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Old Sport Shorts: Futbol #765

December 9, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Are you ready for some Futbol?  It’s that “foreign” brand of action focused around maneuvering a black-and-white round-ball rather than an oblong pigskin with stitches. Furthermore, it’s decided on a pitch rather than a gridiron, and is designated a match as opposed to a game. There is no trophy or Super Bowl; instead a cup, plus your team can never get more than one point at a time. It’s top-of mind for me these next few days with the College Cup in Santa Barbara and the MLS Cup in Atlanta.

This year’s College Cup developed into primarily a BIG Ten tournament plus the Akron Zips. My Indiana Hoosiers are the the top remaining seed, so I had to see them inaction. They’ve won this 8 times already and I’ve followed them on TV and radio, hoping to make up for recent dismal I.U. basketball and football seasons. My Alma Mater was also once a powerhouse in swimming, diving, and track, with many Olympic Gold Medal conquests. I tend to follow the sport that favors my chances of winning; a true fair-weather fan! That’s also why I’m in sunny Santa Barbara. Go Hoosiers!

Futbol, in general, has gotten much more respect in recent years and certainly after the advent ofcable and conference networks. ESPN will carry these games, so watch for me in the IU crowd. I’ll be dressed in red, but so will Maryland fans. An undefeated I.U.squad got to the finals last year and lost to Stanford in a painful kick-off. Can we flash the Victory sign and make it 9?

Other Portland Futbol fans are headed to Atlanta, and 72,000 seat Mercedes Benz Stadium. TheTimbers have sent a long log ahead of their fans, hoping that many slices will be sawn off by Timber Joey’s chainsaw. Slice equals Goal for those not familiar with this ritual. Unfortunately, the home pitch makes the Atlanta United a heavy favorite, but the match still has to be played.

I’m coming back early from Santa Barbara for my wife’s Holiday Party so I can’t make Sunday’s game, regardless of the outcome of the Hoosiers and Turtles. Does anybody need a ticket? I’ll also be in the air for the important IU basketball game against rival Louisville, another  round-ball battle. I should get back on the ground in time for the Timbers’ game that is part of the evening’s entertainment at her company event. In fact, her TV station is carrying the match-up for all the marbles.

When I go to bed Saturday night I’ll know three answers: Will I be buying another Timbers scarf to hang on my office wall? Will I be ready for some more college futbol on Sunday or will our season be over? Finally, will the Hoosier basketball team be able to beat Louisville in my favorite collegiate sport?

Caleb Porter, who guided the Portland Timbers to the 2015 Championship game, played at Indiana,and coached at Akron. That is the extent of my soccer knowledge, inhibited by the fact that the game was even more “foreign” when I was a kid of the 50s and 60s. Indiana has already defeated both the Maryland Terrapins and Michigan State Spartans, the other two BIG contenders for the prestigious College Cup. I’m always up for good college sports hence the reason for my spur-of-the-moment excursion to Santa Barbara, the host city. The total cost was less than $400.

My first memorable soccer experience dates back to the mid-80s and a radio station promotion involving an exhibition match by the Chicago Sting? I had a hat autographed by all the  players that I framed and gave to my son. He did engage in some soccer, but mostly raced BMX bikes, played rugby, and competed in swimming & diving. Soccer was not a big part of his life either. I’ve been to a couple of Timber’s matches here in Portland, but mostly try to tune-in. It’s the festivities around the game that sparked my interest with the waving of scarves, chants, songs, and chainsaw noises. I‘ll be interested to see how the college crowds compare?

Unfortunately, it turned out to be a long night for us Hoosier futbol fans. Despite numerous attempts, nothing got past the Maryland goalkeeper. The Terrapins scored twice to claim a spot in the championship game against Akron. The I.U pep band was the highlight of the evening, being the only team with this level of student support. Nonetheless, the tournament shutout or whitewash streak came sadly to an end, and Maryland will play again on Sunday, once I’m safely settled back in chilly Portland.

