One of the things we love about sports is that no matter how many games you've watched, you can always see something you've never seen before. There are moments where we can't believe what we just saw. And this is what keeps us coming back for more. Two memories from my childhood:
1. 1990 Sweet Sixteen UConn vs. Clemson. With 1 second left and UConn trailing by one, they had to inbound from all the way across court. I was seven, about 2 feet from the television, and I was crying. UConn had lost...or so I thought. Then Scott Burrell, also a baseball player, throws a perfect pass to Tate George who turns around and hits the shot, Huskies win. I cannot even explain the joy I felt.
2. 1993 AFC Playoffs Bills vs. Oilers. I was at some friends' house for this one. Discouraged by an awful first half (the Bills trailed 35-3 at halftime), we found other things to do, but checked on the game periodically. Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly left the game with an injury, and backup Frank Reich enters the game. Buffalo goes on to win the game in the greatest comeback in NFL history.
I credit these two memories for my love of sports. It is because of these that I never leave a game early, or shut off the TV early. But these situations do not just happen in important postseason matches. They happen at the most unexpected moments, in games that may otherwise seem meaningless. It's moments like these that keep us interested in the regular season as well. On Sunday, several thousand fans in Oakland went to the ballgame, probably with low expectations. The A's haven't been awful this year, but the Rays have been very good. Yet they got to witness something that has happened only 19 times in the history of baseball: a perfect game. On Saturday night, I went to see the Twins play the awful Baltimore Orioles. I did not see a perfect game, but in the eighth inning I witnessed a game situation that I had never seen before and I will not soon forget.
With a man on second and third and one out Nick Punto comes to the plate. Punto is a slick fielder, but in 10 big league seasons has a .248 batting average and 12 homeruns. Trying to set up a double play, the O's intentionally walk Punto (my friend and I simultaneously joked that this must have been Punto's first intentional pass ever) to load the bases putting Alexi Casilla at the plate (.245, 7 HRs career). I said to my friend, and brother-in-law, "they should put in Mauer." Joe Mauer has been hurt for a week, but was eligible to DH this weekend. We all had a good laugh, with the Twins leading 4-1, it seemed unlikely that Mauer would enter the game. And then my brother-in-law pointed toward the Twins dugout. Slowly the stadium realized #7 was stepping into the batter's box. We all got to our feet. The stadium was electric. These are the moments that keep us interested in the 31st game of a 162 game season. Mauer worked a full count, and eventually struck out. But that wasn't the point. Twins manager, Ron Gardenhire, refused to be conventional and improvised perfectly. His boldness was rewarded when backup catcher, Drew Butera (who entered the game with a batting avg. below the legal limit at .077, joke courtesy of Matt Peterson), stepped to plate and knocked in two runs with a single to left. The Twins cruised to a 6-1 victory. I will never forget the night that the Orioles walked Nick Punto in order to load the bases for the AL MVP. Just a great moment of surprise, excitement, and comedy.
I'll leave you with one more moment from the weekend that made me say, "I can't believe that just happened." This came in the form of a single play. A reminder that in sports, you can never say, "I've seen it all." Go Celts!
5 comments:
So, I've honestly never understood sports. My holiest moments in middle school were praying on the volleyball court, pleading with God that the ball would not come to me.
So watching sports was never going to be a hobby of mine. I think I was in college when I realized each team in football got multiple tries to get their ball to the end of the field.
I write all of that, just so you know the girl you're starting with.
Because I've been reading your blog posts from the beginning, and there must be something about your sincere writing, taking us back to the beginning of your love of sports, that I am starting to believe I might come around. I'm not promising that I'll turn all fanatic, but maybe, just maybe, I'll go to a Twins game one day for more than just the chocolate malt cup with wooden paddle spoon.
I do have one memory to share with you though. In college I went to the metrodome for a twins game and it happened to be both college night and dollar dog night. Each person could get three hotdogs for three dollars.
The Twins were playing whatever team Chuck Knoblauch went to. And Minnesota didn't like him very much because of it. When he took his place in outfield everyone was yelling, "Knoblauch Sucks! Knoblauch Sucks!" And then someone threw a hotdog on the field at him. It took about three seconds for everyone in the stadium to realize they, too, had an extra hotdog or two. And within a minute, the outfield was covered in hotdogs and buns.
It was announced to college night that the game would be cancelled if "people did not stop throwing their hotdogs onto the field."
I tell you what. That was the best, most entertaining game I've ever been to.
Keep writing...I feel a change in my heart, Mark. :)
Becca, that is an unbelievably great story. And though I'm am glad that you're heart towards sports is changing, I think that one of the great things about sports is how some of us engage it on a "I know everything about every player on the field" level, while others engage it on a "mmm...chocolate malt cups" level. There's something for everybody. I have been to many a boring baseball game where my focus has been more on finding the best treats than watching the game.
Thanks for reading (blogging has made me keep up better with your blog as well, and I'm enjoying it thoroughly.)
Mark, I just discovered your blog via your FB post. Great writing! I've got ya bookmarked now.
P.S. Whoever is 'ish' and noted Kathy's laugh on the inside and her character must be a good person. I agree!
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