3/5/03
Softball: Showing off for Family
Dear People,
Congratz to all on last week’s simply transcendent 11-inning 20-19 paragon of salubrious sport—a stunning come-from-behind won-on-the-last-error nail-biter that was not only one of the truly great matches of our seven year journey, but perhaps the starkest testament yet to the often overlooked importance of the weakest aerobic link. And I don’t mean to write this in a critical way, for the fact is that Nanci was the moral backbone of my team, and indeed, as we pulled out to a crushing 16-5 lead in the top of the 7th, I remember thinking that Frank’s contingent was now left without hope, if for no other reason than Nanci was not only guiding us with her clarity and vision, but she was even holding her own in deep center right.
Indeed, later that inning she caught a long high ball near the post-field bush with almost surreal aplomb, and thus as I turned to her mom--- who had come all the way from Westfield, New Jersey to cheer her on in person!---I suddenly realized that I had never seen such radiant maternal pride in all my life. "Florence," I whispered excitedly, "She’s our secret weapon; We can’t lose!"
In retrospect, of course, this is the type of analysis that had investors snapping up Bedpans.com in the fall of ’99. The hard reality is that my team’s 11 run lead evaporated over the following two innings, and while I’m certainly not going to "blame" anyone for our ultimate defeat, I would gently suggest that Nanci’s inability to stop the next 13 hits from darting through her legs may have played a somewhat unhelpful role.
In any case, fair is fair, and thus I reject those who insist that for the last few innings, every batter on Frank’s team targeted Nanci in an unseemly strategy of brazen competency profiling. For one thing, such behavior would be both illegal and discriminatory, but regardless, I’d like to think that we as a people no longer pick on the most athletically challenged within our own community. And therefore, there will be a game this Sunday at 11, IF I get enough commits by this Friday morning….Ray
3/6/03
Softball: The Varieties of Lagniappe
Dear People,
There will be a game at Codornices this Sunday at 11 AM, but alas, all slots are now taken. As always, feel free to call for late cancels.
Please bring $2 for the field, which for this week only includes EITHER a Bittersweet Chocolate Custard with Biscottia and Black Sphinx Dates OR a complimentary 30-day enrollment in the Federal Witness Protection Program….Raymond 845-7552
PS: Darryl is missing his generic but beloved tan left-handed mitt. Please look into your hearts, buckets and closets and find it, not because there is a $25,000 reward (there isn’t), but because it’s the right and heroic thing to do.
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