All is right with the Baseball World: “Curses! Foiled Again!”

Unpublished, submitted to Fort Worth Star Telegram | October 17, 2003 | Tim Michael

[VRWCmember]

I started playing baseball when I was 5 and organized baseball when I was 7. My very first round of “catch” resulted in a broken pinky finger and a sprained “ring man”. I quickly learned the purpose of the glove. Some thirty-six years later I have come full circle – injured and playing 2nd base (on a men’s softball team). Along the journey I have enjoyed minor successes such as: little league all-star, high school relief pitcher, starting short stop on a small semi-pro league team, and a two day try-out with the Major League Scouting Bureau in 1983. My greatest achievement, however, is Little League coach in a small town in North Central Texas. I share this only to offer a baseline for my perspective as one who understands the game and it’s rich (and some not so rich) traditions.

Traditions. National Anthem, Hot Dogs, Beer, Sodas, Peanuts, Seventh inning stretch, Fireworks, high and tight fastballs, billy goat curses, bambino curses, cursing, brawling and bawling. There is the belief in the fandom that “forces” other than those of the organization, coaches, and players decide the outcome of a given game or series. Hogwash. It should be an insult to every athlete who ever trained and participated in an organized competition to believe such nonsense. The problem is that many players themselves believe it too. Mere puppets of the will of the baseball gods playing a role, not a game - anointed today only to have the “smite” button pushed tomorrow. Grow up.

In our age of “it’s not my fault” it’s uncanny that a young man named Steven (Bartman) would blame himself for another Cubs loss. Even stranger are the reality defying cries of those in agreement. Forget the subsequent walk, hit by Pudge, booted double play, and final meltdown of a team hell-bent on a self-fulfilling prophesy of “can’t win”. Maybe it was Dusty Baker’s fault for playing black players in cool weather. The entire Chicago Cubs fan-base needs group therapy. The curse of the billy goat has been replaced by the curse of the scapegoat. It was probably the fault of some young 10 year old who, during every game, would have a peanut butter and fried egg sandwich during the sixth inning but only when the 2nd batter would get 2 strikes on cloudy days. I’m sure he probably got his criteria mixed up and forgot until the 8th inning. We should find this lad and force feed him bananas for the next six months!

On to Boston. The display of Pedro Martinez on the mound pointing to his head says all I need to know about him and his team. Classless. The ump should have tossed him quicker than Pedro tossed Zimmer. If not, Grady Little should have set his butt on the pine and reminded him who was in charge. Unfortunately for Boston fans, Pedro has more authority than Grady, which is why he remained in game seven long after he should have been pulled. If a coach has to ask a player his permission to pull him, then said player’s ego will always win out. Pedro’s ego won twice, the Red Sox lost twice. If you’re looking for someone to blame, make it Pedro and Grady, not Harry Frazee. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, then a friend of mine had a wonderful suggestion: Trade the frozen head of Ted for the rights to Babe (should he rise from the grave). If that doesn’t work, then maybe Sox fans can join the Cubs’ fans in therapy.

There is also this unspoken presumption among the northeastern media elites that somehow Boston and/or Chicago are “due” a win because of their storied past and tragic history. I’m glad to see their opposition thought otherwise. You see, in this country you earn success, it’s not an entitlement. That is what makes this beloved game so special. The Florida Marlins and New York Yankees have earned the right to play for the title of “Champion”. Yes, all IS right with the baseball world. The two best teams in baseball are playing for the ring. I already know the winner – Marlins in 6. Why? Because they have the best record in baseball since May 23rd – my birthday. Coincidence? I think not. It’s a sign from the baseball gods that I was chosen prophet and they anointed champs. I’ve also decided not to change my jockeys until November. THAT should ensure victory!

[VRWCmember]

A friend of mine wrote this, and it's probably as good as any commentary you'll find on ESPN or Sports Illustrated. I doubt the Startlegram will publish it because of the subtle (or not so subtle) jab at Dusty Baker, so I thought I would share it here.

