It Was The Best Of Times . . .
. . . it was the . . . well, uh, actually, it was pretty much just the best of times.
So, we go into the weekend, with your humble correspondent, gearing up for really nothing except three days of solid sports here in the Midwest. First up, Thursday night, the Official Elder Son's soccer squad traveled west to play a regional Catholic high school which has been hovering around the St. Louis Top Ten all year, and is ranked seventh in the Missouri State Soccer Coach's Poll.
They won three - nil, setting the perfect tone as they head into the post season, which begins Tuesday against a local public school rival, which started slow but which has improved all year. The team is chock full of Bosnians, and trust me on this, dear reader. The Balkan immigrant community in St. Louis knows it's "football" and has been a boon to to local South St. Louis squads.
After the victory, we drove like crazy for an hour in order to ensconce ourselves in front of the tube with a beverage and snacks to watch my beloved Cardinals pull off their most recent World Series victory.
Huzzah!
During my lifetime, I've seen eight league pennants and five World Series Championships. Truly, for a baseball fan, I've been blessed, even to the point of feeling bad for Cubs fans who've gone since 1918 without the cheese.
Of course, I don't feel bad enough to hope they beat the Cardinals next year. Now, let's get Albert Pujols committed to spend the rest of his career here.
Saturday, dawned to hopes for my Mizzou Tiger (American)football squad, as they faced the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. We've been rebuilding this year, and A&M was ranked 16th in the nation. Kyle Field is a buzz saw for opposing teams.
Lo, did our sophomore quarterback James Franklin bring the Tigers from behind to win, 38-31 in overtime.
It was almost too much to ask.
Sunday, I went to church and didn't even the think about the Rams. To be blunt, I'm a fair-weather fan of professional football. Bill Bidwell broke my heart as a kid when he took the St. Louis professional team to Arizona, so I've never been able to give my heart completely to another St. Louis team. Nonetheless, when baseball season is over, I cast an occasional eye at the television on Sundays to see how the Rams are doing and wish them well, if for no other reason than it's good for our town.
Anyway, Sunday afternoon, I decided to check the NFL scores and lo, did I discover that the Rams had notched their first victory, and over the New Orleans Saints, no less.
Uh?
I mean, the Rams suck in spades. What's happening? Black is white. Up is down. Germany is France. Yay, verily, the end of days is nigh.
But at least, I've got a smile on my face this morning.
Cheers.
R. Sherman
So, we go into the weekend, with your humble correspondent, gearing up for really nothing except three days of solid sports here in the Midwest. First up, Thursday night, the Official Elder Son's soccer squad traveled west to play a regional Catholic high school which has been hovering around the St. Louis Top Ten all year, and is ranked seventh in the Missouri State Soccer Coach's Poll.
They won three - nil, setting the perfect tone as they head into the post season, which begins Tuesday against a local public school rival, which started slow but which has improved all year. The team is chock full of Bosnians, and trust me on this, dear reader. The Balkan immigrant community in St. Louis knows it's "football" and has been a boon to to local South St. Louis squads.
After the victory, we drove like crazy for an hour in order to ensconce ourselves in front of the tube with a beverage and snacks to watch my beloved Cardinals pull off their most recent World Series victory.
Huzzah!
During my lifetime, I've seen eight league pennants and five World Series Championships. Truly, for a baseball fan, I've been blessed, even to the point of feeling bad for Cubs fans who've gone since 1918 without the cheese.
Of course, I don't feel bad enough to hope they beat the Cardinals next year. Now, let's get Albert Pujols committed to spend the rest of his career here.
Saturday, dawned to hopes for my Mizzou Tiger (American)football squad, as they faced the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. We've been rebuilding this year, and A&M was ranked 16th in the nation. Kyle Field is a buzz saw for opposing teams.
Lo, did our sophomore quarterback James Franklin bring the Tigers from behind to win, 38-31 in overtime.
It was almost too much to ask.
Sunday, I went to church and didn't even the think about the Rams. To be blunt, I'm a fair-weather fan of professional football. Bill Bidwell broke my heart as a kid when he took the St. Louis professional team to Arizona, so I've never been able to give my heart completely to another St. Louis team. Nonetheless, when baseball season is over, I cast an occasional eye at the television on Sundays to see how the Rams are doing and wish them well, if for no other reason than it's good for our town.
Anyway, Sunday afternoon, I decided to check the NFL scores and lo, did I discover that the Rams had notched their first victory, and over the New Orleans Saints, no less.
Uh?
I mean, the Rams suck in spades. What's happening? Black is white. Up is down. Germany is France. Yay, verily, the end of days is nigh.
But at least, I've got a smile on my face this morning.
Cheers.
R. Sherman
Labels: Baseball, College Football, Mizzou, Soccer, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
posted by R. Sherman at 4:32 AM
11 Comments:
Well done.
Is there a class/political aspect to those that support BB, FB and soccer in the USA. Here in Ireland those that follow Hurling think the Gaelic Footballers are knuckle dragging idiots. Rugby players as English wannabees and soccer for girls and thugs. Of course you could make rotating cards with the names on one and the sport on the other.
Vince, soccer started as a blue collar immigrants' game and worked it's way into the middle and upper classes. In places other than St. Louis, soccer was exclusively a parochial school sport and artifacts of that remain, although, I think that it's reputation has gotten better over the years. Certainly, soccer fans in the U.S. are not like those in European stadiums.
As for football and baseball, the appeal tends to cut across class distinctions. Universities have teams, high schools have teams, so everyone is a fan at some time.
Cheers.
Congrats to you and the Cardinals, my friend. Game 6 was a lot of fun, and indeed, it was fun to see that the Rams finally got their first win...not that it necessarily matters in the sad NFC West!
Enjoy it while it lasts, "Sic transit gloria mundi."
Back when I was a kid, I used to be a Cardinals fan. Those were the days of Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee. I remember taking a couple trips down there to watch some games. Then I guess I fell out of the habit of watching sports. After I heard about the Cardinals making it to the Series, I planned on watching a game or two for old time sake but before I got around to it, I heard they had won it all. Good for them. Perhaps I need to renew my Cardinal fan status and start paying attention again.
I was glad the Cardinals won (I despise the Rangers almost as much as the Yankees)... I'd like to have seen another Cardinal vs. Tiger game, but that wasn't to be... Glad you're having such a good weekend.
Looks to me like your cup runneth over:)
It is a joy to see you enjoying life so much .......... many more such days! And of course it would have been an even greater series with the Tigers ..errrrrrrrrrrrr
So happy your beloved Cardinals WON!!! And your dear son
s team, too!
You're funny and I'm soooo glad the Cards won. Next to my Mets, they're my faves. Have a nice weekend. ;)
i like the profile pic, being a hiker and mountain slayer myself. Mt Whitney was in my way, i went over it Sep22 .... 14,496 ft
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