!!!!!!!!!!YEAH DIAMONDBACKS!!!!!!!!!!!
This weekend was more busy
than restful, and depressing for me since I didn't get to race. Still, the race on
Saturday, at Marina del Rey, had a nice brunch afterwards, where we got to hook up
with some of the people we only see at regattas, so that was nice. I also spent
part of the day hanging out with Carney Johnson, who was celebrating his 91st
birthday and who has been rowing for 70 years. He's something of a legend in
California rowing circles. Sunday's race at Newport Beach was large and very
crowded, on a nice race course that stretched from a protected inlet out to the
ocean. Rudder and T2 came in 2nd on Saturday, 3rd on Sunday against stiff
competition. Next weekend: San Diego Fall Classic. There is some possibility I may
get to cox a boat for another club.
The high points of my weekend,
though, had to deal with another sport entirely. Nothing for me will ever beat the
Phillies' winning the World Series in 1980, in their first championship after more
than 90 years of major league ball, or Tug McGraw's incredible relief pitching in
that series. Still, this came close -- I've heard sportscasters already calling it
one of the most exciting Series ever. On Saturday evening, we managed to find a
table at the local Outback with a good view of the bar TVs. This gave us a vantage
point to watch the Diamondbacks CRUSH the Yankees, 15-2. Eight runs in one inning,
I think there were....no wonder Joe Torre looked so pissed off whenever the
cameras caught him. We watched there until the sixth inning or so, then watched
the D-Backs hold the score to the end of the game. What a relief after those games
in New York.
Last night, we stayed up to watch the end of the game,
afraid to turn the TV off -- during both the fourth and fifth games, we'd gone to
sleep, comfortable with our team's 2-run lead, only to find out Brenly had sent
Kim in as relief pitcher and he'd allowed the Yanks to win the game. Twice in a
row. Jesus H. Christ. Staying up last night was rewarded, as we got to see that
incredible bottom half of the 9th inning, when Gonzo brought that runner home to
win the game for us. Schilling's pitching for most of the game was incredible -- I
think he'd only allowed one hit up through about the 6th inning. And then Johnson,
realizing there was nothing to save up for, stepping in after playing last night -
- now there's a man who is fortunate to have so much talent, because he'd never
get by on looks alone.
Whenever I look at our local MVPs, though, I keep thinking both should be in the
movies. I see Schilling in a comedy, playing John Goodman's younger brother. Even
in the tense moments of a World Series Game 7, his mouth looks like it's used to
curving in humor. The rangier, more withdrawn Johnson always reminds me of Zane
Gray's lean cowboy heroes -- I imagine him as the hero's stern and silent
sidekick, the guy who'll watch your back in a brawl or shoot a rattlesnake (OK,
not a diamondbacked one) before you see it. And he'd probably die, heroically,
saving a girl who loved someone else, before the end of the movie.