tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832663229528887512024-03-18T05:15:29.935-05:00Thoughts from the StandsFocusing on a variety of sports.Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.comBlogger400125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-12669901475349234222023-05-28T00:44:00.000-05:002023-05-28T01:42:21.411-05:00Indy 500: The field of 33 in 2023 <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cJWeTuvqJPJtbWBoAEX3w6953Imqg-HTCzDjBqqQ2lM1R7Wc-NF4wgdmQBLCCahF8Xx8nIiNbWOhd_pn4ivMo1daQb5aZWM76UvfRh5yfvd1eqX1Bp0Kzje8RTVAdaHg0s-Q2wF4dS7jF_qqqkfRMnmhLrqT21gDly9toiUfNAk5lirAVo8NXPCT/s720/40974_600765574212_4709467_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cJWeTuvqJPJtbWBoAEX3w6953Imqg-HTCzDjBqqQ2lM1R7Wc-NF4wgdmQBLCCahF8Xx8nIiNbWOhd_pn4ivMo1daQb5aZWM76UvfRh5yfvd1eqX1Bp0Kzje8RTVAdaHg0s-Q2wF4dS7jF_qqqkfRMnmhLrqT21gDly9toiUfNAk5lirAVo8NXPCT/s320/40974_600765574212_4709467_n.jpg" width="320"></a></div>It's just about time for the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500. <p></p><p>Pay attention to the drivers in the first two rows. Indy 500 winners have started in spots 1-6 61% of the time. The winner has come out of the front row 45 times, including 2018-20. Twenty times the win started from row two, including defending champion Marcus Ericsson. In five of the past six Indy 500s, the winner has started from the first two rows.</p><p>Alex Palou is the polesitter and looks to be the 22nd winner from pole. The last driver to win from the pole was Simon Pagenaud in 2019.</p><p>It's very, very difficult to win from the back of the field, which is from the captain obvious department. No driver has ever won from the last row. Winning from rows 8-10? That hasn't happened since the 1930s. Johnny Rutherford is a bit of a standout, finding victory from row 9 back in 1974. </p><p>No driver has ever won the Indy 500 starting from positions 18, 23, 24, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. So, best of luck to Ryan Hunter-Reay, David Malukas, Marco Andretti, Agustin Canapino, Katherine Legge, Christian Lundgaard, Sting Ray Robb, Jack Harvey and Graham Rahal as they try to make history. Marco and Lundgaard started in these non-winning positions last year, too. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Tr5f6UJH_tR4vc6iwR3QMQCUoqfYoS4jyqw6ew8wGMbfnqz9dQQqIDMyLIHntMeL3LFCe2Z9GhqqFm1fyOB5O2NpJzfphfoKTvsT4OeEqfEWoxvAy6MFUhh2Y3j9uCvOUmWeQBbU-HSfBR1oLm53n7wOY4Cex9KgBqYsVkcSNKit8MDMMPM-sVCh/s4096/Polish_20230527_120748135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="4096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Tr5f6UJH_tR4vc6iwR3QMQCUoqfYoS4jyqw6ew8wGMbfnqz9dQQqIDMyLIHntMeL3LFCe2Z9GhqqFm1fyOB5O2NpJzfphfoKTvsT4OeEqfEWoxvAy6MFUhh2Y3j9uCvOUmWeQBbU-HSfBR1oLm53n7wOY4Cex9KgBqYsVkcSNKit8MDMMPM-sVCh/s320/Polish_20230527_120748135.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with Katherine Legge in 2006.</td></tr></tbody></table>Nine past Indy 500 champions are in the field, with all three drivers in row three (Alexander Rossi, Takuma Sato and Tony Kanaan) being past champions. Kanaan and Helio Castroneves, who's looking to be the only driver to win five Indy 500s, could be the oldest Indy 500 champion should either win this year. Al Unser Sr. was 47 years and 360 days old when he won his fourth Indy 500 in 1987.<p></p><p></p>Last year's race marked the second time in three years without a female driver. But Katherine Legge is back for the first time in a decade (though she's still been racing in other series), holding the torch for the women.<p></p><p>Through five races so far this IndyCar season, there have been no repeat winners. Should Marcus Ericsson, Josef Newgarden, Kyle Kirkwood, Scott McLaughlin or Alex Palou win this Sunday, he would be the first multi-winner of the 2023 season. </p><p><b>Row 1 </b></p><p><b>Alex Palou - No. 10 The American Legion car</b><br>Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 234.217mph </p><p>The Spaniard started second last year but finished ninth after a runner-up finish in the 2021 Indy 500 following a late pass from Helio Castroneves. Palou is the series points leader this season, having won the Indy Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course earlier this month. He'll attempt to sweep the month with the pole/wins at both Indy races.