  These Cardinals won’t be heard from again for years in college basketball  along with the programs from Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Oklahoma State, and U.S.C.  Nike is also under investigation starting with their Elite Youth Basketball League, as the influences of the shoe industry start to include younger athletes.  At least Louisville coaches are not yet facing criminal charges like these other major Universities, so we can’t, for now, call them “Jailbirds,” but as a bitter alumni of a nearby rival school, I can certainly “mock” them.  They probably illegally stole some recruits from under our noses in Indiana.  Admittedly, we were under the microscope ten years ago, and because of N.C.A.A. violations lost our credibility with five-star recruits.  Now it’s there turn to pay the consequences.

Elsewhere in Chicagoland, the White Sox were the surprise spoiler in the Wild Card race, topping the Angels to the benefit of the Twins.  That’s the only positive thing I can say about a team that is 34.5 games behind the A.L. Central Champion, Cleveland Indians.  The Colorado Rockies continue to win, and will soon apparently clinch the last Wildcard spot, leaving the Brewers and Cardinals to prepare for next year.  The Tigers and Giants will fight it out for the worst record of 2017.  On the gridiron, the Chicago Bears, who won their first game of the season on Sunday, are proving to be little competition to the Packers, with a storm thankfully interrupting their poor start in Green Bay.  The Cards and Cubs outcome has little significance, but I still watch with hopes for a Cubs series clincher to compliment the Division  trophy.  Does anyone have some salt to rub in the wound?

Old Sport Shorts: Basketball Wars #278

September 27, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I’m thinking back to 2008, as my friends and I made plans to travel to the Maui Classic to watch our Hoosiers win.  The year before Indiana had made it into the second round of the NCAA Tournament, losing a tight game to UCLA, who went on to the Final Four.  Things looks promising for the first time since the Bob Knight era, so we were anticipating a great season,  and a great time in Hawaii.  However, soon after we booked the trip,  on February 22, 2008, in the midst of  Big Ten action, Coach Kelvin Sampson accepted a contract buyout and resigned from his position, following allegations by the NCAA.  Rick Greenspan also resigned as Athletic Director, and former player, Dan Dakich, became the interim coach.  Despite all the turmoil,  I.U. finished 25-8 for the season, 14-4 for 3rd place in the Big Ten, and 20th in the final Coaches Poll, but lost to Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament.  We were still optimistic.

During the off-season, Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis were dismissed from the team, and Eric Gordon complained of teammate drug use. Tom Crean from Marquette was hired as head coach, and from that point out it was “the last one out please turn out the lights.”  D.J. White left as a Senior, but other notables also exited to other opportunities, including Jordan Crawford, and DeAndre Thomas.  Eric Gordon went pro, so a complete re-building of the program was necessary.  We would be traveling to Maui with the distinct possibility that my friends and I might be needed to play.  None of us had played since grade school.

The 2008-09 season started with a couple of cup-cake victories before the Maui Classic.  The team managed to salvage a narrow two-point victory against host Chaminade, after losing badly to Notre Dame and St. Joseph’s.  Freshman, Tom Pritchard was the sole hope for the future.  The good news was that we didn’t have to sit in that hot dark gym to watch beyond halftime of the 38-point blowout by the Fighting Irish, and could enjoy the beach and sunshine.  That season couldn’t have finished soon enough, going 6-25 overall and 1-17 in the Big Ten.

The NCAA imposed a three-year probation on Indiana, and Sampson moved on to the Milwaukee Bucks.  Eric Gordon, now a current NBA star, was the focus of Sampson’s recruiting violations.  Gordon had previously committed to Illinois, but decided to go to Indiana.  I remember attending the Hoosier and Illini game in Champaign, IL just two weeks before the Sampson dismissal.  Indiana won a two overtime thriller on an impressive night by Gordon.  I was embarrassed for the Illinois crowd and Eric’s family in their treatment of EG and his coach, with unrepeatable racial slurs and taunting.  I didn’t think they would leave Assembly Hall alive that night, especially after a couple of Gordon daggers to seal the victory.  I’ve never seen an angrier crowd at any sporting event.

