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We met two-thirds of our children, all of whom live in Texas, at the lake house owned by my wife and her siblings at Denby Point on Lake Ouachita for the Labor Day weekend.
Molly, 25, flew in Friday night. Megan, 22, and John Bucy drove up Saturday evening.
John is Molly’s boyfriend, but he and Megan work together at John’s business, the Texas Charter Schools Academic and Athletic Association, based in Austin. They had to get the group’s flag football season off to a good start at events in San Antonio and Dallas.
Our son, Patrick, soon to be 28, and his girlfriend, Sarah Riley, were scheduled to come up Friday, but he was involved in a weather-related traffic accident on Interstate 20, west of Fort Worth on Wednesday night, so his car was knocked out of commission.
Sunday was a busy day on the lake, but Nancy took the youngsters out for some tubing. They were all tired and sunburned by the end of the day, but we did manage a trip into the Shangri-La Resort marina to have lunch and some if their wonderful pie. I had lemon meringue, Nancy had pumpkin with Cool Whip and John and Molly split a piece of peanut butter. Megan settled for the crust. It’s a treat by itself, too.
The kids headed for the “games of skill” available at Oaklawn Park after we all had naps and supper, while we older folks stayed home and watched a movie (in between sessions like this out on the deck to watch the lake get calm and quiet after a busy day).
Monday morning meant early up and out for the kids heading back to Texas. Then I went back to bed while Nancy watched Bogie and Bacall in “Key largo.” She took in “To Have or Have Not” starring those two on Saturday.
We finally cleaned up and loaded the car at a leisurely pace in the afternoon while we listened to the St. Louis Caqrdinals come back against the Milwaukee Brewers, winning 8-6 behind the grand slam home run by catcher Yadier Molina.
It was a nice drive back from a great weekend, but as is often the case, we were glad to be home.
I’m a St. Louis Cardinals fan. I always have been.
But having spent most of the last 20 years of the past century in Texas, I reached the point of making the Texas Rangers my “American League team.”
Sometimes I record the Rangers game to watch late at night after I watch the Cardinals game. Yes, I’ve enjoyed seeing Benton and the U of A’s Cliff Lee pitch since his trade from the Seattle Mariners 10 days ago. But the part I really enjoy is seeing Elvis Andrus play shortstop for the Rangers.
I first noticed him at Arkansas Travelers games when Andrus came through North Little Rock playing for the Rangers’ double-A affiliate, the Frisco RoughRiders, at Dickey-Stephens Park in 2008.
He was signed by the Atlanta Braves in 2005, but was one of five minor-league players sent to the Rangers for first baseman Mark Texiera and pitcher Ron Mahay on the major-league trade deadline July 31, 2007.
Andrus is not the finished product yet, but he is fearless and makes spectacular defensive plays that some players would not consider attempting. He continues to improve each year.
His first year in the minors, 2005, he posted a fielding average in the .920s, and gradually improved into the .940s by the time he played for Frisco. He had a .968 fielding percentage his rookie year with Texas in 2009, and so far this year is fielding at a .974 clip. And, he has hit a respectable .270 or so at the plate, stole 33 bases last year and has 24 to date this year.
The native of Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela, will not be 22 years old until Aug. 26.
My goodness I’m glad I didn’t threaten to hold my breath until the National League won the Major League Baseball All-Star Game again because 1996 was a long time ago and my face would be quite red by now.
Yes, the Nationals defeated the Americans 3-1 Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif., thanks to the bases-clearing double by the Atlanta Braves’ Brian McCann. I wasn’t happy when Phillies and National League manager Charlie Manuel pinch-hit McCann for Yadier Molina after only one at-bat by the Cardinals’ catcher (in which he produced a single), but it sure worked out later.
I liked it when sports writers used to call the teams representing the respective leagues the Nationals and the Americans. I don’t know why they quit, though I can probably blame it on the late Bowie Kuhn, whom I thought was the worst commissioner possible until Bud Selig showed me just how bad he could be — Exhibit A: the 2002 All-Star Game, which ended 2-2 after Selig let managers Joe Torre and Bob Brenly whine until he bought their excuse about not having any pitchers left and declared the game a 2-2 tie after 11 innings. He should have acted like a commissioner and said, “Boo hoo, boys. You should have thought about that instead of trying to win a popularity contest by playing everyone on your bench so early.” But I digress … I don’t suppose the powers-that-be would “allow” the team names of Nationals and Americans now because the Washington team nickname is Nationals.
Also, imagine my surprise when Marlon Byrd, the only Chicago Cubs player in the game, turned out to be the defensive star of the game by forcing out David “Big Papi” Ortiz with an alert throw to second from right field in the bottom of the ninth inning.
St. Louis Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright bowed his neck and worked out of a jam in the seventh inning after teammate Matt Holiday misplayed a line drive to left field into a double.
Way to go, guys. Let’s not wait another 14 years (2024?) before we win the next one, since idiot commissioner Selig has the winner receiving the home-field advantage for its league champion in the World Series in October.
One more thing … I’m sorry that George Steinbrenner died Tuesday morning, but you would have thought the longtime New York Yankees owner was Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox Sports, the way the Fox broadcasters went on about him. I didn’t even mind having a segment about what he meant to the Yankees, New York and even baseball during the pregame show. But Fox had to keep pounding us with it by breaking into play-by-play coverage during the game with interviews of various Yankees managers, players and former players. Enough is enough. We realize that New York is Fox’s biggest market, but the rest of us can’t stand the arrogant jerks — yes, even players I like are arrogant jerks when they play for the Yankees.
My daughter Molly just called to report that she and her boyfriend, John, are on the way to their first Rangers baseball game of the 2010 season. They live in Austin, Texas, and were north of Round Rock when she called.
There is nothing like that feeling of attending your first ballgame of the new season.
John is an avid Mavericks fan, but loves all sports. I told him that I expected more allegiance from him in regard to the Cardinals than I did to my favorite teams in other sports. He replied that the Cardinals were his second favorite major-league team. I told him that I could accept that.
A Razorbacks-Red Wolves-Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals) fan had to make do with the Cardinals’ Saturday night win to clinch the National League Central Division for any sports-based happiness.
The loss to Alabama just shows how far the University of Arkansas has to go in recruiting to compete in the Southeastern Conference. Bobby Petrino is a good coach. He’s not the problem. The Hogs were outmanned on both sides of the ball and have not yet mastered blocking and tackling to the extent that they can be successful in the SEC.
Arkansas State played well against a good Troy team, but couldn’t close the deal in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams. The Red Wolves rallied from a 23-10 deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but fumbled a punt late in the game that could have kept the ball from the Trojans when they scored their winning touchdown. Now the Wolves go to Iowa City on Saturday to face the Iowa Hawkeyes, fresh off their upset of Penn State.
St. Louis is now in that strange no-man’s-land of what to do to get ready for the playoffs after a team has clinched its spot. Yes, having the best record would help with home-field advantage, but lately the Cardinals have played better on the road. Do you rest the regulars for a few days to heal bumps and bruises, or do you take Monday’s day off and then play your regulars and their alternates to remain (or become) sharp for the playoffs that start Oct. 7?
Tony LaRussa will surprise fans in some way with his choices for the postseason first-round roster. He always does. But he has the Cardinals back in the playoffs after a two-year absence that followed the surprise 2006 world championship, so we’ll just have to trust him.
Mike Dougherty's Blog 