With our own two hands
Clap for a most generous WS act, a wise Yogi & young teams that keep trying
Ear ya go: 7 little kernels of joy from the world of sports…
⚾️ Quote
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo after DH Tommy Pham insisted Jace Peterson pinch-hit for him in Game 2 of the World Series:
“This was a moment where it was a teammate loving a teammate to give him an opportunity. He took what mattered most to him personally and said, it’s more about the team and my teammate at this moment.”
With Arizona up 7-1 late in Game 2, Pham had a chance to become the first player in history to go 5-for-5 in a World Series game. Instead, he sat so Peterson could play in the Fall Classic. It was the lone at-bat Peterson got in the series and the only World Series appearance the 33-year-old journeyman has made in his 10-year career.
⚾️ Story
It Ain’t Over
Written & directed by Sean Mullin
This touching, critically acclaimed documentary about Yogi Berra came to Netflix last week. Yogi gave us words of wisdom such as:
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
“Take it with a grin of salt.”
“The towels were so thick there I could hardly close my suitcase.”
“I never said most of the things I said.”
“It ain’t over till it’s over.”
The film reminds us what a lovable character he was, but also how that may have overshadowed his achievements: 3 MVPs, 10 World Series rings, and 18 All-Star appearances. It’s worth a look. As Yogi said, “You can observe a lot just by watching.”
🏀 Highlight
The veteran Suns led the young Spurs for 47 minutes and 58.8 seconds Monday in Phoenix. But it ain’t over till it’s over.
Check out Keldon Johnson’s try, try and try-again effort. With a minute to go, he guards Kevin Durant. But KD put the moves on, leaves Johnson tumbling in his wake, and flushes the ball to put Phoenix up five. San Antonio gets within one with 6.8 seconds left, and Phoenix inbounding the ball. Johnson again matches up with Durant and lunges to steal the in-bounds pass to KD. Johnson winds up empty-handed several feet out of bounds. But he immediately gets back in the play, comes up behind an unsuspecting Durant, takes the ball away and drives to the hoop for the go-ahead bucket.
⚾️ Stat
11-0: road record for Texas Rangers this postseason, setting a new MLB record for consecutive postseason road wins
Unexpected journeys can yield the greatest joys. The Rangers went 2-0 in Tampa, 2-0 in Baltimore, 4-0 in Houston, and 3-0 in Arizona on their road to winning the World Series.
A number of other World Series & postseason achievements:
1: World Series championships in the 63-year franchise history of the Texas Rangers / Washington Senators
2: World Series MVP honors for Corey Seager, joining Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson as the only who played so nice they won it twice
4: World Series championships for Rangers manager Bruce Bochy. Only Joe McCarthy (7), Casey Stengel (7) & Connie Mack (5) have more.
5-0: record of Ranger’s pitcher Nathan Eovaldi this postseason, joining Stephen Strasburg (2019) as the only in history to win five without a loss in a postseason
20: Diamondback Ketel Marte’s record postseason hit streak, which ended in Game 7 as he walked 3 times.
🏈 Groaner
What did Arizona fans yell Saturday night after the Wildcats turned away a third straight ranked opponent?
“Go Fisch!”
In his third season, coach Jedd Fisch has fans fired up in Tucson. In 2021, Fisch’s first season, the Wildcats went 1-11. Last year 5-7. This year 6-3 so far. It has not been easy.
The Cats have played 5 straight ranked teams.
Sep 30: #7 Washington — lost by 7
Oct 7: #9 Southern Cal — lost by 2
Oct 14: #19 Washington State — won by 38
Oct 28: #11 Oregon State — won by 3
Nov 4: #20 UCLA — won by 17
“It was as good of a game as I’ve been a part of here,” Fisch said after beating UCLA. “I've said that now a few weeks in a row and I think that's what makes it cool. That we can keep saying that we’re getting better. We’re not content with where we are. Our goal is to be better next Saturday in Boulder than we were tonight.”
Could a ranking of their own be in the cards for the Cats? Coach is not Fisching for that, just getting a little better each week.
⚾️ Song
With My Own Two Hands by Ben Harper
With his foundation ALL RISE, Aaron Judge inspires young people “to be the next leaders of this generation and great citizens.” For this, Judge won the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award Monday.
In Judge’s and Clemente’s honor, we give you Ben Harper’s 2002 reggae-blues single, With My Own Two Hands. They all show us we can make the world a little better — with our own two hands.
🏀 Trivia
Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight died Wednesday at age 83. How did he say he wanted to be buried?
By Digger Phelps
In shining armor
Upside down
With a chair
On the issue of his burial, Knight waxed poetic, announcing to an Indiana crowd on Senior Day in 1994:
“When my time on Earth is gone and my activities here are past, I want they bury me upside down and my critics can kiss my ass.”
Maybe he could have heeded a critic now and again, but the crusty coach did give us a Knight to remember.
Aw, shucks. That’s it for this week. May we all rise this week by sacrificing for someone else, trying to get just a little better, and remembering it ain’t over till it’s over and they bury us upside down. Cheers!