My wife and I elected to watch the final game of the World Series in a neighborhood sports bar. It just seemed like the right thing to do. This was a historic night (and yes…for the grammar police, it is A, not AN), and it was the kind of thing that should be shared with as many other baseball fans as possible. It’s like watching fireworks on the 4th of July (or perhaps Guy Fawkes Night in Blimey)…it is cool on your own, but FAR more fun when you can hear the collective “Ooooos” and “Ahhhhhs” from the crowd around you.
As is almost always the case in these situations, there was one guy, a rather largish guy, in a Cleveland jersey stretched tautly over his “pony keg abs,” who was loud, boisterous and hilarious (no doubt fueled by the three pitchers pf beer I watched him consume over the course of the game). When the Cubs went up by three in the middle of the game, he screamed, “I HATE this game!!!” When the Indians tied it up (twice) he screamed, “I LOVE THIS GAME!” Every close call, every strikeout, every change of sides all brought out a booming exclamation from this guy who was in a sea of Cubs fans. And we all LOVED it! We all groaned collectively at the rain delay, one voice unified by an interruption in what was to be one of the greatest Major League games in history. We were all there…as fans. Our camaraderie overcoming our differences.
I made a side comment to Deb, that if we were here watching election returns next Tuesday in the same bar, it was doubtful that everyone would have the same, jovial, “let bygones be bygones” attitudes.
And, then I thought about THIS place…and realized what a minor miracle it has been that even with prompting from the very game we all love, we have risen above the general fray of “Politicus Horribillus” to remain a community. We are open to all who seek TSTO knowledge, support, and entertainment… with no borders.
The TSTO writers have certainly done their best to stir the pot…and create division. But, we aren’t taking the bait!
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