Thoughts on Boggs - Closing the Circle
Rick Umali
As we all know, the Yanks won the World Series. Game Four, discussed in
this newsgroup, was set up by Leyritz's three-run homer, but the
winning run was walked in by the Chicken Man himself: Wade Boggs. Here
in Boston, the walk was played up in two articles. Boggs seemed to be
getting "his due".
For the years since 1986, I have been interested in Boggs. A methodical
man, almost robotic at the plate, I grudgingly admired him. When he got
traded to the Yanks, I was secretly pleased, even though I am an
official Red Sox fan.
Despite sounding heretical, I rooted for the Yanks at the start of the
post-season, precisely for Wade Boggs. Over the playoffs, the LCS, and
this Series, Boggs has suffered at the plate. He said that he's
understanding of his role, and that he was content to play on the
fringes.
My feeling at seeing Wade Boggs win that World Series ring is one of
utter satisfaction: as if some loose end could finally be tied, as if
the epilogue could finally be written, as if the circle has come to a
close.
Watching him riding on that horse after tonight's game, looking so damn
silly (reminiscent of Clemens, Greenwell, Vaughn), I couldn't help but
cheer for him. Watching him emotionally clutch Wetteland after the
final out made my eyes well up. Watching him describe his feelings for
the field interview on ESPN ("My dad almost didn't come up, because he
thought he'd be bad luck. I said you've got to be here for the bitter
and the sweet.") made me almost cry (Boggsie was clearly in tears).
This winning feeling was what Boggs was after, especially after the
bitter pill of 1986. He's got it now, and I'm tremendously happy for
him!
--
Rick (r...@world.std.com) Umali Cambridge, Massachusetts
"I got the black cat bone and I got a mojo, too."
http://world.std.com/~rgu/tigerwoods/
Lisa Swan
r...@world.std.com (Rick Umali) wrote:
I felt the same way as you about Boggs about his World Series triumph
(I sobbed when hearing him talk about his parents). I've never been
much of a fan of him, mainly because I'm not crazy about men who cheat
on their wives. But no one was happier than him for winning the World
Series. Seeing such joy on his face really changed my opinion of him.
I liked that he didn't whine about being benched. I liked that he
rode on the horse even though he later said that he's deathly afraid
of horses and has only been on one once before in his life.
Appreciate your classy comments -- they mean a lot, especially coming
from a Red Sox fan!
Lisa Swan
Al Bundy
I was just wondering exactly how many things there were that happened
this season that made people wonder if this really was a Team of Destiny:
Here we go:
Joe Torre's brother Frank finally gets a heart transplant the day before
game 6 of the series. The heart is donated by a 28 year-old from the
Bronx
Torre's sister is just that--a Sister
Graeme Lloyd pitches the best 2 weeks of his life, after taking a lot of
crap, the likes of which were much worse than anything Charles Smith could
have ever had nightmares about.
Of course, there's the Andy Fox/White Sox game in which they came back
from 8-0 to win.
Coming back from a 6 run deficit to win game 4, when no Yankee team EVER
had ever come back from more than 4 down to win a series game
Jim Leyritz's deja-vu-all-over-again home run to tie game 6 at 6.
Deam Palmer throwing the ball away in the 12th inning against Texas (a
game I was at, FWIW)
Dwight Gooden's no-hitter
David Cone's almost no-hitter in his first start after a miracle return
from surgery to remove an aneurysm in his pitching arm just 3 months
before
Jimmy Key, who many thought might have been done from baseball for good
after last year, pitching the final game of the World Series just hours
after getting engaged to be married
Derek Jeter and the Rookie of the year award
Andy Pettitte and the Cy Young Award (which he'd better win), pitching the
best game of his life after getting absolutely abused just a few nights
before
12 year-old Jeff Maier reaching over the right field fence to deflect a
ball into the stands, which probably would have been caught by Tony
Tarasco.
Bernie Williams tying the post-season record for home runs (granted he had
one extra round to do it)
Darryl Strawberry, Cecil Fielder and Charlie Hayes: 3 people who were
playing baseball in the worst possible circumstances you could
imagine--joining together and contributing to win a World Series
title--something that none of the 3 thought would ever be possible in May
The Yanks winning every game that Kenny Rogers started in the post-season
Game 1 getting postponed by rain to one day later. . .Lou Gehrig's
birthday (it was Gehrig's right?)
did I leave any out?
-Jeff
phone---------> 212-853-5896
email---------> jp...@columbia.edu
"YANKEES WIN!!! THEEEEEEEEEEE YANKEES WIN!!!!
The New York Yankees have won the 1996 World Series!
They've surmounted every challenge. They've climbed every mountain."
-John Sterling, WABC Radio-New York
10/26/96 after the Yankees won the 1996 World Series
THRAK
Eric Scott Eisenberg (e...@umich.edu) wrote:
: On Sun, 27 Oct 1996, Al Bundy wrote:
: > The Yanks winning every game that Kenny Rogers started in the post-season
: >
: > Game 1 getting postponed by rain to one day later. . .Lou Gehrig's
: > birthday (it was Gehrig's right?)
: >
: > did I leave any out?
: >
: > -Jeff
: How about the Yankees winning every road game in the postseason and during
: the course of the entire year, sweeping road games against the other 3
: best teams in baseball: Baltimore, Cleveland, and Atlanta. I think it was
: Mantle's B-day, not Gehrig's.
:
Yep, it was Mantle's B-Day alright. Gehrig's B-Day was June 19th, 1903.
--
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Eric Scott Eisenberg
Lisa Swan
Al Bundy <jp...@columbia.edu> wrote:
>Here we go:
>Dwight Gooden's no-hitter
>The Yanks winning every game that Kenny Rogers started in the post-season
>Game 1 getting postponed by rain to one day later. . .Lou Gehrig's
>birthday (it was Gehrig's right?)
>did I leave any out?
>-Jeff
> phone---------> 212-853-5896
> email---------> jp...@columbia.edu
>"YANKEES WIN!!! THEEEEEEEEEEE YANKEES WIN!!!!
> The New York Yankees have won the 1996 World Series!
> They've surmounted every challenge. They've climbed every mountain."
> -John Sterling, WABC Radio-New York
> 10/26/96 after the Yankees won the 1996 World Series
How about Wade Boggs having the "eeriness", as he called it, of this
World Series work in his favor this time?
Or Don Zimmer, ex-BoSox manager, being on the right side for a change?
Or former Yankees Reggie Jackson, Willie Randolph, and Chris Chambliss
providing the connection from one WS team to the next? Say what you
will about George, he at least has a sense of perspective in keeping
Yankee greats involved with the team (do you hear that Ted Turner?)
What a great season!