Greasepaint and Pancake Mitts

Apr 20, 2009 10:54


Read more... )

Leave a comment

Comments 31

chicating April 20 2009, 19:21:33 UTC
My dad tried to teach me the game when the Cubs were up against the Padres in the '80s. But I was slow to catch on, he got impatient, and he never tried again...it's like our whole relationship in miniature!
I never really thought I missed much there till Keith Olbermann though.
(Please don't make the obvious "Who's your Daddy?" comment.)
It might have kept us together if we could have shared a bit more, though.

Reply


chicating April 20 2009, 19:23:12 UTC
You'd think a Cubs fan would be less eager to write things off...wouldn't you?

Reply

hecubot April 20 2009, 19:32:39 UTC
Cubs fans presume failure. Nor are they known for their perseverance or their judgment.

Reply

chicating April 20 2009, 19:59:20 UTC
Well, my dad does, at any event...definitely not the "We'll get it next year!" Cubs Nation guy. I kind of like those guys...the Kuciniches of the sporting world. Despite my overall ignorance.
And, come to think of it, he's a fairweather, too. Because that was the only time he ever mentioned it, when they were kicking butt.
And then we finally got a local team, they threw lots of money at it, won big, and *then* my dad buys tickets.
That probably says lots about him too...
Well, I guess you can say that somebody thought of your article today.
Good to see your pixels, bunk.
{{{Hecubus)))

Reply

hecubot April 20 2009, 21:29:22 UTC
If your Dad was a Cubs player, I'd say he was Keith Moreland, the guy immortalized in "A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request" as the player most likely to drop a routine infield fly.

Reply


herself_nyc April 20 2009, 20:14:27 UTC
My condolences. What a beautiful tribute you've written here.

Reply

hecubot April 20 2009, 21:30:02 UTC
Thank you. As you well know, the parental relationship is a tricky one. But I'm missing my Dad now.

Reply


transistorblast April 20 2009, 20:17:30 UTC
My knowledge of baseball is almost nonexistent (aside from knowing where Yo La Tengo got their name). I have no idea what I could pass on to my (theoretical, at this point) children. A love of 7" singles from the Columbus punk scene?

You've returned to LJ with a fine piece of writing. Coincidentally, I was rereading parts of the bubblegum book last weekend, for the first time in probably several years. It still holds up.

Reply

hecubot April 20 2009, 21:27:32 UTC
Thanks. When Emmett turned one year old, I gave him three presents: a baseball, a book of Arthurian legends, and a Ramones 7-inch.

Maybe you could part with one of your Boys From Nowhere singles.

Reply

transistorblast April 20 2009, 21:39:52 UTC
Ha, I wish. I was thinking more like something from Log or the Yips. I think I have a V-3 single somewhere.

Speaking of the Ramones and young children, my wife had an interesting experience introducing "Blitzkrieg Bop" to a classroom.

Reply

chicating April 20 2009, 21:54:23 UTC
I suppose I can't recommend my impetus for learning about the subject:
An obsessive, sweaty crush on Keith Olbermann.
Shallow and probably traitorous to The Pastime and all y'all that bleed bat resin, but true nonetheless.
But if he wants to(cough) show me some highlights, I want to be stupid on somebody else's time.
But your mileage may definitely vary...

Reply


dxmachina April 21 2009, 01:53:42 UTC
My condolences, David.

Your comment about how people played rather than watched baseball brought to mind a couple of things. One was this article I just saw posted over at BTF. The other was the news that that Bob Feller plans to pitch in the legends game in Cooperstown on Fathers Day ( ... )

Reply

dxmachina April 21 2009, 02:02:35 UTC
The other thing I meant to say was that I don't know if you are aware of the Baseball Chronicle, but this story is probably right up their alley.

Reply

hecubot April 21 2009, 02:09:51 UTC
Thanks, DXM.

It's boggling to imagine Honus Wagner playing with one of those old mitts and having defensive numbers that compare to Ozzie Smith.

I just recently discovered Baseball Chronicle. I hadn't thought to send it there. This piece was actually written for the Albany Little League newsletter (not a paying gig).

You've got to be excited about the Dodgers start this year. We're only two weeks into it, and it's already a surprising season. The Marlins?! The Mariners?!

Reply

dxmachina April 21 2009, 03:16:22 UTC
The Royals!

Listening to the games this week was fun, and I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. The hot start is tempered somewhat by the memory of 2005 when the team started 12-2 and finished 71-91. Fortunately, this team has much more talent than that one did. I like our chances.

Reply


Leave a comment

Up