(Note: Mock GABA 2009 would have had us in New Hampshire Wednesday to see the Connecticut Defenders score twice in the 9th, beating the NH Fisher Cats 5-3. Thursday's destination would be Portland Maine, 7PM first pitch against Reading. Tonight's entertainment provided by Christopher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wbBtBWUyY0)
Got wrapped up in another MLB Network replay yesterday. Actually, the replay happened several days ago, but thanks to the modern miracle called the DVR, I never watch TV as it happens. This from a guy who's been in TV news since he left college.
This one was the infamous Pine Tar Game. George Brett doing his best Billy Martin impersonation. Billy Martin also doing his best Billy Martin. Protests, screams, written affidavits by second base umpries... even Gaylord Perry got involved by hiding Brett's bat after the controversial home run!
In the light of the modern steroid era, strikes and all of baseball's other issues, the Pine Tar Game looks kind of funny and tame, like a brewing fight between 7th graders. But it's still a part of baseball's history - a game decided by a league president's ruling, and an anti-climactic finish, three weeks later, with Don Mattingly playing second base and 34 people in the stands.
Several years ago, I bought a DVD recorder to burn some of my personal work to DVD. Since it's from 2004, the DVD recorder looks an awful lot like the first VCR from the mid 70s - big and bulky and built strictly for function, not form. I feel like I should wear a brown '84 Padres road jersey every time I use it.
Anyway, there's smoke pouring out of that DVD recorder lately, and it's all MLB Network's fault. 1991 World Series, Games 6 and 7, my (at-the-time) beloved Braves floundering in the Hanky-Dome... The Pine Tar Game... and the 1978 All-Star Game/Hideous Uniform Showcase... the hits just keep on coming.
Just gotta make sure there's enough room on there for my wife to record Top Chef, The Bachelor(ette), and the occasional HGTV show, and there is peace in the home.
Pudge Fisk's 1975 World Series home run, anyone?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment