The Great Game

I love baseball. Funny, I didn't realize I did until around about 10 or 12 years ago. I think it took me that long to realize how much I wish I could make a living playing a boys game.

I played the game as a kid and was an average player. Had a good curve ball as a pitcher, but I couldn't hit. If I had access to Jobu from "Major League", maybe my bat would not have been so afraid. I switched to tennis in junior high and high school, but I still wished I had stayed with baseball. A little more sexy than tennis is because, "chicks dig the long ball". Thank you for clarifying that Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux. Softball came in to play during high school and that allowed us to live the dream once again. We played 12 months a year, went to tournaments on weekends and even won our league a few times. Those were some of my best days. During high school, we played a group of football meatheads that were in our class. They had put together a team after they learned we had formed one and that was it. Game on. Smack talk was intense and the inevitable game between the two of us finally happened. The competion was pretty tense and guess who got into a fight with one of the football jocks. Just think of Jim Rome talking about Softball Guy and this butthead comes to mind. He ran me over while I was playing catcher and blew kisses at me while we strolled back to the dugout. I in turn, put copious amounts of fear in him with my awesome put downs. "You suck" or "F you" always worked for me. Next inning, I laced a single to left center and he stood on first base and would not move. I proceeded to attempt to run him over like a freight train. Didn't work. At all. After a few swings, I had him right where I wanted.Then someone pulled him off of the top of me and seperated us. Well actually they pulled him from me. I'm screaming at him saying, "Let me go!" and "Let me at him!", while at the same time I'm whispering to the person holding me "Don't you dare let me go". Thank you so much for not letting me go. He would have killed me. Good times.

I tried to watch the Astro's, but they were always so crappy. The Lastros name fit them pretty much to a "t". Sure they had a few good years and even went to the Series, but they left me wanting more. I now can understand what it was like to be a Cubs fan or until recently, a Red Sox fan. When Susie and I moved to North Texas in 2000, I fell hard for the Rangers. I can't tell you why I did. I never followed them much in the 80's when I was in Stephenville going to college. They won the American League West in 1999, but never quite got back there while we lived in Sherman. When we moved to California, the Giants stole my heart. Although the A's were just across the bay, the Giants were on television a lot more and had the best play-by-play and color team in the game. Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow are the absolute best. I still crack up when I remember Mike Krukow saying what an ass Kurt Schilling is. His best one liner was when a hot bat would strike out and Krukow would say,"Grab some pine, meat". And to top it off, Jon Miller was the Giants radio voice. Sometimes the Giants would let little kids announce the batters. Susie and I still laugh about the high pitched voice of a 10 year old introducing " And now batting, Randy Winnnnnnnn". San Francisco baseball was the bomb. When we moved back to Texas, I hooked up with the Rangers again, but the Giants still tug at my heart strings. Imagine what my world was was like in the World Series last year.  Bittersweet to say the least. 

I had a boss who played during college, and I think that is where the envy really began. I had never personally known anyone who played at a higher level than a beer league, and I thought that was so great to be able to play for your school. Sure, I had a few associates or friends who had a brother that played or knew someone who knew someone that played more than once a week on Thursday nights. But to play at the college level? Damn, but that was too cool. I even had another boss that was drafted by the Phillies, but decided to go to college on a football scholarship. Pass up a chance to play with Mike Schmidt so you can get a payed in full, college education at a Big East school. What a dumb-ass.

Now I watch as many Rangers games on TV as I can. I try to watch the Astros when the Rangers are not on, but they make my head hurt. Susie bought us tickets to see a Rangers game last year, but we had to take out a second mortgage and I had to work evenings as a night club bouncer to pay for the outing. Very expensive, but it was worth it. I got to see Ian Kinsler hit a bomb to the right field seats and I had to be within at least 500 feet of Michael Young and Vladimar Guerrero. I imagined what it was like to be Jimmy Morris (Dennis Quade played him in "The Rookie") running on to the field in his first big league game. I still get a little tear in the eye thnking about that. I even bought a scoring book to keep score of the games when I watch them on the tube. Pretty baseball nerdy.

I still don't know what to think of the steroid era. The players that have gotten caught with a needle in their ass deserve to be caught. Roger Clemens and A-Rod are both arogant ass holes. Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire not so much, but still pretty stupid. I still can't believe that Rafael Palmeiro took them, but a random test doesn't lie. Andy Pettite faced up to his accusers and took his medicine, so to speak, but he still should have known what he was doing was wrong. I suppose some people say that these guys are just competitive, but if it gives you an unfair advantage, it's wrong. Pretty simple. How many dingers would Roger Maris have hit if he were on the juice? Hank Aaron? Harmon Killebrew? Am I wowing you yet with my baseball name dropping ability? Just play the game.

Susie reminded me little rant is not about life on the road as a salesman. The problem is that I do spend a lot of time in hotel rooms and bars watching the great game, so this does fall into my blog description. Mike Rhyner of The Ticket, 1310 AM in Dallas once said "Baseball is a talking game" and it cannot be communicated any better than that. I'm just talkin' baseball.

Tim

The First Foray

I guess I have wanted to write for several years now. I either never had the gumption to do it or I was telling myself I didn't have time. Also, I write a hell of a lot better than I speak. Sorry Stutterers Anonymous. Well, I found a few moments and away we go.

Susie and I have a friend that posts a blog (aviewfromtheporchrocker.blogsp​ot.com) and I guess I got hooked. What a great way to show your friends and others what you do and how you feel! As long as I don't cuss the boss, piss off Susie or tell off on someone I should be fine. We shall see.....

You are probably wondering just who is this guy and what is he all about. I'll start off by telling you a little about me. A little. There, that didn't take long. But seriously though, (Monty Python reference. Thanks Dink). I am a manufacture rep for a worldwide agricultural company and work 10 states in the central plains and mountain states. I have been an animal health sales rep for most of my adult career and have spent a lot of time on the road. Most of the time spent selling and working, but a good bit of time observing. I have met a bunch of great people over the years and I love listening to a good story. Boy,I have heard some whopppers over the years. I think I initially started this blog thing to tell those stories and a lot of it will be just that. But I also think observations, opinions and some such will be included in the mix.

I have a colorful family to say the least, and they give me endless subject matter. Nothing like stories about the last gathering to spice things up. I have also had the good fortune to work in several regions of Texas as a distributor rep and as a manufacture rep. Both ares have distinct cultures and attitudes. Susie and I were blessed to live in California for several years and that adventure gave me mucho fodder to observe and pass on to you  good folks. My current occupation gives me ten states to visit and a vast cultural stew to digest. Oh I almost forgot. Dogs. We have two absolute darlings (tongue firmly planted in cheek) that are our pride and joy. Sam, the misunderstood pit bull and Maizie, the queen bitch who still thinks she is bull of the woods. More on them later.

Thanks for beginning this journey with me. I hope I can amuse you like a clown, (Joe Pesci reference) and also force you to think about the little things in life. See you down the road.

Tim
July 24 2011