Old Sport Shorts: Round Ball Rainbows #734

November 11, 2018 / / 0 Comments

There has been surprisingly little rain here in Portland in October and November, so far. Yet, I continue to see Rainbows, at least the variety my good friend equates with a positive attitude. I had struggled with a lot of black clouds in my world of sports, starting with the shortcomings of the Cubs in the Wildcard playoff, and a disappointing last-minute Brett Favre touchdown pass to beat my Bears.  There was a rare 3-0 loss by the IU soccer team against Kentucky and another miserable stretch of IU Football to darken my spirits. To add to my despair, the once-hated Purdue Boilermakers were having some success on the gridiron, including an envious victory over the even-more-evil Ohio State Buckeyes.  The Oregon Ducks, my adopted team on the West Coast were proving to be a bad choice for a favorite, and Notre Dame, an equally detested IU foe, remained undefeated. I can’t seem to get behind the Seattle Seahawks, but that would prove to be just another losing personal cause. My sports mood was clouded with emotions of envy, jealousy, loathing, and dislike, as my teams continued to falter. There might have been rainbows, but I couldn’t see them.

In the past few weeks, the sun has broken through and the birds are beginning to sing. Basketball season has tipped-off with the Hoosiers, Ducks, Indiana Pacers, and Portland Trailblazers all off to fast starts. The round ball has led to rainbows, and that good fortune has extended to other sports. After that brief Wildcat soccer set-back, the IU soccer team rebounded with nine straight games and completed the BIG Ten Double as both regular season and tourney champs with a perfect conference record. Even the perennially pathetic IU football team is now 5-5 thanks to a victory over Maryland. Unfortunately, they face-off against Michigan in Ann Arbor next, but can still be bowl eligible if they can somehow get by PUrdue for the Old Oaken Bucket. To make the rainbows even brighter and the beer taste better, the Portland Timbers advanced to the MLS Conference Championship against Kansas City that they won just 3 years ago on their way to the title. It all came down to penalty kicks over the arch-rival Seattle Sounders. The miraculous finish happened on the same day that streaking IU defeated Maryland in a similar penalty-kick scenario. Double Rainbows thanks to another round ball!

As icing on the rainbow cake, the Chicago Bears just won their third straight game to stay on top of the Vikings and Packers. The Indianapolis Colts also won their third straight game against the Jaguars. Purdue football has slipped back to reality, the 8-5 Pacers bested the Heat, and the Trailblazers topped the Clippers to go 9-3. It’s chilly here in Portland but the sun is shining on all my teams right now. It doesn’t even matter if it’s a round ball or a sphere, it’s still bouncing my way. For once, it’s good to be me when I’m surrounded by rainbows!

 

Old Sport Shorts: Rainbows #720

October 28, 2018 / / 0 Comments

I feel that my Sports fortunes changed today, so I experienced the overwhelming need to gloat or at least rejoice. I tuned into Indiana University soccer just in time to watch them win an overtime thriller over Michigan State.  I had just sent a note to my college friends to remind them that the game was on and they, in turn, warned me not to watch in the interest of the team. I texted back that it was too late, I actually saw them win live, so my luck had certainly changed. I’m sure my skeptical friends were caught by surprise, especially after listening to me bitch about the misfortunes of my favorite teams, and knowing that I could could once again watch and win.

My good friend always speaks facetiously about rainbows. Seeing them in his mind’s eye is how he supposedly maintains his cool as our teams often falter. He always encourages me to “think rainbows” instead of spouting profanities, as I often do. He’s the optimistic alternative to my pessimistic ways. He follows similar teams that I do, and has watched our I.U. football consistently forget there’s a fourth quarter, our basketball team stumble the last ten years, and the University of Oregon Ducks fall short too frickin’ often; not to mention the Cubs, Mariners, White Sox, Pacers, and Trail Blazers, so there must be merit in his words. I, on the other hand, don’t see how it really matters how I react to a loss – it’s still a damn loss! Rainbows – Schmainbows! 

We’ve all had to to go outside the traditional boundaries of our interest growing-up to end the losing drought of the past few years, although the Cubs brought some relief with a long-overdue World Series Crown two years ago. We put our support behind the Oregon State baseball team to celebrate a National Championship, and have had to find solace with soccer through the Portland Timbers and our Alma Mater. The problem is that Hoosier soccer has seen great success these past few years but there are few trophies to show for it. The Timbers won it all in 2015, while I.U. lost the National Championship with only one loss all year! I saw no rainbows in that! To make matters worse, despite 35 consecutive BIG Conference victories, it was the ties that cost us the hardware. How does a true competitor react to a worthless tie that only soccer sees as an appropriate way to settle a match?

