NFL Football is back – but do I really care? The Bears looked terrible on Thursday night against the Packers. Looking to my collection of gridiron misfits, the Colts are rarely seen on TV in this area. We regularly get to watch the Seahawks that have failed to gain personal favoritism (right now they’re down by 3). Indiana University football blew out Eastern Illinois 52-0 in an apparent grade school match-up. Any hopes for Hoosier glory will quickly deflate when the bully Buckeyes come to town for the BIG opener – next on the schedule. At least, my alma mater has already won a couple of games, unlike the Bears or Colts (right now they’re down by seven). It would be a rare pleasure to be able to brag about any of my teams. Why didn’t I choose Clemson over Crimson?
The fading Cubs have been equally impotent in an critical match-up with the Brewers, allowing the Cardinal division lead to grow. The White Sox aren’t even worth bringing up, as I already start to look ahead to next year. I’m envious of those who have become obnoxious fans – blessed with teams that rarely lose. In all sports, I’ve somehow endeared myself to the misfits. The Cubs proved once again yesterday that they can’t score runs in critical situations, and generously give them up freely in the late stages of games. Closer Kimbrel continues to disappoint with injuries and Javy Baez sadly has a hairline fracture in his thumb. Joe Maddon continues to juggle the lineup, but they still can’t win on the road – except at Citi Field. I’m afraid to even watch in the last two innings, and wish they had more games against the Mets!
I know that in Bloomington, Indiana next Saturday Buckeye fans will flood the stands. This will allow I.U. media relations to show-off a packed stadium of solid red. Unfortunately, it will be Buckeye red, as smart Hoosiers will re-coop their season ticket investment and head to the bars. After all, you can’t get a seat in Columbus. As always, there will be a few Hoosier faithful that perhaps will still hold hope for an upset, until reality sets in. This has not happened since 1988 – 31 years ago. The Buckeyes lead the series of 92 games that date back to 1901. Overall, it’s 75-12-5 in favor of Ohio State. Do you believe in miracles? You have to if you support the misfits that I follow! At least, I’m not a Browns fan!
I continue to be amused with the names of minor league baseball teams. It almost makes me forget my Major League frustrations with the Cubs and White Sox. I remember on our recent trip to Walla Walla, Washington, seeing some merchandise for the Walla Walla Sweets, a name selected to promote the sweet onion crops in that area. They are playing the Portland Pickles next week, a nickname selected probably just because it’s weird like the city. There is the MoonBrine Pickle Company that relocated its world headquarters to Portland sixteen years ago, producing out of the Historic Ford Building.
The Portland Pickles play in the South Division of the West Coast League (WCL), a premier collegiate wooden bat summer baseball league based in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. The Pickles play their home games at Walker Stadium in Lents Park. In this upcoming battle, it’s Pickles vs. Sweets, but there are other uniquely named competitors in this league, including the Bellingham Bells Kewlona Falcons, Port Angeles Lefties, Victoria HarborCats, Wenatchee AppleSox, Yakima Valley Pippins, Bend Elks, Corvallis Knights, Cowlitz Black Bears, Ridgefield Raptors, Spokane River Hawks, Moses Lake Pirates, Medford Rogues, Klamath Falls Gems, Kitsap Blue Jackets, and Gresham GreyWolves.
Team nicknames have always stimulated personal fascination. At one time, I knew every high school mascot in Indiana, but I’m certainly not as familiar with the Northwest. Getting to know and supporting the area teams is always one of the first steps of fitting-in with the local community. It all started with the Elkhart Blue Blazers, Albion Britons, the Indiana Hoosiers, Purdue Boilermakers, Indianapolis Indians, Decatur Commodores, and Austin Bats. While we live in Portland, it’s now about the Hillsboro Hops and the Portland Pickles. After years of hot speculation, it doesn’t look like the city is ever going to get a Major League Baseball franchise.
In the meantime, the Cubs continue to have road woes losing last night to the Giants for the 10th time in 14 games. I’d say they are in a pickle! I was fortunate to actually see them win at AT&T Park two years ago. They are a miserable 18-29 away from Wrigley Field, yet somehow manage to still lead the NL Central Division. The cross-town White Sox have settled into the middle of the AL Central Division with an even poorer 19-32 away-from-home mark.