I hope you enjoy it too.

[VRWCmember]

This is NOT a ping list, but I noticed you commented on one of the cub threads and thought you might enjoy this column that a friend wrote. If you're not interested, simply ignore this post. There is no reason to reply or freepmail me asking to be added to or removed from the ping list because there isn't one.

[VRWCmember]

This is NOT a ping list, but I noticed you commented on one of the cub threads and thought you might enjoy this column that a friend wrote. If you're not interested, simply ignore this post. There is no reason to reply or freepmail me asking to be added to or removed from the ping list because there isn't one.

[bulldogs]

Great article. Thanks

[VRWCmember]

My favorite line was: "Maybe it was Dusty Baker’s fault for playing black players in cool weather."

[newgeezer]

Thanks for the ping. Your friend's analyses of the Cubs and Red Sox are both brilliant. They fit right in with the tagline I started using after the Red Sox manager gave the game away.

[Peace will be here soon]

This guy is absolutely no fun at all. One thing he fails to see, is the fact that the "curses" are a "traditional" part of the Cubs and Red Sox organizations. Like winning World Series Championships come with the Yankees, losing the big game comes with the Cubs and Red Sox. Whether you believe them or not, these curses are deeply rooted in the minds of almost every fan that cheers for either of these two unfortunate teams. The "curses" are not something the fans can ignore, they talk about them every year. They are part of the lore and history of these teams. The curses also provide comfort in the fact that in every year that goes by , and these teams don`t win a World Series Championship , the fans can look to this so called curse and find their teams reason for another failure , another year of misery and heartbreak. That in itself can be comforting to a dejected fan. A fan that year after year hopes, and sometimes prays, that his/her team will finally break the curse, the burden that has plagued their beloved team for generations. Ask any Cub`s or Red Sox fan , a true fan , if they believe in the "curse". They will not deny it, they accept it with a strange kind of love/hate relationship that only a Cubs or Red Sox fan could ever understand. As I watched the Cubs and Marlins series, I would have laid a good chunk of money down that the Cubs would finally make the big show, this was the year , I even made plans to go to Chicago for the World Series !! And then it happened............and after game 6 , I knew, I knew !!, it was over for the Cubs. The curse had reared its ugly head. Everyone has a right to believe what they want, but for a real baseball fan, a Cubs fan , or Red Sox fan, the curse is just a part of the game. It is part of baseball lore that lives on in the game. Without these "curses", baseball just wouldn`t be the same............................................... From a very grateful Cardinals fan. Go Cards !!!!!!

[CARDINALRULES]

Bump to read later.

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Glad the curses kicked in and I didn't have to get the voodoo dolls out.
I despise Dusty and Sosa....I was even rooting for the Braves...ugh.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Thanks for the ping!

Curses only effect losers.

[VRWCmember]

This guy is absolutely no fun at all.

I disagree. I think it is tremendous fun to make fun of losers that blame their losing ways on curses.

[Peace will be here soon]

"I disagree. I think it is tremendous fun to make fun of losers that blame their losing ways on curses."

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I am a Cardinals fan, they have won nine World Series Championships, only second in line behind the Yankees. Which are on their way to another as we speak ( Yankees by the way are number two on my list of favorite teams). I don`t root for losers, well, the St. Louis Blues might qualify , but we are talking about baseball, darn it ! The problem I have with all these " there`s no curse" people ( like you ), is that they have no imagination. They have no sense of baseball history. The curse is not just an excuse for a team losing, it for some ( but not me ), is a part of their teams legacy. It is no fun to be a loser, so why not give them a little pity. Let them have their curse, let them wallow in their own sorrow, year after year ...after year. Trying to tell someone there is no curse, when they darn well know there is, does not make them feel or look bad, it just lets them know you don`t understand what it is like to be cursed. Give them the comfort they deserve, let them have their curse. Because I don`t want it jumping over to my beloved team.

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Go Cardinals !! Yahooooooo !!!!! Cubs suck !!!!!!!!