The storm has apparently passed and today marked the first signs of a rainbow. The Bears, Colts, and Hoosiers all won today, and as icing on the cake, the Packers lost. I.U. won the BIG regular season trophy for the first time in eight years going a perfect 8-0. For 31 consecutive years, the team has appeared in the NCAA Tournament, and 10 straight years before that one off-year in 1986. They have not won the BIG tournament in five years, and have never won it in basketball, that finally starts again this week. I’m hoping this optimistic rainbow over my head leads to many victories in 2019. Unfortunately, the National League could not prevail in the World Series, so my Cub’s favorites were never really in serious contention. This will have to change in years to come!

Here’s to rainbows throughout the remainder of 2018 and into 2019. 2018 has been a tough year, so I’m looking forward to future prosperity in my world of sports. I don’t expect the Bears to win the Superbowl, but I’d like to see an end to the endless criticism about draft choices, and I’d like to see the Colts see a full year of benefits out of Andrew Luck. Maybe more in 2020? Furthermore, I’d like to see freshman Romeo Langford exceed all expectations at Indiana on the basketball court, and lead the team to a pot of gold. In addition, I would wish for another Hoosier NCAA soccer title, their 9th and first in 6 years. I’d like to see another I.U. football bowl bid, and back-to-back Oregon State College World Series titles. I’d also like to see the Timbers take it all, and the Cubs or White Sox back in division contention. The Ducks and Trail Blazers are not necessarily a priority for me personally, but local favorites certainly deserve success. At least, providing a fall-back if my other favorites fail. I’ve certainly seen enough rain here in the Northwest, but not enough rainbow aftermaths to make it all worthwhile. Show me the colors of the Rainbow!

Old Sport Shorts: Post Season #707

October 17, 2018 / / 0 Comments

I could have, or rather should be watching the Cubs play today. I’ve got the Post Season Blues! My wife and I were in LA last year at this time, to watch them be painfully eliminated by the Dodgers. This year was even worse, losing the Central Division to the Brewers in a Tie-Breaker game and then falling to the Rockies in a Wildcard showdown to quickly end the season. As a result, the Brewers have claimed their Championship trophy as well as their dugout seats at Chavez Ravine, and I’m watching at home. I’m certainly glad they have afternoon games for the benefit of us retirees.

I haven’t written about sports in two weeks now since nothing positive has happened in my world, and I’m still probably in mourning. Even the always reliable I.U soccer team gave up an unprecedented three goals in a loss to Kentucky. In fact, it’s been more than two years since Notre Dame beat them 4-0 in 2016. I.U. Football got off to a good start, but sputtered badly these past couple weeks. My Chicago Bears have lost their last two games. Basketball season hasn’t officially started yet, and I would need to stretch my interests to include the Portland Timbers to find any recent promise. The only news out of the Cubs was the firing of their hitting coach, John Mallee, and consequential hiring of Anthony Iapoce – if that’s anything to get excited about?

I continue to root for the Brewers, despite my sour grapes tendencies to be a bitter loser. It’s easier to stomach since the Astros, Red Sox, and Dodgers are not among my team favorites. The Milwaukee Brewers have never won a World Series, and the franchise has been deprived since 1957, so they continue to have my sympathetic support. Also, it’s nothing new but I’m not optimistic about the I.U. Hoosier football chances against Penn State this week, although they are still on-track for a minor Bowl bid.

Regarding the top-heavy NBA, the Portland Trailblazers will probably have another underwhelming season, while the Indiana Pacers are too far away to generate any sustained interest.  Despite my current pessimistic view about sports in general, I actually have high expectations for Coach Archie Miller and his much-talked about recruiting class at Indiana University, my Cream & Crimson Alma Mater. It’s only 15 short days until their exhibition debut against Southern Indiana and anticipation is running high. 

