1/25/06
Softball: The Downside of Spatial Dyslexia
Dear People,
Frank’s team rallied from a crushing 14-3 deficit to beat my own, 17-16, and while I’m not proud of what I’m about to tell ya, the bottom line is that I bear at least a smidgen of the blame for such a ghastly turn of events. Yes, with two outs, two on and my team still nursing a robust 16-15 lead in the bottom of the 8th, I inexplicably agreed to move from my perennial 1st base perch in order to play the vast and frightening unknown of dead center right. And while it was an eerie feeling of both risk and liberation, I was ultimately at peace with the knowledge that I had finally dove deep into the skill-expanding processes of rich aerobic growth. Indeed, as Frank came to bat and taunted me anew, I yearned for a big’ol hit toward me. Not to teach him a lesson per se, but merely to gently display the inchoate potential of my diversifying athletic repertoire.
In retrospect, of course, I probably shouldn’t have charged toward a blazing flyball that was heading right for me at 100 miles per hour, though in fairness, I’ve never pretended to understand the delicate interplay of Newton, Euclid and the weary, middle-aged eyeball. What I do know is that I was hosed, and hosed badly, by a subtle bend in the space-time continuum somewhere between second base and the spot where I jumped high like a spazz in a somewhat strained effort to snatch glory from failure—total, abject and utter.
Unfortunately, Frank’s blast sailed over my outstretched glove and on to the wooded tundra beyond, and thus the tying and winning runs quickly bolted for home. The hard reality is that for a few brief seconds afterward, I felt as if I were the biggest retard on the face the earth. But I also learned a stark and valuable lesson that fine and fateful day, and it is this: Forcing yourself to do what is new and difficult just because it’s a "challenge" is a bunch of touchy-feely crap. I, for one, will be returning to 1st base, and therefore there will be a game at Codornices this Sunday at 11, IF I get enough commits by this Friday morning…Raymond
1/25/06
Softball: The Shameless Craft of Nepotistic Promotion
Dear People,
There will be a game at Codornices this Sunday at 11AM, but unfortunately, it is already full. As always, please contact me ASAP if you committed and need to cancel. For those who missed out, you are welcome to pre-commit on Tuesday for the following game.
As you can imagine, I am feeling waves of guilt on account of those who want to play, but can’t (at least not yet). I therefore decided to call my bro, the noted New Yorker writer Lawrence "spindly legs" Weschler, to see if he could assuage my Hebraic pain. After hearing my story, he agreed to fly out to the Bay Area in order to discuss his latest book Everything that Rises: A Book of Convergences , which is, at minimum, a curious work that may or may not have anything to do with softball:
Sunday, January 29/7:30 PM,
Berkeley
A Reading at Black Oak Books
1491 Shattuck Avenue
Monday, January 30/8:00 PM
San Francisco
A slide lecture, and a conversation with magician Rickey Jay
City Arts/Herbst Theater
410 Van Ness at McAllister
Tickets (415) 392-4400
(or follow links here: http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/events/weschler.html)
$3 for the field/See ya Sunday…Ray 845-7552
1/28/06
Softball: Another Outlet for Your Inner Historical Athlete
Dear People,
A few days ago I got a curious inquiry from somebody who stumbled across our community website.
At first I was frightened and thought I was being set up for a kidnapping, but after further investigation, I concluded that this guy’s motives were pure, and that all he wants to do is play baseball as it was played in 1886. Moreover, and while this may not be a popular thing to say, Grover Cleveland happens to be my 21st favorite President.
In any case, many of you may be interested in the announcement below, and for those who want to learn more, there will apparently be a Bay Area Vintage Baseball League practice game (complete with the stylish gilded age uniforms) after we finish tomorrow …Ray
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Hello baseball enthusiast!
Ray was kind enough to allow me the opportunity to inform you of a new baseball league forming in the Bay Area.
At Bay Area Vintage Base Ball, we play by the rules of 1886! We're talking old school here. Just for fun, no stress and not a beer league. I formed the league last year and everyone has had a blast.
For more information, see www.BAVBB.com Looking for teams throughout the Bay Area to play 2-3 games per month.
thanks for looking,
Steve Gazay
President
Bay Area Vintage Base Ball
(650) 633-4275
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