</p><p><b>Rinus VeeKay - No. 21 Bitnile.com car<br></b>Team: Ed Carpenter Racing<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 234.211 mph </p><p>VeeKay starts in a familiar spot, the middle of the front row where he took the green flag last year. It's a regular occurrence for him, with three consecutive front-row starts at the Indy 500. He's started fourth, third, second and now second again in this race but hasn't finished higher than eighth place (2021).</p><p>He'll most likely do better this year after coming in last place with contact 38 laps in. </p><p><b>Felix Rosenqvist - No. 6 Arrow McLaren car<br></b>Team: Arrow McLaren<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 234.114 mph<br></p><p>He went to the top of the leaderboard on the first day of qualifying to lead the Fast 12 group. Rosenqvist will look to make it back-to-back Indy 500 wins for Swedish-born drivers should he make it to victory lane. </p><p><b>Row 2</b></p><p><b>Santino Ferrucci - No. 14 Homes For Our Troops car<br></b>Team: A.J. Foyt Enterprises<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 233.661 mph </p><p>This is Ferrucci's best starting spot in his fifth Indy 500 race; before this year he started no better than 15th. Despite that, he's turned in four top-10 finishes for the big race. Ferrucci finished 10th last year, sixth in 2021, fourth in 2020 and seventh for Rookie of the Year honors in 2019. </p><p><b>Pato O'Ward - No. 5 Arrow McLaren car<br></b>Team: Arrow McLaren<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 233.158 mph </p><p>He finished second to Ericsson last year at Indy, though second place at Indy isn't much to celebrate for drivers. There's no podium; it's all about the Indy 500 champion. Pato doesn't have a win or pole to his name yet this season, but he's second in points, only six behind Palou, with a consistent run so far. </p><p>The 2020 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year finished sixth, followed by his fourth and second-place finishes. Qualifying in row two, O'Ward has put himself in a great position once again to race for the win. </p><p><b>Scott Dixon - No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing<br></b>Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 233.151 mph<br>Indy 500 wins: 2008</p><p>The six-time IndyCar Series champion won his fifth Indy 500 pole last year and ran a great race. It looked like he was going to finally win that elusive second Indy 500. But he was caught for a speed violation coming into pit lane which shuffled him back in the field and effectively ended his chances at victory. </p><p>He's led 665 laps in his 20 Indy 500 starts, the most of any driver in the race's history. </p><p><b>Row 3</b></p><p><b>Alexander Rossi - No. 7 Arrow McLaren car<br></b>Team: Arrow McLaren<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 233.110 mph<br>Indy 500 wins: 2016</p><p>It's a fresh start for Rossi this season with his new team, Arrow McLaren, which has been one of the fastest teams this month. Rossi would love to turn that page with his second Indy 500 victory. He famously won the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2016. </p><p><b>Takuma Sato - No. 11 Deloitte car<br></b>Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 233.098 mph<br>Indy 500 wins: 2017, 2020</p><p>Of the nine past Indy 500 champions in this field, Sato is one of two who has won the race multiple times. He's turned in fast practice times, and qualifying times, the past couple of weeks. If you believe in number patterns, perhaps this is his year to win again, three years in between wins. He's only racing the ovals this season and is no longer a full-time driver in the series.</p><p><b>Tony Kanaan - No. 66 Arrow McLaren car<br></b>Team: Arrow McLaren<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 233.076 mph<br>Indy 500 wins: 2012</p><p>One of the biggest fan favorites in the field, this year especially. The 48-year-old will strap in for his final Indy 500 and his final auto race this Sunday. He's started 21 Indy 500 races, with plenty of heartbreak before finally getting his emotional win in 2012. He's qualified well enough to be in the mix for his swan song.