Grip on Sports: Watching the boys of summer play in the fall classic will envoke memories of seasons past
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Some days are cheap. And some days are really expensive. Yesterday was both. Read on.
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• But before we explain ourselves, how about a little time travel?
It was 1988, a simpler time. James Caan and Mandy Patinkin were partners in “Alien Nation.” UB40 was singing about “Red, Red Wine.” And families, from the Huxtables to the Conners, were all the rage on TV.
It was Saturday, Oct. 15. Louisville, Kentucky. The Galt House, a famous if dilapidated hotel that would someday become the epicenter of some college basketball hijinks.
That night the Galt House was hosting the Society of Newspaper Design convention. Attending was one youngish Dodger fan. The organization’s awards were being handed out in the ballroom but that held no fascination to the youngish fan. What was going on 2,000 miles away did.
The Dodgers were hosting the A’s in Game One of the World Series. A tight one. At first, the youngish fan would sneak away, find a TV and watch a minute or two. Then it was back to the interminably long dinner. Finally, he excused himself, went back to his room and watched the final innings.
When Kirk Gibson hit his arm-pumping, game-winning home run, the youngish fan jumped on his bed, up and down, finally hitting his head on the ceiling fan. It nearly knocked him out. Appropriate, in a way, as the Dodgers won that series, but it would be their last for a while. Until now, actually.
Before then, though, Los Angeles had been a common World Series participant during the youngish fan’s life, from 1956 – in Brooklyn, including the day he was born – to 1959, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1977, 1978 and 1981. The youngish fan vaguely remembers the 1965 Series but was clear on each one from 1966 on.
Mainly because of his dad’s promise: Every one of his kids would attend a Dodgers’ World Series game some day.
Except not all of them did. The youngish fan was also the youngest child. The oldest daughter got to go, including sitting close to the dugout when Willie Davis made three errors in one inning in Sandy Koufax’s final game. And the middle child also saw one live.
But the youngish fan was always shut out. The Orioles’ sweep in 1966 took care of that year. There was a chance in 1974, but college had started and getting away was not possible. By 1977, the father’s ticket connection had dried up, and his streak of attending World Series games expired.
Big deal. Some day would come, right? Except it didn’t. And the youngish fan wasn’t “youngish” anymore. Time passed, the father aged. The not-so-youngish fan hoped for one more Dodger World Series appearance, just so he could turn the story upside down and take his father to a game. It didn’t happen. The father’s final breaths came in 2010. The chance was lost.
Last night the phone rang. The older sister, the one who had yelled awful words at Willie Davis so long ago, had a proposition. Get to Los Angeles next week and she would get them into the game. No matter the cost.
It was for dad.
So Monday afternoon the oldish fan will get on a plane and fly to the L.A. basin one more time. His sister will pick him up. They will spend the day together, maybe saying hello to dad again. That night they will cram themselves into a seat high among the Dodger Stadium rafters.
The oldish fan will buy a program. He’ll write in the lineup, neatly, just like his dad taught him. He’ll pay attention to every pitch, except when he has to grab a Dodger dog. Maybe he’ll even bug his sister once or twice, just for old time’s sake. He’ll soak it in, remembering.
Then the game will end. It will take hours to get out of the parking lot, one his father was adamant was designed by an escaped mental patient. The scorecard will be packed away, brought home, encased in plastic. And he’ll set down in his office next to a couple trinkets that sat on his dad’s desk and the medals pops earned in World War II.
It will be a reminder of a promise fulfilled. A promise made in simpler times.
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WSU: Boy, there is a lot going on in and around Pullman these days. Theo Lawson is the guy charged with keeping track of it all and he has. He’s sorted out the punting situation going into Saturday night’s Colorado game and he interviewed a couple of defensive coaches after practice Wednesday. Those interviews can be found on our football page. … The loss at California ended up costing the Bears as well. … A former WSU basketball star has moved on to the NBA – in a supporting role. … I meant to pass this on earlier this week but somehow it slipped through my fingers. I recommend reading Brian Floyd’s thoughts on Bill Moos’ departure. … The punting situation also caught Stefanie Loh’s eye as well. … The Colorado passing game revolves around a couple of players. … The women’s soccer team upset second-ranked UCLA 1-0 yesterday.
Elsewhere in the Pac-12, just about everyone feels the Cougars will take out their frustration on Colorado. … Washington has its bye just past the halfway point. So does Oregon State and Stanford. When the Huskies return to the field, their secondary will have a new look. … Oregon will try to stop Josh Rosen and UCLA in a key game for both schools. … California’s defense will need to step up against Arizona newly revved-up offense. … Utah may have wanted to wallow after its USC loss, but with upset-minded Arizona State visiting, the Utes must focus. … USC has a rivalry game this week. That’s the case more often than not, but the Notre Dame game is truly special. … Speaking of special, we have some special Pac-12 coverage to pass along, all from Jon Wilner in San Jose.
Gonzaga: Most of this century, the WCC coaches have picked the Zags to win the men’s title. But it didn’t happen this year. Saint Mary’s is the choice. Jim Meehan has more on Gonzaga not being picked to win for the first time in 17 years. … The national coaches still have more faith in GU, slotting the Zags 17th and Saint Mary’s 22nd in the preseason poll. … The women’s team will be on television at least eight times. … The coaches’ predictions were covered in San Francisco and San Diego and treated as a big deal in Utah.
EWU: The Eagles’ Albert Havili has embraced change in his time in Cheney. Jim Allen has more in this story. … Jim also held a live chat yesterday and posted a transcript. … Around the Big Sky, there is a homecoming of sorts scheduled in Flagstaff tomorrow. … The Montana band is trying to raise funds to get to Bozeman for the rivalry game.
Idaho: The Vandals extended the contracts of football coach Paul Petrino and basketball coach Don Verlin yesterday, but that’s not the thrust of Pete Harriman’s story. Nope, Pete has a piece on the Vandals’ two-way player, D.J. Henderson.
Preps: There was something of an upset last night at Albi, with Lewis and Clark picking up its second GSL win, 37-21 over Mead. Dave Nichols has the game coverage and Jesse Tinsley adds a photo report. … As it was a busy Thursday, we can pass along roundups for girls’ soccer, boys’ soccer, volleyball and slowpitch softball. … Football’s numbers are down in Oregon this year.
Chiefs: Spokane added some punch to its lineup, picking up 20-year-old forward Zach Fischer in a trade with Medicine Hat.
Seahawks: With a trip to New York to face the revitalized Giants coming up, some Hawks are thinking about Cliff Avril and their own future. Of course, that doesn’t stop them from short bursts of fun. … There is one goal for the defense right now.
Mariners: Chris Taylor’s success with the Dodgers makes every Mariner fan cringe just a little. … Los Angeles has built a winner on players like Taylor, which seems odd in this day and age.
Sounders: A win this weekend would keep the Sounders from the dreaded playoff knockout round.
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• It’s funny. If you asked me what my favorite baseball team was these days, I would answer the Mariners without hesitation. I took my boys to so many M’s games over the years, have watched them even more times on TV and listened to their games on the radio so often, they have grabbed that role. But there is something special about the team of your youth. Those were the days of heroes, not players. And guys like Koufax and Davis, Maury Wills and Joe Moeller (just accept it, he was a pitcher I worshipped for no good reason), will always have a special place in my heart. As will the guy who sat next to me all those many years ago. He’s missed every day. But he’ll be sitting between my sister and I on Tuesday evening. Until later …