To cover one more aspect of my sports interests, we’re starting to receive some wine shipments from our recent visit to Napa Valley. The one I’m anticipating the most is from the Andretti Vineyards. I had no idea the Mario and his family were in the wine business, but it makes sense with the Sonoma Raceway in his back yard. I’m adding a couple of Andretti-produced Indy 500 100-year anniversary bottles to my sports collection that already includes some Cubs wine celebrating the 2016 World Series Champions. I did enjoy going to the Portland International Speedway a few months ago, and seeing the impressive Andretti garage and hospitality set-up. Unfortunately, nephew Marco Andretti was eliminated in the very first turn of the track, a familiar curse that has plagued the family on race day. Son Michael, a current team owner, is related to one of my wife’s co-workers.  Mario was great at qualifying and still holds a record with 67 poles, but experienced a lot of misfortune on Sundays. The classic announcer line was always, “Mario is slowing down!” Although he is one of my racing heroes, I once wrote this silly but short poem, that I’m sure the family wouldn’t appreciate:

Mar-i-o

Mar-i-o,
Oh Mar-i-o.
Please tell me,
It Ain’t so.

Round and round,
You’d quickly go.
Then suddenly,
You’d start to slow.

Became a fan,
In Sixty-Nine.
When your Lotus,
Ran just fine.

Granatelli’s kiss?
Is this curse true?
They took Eighty-One,
Away from you.

Bad Valve?
Or out of gas?
You had to sit,
And watch them pass. 

You’ve lost a wheel,
Burned your face.
Mechanical failures,
Cost many a race.

Exhaust pipe,
Or another crash.
Indy became,
A Mario bash.

Could you win,
Another crown?
No, Mar-i-o,
“Is slowing down.”

Mar-i-o,
Oh Mar-i-o.
Please tell me,
It Ain’t so.

Johnstonwrites.com
Copyright 2013

 

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: 67 Things #642

August 27, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Today is my 67th birthday and a big day for Portland area school kids, who returned to classes this morning. All throughout my 66th year I made many references to Route 66 as a personal theme for the year. Well, all good things must come to an end, as does Route 66 at the Santa Monica Pier. In thinking back, I’ve been able to establish a theme for the last four years, including Medicare at 62, Twenty-one for the third time for 63, the Beatles tune, “When I’m 64”, Social Security at 65, and last year’s nostalgic highway references. Coming up with a theme for 67 is a much more difficult task, as nothing comes directly to mind. Google searches have not been successful, as yet, since no songs, movies, athletes, or books have made the number memorable. There’s Buddy Arlington’s NASCAR, the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League, and Chicago’s song “Questions 67 and 68,” but nothing worth writing about.

In honor of the occasion, I decided to steal a page from New Year’s Eve and write some resolutions. So, break out the champagne, and bear with me until I come up with a better idea. 

