Jack’s Blog

Full disclosure: My mother’s side of our family was from Brooklyn and they first brought me to Ebbetts Field as early as 1952.  I was four years old, optimal age for brainwashing a kid.  I had to be a Dodgers fan.  Up until I was in my teens I was a pretty big one too, meaning not only did I love my Dodgers but the enemies were the crosstown teams, the one that wore pinstripes and the other that wore orange and black. Our family has lived in California since 1991, in Fresno since ‘95.  Although I could barely be considered a Dodgers fan now, I have to admit . . . I still don’t like either the Yankees nor the Giants.

There’s only one reason I’m posting this piece regarding the Giants.  Because they deserve it.  Most impressive was during the post game interviews after their four game sweep over the Detroit Tigers, each one of the San Francisco Giants displayed class, an attitude of confidence without being obnoxious - in light of the fact they just won it all.  They played the same way.  Each was asked questions that could have resulted in grunted replies or babbling instead of speaking or a lot of “ya know’s,” but they were all so humble and appreciative of their teammates.

Sure, the locker room was being spray painted with champagne.  After all, it was the World Series and some traditions die hard.  Or maybe it’s baseball.  Think of how many times baseball players, independent of what they do in the game (other than those who do something to end the game), go into self-promoting, celebratory dances or other crazy actions.  You’d be hard pressed to come up with a small number.  Compare that with the other team sports like football, basketball, hockey and soccer - sports in which the act of scoring seems to be a greater reward for the individual than it is for the team.

Listening to the Giants speak about how the other guys on the team needed to be recognized for their contributions is refreshing for a guy, admittedly, from the old school.  It is ironic because baseball is more of an individual sport than those mentioned above.  Other than, say, sacrificing or hitting behind a runner to move him a base, or backing up batted or thrown balls, pretty much the only way a baseball player can help his team is to do well himself, e.g. positive things like get a hit, steal a base, catch batted balls or stay away from negative things like making outs at bat, committing errors, getting thrown out stealing or poor baserunning.

The Giants, now the champs, could have done a little self-promoting.  None did, including Pablo Sandoval who might have been given a pass if he had (a little).  Instead, one of them, I can’t recall which, when he was asked why he thought they were able to complete the final journey, simply said:

“We all bought in.”

The San Francisco Giants went up two games to none yesterday in the World Series, shutting out the Detroit Tigers, 2-0.  When Giants’ reliever Sergio Romo, who got the save, was interviewed immediately following the game, his comment was, “I could feel everyone was with us.”  He was referring to the crowd as well as the team.  Romo did acknowledge the group in the Tigers dugout who, understandably weren’t part of the Giants’ support group.  Nearly everybody believes that to be successful, it’s infinitely easier to win when everybody pulls together.

I was watching the beginning of the game at the gym, peddling away on a recumbent bike with one of three televisions above me.  The World Series was on the TV above me.  To the left was the middle of the TVs and that station was tuned into a political station, which naturally, had people talking about the presidential race.

Behind me, on a couple treadmills, were two guys, probably in their 60s, the bigger one reacting heatedly to one of the talking points on the show.  At first I just heard him (F-bombs tend to get your attention), then saw the two of them in the giant mirror that runs the length of the wall.  The bigger man was attempting to persuade his buddy about something, I’m not sure exactly what, but it was an anti-Obama item.  Everything he talked about was what the current administration had done and how they screwed it up and then lied about it.  His friend questioned him but the bigger guy shouted him down.

On the flip side, other people I know have told me they couldn’t vote for Romney for numerous reasons.  He doesn’t look or act presidential (too stiff in social situations; what he does say sounds canned).  Because of that and his lack of foreign policy experience (even though his opponent was in the same position four years ago), they say they won’t vote for him.

An outstanding social experiment would be to have ballots that had five selections: 1) Obama, 2) Romney, 3) someone else, 4) against Obama, 5) against Romney. Right now, the pundits are saying it’s a 47-47 race and each candidate’s “people” agree with that assessment.  If the experiment were implemented, my guess would be that, discounting answer #3, the other voting percentages would not be 25% a piece.  Rather, I think 4) and 5) would dominate.

Sadly, we’ve become the Divided States of America, even though were always taught:

“United we stand, divided we fall.”

When a nearly untouchable pitcher, with a ton of rest (and a record of pitching great after a lot of rest) is pitching for the favorites in Game 1 of the World Series, the outcome usually looks bleak for his opponent.

Last night Justin Verlander was that pitcher and it seemed like he was wearing a cape to the fans at AT&T Park when he took the mound against the Giants.  The mood, at least the way it came through on TV, was less than gloomy.  Sure, there were the towels waving but it came through as, I don’t know, loosening up for Game 2.  There just wasn’t much more than a sliver of hope they could beat Verlaner.

Then Pablo Sandoval, the Panda Bear - or as Tim McCarver might have accidentally coined his new moniker, Pandoval - stepped into the batter’s box.  After starting 0-2, with two outs, things weren’t getting any rosier for the SF faithful, especially when everybody felt like Verlander was going to make Pandoval (see how catchy it is?) fish for some nasty pitch out of the strike zone.

Sandoval (let’s keep it real) is a notoriously great low ball hitter (so I’ve read - I don’t pretend to be one of those writer’s who Google gobs of information and then pound out an article like they have the knowledge of a major league scout).  Although the target was set up low and away, Verlander threw some, as it’s referred to, high stinkin’ cheddar - at 95 mph - out of the strike zone.  Sandoval swung at it anyway and it became game time! in San Francisco.

