All posts by Childsplayx2

#42 in your program

By | April 14, 2007 | Baseball | Comments Off

April 15, 1947.

Sixty years ago, Jackie Robinson, a first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers took his place on the infield of Ebbets Field. While the infielder (he would play most of his career at second base) would go on to have a great year – winning rookie of the year honors to jump start his Hall of Fame career – the simple fact of him standing on the infield as the first African American to play Major League Baseball since its inception in 1903 was a symbol of progress in a nation divided by race and prejudice.

What many don’t know about Jackie Robinson was that when he took the field that Spring day in 1947 he was an Army Veteran with a degree from UCLA. His Army career was cut short with a court martial charge of insubordination for refusing an order to sit in the back of a segregated military bus. He was later aquitted and earned an honorable discharge from the Army but the event significantly foreshadowed Jackie’s role in changing history.

Jackie Robinson left this world a better place. He died at the relative young age of 53 due to complications from diabetes. But the legacy that he left behind by the simple, yet courageous, act of being first changed the course of history. By integrating “America’s Game” he brought a country closer together. And while it would be almost two decades before significant change would come through the Civil Rights Act in 1964, there is little doubt that Jackie Robinson, playing a child’s game, changed a very adult world.

Giant’s Fan Timeline

By | April 12, 2007 | Baseball | Comments Off

October – Watch playoffs and fondly remember what it was like to have a playoff caliber team. Get excited that the Giants will be bringing in a new, talented manager to take the team to the promised land.

November – Begin forgetting that your team is ancient and start thinking that maybe Brian Sabean will toss off the albatross known as Barry Balco Bonds. Hope begins to stir from that one part of your soul that isn’t shriveled up by the fact that the team hasn’t won a World Series since 1954.

December – Get excited that the Giants sign a top-notch free agent while forgetting that they will be losing a top-notch free agent.

January – Start talking yourself into believe that the rest of the division is mediocre at best and the Giants will have a real shot at winning.

February – Perhaps blinded by cupid’s arrows, begin falling for Giant’s 40-man roster in spite of it’s aging, weary, 36-year-old appearance.

March – Spring Training baby! We’re going all the way! Bruce Bochy is the MAN! Bary Zito is THE man! Ray Durham batting cleanup?! Frickin’ genius, baby!

April – *Sob* Damn. We fuckin’ suck. *Sob*

Being a sports fan sucks

By | January 15, 2007 | Football | Comments Off

I grew up rooting for the San Francisco Forty Niners. I was a bit spoiled in the fact that the Niners were in their hey day with Montana, then Young at the helm. The playoffs were a birthright (10 straight years, I believe – I’m too lazy to look it up) and the possibility of a Super Bowl was almost expected.

And when they didn’t win? My life was ruined – for a few days at least.

About five years ago, I moved to San Diego. The Niners were sucking and the Chargers looked like a fun, young football team – and I became hooked. Reluctantly at first (as I was fighting an internal struggle over loyalty) but now whole-hearted.

That’s why yesterday’s loss to the Patriots sucked. It’s been a while since I lived and died by each play. It’s been a long time since I went to sleep cursing a particular play (JUST KNOCK THE BALL DOWN, MCREE! DON’T BE A FRICKIN’ HERO!!!). And now, here I am.

Being a sports fan sucks. But wait ’til next year…

News Flash: SF Giants sign a player in his 20′s.

By | December 29, 2006 | Talking Trash | Comments Off

One of these is not like the others:

Rich Aurilia
Bengie Molina
Ryan Klesko
Dave Roberts
Barry Zito

Talent aside, the first four could have been high school classmates of mine – and at 35 years old, I’m not exactly in my athletic prime. The signing of Barry Zito – a top rung Free Agent on this year’s (albeit tepid) market, was a much-needed shot in the arm for the Giants. Will a 28-year-old curveballer provide something that Jason Schmidt could not? Doubtful.

But at least the Giants are willing to play the game. Something most West Coast teams outside of the Los Angeles area are willing to do.

48 days ’til pitchers and catchers report!

Landis blows test. This just in: Americans cheat too.

By | July 27, 2006 | Talking Trash | 2 Comments

Floyd Landis’ “A” sample tested positive for enhanced levels of testosterone after his historic Stage 17 mountain climb that put him in contention to win Cycling’s biggest prize, The Tour de France.

That sound you hear is the last of drop of Cycling’s credibility being flushed down the drain.

This makes me sick. The notion of fair play is no longer a consideration in professional (and, I’m afraid to admit, amateur) sports. Every great accomplishment must be questioned. No longer will I marvel at the magic of a momentous athletic achievement. Instead, I’ll just assume the athlete was doped and go on with my life.

Two posts earlier on this blog we celebrated the awesome achievement of Floyd Landis. We should have waited to post it until the drug tests came back.

In fact, from this day forward we should hold judgement on all great athletic achievements until Sample “A” has been cleared. That way we don’t waste our celebratory energy on a cheat.

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