THINGS LOOKING UP ON THE WEST COAST
Despite being a rural Ontario sports fanatic, I have never cheered for any of the Toronto teams -- and I think this has served my health quite well. In all honesty though, I have a special place for the Toronto Raptors, but I don't know why. Serious. Perhaps it's genetic.
Thus, while I may rant-and-rave once in awhile about the Jays, my heart-and-soul belong to the Seattle Mariners. I can remember sitting in my bedroom, with a hunter-green cieling and Mariner-teal (Northwest green apparently) on the walls (no wonder that house is still on the market), a Ken Griffey poster on three walls, and Edgar Martinez one on the other, with box scores of all their games on the floor. I still remember -- nostalgically -- the '95 dream season where all seemed lost. Griffey out early and 13 games out in mid-August. However, an unbelievable run to end the season gave Seattle a tie with the Angels. The ensuing tie-breaker was a laugher, with the Mariners winning 9-1, and clinching their first ever post-season birth.
And their opponents in that historic series: Evil Empire 1. And with the Mariners down 2-0, I still wore my hat and Griffey jersey to school everyday (luckily my girlfriend at the time had a sense of humour -- and did not attend the same school), and was riddiculed to no end. Nonetheless, my one small victory in those five years came via "The Double." Oh Edgar, how you saved me! I still remember Griffey turning third, and me, a hefty 15 year old, jumping off the bed with a thud, screaming "don't pull a hamstring!" And when he slid in and jumped, I jumped right along with him!
And since then, the Mariners have had some up and down times -- and little post-season success. Despite a 116 win season in 2001, the Mariners fell to the Yanks in the ALCS, 4-1, and I still have never heard the end of it from those from the centre of the universe.
And despite some recent hardships, the Mariners seem to have something to look forward to. Ichiru is still 2nd in batting average, and first in hits while second-baseman Jose Lopez is in the top-ten in RBI in the American League. On the mound, Jamie Moyer is doing all that a man of his age can do, while Felix Hernandez is piling on the strikeouts (fourth in the AL). And if Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre start to earn their pay-cheques, the Mariners could turn in some solid baseball.
After this past-weekend's sweep of the Angels, and the start of a six-game homestand tonight, perhaps I can break out the jersey and hold my head up high.
Besides, it could be worse; I could be a Royals fan.
Finally, give props to the team of one-namers for starting with a win. Has anyone noticed that Ronaldo looks fat?
Thus, while I may rant-and-rave once in awhile about the Jays, my heart-and-soul belong to the Seattle Mariners. I can remember sitting in my bedroom, with a hunter-green cieling and Mariner-teal (Northwest green apparently) on the walls (no wonder that house is still on the market), a Ken Griffey poster on three walls, and Edgar Martinez one on the other, with box scores of all their games on the floor. I still remember -- nostalgically -- the '95 dream season where all seemed lost. Griffey out early and 13 games out in mid-August. However, an unbelievable run to end the season gave Seattle a tie with the Angels. The ensuing tie-breaker was a laugher, with the Mariners winning 9-1, and clinching their first ever post-season birth.
And their opponents in that historic series: Evil Empire 1. And with the Mariners down 2-0, I still wore my hat and Griffey jersey to school everyday (luckily my girlfriend at the time had a sense of humour -- and did not attend the same school), and was riddiculed to no end. Nonetheless, my one small victory in those five years came via "The Double." Oh Edgar, how you saved me! I still remember Griffey turning third, and me, a hefty 15 year old, jumping off the bed with a thud, screaming "don't pull a hamstring!" And when he slid in and jumped, I jumped right along with him!
And since then, the Mariners have had some up and down times -- and little post-season success. Despite a 116 win season in 2001, the Mariners fell to the Yanks in the ALCS, 4-1, and I still have never heard the end of it from those from the centre of the universe.
And despite some recent hardships, the Mariners seem to have something to look forward to. Ichiru is still 2nd in batting average, and first in hits while second-baseman Jose Lopez is in the top-ten in RBI in the American League. On the mound, Jamie Moyer is doing all that a man of his age can do, while Felix Hernandez is piling on the strikeouts (fourth in the AL). And if Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre start to earn their pay-cheques, the Mariners could turn in some solid baseball.
After this past-weekend's sweep of the Angels, and the start of a six-game homestand tonight, perhaps I can break out the jersey and hold my head up high.
Besides, it could be worse; I could be a Royals fan.
Finally, give props to the team of one-namers for starting with a win. Has anyone noticed that Ronaldo looks fat?
posted by Pattington at 10:37 p.m.
2 Comments:
I can't imagine what it must be like to be a Royals fan- that is true fanship. Whenever I start to feel down on my teams, I remember that at least it isn't as bad as the Royals situation. How difficult and sucky that must be.
Any team which beat out the Jays in the '80s must be cursed -- the Tigers have been largely terrible since '87, until this year.
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