We didn’t leave Maui angry, just tanned, but as the years went on I began to realize the frustrating impact of the firing and coaching change.  Crean had his moments, but Knight’s success will forever be the standard at Indiana.  As we enter another season, Archie Miller will now take the reins under A.D. Fred Glass.  Both are great additions to the University, and together they bring new hope.  However, the Indiana Basketball reputation has dropped in perception, and top recruits have flocked elsewhere.  As I watch today’s ESPN coverage of the shoe scandal, I’m intrigued for two reasons.  First, I wonder if the scandal will extend beyond Adidas, and include local, industry-leader, Nike and even UnderArmour?  Secondly, I wonder how much of a recruiting advantage that Adidas branded schools like Louisville, Auburn, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, and U.S.C. had in recent recruiting wars.  It could very well be that many other schools enjoyed the benefits of shoe company incentives.  Hopefully, Indiana is not involved in these kind of practices, since it too signed a 53.6 Million dollar deal with Adidas!  Plus, too close for comfort, is the fact that Archie Miller’s brother Sean is the head coach of Arizona, their program also under investigation by the F.B.I.  Indiana University could not afford another set-back in our basketball program, although it would be just like Tom Crean to leave us with the shoe scandal hanging over our heads.

As the PK80 college basketball tournament event comes to Portland, I hope that Nike is not using similar tactics to lure schools and players to their brand.  Today’s firing of Rick Pitino at Louisville, the highest paid coach in college basketball, is probably just the beginning.  Maybe they need to look down the road at Kentucky and their contract with Nike.  However, that’s just a personal suspicion, fueled by years of frustration with John Calipari, who even Bob Knight never trusted.  He felt the same way about Pitino, and now we know why.   Perhaps, it was the heated competition between Louisville and Kentucky that caused Pitino to break the rules.  What about his son at Minnesota?  These are questions that I have, all out of bitterness about thriving programs at Kentucky, Louisville, and even Minnesota.  Maybe success in basketball truly is all about the shoes.  I never felt that I could run faster or jump higher in my PF Flyers, but financial success on the basketball court today is all about the combination of an NBA and shoe contract.

 

 

Old Sport Shorts: Da Bears #273

September 24, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Rarely have I had a chance to write about Da Bears.  I went to my last game at Soldier Field last Halloween, and saw a rare win over the Vikings the day after seeing the Cubs win game 5 of the World Series.  Fellow I.U. alumni Jordan Howard was outstanding for the struggling Bears, as he was today versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Although the Bears tried to shoot themselves in the foot several times, including a disastrous goal-line fumble and stepping out of bounds during a potential game-ending touchdown run,  Howard carried them into the end zone for a 23-17 overtime victory.  It looks like a big day for my favorite Chicago teams.  The White Sox are beating the Royals 8-1 and the Cubs are one inning away from winning three in Milwaukee. Rarely, do I see all three Chicago teams victorious on the same day.  Couple that with an I.U. football victory over Georgia Southern yesterday, and I probably couldn’t ask for much more this weekend.  Although, the Cubs walk-off loss yesterday was painful and the Ducks fell short against Arizona State.  Maybe the Timbers can also win later this afternoon.

Former White Sox, Jose Quintana, is two outs away from his 7th victory for the Cubs.  Ryan Braun grounds out for the Brewers, who will fall to 9-10 on the season against the division leading Cubs.  Travis Shaw pops out to complete the Quintana complete game shut-out.  Three hits is all he allowed in the 5-0 victory, but most importantly the full nine inning performance was much needed for a tired Cub bullpen.   The Magic Number drops to 2, as the Cubs travel to St. Louis for the next four games.  Three out of four in Milwaukee was beyond my expectations, hoping simply for a draw.  A split against the Cardinals would earn the Division title again!  Holy Cow!

