Baseball has been very, very good to me. Your world can be racing towards total oblivion, crap storms can be raging around you, and a baseball game will put it all back into perspective for you. You can see everything at a ball park, and you will meet every type of person there is on earth, all while sitting in the sun with a Hot Dog and a glass of cold beer.
It has been said that the Lord subtracts no time from your life that you spend fishing, and I believe that is true, but I also so believe it true about baseball too. Even if you’re sitting at home or at a bar watching the game life’s pressures will be lifted from your shoulders while the game is on. Do you see the close connection between baseball and beer?
This year I followed my Boston Rex Sox even after their abysmal showing during the 2012 season. Then so called sports pundits, who command high salaries as they demonstrate their lack of knowledge on any given subject, but they will ramble on just the same with their flannel lips. As this year they predicted a repeat performance and once more were proven wrong and yet still get to keep their jobs.
All right you fans of the NFL whose teams have to rest a week between games, or the NBA where the game is for the most part decided within the last 10 minutes. Or Cricket where a match can last for days and only a few people on Earth actually know what is going on. Or the most popular sport on the planet Soccer” where is the game ends 0-0 (Or nil-nil) the fans seem happy. When the World Cup was played in the United States no one (Or very few) would watch it as they don’t finish the game with overtime, extra innings or some way to find a winner. Liberals will say it doesn’t matter who wins, it’s just the playing of the game that counts! To that I say; “Pure BS, if that was true, why was someone keeping score?
Okay, this site is about the Philippines right? So here it goes, on my Dream Satellite TV system Fox Sports broadcasted every game in the Post Season of the National and American League. Games 1 thru 5 of the World Series, up until Game Six of the World Series (World Series because Canada also has one baseball team) Then at 08:07 am, I dash to my living room and turn on the big screen and there on Fox Sports is the opening NBA Game, okay, okay, basketball is the most popular sport within the Philippines, but to block Game Six? What the hell!!!
I panicked, and this time, it was “The Lone Kano” who threw my arms into the air and ran through the house shouting; “Aye, Aye, Aye!”
Now the Day before I had been out to Baloy Beach, with Tommy and Loren and of course our beautiful ladies. For some reason the subject of Baseball had came up. So I first called Tommy and asked what to do?
Tommy talked me down and prevented me from leaping off my roof, by calmly advising me to download the Radio Online App, and tune it to ESPN, and listen to the ballgame. He was such a voice of reason!
As a boy in Boston, when I wasn’t skipping school and going to Fenway Park, I listened to the games on my transistor Radio, so I was no stranger to that. Problem solved. I was back in the game, The Philippines tried to throw me a curve ball, but with Tommy’s help I hit it over the Green Monster! Oh and later when the Basketball game was over they did broadcast the last of the game on TV.
Now for those of you who might for some reason have missed the game Boston spanked Sa Louis like they were a red headed foster child, winning the Series 4-2 and sending the Cardinal’s back across the Mississippi River with their tail feathers between their legs.
Wow, talk about a sore winner!!
Congrats for your team. even though I was born and raised in red sox country (maine) my family has been loyal….believe it or not YANKEES fans. even if you are a flat lander as my folks say I still love your articles. and to add one more reason for you to curse me GO ARMY!!!. LOL but for that one I think we have a few more years to go until we make it a challenge for you guys. cheers and god bless
Craig;
I have two career Army sons So Go Army!
As for the Yankees they sure did enjoy watching the playoffs and the World Series on TV with the rest of us, they cursed themselves when they tore down the house that Ruth built and built a new one. Maine, Ayah you can’t get there from here!
Great article, but I am a Chicago Cubs fan, I am probably the only one who cant relate LOL – 1908 was the last World Series for us.. BUT, we do have the #Blackhawks lol – Hopefully my Filipina woman will bring us some luck in the next coming years! haaa
Tommy;
I’ve said it before; you can’t be a real fan of baseball and not like the Cubs, if you could only get them out of Chicago to someplace good, Wriggly field is next to Fenway Park as one of the better ball parks we have. Maybe when Mr. Obama comes back to Chicago, he can fix the city like he fixed the United States, and the Cubs will be so inspired they’ll take the World Series Trophy home once more.
Yeh — right !!
Loren;
Well it could happen! No I think you’re right!
Paul,
If could be the perception of the meaning of fixed. You may be very lucky to be living where you are. Time will tell.
Mike
Mike;
Time has already showed me I’m lucky to be living here, and I’m also exempt from Obamacare, and beer flows like water. Wow that’s a trifecta if ever I’ve heard of one; The expression; “I’ll fix you good!” comes to mind…
Paul,
I watched a lot of baseball when I was kid, but did not become a true fan until 6/07/97. 6/07/97 was the day I attended Fenway park for the first time. I had been living in Boston for 3 months at that point. Of course that also turned me into a Red Sox fan. Go Sox!!!!!
Dirk;
That park has history about it, when as a kid my Dad and sometimes uncles would take me, it was better than Disney Land. Welcome (belatedly) to the Red Sox Nation.