</p><p><b>Row 4</b></p><p><b>Marcus Ericsson - No. 8 Huski Ice Spritz car<br></b>Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 232.889 mph<br>Indy 500 wins: 2022</p><p>Ericsson put himself down in racing history last year when he became an Indy 500 champion, representing his home country of Sweden. He started fifth last year, so he'll have to work his way up a bit more than last year. He already has a win under his belt this season, taking the season-opener in St. Pete.</p><p>He'll look to be the sixth driver, and first since Castroneves in 2001-02, to win back-to-back Indy 500s. </p><p><b>Benjamin Pedersen - No. 55 AJ FOYT RACING/SEXTON PROPERTIES car<br></b>Team: A.J. Foyt Enterprises<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 232.671 mph </p><p>One of four rookies in the field, Pedersen got people to notice when he qualified into the Fast 12 with a chance to vie for the pole. He's part of the legendary A.J. Foyt team and is the highest-starting rookie.</p><p><b>Will Power - No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car<br></b>Team: Team Penske<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 232.635 mph<br>Indy 500 wins: 2018</p><p>Power was the only Penske car to make the Fast 12 in qualifying, as some of the team's struggles for the big races over the past few years continue. </p><p><b>Row 5</b></p><p><b>Ed Carpenter - No. 33 Bitnile.com car<br></b>Team: Ed Carpenter Racing<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 232.689 mph </p><p>A true hometown boy, Carpenter mostly focuses on running his race team. But the Indy 500 bug still bites him to run the oval each year. He started fourth the past couple of years, and has been a polesitter in the past. He finished 19th last year. </p><p><b>Scott McLaughlin - No. 3 - Pennzoil Team Penske car<br></b>Team: Team Penske<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 232.677 mph </p><p>The 2021 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year followed that up with three race victories in a solid 2022 season. But in last year's Indy 500, he crashed in turn four in the latter stages of the race for a disappointing 29th-place finish.</p><p>McLaughlin is fifth in points this season with a race win under his belt. </p><p><b>Kyle Kirkwood - No. 27 AutoNation car<br></b>Team: Andretti Autosport<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 232.662 mph </p><p>As a rookie last year, he started 28th but finished 17th racing with A.J. Foyt's team. He already won with his new team this year, taking the checkered flag first on the street course in Long Beach.</p><p><b>Row 6</b></p><p><b>Conor Daly - No. 20 Bitnile.com car<br></b>Team: Ed Carpenter Racing<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 232.433 mph </p><p>The Noblesville, Ind. native is a local favorite in the race. He led a race-high 40 laps in 2021 when he finished 13th, to the delight of the crowd.</p><p><b>Josef Newgarden - No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske car<br></b>Team: Team Penske<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 232.402 mph </p><p>Newgarden has a race win this year as he looks for that elusive Indy 500 victory he's seen other Penske teammates celebrate. He's a two-time IndyCar Series champion with 26 victories to his name and 16 poles. </p><p><b>Ryan Hunter-Reay - No. 23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing car<br></b>Team: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 232.133 mph<br>Indy 500 wins: 2014</p><p>It's good to see the veteran back in IndyCar even though he doesn't have a full-time ride in the series. He starts in 18th, and when he won in 2014, he started in 19th. </p><p>If you believe in Florida karma, his favorite hockey team is the Florida Panthers, which are on an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final. </p><p><b>Row 7</b></p><p><b>Romain Grosjean - No. 28 DHL car<br></b>Team: Andretti Autosport<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 231.997 mph </p><p>The F1 veteran is back and doing alright in the IndyCar Series for his second season. He crashed in turn two a little more than 100 laps into the race last year, ending his day early. He ranks fourth in series points this year with two poles already, two top-five finishes and two top-10s.