Softball: The Universe of Trajectories (Plus a Shameless Fraternal Plug)

Dear People,

There was a curious and unsettling moment in the bottom of the 6th inning last Sunday, when my team held a staggering 11-0 lead over Tony Mac's. Jerry Scheidt was pitching with his increasingly seasoned mastery of the mound, and given the score, I figured we were heading toward our first community shut-out in over 14 years. Of course it's easy to get cocky in such situations, and thus I felt a sense of true managerial pride when, just after the Macster himself came to the plate, Jim McGuire fervently screamed out from left: “You gotta be careful; That ball can get right by ya!!”

In retrospect, I'm not really sure who the fuck good 'ol Jimbob was yelling to, but I do know that it seemed a tad ironic when exactly 1.5 seconds later, the MacMan blasted a searing line drive just past our hero's desperately outstretched mitt. The three-run homer that resulted triggered a radical shift in the competitive zeitgeist, and by the next inning, my side's lead had dwindled to one tiny little run. Fortunately, we stayed stout and stalwart under the brutalizing stress of their blitzkrieg-like attack, and when all was said and done, we had prevailed, 15-11. Moreover, I'd like to think that we did so with courage, class and a renewed respect for the counsel that we so passionately proffer to others.

In any case, and speaking of things that just whizz right by, you may be aware that an asteroid the size of several Nimitz-class aircraft carriers is streaking by the earth at 29,000 miles per hour, and as I peck these very words, it is substantially closer than the moon. NASA insists that this presumptuous piece of planet-wrecking ice-crap will not actually strike our fragile little world, but I remain wary (or maybe weary, or perhaps just worried since I don't really “understand” physics, or for that matter, why the Lord would do this). The point is that I will always remain vigilant, and therefore there will be a game at Codornices this Sunday at 11AM, IF I get enough commits by this Friday morning and that little bastard doesn't destroy us first…Ray

PS: My brother Lawrence Weschler, the quasi-renowned New York-based writer, intellectual and spindly-legged softball-jock, will be speaking at the Berkeley Hillside Club on Thursday evening at 7:30. I believe that Ren will be discussing his latest book, Uncanny Valley: Adventures in the Narrative, and while it's true that I often have no clue as to what the hell he's babbling about, he usually puts on a pretty good show. Details here:

http://berkeleyarts.org/

11/10/11

Softball: Scenes from Campus

Dear People,

There will be a game at Codornices this Sunday at 11, and as of now, it is full. As always, you are welcome to contact me later for news of reopened slots, and if you committed and need to cancel, please let me know ASAP.
This week's field fee is just $4, and that includes my personal guarantee to you that we will be tear gas, tent and riot-free for at least the first eight innings….Raymond 845-7552

PS: Plus Ca Change….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buovLQ9qyWQ&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhFvZRT7Ds0&feature=related

PS: My generation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16u0wwCfoJ4

PPS: A shameless second familial plug: Lest you forgot, tonight at 7:30:

http://berkeleyarts.org/