The ball went straight away - out - and the volume went up.  The Giants had a pulse after all.  As the game continued, it seemed as though the rule was only one team pulse per game.  The Tigers were like kids who woke up Xmas morning and there was nothing under the tree but floor.  If it looked like Detroit was listless after that homer, they were calling in room service orders at their hotel after Panda took Verlander out again.  Just to show it wasn’t personal against Verlander, Sandoval hit another out after Justin left the game.

Now the Giants are up 1-0 and the whole Bay area has a pulse and it’s throbbing.  It wasn’t like the fans from San Fran didn’t believe they were going to win.  It’s just that they didn’t think they were going to win yesterday.

Could it have been Justin Verlander is a fan of Joel Randymar who once said:

“The purpose of life is not to accumulate but to give.  The purpose of life is not to put people down but to lift people up.”

After the 2010 regular season, San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy told Barry Zito he was leaving him off the Giants’ World Series roster.  A serious blow to a guy with a mega contract who was scapegoated ever since he put on a Giants’ uniform.

Today he’s going to start Game 1 against the Detroit Tigers and Justin Verlander.  Maybe he wishes it were 2010 all over again.  No, he doesn’t.  There are fans who would readily admit to that and that exact topic is going to be a blog in the (very) near future.

But, back to today - does anyone think that back in ‘10 Zito was waiting for just this day?  My feeling, having been around world class athletes for decades, is he’s been waiting - and preparing - for just this moment.  Granted, I worked only on the college level (and only in men’s basketball) but at many of my stops there were some brilliant performers in other sports, e.g. Reggie White, Lisa Leslie, Stephen Abas (silver medalist wrestler) and Nick Watney to name just a few. And, because human nature intrigues me, I would closely watch them.

Highly talented, extremely competitive athletes are living for just such a day as Zito is getting today.  When he performed poorly after signing a huge contract, Zito’s internal make up was questioned - in print, on the airways and, of course, in bars.  A large percentage of fans, sportswriters and sportscasters (mostly those who never played beyond high school, maybe even ever) live for those days.  Nearly all in that group are solidly behind him now (the majority will tell you they always have been).  More and more, because “haters” are in vogue, there’s a small group who still criticize him but they pretty much criticize everything and everyone other people admire.

Unless he’s completely defied the odds, the Barry Zito (re)climbing of the success ladder continues today because he worked hard, focused and did what everybody who believed in him told him to do:

“Hang in there.”

Living in Fresno, it doesn’t take long to realize this is Giants’ Country.  And that’s during an average year.  Now that they’re one game away from winning it all, you can actually feel the energy in the entire region.

Not everyone is a San Fran fan but those who are elevate the level of excitement in such a way that it generates a positive feeling throughout the area.  Add to the fact that the Giants won their third game in the World Series on Halloween - as if the San Joaquin Valley needed another reason to wear orange and black - and people are on the verge of jubilation.

I’m from New Jersey and my mother’s side of the family was from Brooklyn.  In 1954 the New York Giants won the World Series and I can truthfully say I don’t remember that event at all - except for the catch Willie Mays made on Vic Wertz.  Even back then the replays were shown over and over.

But a year later, the Dodgers won their first World Series - when I was 7 - and I remember almost everything about it.   I grew up a staunch Dodgers fan and now I think of all the kids around that age who are Giants’ fans and the memories they’ll have (unless they pull a colossal choke).  Even the grownups are acting giddy.  Maybe it’s because, should the Giants manage one more win, they’ll be World Champs.  Their first since . . . 1954.

That is something to cheer about and with the economy in the shape it is, seeing people laugh or smile or even act foolish makes you realize what sports can do.  Sure, the Rangers’ faithful will be disappointed, but in a few days, they’ll be thinking about the wonderful ride their ballclub took them on and they’ll be happy too - although not as delirious as the Giants fans.

Winning feels so good it makes people forget about their troubles - if only for a brief period.  What sports does is brighten people’s attitudes and as Winston Churchill said:

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

How can anyone explain the Boston Celtics beating the Miami Heat (with LeBron James) one night, then losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers (without LBJ) the next?

Or the King, LeBron himself, having eight turnovers on opening night against a very good Celtics team, then following that with a nine TO effort against a bad 76ers club?

Or the New Jersey Nets, who started last year 0-18, open up with a W.  The Knicks had a better record than the Nets, but their road mark was brutal.  So they start the season on the road and walk away with a victory.

But the true sign of the apocalypse came in Game One of the World Series.  The Giants haven’t won a World Series since they moved to San Francisco and the Rangers have never even been to MLB’s version of the Big Dance.  So everyone was stoked - especially because of the starting pitchers, Cliff “Mr. Perfect” Lee and Tim “The Freak” Lincecum.  Would it be a 0-0 contest, decided by an umpire’s (bad) call?

Instead, Lincecum gave up runs in both the first and second innings - for the first time in four months - and Lee was torched for five doubles - and lost in the post season for the first time!  The Texas Rangers also showed nerves by committing four errors (the Giants had two).

Final score: 11-7, San Fran.

If  fans were disappointed, the solution is simple.  Don’t expect so much.  As Jonathan Swift said:

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”