</p><p><b>Helio Castroneves - No. 06 AutoNation SiriusXM car<br></b>Team: Meyer Shank Racing<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 231.954 mph<br>Indy 500 wins: 2001, 2002, 2009, 2021</p><p>The four-time winner in the field with his second shot at a "drive for five." He finished seventh last year after starting near the back of the field. He's a veteran in the field in terms or races, Indy 500 wins and age (48). No driver has won five Indy 500s. A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears have all won four of them. </p><p>This will be Helio's 23rd start in the race.</p><p><b>Colton Herta - No. 26 Gainbridge car<br></b>Team: Andretti Autosport w/Curb-Agajanian<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 231.951 mph </p><p><b>Row 8</b></p><p><b>Simon Pagenaud - No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM car<br></b>Team: Meyer Shank Racing<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 231.878 mph<br>Indy 500 wins: 2019</p><p>Pagneaud is in his second season with Meyer Shank following a successful run with Team Penske. He's won 15 IndyCar races, plus a series championship, but he's yet to win with Meyer Shank. His last race win came at Iowa in 2020.</p><p> He'll start his 12th Indy 500 hoping for a repeat of 2019's result. </p><p><b>David Malukas - No. 18 HMD Trucking car<br></b>Team: Dale Coyne Racing with HMD<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 231.769 mph </p><p>He finished 16th as the youngest driver in the field last year at 20 years old. </p><p><b>Marco Andretti - No. 98 KULR/Curb</b><b> car</b></p><p>Team: Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 231.682 mph </p><p>For the third season, Marco isn't in the series full-time and comes back to run the Indy 500 as a one-off opportunity, in hopes of driving a car to victory in the race for only the second time in his storied family's history. His grandfather, Mario Andretti, won once in 1969. Marco's father and Andretti Autosport team owner, Michael, never won the race despite several close calls. Marco nearly had the victory as a rookie in 2006 before Sam Hornish Jr. beat him out at the line. </p><p>He didn't hide his disappointment in TV interviews on qualifying day as his team just didn't have the speed. He used the word "embarrassing." </p><p>No driver has ever won from the 24th position. </p><p><b>Row 9</b></p><p><b>Devlin DeFrancesco - No. 29 Sodexo car<br></b>Team: Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 231.353 mph </p><p>He started 20th and finished 24th in last year's race as a rookie. </p><p><b>Agustin Canapino - No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing car<br></b>Team: Juncos Holinger Racing<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 231.320 mph </p><p>He's a rookie to IndyCar and the Indy 500, but he's won 15 national championships in Argentina in various series. </p><p><b>Callum Ilott - No. 77 Juncos Holinger Racing car<br></b>Team: Juncos Holinger Racing<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 231.182 mph </p><p>A rookie last year, he was out of the race early with contact. He's also starting a couple of rows back this year. </p><p><b>Row 10</b></p><p><b>RC Enerson - No. 50 Abel Motorsports car<br></b>Team: Abel Motorsports<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 231.129 mph </p><p>Another rookie in the field, Enerson is one of three Floridians in the race (along with Kirkwood and Hunter-Reay). </p><p><b>Katherine Legge - No. 44 Hendrickson car<br></b>Team: Rahl Letterman Lanigan Racing<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 231.070 mph</p><p>Legge is back in the race for the first time since 2013 and the lone female driver in the race. With her qualifying run, she's the fastest woman to ever drive at Indy Motor Speedway. Only nine women have raced in the Indy 500. <br><br><b>Christian Lundgaard - No. 45 Hy-Vee car<br></b>Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 229.649 mph</p><p>From Denmark, he's 21 and would be one of the youngest Indy 500 winners in the history of the race. He ranks ninth in season points with one pole, one top-five finish and three top-10s this season. </p><p><b>Row 11</b></p><p><b>Sting Ray Robb - No. 51 biohaven car<br></b>Team: Dale Coyne Racing with RWR<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 229.549 mph</p><p>The rookie who's furthest back in the field will make some lists of unique names in the history of Indy 500 drivers. The 21-year-old would be one of the youngest Indy 500 winners should he succeed.