Seven games are left in the regular season, and the Cubs hold a 5.5 game lead on Milwaukee and 6 games on St. Louis, with a total of 87 victories.  At this point, the Cubs will travel to Washington to play the Nats in the first series of the Playoffs.  The Nationals have won 94 games, with Miami hardly providing any Division competition at 20.5 games behind.  They’ve also lost 7 fewer games than the Cubs after winning today at the Mets.  Scherzer got his 16th victory tying teammate Gonzales.  Arrieta has 14 victories for the Cubs, matching the third Washington starter, Strasburg.  It will be a tough away from home match-up for the defending World Champion Cubs, who won 2 out of 3 when they last met in August.  The two potential Division Champions split in D.C. back in late June, and will probably meet again  for a best of 5 starting October 6th.  Go Cubs!

While the Cubs prepare to uncork the champagne, da Bears battle the Cheeseheads on Thursday night.  After losses against Atlanta and Tampa Bay, a victory against a Division rival would even the score for the young season.  The Pack is struggling today against the Bengals, so they are Bear vulnerable.  Minnesota and Detroit are both already at 2-1 to lead the NFC North. I try to get excited about football, but with Indiana and Chicago as my favorites, I often find myself looking at baseball scores and wishing that basketball season would start.  A rare weekend like this, where all my teams are winners, gives me false hope.  Go Bears!

Old Sport Shorts: Cub Fanatic #271

September 24, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I can’t think of a year in my life when I’ve followed the baseball season more closely.  With the Cubs World victory last fall, I’ve been hooked on the little, round stitched-ball, anxious to find out if they can actually repeat the accomplishment.  i went to a spring training game, the All-Star games, watched the action in several new stadiums, added to my baseball card collection, reported my experiences in this blog, and followed the M.L.B. Network religiously.  I’m ready for the Post Season to start, but four teams, including the Cubs, have yet to cross the regular season finish line.  The Cubs have 8 more games to play with a Magic Number of 4, striving for that 90 victory mark.  I admit to being a fanatic!

The Cubs at Brewers series has been some of the most exciting baseball I’ve ever watched.  Three straight 10-inning games to determine a Central Division Champ.  The Brew Crew finally broke through with a walk-off victory yesterday and are now posed to tie the series.  The third challenger, the Cardinals, were on a second-wind run, knowing that they have four home games against the Cubs starting tomorrow.  The Cards had won four straight until last night’s loss against the Pirates, so they have once again slipped behind the pace of the Brewers.  The Rockies continue to hold on to the final Wild Card spot, knowing that the Cubs, Brewers, and Cardinals will continue to play each other as the season comes to a close.  The Brewers end their schedule with 3 critical games in St. Louis, while the Rockies have their final six games at home, even though the Dodgers loom as their finale foe.

All the Cubs have to do is patiently continue tying or winning each series, as they have most of September, with the miserable exception of the Brewers sweep at Wrigley.  The I-90 season series is even at 9 games each, with today’s outcome to determine the better team.  The Brewers were dominant the first half of the season, taking a five-game Central Division lead into the Break, but the Cubs now hold a 4.5 game lead over Milwaukee and 5 games above St. Louis.  Wade Davis had a tough day yesterday at the end of a back-and-forth one-run battle.  He entered the game in the bottom of the ninth to do what he’s done all year without fail – save another victory for the Cubs.  He not only failed for the first time this season in that inning, but also blew the lead and game in the bottom of the tenth.  He’s been a bit overused in this critical series, so I suspect that his delivery was a bit off, and will not appear again in today’s finale that should be another nail-biter.

