Tag: Rangers

  • Baseball Reflection

    Sometimes, I can make the mistake of not thinking things through; Such as last night when I stayed up late watching the ALCS. (And that would make two nights in a row that I have stayed up late, and not gone to bed. Yes, I am suffering for it today, thank you.) The reason was simple – The Rangers were playing the Astros, it was game seven of the American League Championship, and I also knew a great number of friends and family were watching the game. See, I grew up in Arlington, TX where the Rangers play, and there is an amount of hometown loyalty to the team. I’m not as rabid as some of my friends, but I thought it best to check it out.

    It was a good game if you were a Rangers fan, as Texas pretty much blew out Houston – just stomped them as the final was 11 – 4. But being that I was partial to the Rangers, I had a good time following along. Truth be told, what sealed the Astro’s fate was Ted Cruz, and if there is one person who can ruin anything, it’s Ted Cruz…

    The baseball team that I follow, and pretty much my family does as well, are the Chicago Cubs. My family is from the Chicago area, so its baked into our identity. Also, my maternal grandfather was a diehard Cubs fan, and when we’d visit him in the summers, he’s watch afternoon games called by Harry Carry and Steve Stone on WGN. 2016 was one of the greatest years of my life because that’s when the Cubs broke the curse and won the whole thing. Yes, I had tears of joy on that night, and thought about so many family members who had passed on never having seen the Cubs win it all, including my grandfather.

    And to be honest, baseball has never felt the same to me after the Cubs won the World Series in ’16. I followed that team the whole year – Spring Training to game seven in Cleveland. I watched as many games as I could, followed the team on the MLB app, and even on their IG account. I was invested that year. I didn’t really believe they would win it, as I had my heart broken in ’84, and ’89, and ’98, and ’03 with “five more outs to go,” and ’04, and ’07 and ‘08… You get use to it after a while, you know. But I still had hope.

    So, it was fun last night, watching a baseball game again, with something big on the line. There were flashbacks of the pain that believing in a team can cause you. There also was the excitement of watching a team go out there and have fun.

    Maybe I’ll watch the World Series… I don’t know…

  • World Cup Dispatch (UPDATE): USA v Iran

    A day like today is what makes the World Cup fun; Must win matches to get to the next round. Lots o’ drama.

    Unless you’re living under a rock with no wi-fi, then you know the big match of today is USA v Iran. The Americans need a win to advance, and Iran needs a win or a draw to move on to the next round. Then there is the animosity between our two countries which only heightens the emotions leading to this face off. I really don’t think there is much more insight I can offer, that hasn’t already been shared over the past few days.

    For me, I’m approaching this like a fan – I just want my team to win. And that desire creates in me an enjoyable competitive knot in my stomach. I felt this before when the Cubs went down in flames in 2003, or watching the Rangers lose the greatest game ever against the Cardinals in the World Series. But I also felt like this when the Mavericks won it all in 2011. And my insides were so squished together during the rain delay for Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, that I thought I might throw up. But I didn’t because the Cubs came out of the locker room to rally and break the curse.

    So, I know that feeling nervous just means that I care about my team, and I want them to win, and it sucks waiting for the match. And it will suck watching the match. And it will suck even more if the outcome isn’t the one I so desperately want.

    Boy! This is fun!

    UPDATE: The first half went a lot better than I thought it would. Iran looked like they had been knocked back on their heels, and didn’t have an answer to the American attacks. USMNT looks hungry out there, and they aren’t playing wild, just aggressive.

    Now, not for a second do I believe that Iran is out of this match. They seem to play better in the second half, and forty-five minutes is a long time. I expect them to put the pressure on by try to out run USA.

    I’m nervous but still having fun.

    (And if you are having fun easing this blog, show your appreciation by giving it a like. The Holidays are coming and that’s an easy gift to give.)