No, I am not paying homage to late writer Tom Clancy’s blockbuster novel of the same title, but I am stepping up to the plate (pardon the pun) with a hardy congrats to the Washington Nationals, the Professor’s beloved baseball team. The ‘hunt’ for the ‘red’ did not evade them last night when they clinched the National League Pennant, and by that, have been invited to the dance, the coveted World Series!
Excitement was pervasive in my household last night. From the very first inning when the Nats pitcher, Patrick Corbin, struck out the first three players to bat – 1-2-3 YOU’RE OUT! Then taking their turn at bat in the bottom of the 1st, the super-charged Nats delivered a clean offensive outburst and scored an astounding 7 runs! And, this was just the beginning! The crowd was wild. And speaking of the crowd, the Professor and his friends were having a field-day spotting their doppelganger celebrities – I heard names shouted out like – Marilyn Monroe, Mickey Rooney, Gerald Ford, and Peter Falk! Wait a minute – I thought those people were dead – did they rise up to witness the magic of this most exciting game? Could be!
Most of you know the rest of the story here, the Nats went on to win the Pennant with a final scoreboard reading 7-4, even conquering the top of the 8th inning through a tense time with the St. Louis Cardinals at bat with the bases loaded.
You see, I probably know more about baseball than I ever let on, and that to some of you is shocking news as I am an openly declared non-sports fan. But I unabashedly admit, I got caught up in the excitement last night. I even left the living room during the high-strung 8th inning to go upstairs and turn on the Hallmark Channel which I superstitiously maintain to the Professor that by taking that action it ensures a Nationals win!
And, so now the Washington Nationals will DANCE. And not just in the dug-out, their dancing shoes are polished for the big gala! Congrats to this team that is deep in skill, and whose members all possess the heart it takes to deliver! This Franchise, whose last visit to the Fall Classic was in 1933, now know the joy and glee of a Pennant win. The wait has been long but their success is so sweet!
Political diatribe aside, this morning I am proud to be a native Washingtonian!!! Born and raised!