Clobbering The Nats: Let’s Go ‘Stros

I’ve been a Braves fan ever since the days of Hammerin’ Hank Aaron.  After a season of “rebuilding”, the team was poised to bring back the glory days of their 14 back-to-back Division Titles from 1991-2005.

I wasn’t interested in the World Series this year because their nemesis, the Washington Nationals, were playing inspired baseball coming back from 12 games under .500 (19-31) to make the postseason.

The Braves lost to the Cards in the NLDS and their dreams of a return to the World Series were snuffed out.

I was shocked when the Astros lost the first two games at home.  Ditto when they won three straight at Nationals Park over the weekend.  Now, I will be watching Game 6 when the Nats return to Minute Maid Park and a decidedly different crowd.  The Astros lead the series 3-2 and the Nationals have no more room for a loss.  They face the ‘Stros pitching ace Justin Verlander.

You may wonder, hey, you’re pulling for Houston because the Braves didn’t make it to the show.  You’d be wrong.  I’m rooting for them because of the shameful way the partisan DC Beltway fans disgraced themselves during Game 5 Sunday.

While Game 4 was being played, a years-long manhunt for the world’s most wanted terrorist, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, culminated in U.S. commandos killing him.

It’s not the booing of President Trump that got me upset. That sort of thing happens with every president.  No, no. It was the two banners displayed behind home plate in near perfect view of television cameras which read “Veterans for Impeachment” and the chants of “Lock Him Up”.  Absolutely no one is more pro-veteran than this president. 

According to Stars and Stripes, “The banners were the work of Common Defense, a liberal veterans advocacy group that numbers fewer than a dozen members of the veterans community which polls show gives Trump widespread support.”

The Washington crowd’s mockery may have felt good, but it will have unintended consequences.  The world is a safer place now that al-Baghdadi has breathed his last breath.  Many view the actions President Trump took as his finest hour. The world owes this president a debt of gratitude for approving, unlike his predecessor, the aggressive military actions that crushed ISIS and killed its commander.  I hope a ton of fans in Houston wave the American flag and chant “Four More Years” to show the world the DC Beltway does not speak for the rest of the country.

Not so fast everybody, Astros might have to fly back to DC to wrap this up.#TakeItBack pic.twitter.com/FpniK5cHHG

— TheFederalist Tweets (@federalistmemes) October 28, 2019

Houston, We Have A World Champion!

I thought NK's team.was called the Pyongyang Pricks. Ya learn something new everyday.

— Captain Sam (@NJDevilNYGuy) November 2, 2017

One Win Away

When I was knee-high to a grasshopper and television was broadcast in black and white, I remember joining my dad in the living room of our home to watch the New York Yankees play ball. I fell in love with the game and legendary players like Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Roger Maris, Tony Kubek, Mel Stottlemeyer and Mickey Mantle.  Back in the day, games were called by LA Dodgers HOFer Pee Wee Reese and St. Louis Browns’ HOFer Dizzy Dean on NBC and by Pee Wee and Curt Gowdy on CBS.  My dad would always laugh when ‘ol Dizzy would say, “He slud into third.”

Throughout the 1970’s and 80’s the Braves were pretty much the worst team in baseball, but when Ted Turner decided to buy the team in 1976 he began broadcasting the Braves’ game on TBS and after a while the Braves became known as “America’s Team” garnering fans everywhere as Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, and Joe Simpson called the games. 

I lived in Atlanta for four years when the Braves started their miracle run to the World Series.  The Braves won 14 titles from 1991-2005.  The Braves won the 1995 World Series against the Cleveland Indians.  Their decade of dominance ended shortly thereafter.

Last year, the Chicago Cubs, the team with the longest title drought in baseball history defeated the Cleveland Indians.  This World Series I’m rootin’ for the Astros.

Thousands of people lost their homes and dozens lost their lives when Hurricane Harvey deluged Houston with 52 inches of rain.  The Astros faithful are still picking through their rain-soaked belongings and homes.  The Houston players and coaches say they are on a mission to give their fans something to celebrate.

Some nights you never forget.  After more than 400 pitches and more than five hours, the Houston Astros managed to make one Dodger lead after another disappear.  They emerged with a 13-12 10th-inning victory in front of a Minute Maid Park crowd of more than 43,000 ecstatic fans─a testament to the magic of the World Series and the timeless power of baseball.  

Our national pastime has on more than one occasion helped a nation in need of healing.  For three nights in 2001 in the Bronx, anxiety and gloom momentarily gave way to a unifying moment following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

God, I love the game of baseball.

HOUSTON ASTROS: World Series Game 6 Trailer (Edited By: Me) #EarnHistory pic.twitter.com/lVQnM0Fztg

— Bonda (@BenOndaTop) October 30, 2017