67 Things to do before I’m 68 (with a few more for good measure)

  1. Tell my wife “I Love her” a million times (well maybe 114x a day is a bit excessive, but you get the point)
  2. Get my grandkids to Portland (maybe when the Cubs play the Mariners in Seattle)
  3. Buy a new tank-less water heater
  4. Take my wife to French Laundry in NAPA for dinner and then for a Wine Country weekend
  5. 10 days in Thailand
  6. Cubs vs. White Sox in Chicago
  7. Run and exercise everyday (celebrate 10 consecutive years at the end of December)
  8. Portland Indy Car race
  9. Write at least 25 new poems (plus 10 exclusively for my wife)
  10. Maintain daily blog (blog.johnstonwrites.com)
  11. Gift at least 10 Limoges boxes
  12. 50 Wednesday Date Nights
  13. Watch 50 movies
  14. 50 Sister calls on Mondays
  15. 40 Dinners cooked on Tuesdays (or at least one night a week when not traveling)
  16. Reunite with friends in Austin
  17. Meet at least 10 Banister relatives
  18. Read 50 books
  19. Go to Vancouver Gardens
  20. St. Louis for a baseball game
  21. Drink 52 bottles of Walleye Wine and help 4 times
  22. Go to Disneyworld with wife 
  23. Spring Training game in Arizona or Florida
  24. IU Basketball Game (tournament season please)
  25. Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
  26. Las Vegas weekend to celebrate 18 years of marriage
  27. Buy some new casual shoes (to make my wife happy)
  28. Buy a second pair of running shoes (to make my feet happy)
  29. New rain suit for running
  30. Repair Solara and Lexus dents
  31. Visit a National Park (but don’t camp there)
  32. Get a BIG Network subscription (or change internet/cable providers)
  33. Go to a Ducks football game
  34. See 3 Oregon State baseball games
  35. Take the dogs to the coast at least 4 times
  36. Go 8 Broadway Shows (including NYC)
  37. Go to at least 5 major concerts
  38. Go to a Timbers game
  39. Go to a Trailblazers game
  40. Organize 50 Leadership Meetings
  41. Write a book
  42. Watch 20 new television series
  43. Buy some new eyeglasses
  44. Buy my wife a new ring
  45. Drink Diet Coke whenever possible
  46. Go kayaking
  47. Visit my sister and friends in Elkhart
  48. Ski at Steamboat
  49. At least 5 ski trips to Mt. Hood
  50. Visit Jessica Fletcher’s House
  51. Book Marriott Vacation Club trips for 2019 and 2010
  52. Travel to Hawaii
  53. Get together with friends in Indy
  54. Attend at least 7 baseball card shows and continue collecting
  55. Go to at least 5 antique shows to look for sports memorabilia
  56. Compliment my wife at least a million times (see item #1)
  57. Gift Angel Delicious Hand Cream four times a year
  58. San Diego for a baseball game
  59. Go to a Hops Game
  60. Attend a high school football game
  61. Go to my 50th High School Reunion
  62. Get the interior and ceilings of the house painted
  63. Get the windows washed (inside and out)
  64. See an NFL game
  65. Go to a high school basketball game
  66. Add another 1000 names to my Ancestry tree
  67. First class flight upgrade
  68. 4 Oregon Wine Country trips
  69. See Zanna four times
  70. Clean the house 30 times and hire some help
  71. 60 nights away from home
  72. Visit Bend

They are in no particular order, except for the most important – Item #1. They include the important things in life like spouses, family, friends, food & drink, travel, sports, music, domestic responsibilities, home, clothing, car, gift-giving, and entertainment. It starts tomorrow with window cleaning, Indy Car racing this weekend, and friends in town, followed by a trip to Austin next week for a wedding. I feel pretty confident that I can achieve most of this list of 67, but I added a few more, just in case. To describe my age, I do prefer the word “Vintage” as opposed to “Fossil.” Here’s to another great year of retirement!

Old Sport Shorts: The Thrill is Gone #519

May 6, 2018 / / 0 Comments

A 6-hour airplane ride to Hawaii is a great way to get some writing done. There’s only so much you can do stuck in a seat for that long. Wi-fi is weak over the ocean, so I can’t even monitor the Cubs at Cardinals series today. Last night’s opener was a disappointment, as has been the start of the season in general. Today, Kolten Wong hit a game winning homer against Brandon Morrow in the 10th, causing me to further question his ability as the Cubs new closer. Other than a four-game sweep of the Brewers, the Cubbies have essentially played .500 baseball, unworthy of a team with that much talent. Last season’s World Series hangover somehow continues to linger, as the “W” flag fails to wave over Wrigley Field.

The Cubs starting rotation has shown little promise, other than stingily allowing the then Division leading Brew Crew only one earned run and eleven hits in four games. I thought it was a renaissance, but they only managed a five-game winning streak. The Rockies took the next two games and St. Louis handed out the third straight loss last night and the fourth today. Yu Darvish has been the weakest link, showing the same vulnerability that lost the Dodgers last year’s World Series. Only Kyle Schwarber has shown improvement in an offensive lineup that hasn’t changed much from last year. Thankfully, it’s a long season.

My other Chicago baseball favorite, the White Sox, have been even worse coming out of the blocks. My man Yoan Moncada #10 has shown some promise, but the organization continues to remain a cellar-dweller. There were not heavy expectations this year, as fans like me start to already look to next year. Attendance at Guaranteed Rate continues to deteriorate along with their place in the standings.