<br><br><b>Jack Harvey - No. 30 PeopleReady car<br></b>Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing<br>Engine: Honda<br>Qualifying speed: 229.166 mph</p><p>Harvey is still looking for his first IndyCar victory, and he'll make a lot of history if he does it here. </p><p><b>Graham Rahal - No. 24 DRR Cusick CareKeepers car<br></b>Team: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing<br>Engine: Chevrolet<br>Qualifying speed: 231.648 mph</p><p>It was heartbreak for Rahal when his teammate Jack Harvey bumped him from the field with one final qualifying run. Thirty years after his father (and now team owner), Bobby Rahal, was bumped from the race, Graham ended the day with his head in his hands thinking he wouldn't be in the race. </p><p>But a practice crash between Legge and Stefan Wilson earlier this week left Wilson with a back injury and out of the race. Relationships between Graham and Wilson, plus the team, are tight, and Graham was selected to drive in Wilson's place. Wilson qualified the No. 24 car in row 9, but the driver change puts Graham at the back.</p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-34245823338322474492022-05-27T23:29:00.001-05:002022-05-27T23:29:11.755-05:00Helio Castroneves... 3-time Indy 500 winner?<p>Helio Castroneves won his third Indianapolis 500 in 2021. </p><p>If you read that and think there's an error in the sentence, let me explain. The 2002 Indy 500 was swirled in controversy at the end of the race. It's recorded in history as Castroneves' second Indy 500 victory, adding to his list of 2001 and eventually 2009 and 2021 to make him the fourth four-time champion of the historic race. </p><p>With a race that's now 20 years ago - and still during the era of the head-shaking IRL/CART split - it's a safe bet that there are plenty of racing and Indy 500 fans that don't even know about this controversy. That is, when Paul Tracy maintains he passed Castroneves in the closing laps just before the yellow track lights came on signifying a caution for a crash on another part of the track. </p><p>Watching the race footage, Tracy passes Castroneves, then we get a track-side angle of a crash on another part of the track, bringing out the caution flag. Since the crash happened on the last lap, the race would then finish under caution. Which is why you can hear Tracy ecstatic on his radio screaming "Yeah baby!" in celebration of what he thought was his first Indianapolis 500 victory. </p><p>But no sooner had viewers seen and heard that did broadcaster Paul Page inform us all that scoring would go back to the previous lap, meaning Castroneves would take the victory. Sure enough, Castroneves and his team did the traditional fence-climb while Tracy was left mystified as to how his pass didn't stick. </p><p>While Castroneves drank the celebratory milk, Tracy and Team Green weren't done with the outcome and looked into it further. </p><p>By July, the <a href="https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2110841/irl-president-upholds-castroneves-indy-500-victory-denies-final-appeal-team-green/" target="_blank">Team Green appeal was denied</a> and the Castroneves victory held up for the final time. The decision rested with Tony George, president and CEO of the IRL at the time, and the man many racing fans still are upset with all these years later because of The Split. For my Minnesota hockey friends, think of Tony George in the same vein as the name Norm Green. </p><p>Anyway, the official decision for the 2002 race was 11 pages long and referenced the placement of the field following the incident on lap 199. It was called "a judgment call and is not protestable nor appealable under the Rule Book." </p><p>That's about what Tracy said years later when ABC aired a sit-down interview with Tracy and pit reporter Jack Arute, that the "appeal was not appealable," Tracy said at the time. And that was after Team Green spent about $150,000 in legal fees. </p><p>Basically, George confirmed the decision by IRL officials that it was the correct call to place Castroneves' car ahead of Tracy on that final lap after the caution period started, also indicating that there's a lot of evidence to support that. Tracy thinks otherwise, based on all the camera angles, and so do a lot of fans, no doubt. </p><p>But