If I Were a Rich Man
When the final out was recorded in the 2006 World Series, I was nowhere near a television set. Instead, I was watching Tevye dance and prance across the stage in the Harding University production of Fiddler on the Roof. But I still knew within seconds that the Cardinals had won:
CARDINALS WIN!!! WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!
10:25pm 10/27/06
That’s the text message I received from Number Three Son back in Huntsville who was watching and recording the game for me. You’ll notice that there are a lot of exclamation points in that message. If I didn’t know better, I’d think that Number Three dumped the Tigers somewhere along Game Three and came back to the fold. If so, then I can assure him that all is forgiven.
This time, my heart was right, not my head (and at four games to one, even more right than I ever imagined). Yes, on any given day, or in any given October, anything can happen. May the longsuffering and loyal Cardinal fans be given permission to set aside their conservative, midwestern “Show Me” ways and go completely crazy.
If I were a rich man, my team would be able to overcome an end-of-the-season near collapse, aging, achy bones and stiff muscles, an embarrassing 4-0 sweep to the Red Sox in ’04, that blasted Metrodome in ’87, “The Call” and Saberhagen in ’85, and finally, after 24 years of disappointment and heartache, be crowned Champions of the World.
Well, they did. And I am.
6 Comments
Comments are closed.
DAVID u
Mike it was GREAT to see you again, and it was wonderful to meet sweet eyegal……..you married WAY over your head! 🙂
Hope #1 son had a good visit. The Bisons came thru with an exciting win, huh?
Have a great week!
DU
Mike the Eyeguy
DU–
It was great seeing you too. Yes, I did marry well, didn’t I?
The Bisons were spectacular in their OT win. Number One was impressed.
Brady
Although we were pulling for the Tigers, we were somewhat consoled by the Cards win because we got to see them beat the Dodgers in LA this past summer. Wife and the kids even saw Pujols hit the ball out of the park. I was, unfortunately, parking the car.
Concerning your last post about the radio broadcast of the series, we were driving from Searcy to Paducah on the Sunday afternoon that France was playing Italy in the WC final. We could only find a station in Spanish, and then we’d lose it in every valley, only to decipher a handful of static on the next hill. Not a very good way to follow a match, but it was a moment to remember.
Mike the Eyeguy
Both the Tigers and the Cardinals are two “likable” teams that tend not to polarize too many folks. I know I for one would have been disappointed to lose to the Tigers, but ultimately not crushed since the Tigers had a great year and I have many friends who are Tigers fans.
Soccer on the radio. In Spanish. Somehow I think something would get lost in the translation.
Bill Gnade
Great, great essay. Killer last lines. Perfect.
Thank you.
I was in a great spot as a sports enthusiast during the World Series: I could root for both teams. I can’t say that it was hard to leave the Tigers: once its pitchers couldn’t make Little League plays as well as most Little Leaguers, I was quietly rooting for the only major league team on the field.
Congratulations! But I am sorry to inform you that when Chris Carpenter comes home to New Hampshire, the National Guard has been authorized to seize him. He’s got Fenway Park in his marrow (and if he doesn’t, we’ll drum it into him).
Gnade
Mike the Eyeguy
Bill, thanks I’m glad you enjoyed my “victory post” and the Series.
I’m just glad at least Carpenter is still under contract so that he can’t stay in New Hampshire. Mulder, Weaver, Suppan, Belliard, Spezio, Marquis, Wilson and possibly even Edmonds are all heading toward free agency.
It was nice while it lasted.