It’s twilight on Tuesday, November 1, 2016. I’m listening to Game 6 of the World Series on the radio, sitting on the back patio of my rental looking at houses for sale online and distracted by wanting to read last Sunday’s New York Times and fill out my early ballot. But, I’m transfixed on radio waves, occasionally popping in the house to watch some replays, and coming back out here to write.
Through most of my life, I haven’t much cared for baseball. I played it as a kid (yes, baseball. The Osan Air Force Base (AFB) girls’ softball team in South Korea circa 1984 didn’t have enough players, so any girl who wanted to play the game had to join and play fast pitch with the boys. Which reminds me of a game we played against the Kunsan AFB team; I was at bat and was about to be struck out. Luckily, a “small” riot broke out and the tear gas drove us back to the bus. As scary as the riot was, and the resultant coughing and burning eyes, I was thankful. School was rough, shunning judgment was swift and I was glad they wouldn’t remember how bad I sucked. I quit the team shortly thereafter.)
Needless to say, baseball didn’t inspire me, as there were other humiliating memories associated with baseball games in South Korea. That’s a post for another time.
But NOW! I am inspired by baseball. A previous love in my life was super into baseball. When Ken Burns’ documentary “Baseball” aired, Mark was glued to the TV. I watched enough to appreciate the game’s history as an American institution. When I was 12 or 13, my Dad took me to a Los Angeles Angels game when we were visiting family in Cali, but I didn’t really pay attention to what was happening. I think I read a book during the game. I went to a spring training game in Tucson back in 2004 and was enjoying the experience – mostly the weather and atmosphere and how beautiful the colors were – but there were special brownies involved.
Tonight, however, I am mostly present with this game. The Cubs at the World Series?!?! Game 6! Chicago 2-3, Cleveland 3-2, hell yes! I care (admittedly, all of a sudden) about this series because I care about the underdogs. I care about the Cubs because people I care about care about the Cubs. Because Chi Town holds a special place in my heart, because Bill Murray, because history, because – and the most goofy – I learned about the plight of the Cubs in 1990 via Back to the Future II, with the scene depicting the Cubs inexplicably winning the 2015 World Series against Miami. “Put some money on the Cubbies,” said the salesman to Marty McFly. (I had a giant crush on Michael J. Fox!)
Now, the Cubs are one out away from forcing Game 7. Rock! It is 8:36 p.m. Tucson time. It is the bottom of the 9th and it is 9-3 Cubs. This is exciting!
It’s nice to get lost in these games, to root for the “longtime losers” making good. The tension is so high! And it is so much fun!
The Cubbies won at 8:42 p.m. A reporter just said – “You brought the boom stick tonight!” I love the Army of Darkness reference!
Yeah. I’ll be tuning in for Game 7. Now I just need to find some friends to watch it with!
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