For me, there hasn’t been much to root for in the Wide World of Sports. The Trailblazers lost in four and the Pacers found LeBron to be too much. The Timbers no longer have an Indiana University connection, and I’m afraid that despite the city’s optimism and money, Major League Baseball will probably not find its way here. For a while, it was College Baseball that struck my fancy. Oregon State continues to perform at the top of the charts, but my alma mater I.U. has fallen to the middle of the low- ranked BIG conference, after recently peaking at #10 in the nation. Tiger’s return to golf has been relatively uneventful, and the NFL draft sparked little interest. You may have also noticed that I skipped right over College Football. I honestly seem to have lost interest and enthusiasm around my favorite ball-hobbies. In the words of B.B. King, “The Thrill is Gone.”

If there was one positive this past week, it’s been coach Archie Miller and Indiana University basketball recruiting. A new potential savior, Romeo Langford has put the Hoosiers back in the spotlight, if even just for a year. My expectations may be too high for a kid to make an impact in such a short period of time, but it’s renewed my faith in the program. A 6’10” graduate-transfer big man, and perhaps the return of leading-scorer Juwan Morgan, after he finished dipping his toe in the NBA pool, could signify a resurgence. The bad news is that  I may have to wallow through six more months of sports mediocrity before I catch the Fever again. By the way, how are they doing?

Retirement is not without Hassles: My Oregon #357

December 4, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I seem to have rediscovered my poetic skills, having finished a second work in progress from my notes. We’ve now lived in Oregon for three and a half years, and have seen our share of the state. If you’re not familiar, these words reflecting our travel experiences will probably not make much sense. If you’re lucky enough to live here, you’ll understand my enthusiasm. Today also happened to be a partially sunny day, somewhat unusual for this time of year, so it put me in a favorable Oregon mood. Enjoy!

 

My Oregon

.

Climbed up Mt. Hood,
Had a stroll Seaside.
Took the Goonies tour.
And a Pink Trolley ride.

.

Went to Multnomah Falls,
And Washington Park.
Been all over the state,
Like Lewis and Clark.

.

Seen Punch Bowl Falls,
And Crater Lake.
Volcanic Saint Helen’s,
When’s the next Quake?

.

The Civil War battle,
Which team will lose?
So many food trucks,
Which one to choose?

.

Baseball Beavers memories,
Trailblazer Red and Black.
Winterhawks for hockey,
Indy Car back on track.

.

O.S.U. in Corvallis,
“O” in Eugene.
P.S.U. and U.P. in Portland,
“The” college student scene.

.

Timberline Lodge,
For Casual Dining.
And Jack Nicholson,
In The Shining.

.

Armisen’s Portlandia,
Plus, Grimm filmed here.
And the movie Animal House,
Bolstered Belushi’s career.

.

Smelled the roses,
Tasted the wine.
Sampled Craft Beer,
Paley’s to dine.

.

Powell’s for a book,
Forest Park trail.
Tillamook Cheese,
Deschutes for an ale.

.

Did the Four T’s,
From Zoo to Pill Hill.
The Timbers and Thorns,
Show their soccer skill.

.

Voodoo Donut,
Or Blue Star?
Huber’s Café?
Or the Burnside Bar?

.

The White Stag sign,
Nike for shoes.
A Tri-Met transfer,
Pittock Mansion views.

.

Fort Clatsop,
Haystack Rock.
The Spruce Goose,
Union Station’s clock.

.

Fished the Columbia,
Cruised the Willamette.
How’s that pronounced?
It rhymes, dammit!

.

Did Hood to Coast,
And Pints to Pasta.
The Helvetica Half,
Ran Shamrock Fasta.

.

Jurassic Park lush,
The trees touch the sky.
The Gorge is gorgeous,
And Seattle nearby.

.

Many bike about Sun River,
In a Duck or Beavers hat.
Or Ski Mount Bachelor,
Bend there, Done that.

.

And if the sun is shining,
You can have a five-peak day.
But in the winter months,
The sky is mostly gray.

.

Oregon has it all,
I’ve tried to explain.
What more could I want?
A little less Rain!

.

