I couldn't believe he said it out loud... he had a great excuse- the same one so many people use -Mickey Mantle. He'd been his baseball idol as an elemetary school kid and it's never quite rubbed off. Overall he's an overkill Dodger's fan- he and my dad have probably watched more Dodger games in their lives than time spent in church. With some of the teams and players the boys in blue have put on the field across the last decade, they should have been at the altar praying for 'dem bums.
But I could relate- Mickey was cool but it was the "Say Hey Kid," Willie Mays that turned my heart towards the Giants... and truth be told, I've found myself rooting for the Giants, usually in silence, and always from a distance, ever since. Not like a big fan, but like a kid who read The Willie Mays Story one too many times in 4th and 5th grade. Just seeing the old paper jacket brings back good memories.
The man was a star and lived out loud long before the world of "bling" began to dominate. Not to mention that watching he and Willie McCovey carry the team attack was a thing of beauty in the early years of the Dodgers/Giants rivalries.
I eventually became an Angels fan. Took tons of abuse from my brothers. Even hitting against "my" team, there was something of the "fall classic" in Boston's Manny Ramierez, finally coming through in the post season and hitting a walk off in the 9th at Fenway. It's the stuff that makes little kids that live a million miles from Boston start rooting for the Sox.
Found this video online- enjoy it. Sums up a bunch of my childhood dreams. While watching it I couldn't help but whisper a silent prayer: "God, help The Angels to sign Alex Rodriquez AND Barry Bonds for 2008." My brother and I could go to a game together and cheer from the heart. I'd pray for the Dodgers to get them both... but just the prospect of Barry Bonds in Dodger blue would probably rattle the universe. As long as he doesn't put on pin stripes!
blessings,
Eric
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