With just
over a week in the books, Cardinal Nation is in near panic
mode.
It kind of
reminds you when the North and South stare at each other across the
border and everyone runs for cover. Only, this is about fans who
have vast second thoughts about a season that has not even gotten
to Mothers Day let alone Flag Day, which is when we really start to
play for keeps.
Then
again, what else would Cardinal fans have to grouse about? Just
when you thought the season was already over with the injury to
Adam Wainwright and the potential of Albert Pujols testing the free
agent market, we forgot one thing… we still have to play the
season. A season that has many questions well before the
aforementioned issues.
The lack
of offense has been a concern early although manager Tony Larussa
made it quite clear last week that it was way to early for that.
However, the lack of offense was quite a reminder of how the second
half of last season went hence the question. It was a question that
Tony was not in a mood to answer three different times as the third
time was the charm.
Back to
the team. Questions you ask? There are plenty to go around as we
speak. The closer is not closing with the regularity of last
season. The centerfielder, while good at the plate, has not made
anyone forget Flood, McGee, Lankford and Edmonds in the
field.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>As former Cardinal Andy Van Slkye put it earlier this week “ A twenty four year old Andy Van Slyke and Jim Edmonds would have made the plays in San Francisco that proved costly to the Cardinals.”
Van Slyke
is right but neither he or Edmonds are playing out there now and
that is the issue at hand, now not then. There are still some that
are trying to find their way in the early portion of the season and
I say welcome to the club. There are a lot of lost souls in the
majors right now; just ask the Boston Red Sox.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>For Cardinal Nation, I say take a chill pill and let’s see what happens before those of you at the barber shops and local watering holes and other parts pass judgement so soon. It’s a long season and there is time before we know if the early season is a matter of working it out or is what we have to look forward to for the duration.
“mso-spacerun: yes;”>
Flag Day
will tell you all you need to know about the Cardinals and the
season, not to mention a few more teams where their fans are ready
to run into the street with their hair on fire. There is something
about the Cardinals that brings the best and worse out of people in
St. Louis. Some are never happy unless there is something to grouse
about. In this case there is reasonable cause but not at the
avalanche pace that seems to come with one week of
play.
“font-family: Verdana;”>Kickin it Around… “font-family: Verdana;”>
Surely you
remember as a kid in school the age old game of kickball? Yes,
kickball. A game that’s played in every school yard in town during
and only during recess. As we turn back the hands of time to the
days when the first inkling of your athletic skill set was about to
be unveiled and it was discovered you are what you are, let us fast
forward to 2011 as kick ball for grown folk has returned only it
has a different kick if you pardon the pun.
Women’s
kick ball is alive and well in St. Louis as leagues and teams are
sprouting up in a number of areas. University City’s Heman Park
features one league that is making a name for itself for a variety
of reasons. They have an under the lights league that takes place
on Thursday nights that is drawing more than a little attention if
you know what I mean. Think about it. You have athletic women with
all their skills not to mention their kick ball ability.
Now,
before you go off and say kickball, think about it. While you may
not have played it in some years or should I say decades, do you
think you have what it takes to compete with the likes of the
Sweetkixx Kickball Association? No need to think long and hard as
you have nothing coming. My suggestion is to go out and check these
ladies out as they have a good time and you should to. It’s nice to
see the ladies out getting their grove on under different lights
having fun. Your support in this positive venture they have gotten
involved in would be greatly appreciated. One thing is for sure,
kick ball will never be the same. One game and you will know why.
Where was this when I was a kid?
“font-family: Verdana;”>
“font-family: Verdana;”>Bill White “font-family: Verdana;”>
In thirty
years of meeting and dealing with the icons of sports and
entertainment, few have been able to wow me. One person who I have
admired and respected since I was a kid continues not to disappoint
for what he has stood for. For those of you who have not heard of
the name Bill White, now may be the time to google him. The short
story is he was an all star first baseman who played on the 1964
World Champion Cardinal team.
He went on
to be the first African-American full-time baseball announcer for
the New York Yankees as well as being the first of his race to hold
the position of National League president. The list continues about
Bill White for so many reasons. Many of which can be found in his
book entitled “Uppity.” To talk with Bill and learn about all the
things he endured as a player makes you wonder how he survived,
especially in the racially charged city of St. Louis in the
sixties.
In my
opinon, Bill White had the second greatest impact on the game of
baseball behind Jackie Robinson. In some cases more. Before you
think I have jumped off the deep end, read the book. Yes, it’s all
true as many will attest to his impact even today in retirement. He
was a role model on many fronts. Fronts that are taken for granted
today by so many. Yes, Bill White was and still is the man. If you
want a good history lesson to where we are today, pick up the book.
It’s a good read and then make sure you pass it on to the young or
uninformed.