Watch out for the Cardinals! They are 8-2 following the All Star break and only a half-game behind in the standings. The Cubs are 6-4 and their victories have been against bottom-dwellers, plus they haven’t won a road series since mid-May when they took two of three from the Nats. Last night, it was reliever Brad Branch who gave up the walk-off in the 13th. The night before it was Pedro Strop who blew a two-run lead in the 8th with his fourth relief loss of the season. R-E-L-I-E-F has become a four-letter word for Cubs fans like me!
The Pickles, on the other hand, are 7-2 so far in the second half of this year’s WCL season, just a game behind the Knights. They finished the first half at 9-17 and at the bottom of the South Division. Fortunately, this surge occurred before the “Dill Was Gone.” Get It? Here’s to also wishing for a “Sweet” series victory over Wall-Walla next week. I know the Pickle’s mascot Dillon is hoping to lead “Raise The Chair,” a unique celebration after scoring a run. Keep It Weird On The Field – Go Pickles!
My step-daughter is getting married, and my role will be somewhat awkward. The wedding is a month away in San Francisco, and the mother-of-the bride and I went to visit for the weekend. We brought the happy couple a box of assorted wines that Alaska Airlines was kind enough to ship for free. During the course of 3 active days, my Apple Watch recorded over 70,000 steps between morning runs, walks to & from dinners, an afternoon jaunt through Golden Gate Park where we spotted a raccoon, a tour of their Presidio wedding venues, and some photo location scouting along the waterfront. I was trying to work in a side-venture to the Oakland A’s baseball stadium for a game against my White Sox, but that never worked into our plans.
The happy couple had just moved coast-to-coast from Washington D.C. after finding new jobs and and an apartment in the Dogpatch neighborhood. They arrived to meet us at our Courtyard by Marriott hotel suite after a long day of work. We were all tired and hungry but “Randee” couldn’t wait, grabbing what she thought were Gummies from a zip-lock bag my wife had packed. They turned out to be our entire supply of B-12 vitamins, so we teased her all weekend about stealing all of our energy while fortifying herself. (It could have been worse considering that we live in a state where edibles are legal.) I was already having some lower back issues that caused me to feel “old and sluggish” even before we arrived. As we head home, I decided to have some fun with it via a poem, after already offering some half-serious input about their wedding plans. I called them “Step-Suggestions,” since everyone else seemed to have their opinions. (See Post #1004).It was all for a laugh, as I’ll let her mom and real father have their well deserved “moment in the sun” come wedding day, while I’ll remain in the background of her life.
Step-Father
We came to visit,
And brought the wine.
Then walked to WaterBar,
To talk and dine.
I made a list,
Of marriage tips.
And shared my wit,
Over martini sips.
Planning a wedding,
Is thankless work.
Spoiled by those,
That act the jerk.
There was little chance,
To ignore my words.
Some scraps of wisdom,
To feed the birds.
When I woke up,
For energy to run.
I searched my vitamins,
But we had none.
Our B-12 supply,
Had been devoured.
My weekend mood,
Was sadly soured.
The bride-to-be,
Sometimes called “Randee.”
Mistakenly thought,
That they were candy.
We could have offered,
Our Peanut M&Ms.
They’d have satisfied,
Her hunger whims.
Instead she became,
An “Energy Vampire.”
Full of vigor,
Leaving me to tire.
It’s “Dumpling Time,”
Said fiancé, Ben.
So soon I rose,
To my feet again.
Then walked for miles,
Through The Park.
The Cliff House meal,
Lasted well past dark.
Another morning run,
A Presidio tour.
Just how much,
Could I endure?
Ball Park dreams,
Of sitting for hours.
Instead we talked,
Of vows and flowers.
The fog rolled in,
Over our picnic spread.
My aching back tested,
By photo sites ahead.
The happy couple,
In their new town.
We’re all looking forward,
To the “Girl in the Gown.”
Mom is proud,
The beautiful Bay.
But 70,000 steps,
Got in my way.
This is the role,
Of the “Step” father.
Making newlyweds laugh,
And not be a bother.
Best Wishes on many years together.
Love,
Mike
Copyright 2019 johnstonwrites.com