Paul, I am a Life long fan of baseball. Having said that it should be noted that I would much prefer to watch the Little league World series that the major Leagues battling it out. I see more baseball in its purest form with the kids not to mention the pure love of the game they display. No tantrums holding out for bigger salaries No brawls on the field if a wild pitch hits the batter. And it is a true world Series with South American and Asian teams being real contenders and often winning the series. That is why i can’t understand why Basketball is the Philippine Pastime and not Baseball
Joe’
The equipment and land required is why baseball is not as popular here. As for Little League, how many scandals have there been using overage players? It is not as pure as the driven snow as some people think. And bench clearing brawls (Donny-Brooks in Boston) I find it exciting to see multi-millionaires fighting; I mean what can be more entertaining than that? Asia will play as soon as they learn to respect the umpire’s decisions which at this time they don’t. Asia can field some great players but within a corrupt system.
Hey Joe “i can’t understand why Basketball is the Philippine Pastime and not Baseball” To be the national pastime people have to be able to participate. Here in Olongapo they play Basketball on half streets. The last lots big enough for baseball were developed long ago. No room to play.
Loren;
Without knowing it I parroted what you said above. We agree!
I remember some baseball expert on espn or wherever saying that signing Victoroino was a expensive mistake.
Jay;
Ah the pundits who speak only to hear their own voices, and yet get to keep their jobs when they are wrong, sound like politicians doesn’t it! Shane Victoroino was an expensive mistake, but only for the Cardinals. That 3 run double in game six proved that!
RED SOX? Oh man, that burst a big bubble. I thought the TV Patrol reporter said REDLEGS!
Paul;
Are you confused with the Cincinnati Redlegs, but since you’re from Ohio I think I see the wishful thinking.
I was happy to hear the Typhoo left your area and that all is well with you!
I guess the “Curse” of the Babe has no effect this year.
Jun;
Boston only traded the Babe, New York tore his house down, who do you think has the curse now?
Paul,
We had the whole game six on Cignal Satelite. Even got to watch some college football yesterday morning which I enjoy every fall.
Randy;
Cignal is a good system, and they didn’t block the first part of Game Six. Maybe next year I’ll switch.
Cards fan here! Born and raised around St. Louis. I did not watch any of the games but I would check online to see who won. I sad that we lost but I will say that it is a sweet loss when it is to a team that has not won it for as long as the Red Socks. Good for you and your hometown team.
Bill;
How long do you think it’s been since Boston took a World Series?
1903 Boston over Pittsburg (THE FIRST WORLD SERIES)
1912 Boston over New York Giants
1915 Boston over Philadelphia
1916 Boston over Brooklyn
1918 Boston over Chicago
2004 Boston over St. Louis
2007 Boston over Colorado
2013 Boston over St. Louis
The Boston Braves
1914 Boston over Philadelphia
i guess he meant clinched it at home.
Pete;
Where else but the oldest Ball Park in the Nation! If it wasn’t for Fenway Park I would have done better in School.
Paul do not know to much about baseball ( Rounders ).
Except in the US a tournament is played called the world series where all the teams are from the US.’
Bit strange to me normally if a tournament is a world tournament it is normally played between
different countries not teams based in the same country ?
Cricket is a very easy game to understand when you have a spare 10 years of your life i will explain the rules.
I would say on a world wide bases more people follow criket than rounders sorry base ball.
In India it is the number one sport by far and that is 1.1 billion for a start.
Regards to all.
Frank;
Canada has one team, vice the World Series!
I thought soccer(football in most countries) was the most followed sport? No? Yes?
As far as I know, yes, soccer is the most followed sport world-wide. I am not a follower, though.
John;
Thanks for the backup, If all that was on the TV was a Philippine Soap Opera or a Soccer game, I’d be watching the soap!
Paul – You’d watch the soap even if it stars Kris Aquino? 🙂
John,
I was glad when we got our cable hooked up because I was tired of watching Kris Aquino every morning lol.
Randy;
Some of the local channels crack me up, but with Willie off the air it a vast wasteland now!
John;
So Kris has put on an extra pound or two, but the answer is yes if it was her or soccer. Or watching paint dry!
Scott;
As I mentioned in the article yes soccer is the number one sport on Earth, but they have tried to shove it down America’s throat for years with no luck, as we won’t accept tie games. It’s a nice little game for girls in High School.
Yes,
thank goodness for baseball. I suppose it is the only sport where out of shape, overweight people can earn huge money for standing around 99% of the time. but for me usually a good meal and a ceiling fan can put me to sleep. don’t really need a baseball game. But for the people who like it congrats, if your team won.
But wait a minute………I’m overweight and out of shape. I can stand around and do nothing 99% of the time. Maybe I have a future in………………sorry I dozed off for a minute.
Dennis;
I understand as many people would rather play “TWISTER” than a good game of Chess. So sleep on through the ballgame as your Hot Dog will get cold and your beer will be warm when you wake up.
