October Surprise
Writing by treason on Saturday, 22 of October , 2005 at 9:02 am
I came out this morning to make coffee and get the dogs their breakfast when I saw a copy of The San Jose Mercury News on our dining room table. The top story was about the 16 year-old who murdered Pamela Vitale. There was a photo and a caption: Teen was never the same after sister’s death.
Yeah, my sister’s dead, too, but so far I haven’t bludgeoned anyone into ground beef. I stared at the paper. How very strange, I thought to myself. How did a copy of The San Jose Mercury News end up on my table? Then I remembered: Bob is here!
T and I, the dogs, and Bob all have our birthdays the same week, so Bob is here from the Bay Area to visit. It’s sort of an October thing we used to do on a more regular basis. It started with the three of us going out after work (we were all at the same place for a long time) for pizza and beer to celebrate our birthdays. The pizza place had a big screen TV and October meant baseball playoffs and World Series games.
So, tonight is Game 1: the Houston Astros versus the Chicago…White Sox. Okay, okay, I’m used to the idea that I’ll never be able to say Cubs. You know, I actually own a 1959 Sox cap, but I won’t be wearing it.
It’s the law of baseball. Let me start with the playoffs. I admit, I didn’t catch every game this year and that’s unusual. But it was hard to get enthusiastic when I kept thinking that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim was a ridiculous name for a team. California Angels. Anaheim Angels. But this new moniker was just silly.
They played the New Yank Yorkies (as Rush would say) and, as in the past, I’d probably have to support the Yanks - T’s team. But both organizations are out of the running now. The Angels beat the Yankees, and The White Sox beat the Angels.
As for the National League, I have to choose between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Houston Astros. My dilemma is this: how can I, as a Cubs fan, support the rival team St. Louis? There are rules. I cannot break them. It’s the same rule that says as disgusting as it is to root for the Yanks, it would be completely inappropriate to root for the Sox. The whole North Side/South Side thing. As a Cubs fan (my sister was a Cubs fan, my father was a Cubs fan), I cannot support the Chicago White Sox in this series.
I am forced to go for the Killer Bs. It actually makes sense on many levels. Geographically, Houston is closer to where I live. I like that the city of Houston was so gregarious and generous after Katrina. I like that George and Barbara Bush call Houston home. I like that the fans dress up like bees and buzz during the games to support the players whose names start with B (kinda like B for Banks…sob) and who have played long and hard and haven’t ever been to the Series. This year it’s going to happen.
So, because it’s their first shot at this after 44 years, I have to support the Astros. They were forced to wear silly uniforms for many seasons - they deserve to win. And it’s kinda like watching the Yanks what with Clemens and Pettitte on the mound.
But the real buzz is that the Sox are the team this year. Actually, there’s an easy way to find out who will lose the world championship. Just count the ex-Cubs on the team. (All together now: Wait ’til next season!)
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