Posted on 04/07/2010 9:12:36 AM PDT by JLWORK
In 1954 the New York Giants swept the World Series from the vaunted Cleveland Indians in four games. By that time I had fallen in love with the game of baseball then the National Pastime. I was seven years old. Willie Mays made a spectacular, over-the-shoulder catch of a ball hit by Indians first baseman Vic Wertz to deep center field at the Polo Grounds. It is one of the greatest plays ever filmed. Dusty Rhodes, a left-handed pinch-hitter for the giants, hit three home runs in that Series. He became a hero of mine until I heard my dad talking about Mickey Mantle.
In 1956 I was nine. My father took us one warm Spring night in May to see the New York Yankees play against the Indians at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Mickey Mantle (pictured above on Time magazine cover) hit two home runs that night, one against the Indians starting pitcher Bob Lemon, and the second one against the great Hall of Famer Bob Feller. The first homer went so high that we temporarily lost sight of it as it soared above the stadium lights before it landed about twenty rows back in the right field seats. I can still name the starting lineups for both teams, and for several of my favorite major league teams thereafter.
Yesterday President Barack Obama, who claims to have become a Chicago White Sox fan when he moved there in the 1980s, (click the next link for the video and subsequent audio) threw out the first pitch in Washington, D.C. then went to the broadcast booth for an interview. Asked by the announcer to name one of his favorite White Sox players, Obama dodged the question.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsrealblog.com ...
That’s the point isn’t it? Couldn’t Barry have just said, “I can’t. I’m a fan because their my hometown team, call me a fair weather fan, I watch when I can, it’s tough with my schedule.” Instead barry reinforces a belief that he’s a pathological liar.
The second point on this story is a lesson for the media. Look what happens when you question something Dear Leader says!
I just don’t see the big deal in this. Seems to me that a person could be a fan of a team just because it’s in their home town, and not even follow the game.
Then you are someone who enjoys the game, you are not a "fan" of a particular team, especially not one who purchases/wears team gear. I like rock music, some bands I really enjoy, but I am not a "fan" of those, I can't name particular members, not so great on the song titles, really only know the lyrics if the song comes on, I'm singing along with it. Those bands I am a "fan" of, I know their names, instruments played, songs they wrote, etc.
There is a world of difference when you call yourself a "fan" -- as pointed out in earlier post, this was just more of the politician attempting to curry favor with the folks, Hillary sporting a ball cap which obviously wasn't hers, Kerry goofing a name, it's the phony lie and it's really not necessary.
Eric Clapner?
It would be perfectly okay of Barama simply said he isn’t a big fan of the game or the Sox. But he just can’t help embelleshing and lying about his true interest because TO DO SO IS THE ESSENCE OF BARACK. Lying, stretching the truth, exaggeration to give a false impression of himself is what he does.
I think we’re supposed to just accept it. Maybe by “fan” he meant he’s simply “aware of” the team?
It’s not the same Whte Sox I knew 20 years ago.
Funny, but when I was living in Hawaii, most baseball fans there were either Dodgers or Mariners fans.
Isn’t that just semantics? Sounds like the definition of what is is...Besides, isn’t that what politicians do anyway, curry favor? How else would they get elected?
Obama’s critics shouldn’t waste their and our time criticizing him for his baseball activities. I’m disappointed with David Horowitz.
Or "Mack Maguire" or "Sammy Sooser" like 'Ol Fat Teddy did.
Bill Holden and the boys in Stalag 17 caught the Nazi spy by asking him how many home runs Babe Ruth hit in 1927.
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This guy here could flat out hit.
Good for you.
What a lousy “pitch”! Sarah Palin could have done a whole lot better.
Typical Obama pitch...winds up like it’s going to go down the middle, but misses and goes hard to the left.
I believe that would be Michael Jackson...Right?
</sarc>
Scottie Kerr, actually. And B.J. Longley.
Hard to the left and high — like a softball lob. I said that Sarah Palin could have done better. Heck! I could have done better. And I have a 15 year old grandson who could have nailed it with a strike!
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