10/12/05

Softball: A Sojourn into the Pure Athletic Narrative

Dear People,

As Chris Fure's team took the field in the top of the 7th, they had much to be grateful for; After an early-inning collapse, they had clawed their way back to within a razor-thin 17-16 deficit, they had relentless, homer-pounding momentum (HPM), and they had congealed into a frightful defensive machine, much like that contemptible Floridian python that recently swallowed whole a perfectly innocent ’gator. In retrospect, though, Chris’s side was more like the ill-fated dinner than the barbaric diner, and thus when the dust finally settled, all they had left were their denuded aerobic bones, 36-18.

I have a theory as to why this happened, and it can best be exemplified by a tale of two hits: When Chris Dougherty slammed a 2nd-inning bullet right down the left-field line, she not only produced the first homerun of her long and distinguished career, but she also ran those bases with the raw passion of a turbo-charged gazelle out to feed her young. In so doing, she brought inspiration and clarity to my entire team.

Now, compare and contrast: Half an inning later, Alex presented the official response—a blistering fly ball into deep center right. The homer itself was as valid and vital as any that game, yet rather than tap into his own inner-feline, the Alexinator quickly developed "issues" with the crumbling elastic waistband of his ceaselessly slipping trousers. The result was that he scurried from base to base with more of a strained waddle than an actual sprint, as if he were a terrified penguin who felt the eyes of a prurient and sicko world upon
him. Indeed, I myself was bracing for the sight of his bashful little schmeckel before he crossed home, though fortunately, and with all due respect, we were spared.

The point is, though, that this stark contrast in early-inning 'tude lingered throughout the entire match, and I believe it explains the ghastly denouement that followed. Indeed, we all know that pride trumps despair, and thus it couldn't have been an auspicious sign for Chris when the struggling Steve Seskin strolled to the plate in the bottom of the 8th, quickly concluded that his only hope for getting to base was a walk, and thus glibly asked his captain, "Hey, do I actually need a bat when I stand here?"

I believe that this query, as sincere as it was, may have set the wrong tone upon which to launch yet one more rally. Oh sure, perhaps I stress esprit de corps and zeitgeist and ’tude and tone and ability and hitting and fielding and all that touchy-feely crap a tad too much, but ultimately, broad is the gestalt from which every team must triumph. And therefore there will be a game at San Pablo #2 this Sunday at 11AM, IF I get enough commits by this Friday morning...Raymond


10/13/05

Softball: An Early Sellout

Dear People,

There will be a game at San Pablo #2 this Sunday at 11:00, and as of now, there are no longer any slots left. As always, you are welcome to contact me later to see if there are any openings, and if you did commit and need to cancel, please let me know ASAP.

This week’s field fee is just $3, and that includes a complimentary pre-game carafe of chilled Bavarian buttermilk…Raymond 845-7552

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