Copyright 2017

johnstonwrites.com

 

Old Sport Shorts: Basketball Jones #353

December 2, 2017 / / 0 Comments

It’s been several weeks since I’ve written about sports, primarily because my teams have not been competitive.  The only exception has been the Indiana University soccer team that won on penalty kicks last night over Michigan State to advance to the College Cup (Final Four). I have been following them all year, as they remain undefeated in match play. The only blemish on their record was a penalty kick loss to Wisconsin in the final of the BIG tournament. Thankfully, that nightmare didn’t repeat itself, as they faced the other undefeated conference foe in a similar situation with a different result. I.U. has only given up 6 goals all season long, never more than one per match, and in fact had never been behind until the first minutes of last night’s battle. They managed to tie it up in the second half, and hold off the Spartans to get the victory. It would have been a tragedy to have never lost, and yet finish second in the conference, second in the conference tournament, and not have a chance to play for the national crown. They now have that chance in Philadelphia next weekend, in a quest for their ninth national championship in program history, tying  St. Louis for the most in NCAA history.

College soccer has filled that gap between another miserable Indiana football season and the start of college basketball, my preferred sport. “Jonesing” is a word used to describe having a fixation or addiction over something. It’s origin apparently comes from Jones Alley in Manhattan, associated with drug addicts. In my case, the round ball addiction really started when I was in college and Coach Knight was hired. “Basketball Jones featuring Tyrone Shoelaces,” was a song by Cheech and Chong back in those days of 1973, as I was getting ready to graduate and an incredible string of victories was about to start. That’s when I got hooked on the game, and began to “jones” for the tip-off of each new season.

Basketball Jones – I got a basketball Jones – I got a basketball Jones oh baby oh

As an I.U. Basketball fan, I have seen three national championships and numerous conference championships, so I’m very spoiled. In recent years, however, I’ve seen nothing but frustration, including losses to Ft. Wayne and Indiana State, teams that were not even factors during the glory years. Today, it’s a fourth straight loss to the Michigan Wolverines. NCAA violations, new coaches, players leaving for the NBA, and lack of in-state recruiting has compounded this frustration. I’m simply not getting the satisfaction from the basketball drug that I’m reluctantly injecting in my system. As a result, I’m losing interest in the sport, and relying on baseball and soccer to stimulate some adrenaline. The Chicago Cubs, Portland Timbers, and I.U. soccer have provided temporary contentment, but nothing will ever replace IU basketball in my heart.

The IU Football team just lost the Old Oaken Bucket to in-state rival Purdue, and along with it any chance to go to a bowl game this year. More frustration! The PK80 Basketball Tournament that I just attended, only served to remind me how much I miss a competitive basketball team. To be associated with solid programs like Kentucky, Michigan State, Duke, and North Carolina makes me envious, especially knowing that as a Hoosier I was once part of something special in the basketball world. It’s now down to soccer and next week’s match against either Fordham or North Carolina. If we can’t beat them in basketball or football, maybe we can do it in soccer, and that will have to do for now. There will be another season to jones over, and until then other fans will get to enjoy the joy of victory that I once knew in the Bob Knight years.

Old Sports Shorts: Sports Sunshine #334

November 12, 2017 / / 0 Comments

It’s been a “gloomy” week of sports, starting last Sunday with the elimination of the Portland Timbers from the MLS Playoffs. Adding to the “darkness,” the inconsistent Portland Trailblazers have lost twice this week, after showing promise against the talented OKC Thunder recently. The Oregon Ducks were fortunately idle in football this week, while the Chicago Bears still can’t beat the Packers even without Aaron Rogers. Even the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers soccer team fell in the BIG tournament to Wisconsin. The IU Football team did somehow manage to snap their losing streak in a victory over Illinois, but it will be fruitless without two more wins this season.  Doom and gloom.

I was so looking forward to the start of college basketball, and the Archie Miller era at IU. Instead, the team fell flat on their faces against Indiana State at home. It was their first home opener loss since 1984, and that was against formidable Louisville. Last year, after a couple of great wins that briefly extended Tom Crean’s favor with the fans, they lost to Fort Wayne.  I do hope that Indiana State builds on their surprising rout of the Hoosiers – it’s been 38 years since the Larry Bird glory days for the school. It was Breton Scott who got recruiting revenge on the Hoosiers this year for Indiana State, just as his twin brother, Bryson, had in Ft. Wayne’s overtime upset last season. Great Scott! Many in-state players grow chips on their shoulders after being ignored for big school scholarships, and seem to have that one great game as an opponent. IU fans have seen this phenomenon all too frequently.

