1/29/03

Softball: A Different Style of Game-Building

Dear People,

Congratz to all on last week's salubrious 20-16 foray into the rich aerobic goulash of erudition and growth. The bottom line is that my team beat Chris' with unwavering fortitude and grace, and in some ways that's all that really matters. And yet it was also a time of unexpected revelations to the victorious opsimaths amongst us . . . and thus, for example, Ramona learned in her precarious infield debut that when going for that hallowed double-play via the blazing throw to 2nd , it's actually a profoundly pointless strategy unless there's a runner heading there from 1st .

As for me, I discovered that when barreling around the bases on the glory of a potential triple, there's no real advantage in running an elliptical trajectory that takes you half way into right field, especially if you're not willing to slide at 3rd. Yes, ours is a pastime of nearly sublime simplicity, yet even for us pillars of athletic excellence, there is always more to master.

In any case, by the time you read this I will most likely be in a strange
and distant land, far, far away from you and yours. I will therefore not be able to organize a game this week, which as you can imagine, would normally leave me sullen with the guilt of 1,000 Hebraic gazelles feasting on wild Angolan boar. However, I have just received a message from Tom O, who has graciously agreed to take charge in my absence, although as you'll now read, the "tone" of his appeal is a tad more spare than what you’re used to getting here:

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Ray, Please mention the following:

1. No one will receive a confirmation.

2. No one should send an email back to me.

3. I have bases, balls, a carpet.

4. Everyone is invited and all who show up will play.

5. I will make up both teams.

6. Please try to get at the field by 11:00 AM because the
game will start when the first 20 people arrive.

Thanks, Tom.

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Oh sure, he doesn't woo you with sweet aerobic nothings, and his somewhat stark approach comes with admittedly ghastly and incalculable risks, but hey, outside of bombarding, invading and occupying an apparently anthrax-laden nation of 23 million people half way around the world, what in life doesn't? I say Tom deserves your support, and if I weren't going to be in a far and distant land, I would be SO there.

Godspeed for Sunday. Until next time....Raymond

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