Tuesday morning: I had a post about growing up a bit of a baseball orphan and really discovering the game in my late teens -- my Dad claims allegiance only to the Oakland Oaks, my Mom grew up a San Francisco Seals fan -- but I set it aside because what I realized what is important was not how I came to here, but what I get going forward.
For me, the memories of sports are not the game itself, but the people I was with when I was watching. Game 3 of the 1987 NLCS, the 1989 Super Bowl, Jerry Rice's fumble-ruled-fair against the Packers. I had thought about going down to town and watching the game with fans, but did one much better. Owen spent a lot of time with me watching these playoffs but wandered off after Renteria's home run until the bottom of the ninth. But then he crouched with me in front of the TV waiting for that last out. We hollered a lot, scared Natalie a bit, and then got them to bed. I'm hoping that memory sticks with him. It's my best sports memory yet.
As to the championship itself, with this one the great choke of 2002 has faded quickly away. Of course, I'd have liked that one. But for a first championship, you couldn't have a better bunch of guys win it all. Lincecum, Ross, Posey. Wherever these guys go to make their millions in the long term, and whatever the form of the next championship team, these are the names we're going to be seeing on faded jerseys in the stands when we see the next championship, even if that's not until 2064.
Pitchers and catchers: February 13. Go Giants.
Congrats, TPE! A very well deserved championship. I don't remember ever seeing such dominant pitching in the playoffs (Sanchez excepted) as I saw over the last 11 games.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations; that's how you dominate a good hitting team. I'd have let Young Severus Snape finish the game, but, hell, the Beard did it again.
ReplyDeleteAs Will Leitch pointed out, finishing a Series at 7:30p local time gives y'all a LOT of time for mischief. Wow.
Congrats to the Giants!!! Enjoy it!!
ReplyDeleteWow - so happy for the Giants and the fans in SF. The team really seems like a such a likeable bunch of good guys - lots of personality, but not a superstar/diva in the bunch. Now, to see when the parade is, and decide if I should go, since I'll be in SF later this week!
ReplyDeletein the present case, all mischief is two sugar-buzzed children.
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Giants! Congrats, TPE! Karen, my sentiments exactly: a colorful, likeable bunch, and a well-deserved championship.
ReplyDeleteBonus points to the Fox Sports crew for seeming to capture every single SF player's joyous reaction ... and for the shot of Tim Lincecum in a bow tie, looking like a junior high school percussionist on his way to the Intermediate Band's Fall Concert.
Way to go, Giants! Congrats, TPE! Karen, my sentiments exactly: a colorful, likeable bunch, and a well-deserved championship.
ReplyDeleteBonus points to the Fox Sports crew for seeming to capture every single SF player's joyous reaction ... and for the shot of Tim Lincecum in a bow tie, looking like a junior high school percussionist on his way to the Intermediate Band's Fall Concert.
The Rangers, meanwhile, join the exclusive club of teams who have lost every WS they've ever played.
ReplyDeleteMORNING TRIVIA! Name the only member of aforementioned club to have played in more than one Series.
The sad, sad Padres.
ReplyDeleteCorrect! The Padres are 0-2; the Rangers join the Astros, Brewers, Rays, and Rockies at 0-1.
ReplyDeleteNow, can you name the (current) teams which have never lost a World Series?
Mazel tov! Haircuts for everybody! (Please!)
ReplyDeleteCongrats, TPE. The Giants played fantastically and deserved the win.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, TPE!! Wishing San Franciscans great joy and a fun few days of elation and parading.
ReplyDelete"Young Severus Snape" is my new favorite thing.
Congrats!
ReplyDeleteMarlins are one.
ReplyDeletethere's at least the Florida Marlins and Washington Nationals
ReplyDeleteCongrats, TPE!
ReplyDeleteEverything went right for the Giants, although my sense is the Rangers may have longer staying power at the top of the heap.
ReplyDeleteBlue Jays and Marlins are both 2-0; Diamondbacks and Angels are both 1-0. Ah, the glories of the expansion era.
ReplyDeleteYoung Severus, or Mitch Kramer from "Dazed and Confused?"
ReplyDeleteThat's five (Jays, Marlins, Dbacks, Angels, Nats), plus the Mariners (like the Nationals, they've never played in a Series, and thus never lost).
ReplyDeleteBelated congrats to TPE and other Giants fans -- enjoy having the monkey off your backs!
ReplyDeleteNow, going back to 2002 for a second, can I have one small moment of meanness and be glad that Barry Bonds never won a ring with the Giants? (Dusty Baker too, but that's more residual distaste for my Cubs-fan friends.)
ReplyDeleteThat said, congrats to TPE and all the other Giants fans! As a White Sox fan who waited 32 years for a championship, it's one of the finest feelings in the world. Plus, one of of your stars was ours as well: Juan Uribe.
I loved the various angles of the last out - seeing how each player reacted was realy wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI've made it most of the day without violating the no politics rule, but does SF's win help or hurt Prop 19? Will voting harsh the mellow of a subset of Giants fans, or will Legalizing It be an appropriate reward for winning game 5?
ReplyDeleteHey how about that Renteria? I wish the Red Sox could have someone that talented on their team.
ReplyDeleteTo the extent I think I am solely empowered to speak for Giants fans around here, I'm not offended. If offered a chance 2002, knowing what I knew in 2002, to have the Giants win the World Series then, I'd have taken it -- tainted or not. But knowing what I know now, I'd not swap 2010 for 2002, certainly, and I wouldn't even take 2002 also if offered. This is a much sweeter win with a team we Giants fans can be much prouder of for the long term.
ReplyDeletePTE great to hear your story. I was watching with my two kids 7.5 and 4. When Renteria hit the homer, we ran around several rooms screaming "3 run homer!!! 3 run homer". Like you, hope my kids remember it for a long time.
ReplyDelete