Various and Sundry-November 1, 2011
It has been almost nine months since I have written for this blog, with the sole exception of a post following the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. Navy Seals. A focus on paying projects has been the main reason for my absence, but I am committed to keeping this project going and I am excited to restart it with the following piece. Thanks for reading.–Ian
* The recently concluded 2011 World Series was among the most exciting in the last 25 years. In particular Game Six, in which the ultimate champion St. Louis Cardinals were down to their final strike in two different innings, will rank as one of the most memorable and compelling World Series games in history.
One off-the-field historical connection from that epic game came at the end of the final at bat, a game-winning solo homerun by St. Louis third baseman David Freese. As the ball began its descent onto the Busch Stadium berm beyond the centerfield wall, Fox play-by-play announcer Joe Buck said, “We will see you tomorrow night!” Twenty years and two days earlier–as another legendary World Series Game Six was coming to an end via homerun–Buck’s father Jack Buck, then the lead announcer of Major League Baseball for CBS, said almost the exact same thing.
* According to his sister, author Mona Simpson, the last words of Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs reflected his role as one of history’s greatest technological visionaries. They were also cryptic: “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”
* The NFL season is only about half over, but so far the leader for the 2011 NFL Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Dickheadishness goes to New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs. According to ESPN New York, following the Giants comeback win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Jacobs was unhappy that he carried the ball only four times. Jacobs told reporters, “I’ve got nothing positive to say. The most positive thing: I got family at home and I got a fast-ass car being delivered on Tuesday. That’s it.”
Going forward, I suggest the phrase, “I got a fast-ass car being delivered on Tuesday” be used as the new all-purpose expression of sour-grapes flavored apathy and selfishness.