I feel like Joe Btfsplk,* the Al Capp comic character in Li’l Abner, looking up at the dark cloud that always follows him.  There is still hope for a better week for me as a sports fanatic. IU soccer will still be a top seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament, while IU Football continues to hold slim hopes for post-season play. College basketball will be full of surprises, but my expectations for IU are as low as they’ve ever been. Professional sports have lost my interest, mainly because my favorites have fared so poorly in recent years.  Where’s the warmth?

It’s a long time before baseball season starts in the Spring, so I’ve got to be able to find some diamonds this Winter. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long, dark, cold, rainy four months. How about a little sports sunshine for this “fair weather” fan.

*Btfsplk is spelled correctly.  It’s a rude sound that Al Capp would humorously demonstrate during his public lectures.  Some might refer to it as the “Bronx Cheer,” done with closed lips, tongue sticking out, and the quick expulsion of air.  I think it sounds suspiciously like a fart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Relearning #327

November 6, 2017 / / 0 Comments

With  the Daylight Savings time shift, my morning run was not in total darkness, as had been the case during the past several weeks. I fought off the congestion and the cold, damp temperatures to complete day 3235 (8.857 years) of my running streak. I did spend two mornings on the treadmill this past week, trying to avoid the winter chill, and only ran the minimum mile at 4 a.m. on Saturday before the trip to Seattle for a baseball card show.

I had overlooked the Spanish-American War in what I’m now calling my “Retirement Study of War.”  The Ken Burns documentary about the Roosevelt family reminded me of Colonel Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, and their heroic role in the “Siege of Santiago,” that eventually led to Spain’s surrender to the United States and Cuba’s independence.  TR’s “war hero” status vaulted him into the Vice-Presidency, and soon made him the youngest President in history following McKinley’s assassination.  However, the liberation of Cuba would come back to bite us in the future, as Communism began to spread throughout the world.   It was just another reminder of U.S. history studies that I have forgotten through the years, but am relearning in my first year of retirement.

One Roosevelt led to another, as the two cousins representing opposing Political Parties controlled the Oval Office for a combined total of two decades.  Neither of them lived to be as old as I am now, having died at age 60 and 63 respectively.  Theodore, both young and popular, busted up monopolies, built the Panama Canal, and restored our natural resources.  It was even more of a “family affair” once cousin Eleanor agreed to marry Franklin.   FDR died during his record fourth term in office, leading America through the Great Depression, Prohibition, and World War II.  His legacy includes the “New Deal” that focused on Relief, Recovery, and Reform.

I used our Columbia Employee store invitation yesterday to upgrade my retirement uniform. (See Post #150).  I bought new jeans, new long-sleeve tops, and even a few reversible collared shirts that will give me a more “dressed-up” look, even if they’re just a step up from wearing pajamas.  They also have snaps rather than buttons to aid the loss of dexterity in my fingers.  Even though the shirts are flannel, As a Midwesterner, I still wasn’t ready for the plaid “lumberjack look” of the Northwest, so I settled on boring solid colors.  I also bought another water-proof jacket for running, taking advantage of new technology in fabrics and design.  I remembered the words of a friend, “the older we get, the more technology we need.”

The “Houston Strong” inspiration from the World Champion Astros obviously played a role in the Houston Dynamos upset of the Portland Timbers in the playoffs.  I.U., my alma mater, continued their undefeated soccer season with a victory over Penn State this morning, and will face Ohio State on Friday, so I still have a reason to follow soccer at least until college basketball season gets interesting.  Both Indiana and Oregon have already lost their way in football.  On a more hopeful note, the Portland Trailblazers show some promise early in the season.  Baseball is four months away!

I’ve eaten massive quantities of chocolate over the past week, justifying my “chocoholic” addiction with the “feed a cold” maxim.  Years ago the claim was “starve a cold,” however, it’s been proven the body needs energy to fight off those nasty germs.  Either way, there was a big bowl of candy bars left over from Halloween, and someone had to eat them.  It’s been hard to walk by that bowl without stopping!

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