Plus I would love to see anyone from another sport Pass, kick, or free throw a ball over the top of the Green Monster at Fenway Park, Oh that takes a overweight guy with a bat hitting a ball that will fit in your hand coming at you at 98 MPH.
Paul,
From a Yankees fan, I have to hand it to the Red Sox – from last to FIRST!!
The Yankees suck now… Rooting for the Jets now…and kinda have my loyalty to the Knicks waning but my interest in the Brooklyn Nets (they now have the aging former Celts Pierce, Garnett, and Terry) is increasing…
Jon
Jon;
As I understand it the NEW YORK JETS play at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. And yet they are still called the New York Jets?
And all Yankee Fans were watching the Word Series on TV this year, We told you not to tear down Yankee Stadium!
meh the Cardinals are the team. Game 6 would not have been worth watching, so if you didn’t see it, not too worry, nothing much exciting missed 😉 And I did not see it.
Enjoy the plunge to the cella next year red-sux fans !! (sorry–heheheh)
Pete;
Wow are you looking for a job as a Talking Head on ESPN? To write that and then say you didn’t see the game was a tad redundant. (LOL)
That World Series victory was great and just what Boston needed after the Marathon Bombings.. It is really fantastic the way the Red Sox rallied around the people and the city. This championship this year could not have had a better team or city win it.
John;
You hit the nail dead on the head, it was a rally proclaiming “BOSTON STRONG” the city walked way stronger because of that win! Thanks for getting it!
Paul, maybe you can fill in the blanks here. During Nats home games, D.C. subway trains heading to the Nationals Park out in Southeast Washington and within the stadium itself, the huge crowd is composed of people from all walks of life. The crowd, however, is OVERWHELMINGLY white. The same must be true in all pro baseball stadiums across America. Not so in FedEx field, the home of Redskins football. To be sure, pre-game tailgaters (cookouts) abound at FedEx field, but the crowd is mixed, and beer and hotdogs taste the same as at Nationals. What is missing?
John;
I never thought of the mix at a ball game , except you would see me at a Baseball Game, but never at a Basketball Game,
After a re-reading of the above post, clarification is in order regarding my question, “What is missing?” It is an incomplete question that may have been misinterpreted as a result. I admit I goofed on this one big time. Lest it be misinterpreted, I am reconstructing the question to reflect what I had in mind when I first asked it. The question should have read, “What is missing IN BASEBALL as a sport that exists in football and basketball?”
John;
It is a different type of person who likes Baseball; I don’t crave constant action, a Baseball game moves at a slower pace with time to relax and enjoy your time. Albeit NFL does take 3.5 hours to play a one hour game, pretty much the same with Basketball though less time. I guess it’s why they have a vast selection of cars for sale, we each like something different.
Paul, as the legendary Coach Vince Lombardi said when he coached the Green Bay Packers during the glory days of Paul Hornung, Bart Starr, Fuzzy Thurston, Ray Nietschke, Boyd Dowler, et al, football is a “game of inches”. Perhaps more than anything, those 3 words encapsulates the whole allure and excitement of football for me. Imagine this scenario: Your team is behind by a touchdown and is stopped inches from the goalline. It’s now fourth and goal with 2 seconds on the clock. A field goal is not going to do it, you have to punch it in. For me, there aren’t that many breath-holding, nail-biting moments than that in many other sports.
Back when when I attended Monterey Union High School as a senior at 15, barely getting off the boat, so to speak (or, to be accurate, barely getting off of the Military Air Transport propeller plane that brought my entire family to America from Clark Field to Travis AFB), my class in Problems in Democracy was glued to a transistor radio during the world series games. We didn’t do anything in class but listened to the radio. I never understood then the fascination for baseball by Americans. I still don’t, but, as you said, different strokes for different folks. 🙂
John;
Bottom of the ninth, tie score, bases loaded with two outs. The count on the batter is 3 balls 2 strikes. The pitch is thrown at 98 MPH it flies to across home plate, then you hear the sound of an Ash wood bat connecting with a ball. The ball sails over the outfield wall for a Grand Slam Homerun, but you knew it when you heard the bat and ball connect, and the crowd goes wild!
That is why we love baseball!.
For all sports fans: I found this site shortly after arriving in the Philippines last month.
http://www.vipboxsports.me/
I haven’t missed a game yet!
John;
Thanks for that link, I’ll hang onto that.
Hi Paul,
I must confess that I almost never watch baseball or any other sport other than college football on TV but I DID watch, and enjoyed, Boston kicking-butt last week. You are lucky to have grown up near a ball park.
Richb;
Even the two games Boston lost, were good games. I’d cut class and take the MTA into Boston, and for $1.50 get into Fenway Park to see the game, the cheap seats were heaven to me!
(I’ll wait and see who got that)
Paul
You need to be informed that the win was down to me!!
It was due to me buying a BRS cap when I was in Korea earlier this year.
AJUK:
Than from the bottom of my heart I thank you! Don’t lose it we need you again next year.