BASEBALL & GOLF

I am a sports fan. Those of you who know me understand that is probably an understatement.  There is something enthralling about good competition with all its twists and turns and unexpected outcomes. Sports have been my connection with my father…..sports had the ability to take my mind off of my mother when she was dying even if it was just for a few minutes……sports were the connection with my son these past Olympics when we called each other at midnight to discuss the curling match! My daughter-in-law said he (and I) were Olympic sports junkies. Yep, that’s about  right.

Today I was in sports heaven. Lou had recorded the Giants home opener when they hung the World Champions flag in the outfield on Friday (I was working and couldn’t watch it live). What an incredibly emotional and amazing ceremony at the ballpark. Giants great Willie Mays delivered the championship flag to manager, Bruce Bochy.

The legendary Willie Mays begins the flag raising ceremony.

There is the quote in the movie “A League of Their Own” where Tom Hanks tells one of his female players that, “There is no crying in baseball.” Well, he’s wrong. There is most definitely crying in baseball when you are watching the Giants celebrate their first series win in 54 years in San Francisco! I know because I was sniffling and wiping my eyes the entire time and I wasn’t alone. J

All of the players lined up down the foul line…..Bochy handed the flag to the first player. Each one in turn passed the folded World Championship flag to the next player….that went on through 30 - 40 players and coaches down the line. As the flag approached the end of the line, pitcher Sergio Romo took it and kneeled in reverence as he handed it up to Brian Wilson, our eccentric “Fear the Beard” closer. Wilson took the flag, sprinted across the outfield and up a ladder into the stands.

From there he was escorted by security guards through the bleachers to the flagpoles in centerfield as he high-fived fans and employees along the way. They clipped the flag to the pole and Brian raised it hand over hand to the top as Queen’s “We are the Champions” blared over the loudspeakers. The entire stadium was in awe of their team. What a moment!



Brian Wilson raising the World Champions flag in centerfield.

Still emotional from watching that recording, I turned on the Master’s……one of golf’s four major tournaments. The setting is exquisite…..multicolored azaleas in full bloom, ponds and stone bridges among the green trees and shrubbery of Augusta, Georgia. I can’t say that I am a huge fan of golf BUT I am a sports fan and understand that pretty much anything can be enthralling and exciting. And this was an incredibly exciting afternoon of golf!



Azaleas in bloom at Augusta National Golf Club - home of the Master's.

As the afternoon wore on, more and more golfers came into contention for the title. The 21 year old Northern Ireland man, Rory McIlroy, who led after the third round self-destructed shooting an 80 (horrible for the pros). Tiger got hot as did many other golfers……at one point nine players were within two shots with 4 or 5 holes to play. The experts admitted they had no idea who might win as it neared the finish. A South African man, Charl Schwartzel, managed to squeeze out a win over two young Australians to win the coveted green jacket of Master’s fame.

All in all it was a great sports day…….just what I needed a day to veg out in front of the TV and watch my favorite things!