If the Cards had won again last night, I would be even more worried today.  They were in a position to pull off another Playoff-run miracle, as they did back in 2011, and maybe last night’s loss was only a small set-back.  If they are somehow able to win all four games against the Cubs at Busch next week, a couple of fateful twists could lead to a Division Championship or at least a Wildcard spot.  The Cardinals are not dead yet, and the Brewers were given new life in this time of Magic Numbers, late game heroics, and miracles.  It’s not even the Playoffs, but it sure feels like it!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Activity Study #270

September 23, 2017 / / 0 Comments

There was snow in the mountains this past week, along with cool temperatures in the city.   Winter is on its way, as the local wineries begin to harvest their grapes and pumpkins start to appear on our doorsteps.  A week from today I’ll be helping friends picks the fruits of their labor, as we continue to stay near home before next month’s busy travel schedule.  Tonight is the first of three Field&Vine dinners that we’ve scheduled.  We venture to Douglas Farm on Sauvie Island, along the Columbia River for this event, similar to the Outstanding In The Field dinners that we attend annually.  Cornell Farms and Willakenzie Estate are the other two dining extravaganzas that we have pre-paid.  I hope there’s a bonfire to keep us warm tonight.

In making the transition from a full time job to retirement, I’m consciously trying to constructively manage my time, when we aren’t traveling.  I’m hoping to balance a variety of activities each day to keep life interesting.  Here’s where my time goes on the average:

Sleep – 8 hours (33.3%)

Exercise – I hour (stretching, running, push-ups, sit-ups, walking) w/radio *  (4.2%)

Hygiene – 1 hour (shower, shave, brush, prep, dress, etc.) (4.2%)

Dining – 1.5 hours (6.25%)

Pet Duty – 1 hour (walking, feeding, playing, kitty litter) (4.2%)

Errands – 1 hour (mail, gas, grocery, Target, vet, doctor, dry cleaning, meet-ups) (4.2%)

Household -1 hour (cleaning, repair, laundry, cooking, dishes)  * (4.2%)

Writing – 2 hours (Blog, Poems/Diary/Budget)*(8.3%)

Computer – 2 hours – (Search/Phone/E-mail/Social Media/Solitaire Game/Collecting/Banking) * (8.3%)

Reading – 1.5 hours (Book, Newspaper, and Magazine) *(6.25%)

Television – 3.0 hours (Sports/News/Movies/Documentaries)*(12.5%)

Conversation – 1 hour (4.2%)

It looks like I spend only about 20% of my time on the move, so I need to work on getting that up to at least 25%.  Regarding those activities marked with a (*), I’m typically multi-tasking with radio, television, phone, and/or computer.  Right now, for example, I’m writing, plus watching a football game on T.V. and a Cubs game on my phone.  I have a second computer on my desk that I use primarily for a Spider Solitaire game, so I’m constantly moving back-and-forth between computers as I try to gather my thoughts.  A half-finished book always sits nearby that I will take outside on the back deck and read in the sunshine.   I’ve been diagnosed with attention deficit issues that appear even more obvious when I try to determine how I spend my time.  The T.V. is constantly on, and if I’m not within viewing range I usually have my earbuds in and the radio on, or I’ll simply go mobile with the program on my phone.  I have to have background noise, so peace and quiet is not the norm for me.  I should probably consider some unplugged meditation, but I can’t sit still that long.  Even 15 minutes of quiet time would probably reduce my blood pressure levels that are typically high even with medication.  I’m also concerned about my low levels of human interaction each day, considering that I only spend about an hour in uninterrupted face-to-face conversation.  That’s a huge deviation from when I was working.

I think it’s helpful to study yourself from a time management standpoint.  I’m at least not an unemployed slug, averaging over 12,000 steps a day with zero sick days.  At some point, I’ll engage in some volunteer work, join a book club, take classes, and find other ways to stimulate more conversation.  For now, I enjoy being a loner and a homer.  However, I love date nights with my wife, lunch and happy hour meet-ups with my friends, travel, and baseball card shows.  It’s enough to keep me content and happy with my adjustments as a recent retiree.  As with anything, though, there’s always room for improvement, and I’ll keep studying those possibilities.

 

 

 

 

 

« Older posts Newer posts »

Contact Us

© 2025 johnstonwrites.com

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