under Rule 11.2 of the 2002 Indy Racing League rules, such decisions about whether a car passed another during a yellow flag involving the judgment of race officials "may not be protested or appealed and the decision of the officials is final and binding." </p><p>So according to the official information, Castroneves was the one leading Tracy at the time that race control called for the yellow flag via radio. Team Green's side of things is that Tracy made the pass before the track lights turned yellow signaling the caution period. Team Penske, on the other hand, said Castroneves was ahead when the caution came and then immediately slowed when it came out. </p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P_NXLjvD6j0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><p>When Castroneves won his "fourth" Indy 500 in 2021, there was much fanfare and celebrating on the front stretch as dozens of drivers, crew members, opposing crew members, and living legends like Mario Andretti congratulated Castroneves on joining the four-timers club. The cameras just followed him around for a while, basically. </p><p>But when the microphone for NBC finally made it to him, the emotional Castroneves even took the opportunity to take a good-natured shot at Tracy, who was part of the broadcast team at the time. </p><p>"P.T., P.T.! I know you've been talking about that second win, P.T. I'm sorry man, that was my win!" </p><p>It makes me wonder how much that 2002 finish was still talked about, or asked about, with Castroneves in the years since 2009 when he make his quest to win the race a fourth time. I'm sure it's never far from Tracy's mind every year, since he never did win the Indy 500, despite eight starts. </p><p>Basically, the decisions came down to some race politics. Who would the IRL want to win? A driver who's full-time in the IRL with the most successful team owner of all time in Roger Penske? Or a driver, Tracy, who's from the "rival/split" CART series that comes to race the Indy 500 as a one-off race? </p><p>Not that politics are anything new in racing. Watch the Senna documentary on the legendary and late Formula One driver to learn that tidbit. There were a few shady decisions made there by the president of the series at the time to try and screw over Senna, from Brazil, in favor of Alain Prost.</p><p>The 2002 Indy 500 and its finish will always be laced in controversy, whether anyone remembers it or not. For me, it's much like the 1981 race, which was debated for months, overturned and reversed again with Bobby Unser and Mario Andretti. Unser passed cars under the yellow flag coming out of the pits, which shouldn't be allowed. Unser ended up with three Indy 500 victories, that one included, while Andretti only found victory lane in 1969 at Indy. </p><p>So when the biggest focus of this year's Indy 500 turns into Castroneves' Drive for Five, remember that his road to get there wasn't an easy one. And remember the pass Tracy made on lap 199 in 2002 that ultimately didn't stick.</p><p>All these years later, Castroneves has celebrated four Indy 500 victories, and <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/motor/indycar/2022/05/24/indianapolis-500-2002-controversial-finish-paul-tracy-helio-castroneves/9900878002/" target="_blank">Tracy maintains he was the rightful winner in 2022</a>. </p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-14428503706086642272022-05-26T14:44:00.000-05:002022-05-26T14:44:03.615-05:00Indy 500: The field of 33 in 2022 <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5mxGALXCYFhG5fB2fPCx0TJdV5_1lIxnd4TVmt0ev2XbdRILXbP1tBD2d0KBI4cOP-xQ8sdwRahLrSVTjpUYoL7vYplnOdIyyAL3QzQf19wDSd4GmEQWZXRGCGApo4UlpoOsbp5w_0OIfxXGG4xiVQ3ISpCjpqqHrV00uuixPPvRXRwEtsr2HJ2-/s720/40974_600765574212_4709467_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5mxGALXCYFhG5fB2fPCx0TJdV5_1lIxnd4TVmt0ev2XbdRILXbP1tBD2d0KBI4cOP-xQ8sdwRahLrSVTjpUYoL7vYplnOdIyyAL3QzQf19wDSd4GmEQWZXRGCGApo4UlpoOsbp5w_0OIfxXGG4xiVQ3ISpCjpqqHrV00uuixPPvRXRwEtsr2HJ2-/s320/40974_600765574212_4709467_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is May, and this post is all about the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500. <p></p><p>Gone are the exciting years of "Bump Day" for qualifying, when a few unlucky teams and drivers failed to bump their way into the field of 33. This year, it sounds like it was quite the saga simply to get to that 33-car mark. Tradition is tradition with 33, so I'm grateful to whoever was involved in making sure the field is full. </p><p>Even though weather came in and ruined a chunk of the Saturday qualifying, the Fast 12 and Fast 6 format on Sunday to determine the first few rows and pole position was enough excitement for the weekend. Scott Dixon won the pole for the second consecutive year with a four-lap qualifying average speed of 234.046 mph. It's the fastest in Indy 500 history, topping 233.718 mph set in 1996 by the late Scott Brayton. Arie Luyendyk has the all-time four-lap qualifying record with 236.986 mph in 1996, but that was on the second day of qualifications and not eligible for a pole run. </p><p>This year's entire field is also the fastest in Indy 500 history, with an average speed of 231.023 mph, beating out last year's record average speed of 230.294 mph. </p><p><b>By the numbers<br /></b>The 2022 field consists of eight prior Indy 500 winners, including a trio of multi-time winners. If you don't know Helio Castroneves' name, you will. He's the defending champion and will attempt to make his "Drive for Five" to become the only five-time winner of the event. He won previously in 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2021, though I make the case that 2002 should have an asterisk attached. </p><p>Juan Pablo Montoya and Takuma Sato are back again in search of their third victories. Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Alexander Rossi, Will Power and Simon Pagenaud will look to join the two-time-winner club. </p><p>The record for former winners in a field is 10 drivers, back in 1992. Seven rookies are in the field - the most rookies since 2014 when there were also seven rookies. But a couple of these drivers aren't rookies in auto racing. Jimmie Johnson decided to join the Indy 500 fun this year after racing part-time in the IndyCar Series last year following his successful, seven-time-championship NASCAR career. Formula One racer Romain Grosjean makes his first Indy start, along with drivers Devlin DeFrancesco, Callum Ilott, Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard and David Malukas. </p><p>Ten rookies have won the Indy 500, and three are in this year's field: Montoya (2000), Castroneves (2001) and Rossi (2016). </p><p>For the first time since 2008, when Dixon won this race, Chip Ganassi Racing has cars starting 1-2 on the grid. It was Dixon and the late Dan Wheldon starting at the front that year. </p><p>This year, there are no female drivers in the field for the second time in three years. Last year, Simona De Silvestro started from the 33rd and final position, making history driving for an all-female-owned team. She finished 31st. The 2020 race marked the first time since 1999 that there wasn't at least one female driver in the field. There were four in the race only a few years ago, and now we're back to no women taking the green flag. Take that for what it's worth. This is a tough event and tough spot to break into when it comes to sponsorship and money. </p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_h0JGVAMX4GAI6yOr1QTaiWBl8GZVk1GeHJhWBtjKkyUQ3lFzTGfWcgB1hOZzraFRpd8Vf2xSWTt4qOAI7C1dEPQj2rMVnWvxOwXP5GakLnUYgGPt52JRrWue4Jy-hrhsYlHdjdfD21iLzn4zozGsDVSUDZo7SpFssrylceyqIatqNhuNhPDKOGYQ/s720/35941_600765634092_1667263_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_h0JGVAMX4GAI6yOr1QTaiWBl8GZVk1GeHJhWBtjKkyUQ3lFzTGfWcgB1hOZzraFRpd8Vf2xSWTt4qOAI7C1dEPQj2rMVnWvxOwXP5GakLnUYgGPt52JRrWue4Jy-hrhsYlHdjdfD21iLzn4zozGsDVSUDZo7SpFssrylceyqIatqNhuNhPDKOGYQ/s320/35941_600765634092_1667263_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br />Starting grid stats<br /></b>As I have in the past, I'll remind readers that the best chance to win the Indy 500 comes when you give your car a good starting position within the first two rows. Of course, that's not always the case, like last year when Castroneves started in the third row in the eighth position. But for the three previous years, the winner started in the front row; it's happened 45 times in 105 races. <p></p><p>This is also the annual reminder that no driver has ever won the race starting from the last three positions, row 11. Actually, there are six other starting positions where no driver has ever won the Indy 500: The 18th spot on the outside of row six; 23rd and 24th in row 8; 26th in the middle of row 9; and 29th and 30th in row 10. So if Conor Daly, Marco Andretti, DeFrancesco, Scott McLaughlin, Dalton Kellett, Montoya, Lundgaard, Jack Harvey or Stefan Wilson win this Sunday, they'll make history in that regard. </p><p>A lot of people will keep their eye on Castroneves trying to win his fifth Indy 500. But the last driver to win from 27th was Fred Frame in 1932. </p><p>Go back to 1936 and the inaugural winner in 1911 to find a winner in row 10, 1974 was the last winner out of row 9 and, as mentioned, row 8 hasn't been great either (winners in 1927 and 1935 starting from the 22nd position). The polesitter has won the race 21 times, the latest being Pagenaud in 2019. The winner has also come out of row one 45 times in 105 races. Add in the second row (19 victories), and the winner has come out of those first two rows 61% of the time. </p><p>So it's not entirely surprising that a driver is better served starting near the front. </p><p>This year's row 2 is the most experienced row with 41 combined career Indy 500 starts. Ed Carpenter with 18 of them, Marcus Ericsson with three and Kanaan with 20. </p><p><b>Row 1</b></p><p><b>Scott Dixon - No. 9 PNC Bank chip Ganassi Racing car</b><br />Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 234.046 mph<br />Indy 500 wins: 2008</p><p>Scott Dixon is a six-time IndyCar champion. He'll start from the pole for the fifth time at Indy (2008, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022), but he still has only the 2008 Indy 500 victory to his name. The poles are great, but I think he might trade a couple if he could get a second Indy 500 win. He finished 17th last year and led only seven laps. </p><p>Still, Dixon has led 570 laps in his Indy 500 career, the most of any driver in the field.</p><p>In his career, Dixon has 51 IndyCar victories, ranking third all-time. </p><p><b>Alex Palou - No. 10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing car</b><br />Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 233.499 mph <br /></p><p>He's the reigning IndyCar Series champion, the first Spaniard to win an IndyCar Series title, and finished as the runner-up in the 2021 Indy 500 when Castroneves passed him headed into turn one on lap 198 (two to go). He ranks second in series points this season with 156.</p><p><b>Rinus VeeKay - No. 21 Bitcoin Racing Team with BitNile car</b><br />Team: Ed Carpenter Racing<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 233.385 mph <br /></p><p>He's in his second full season with Ed Carpenter racing and started last year's race at 20 years old and the youngest front-row starter for the race. He won the road-course, Indy Grand Prix in 2021 for his first career victory. VeeKay has also qualified well each time for the Indy 500, starting fourth or better in his three Indy 500 starts (fourth as a rookie in 2020 and third in 2021).</p><p>Last year, he became the youngest driver to start from the front row in Indy 500 history, starting third and finishing eighth. </p><p><b>Row 2</b></p><p><b>Ed Carpenter - No. 33 Alzamend Neuro car</b><br />Team: Ed Carpenter Racing<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 233.080 mph <br /></p><p>Indianapolis native Ed Carpenter is 41 years old and the only owner/driver in the field. He spends the majority of his time as an IndyCar team owner but races Indy where he's always qualified well. He has three Indy 500 poles to his name, though still looking for a victory. He's won three times in his IndyCar career, all on ovals. </p><p>He's starting fourth for a second consecutive Indy 500. He finished fifth last year. </p><p><b>Marcus Ericsson - No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing car</b><br />Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 232.764 mph<br /></p><p>Ericsson improves on his ninth-place start from last year when he finished 11th. The Swedish driver competed in Formula One before joining IndyCar in 2019. He has two career IndyCar victories, both last season, and nine top-5 finishes. </p><p><b>Tony Kanaan - No. 1 The American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing car</b><br />Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 232.372 mph <br />Indy 500 wins: 2013</p><p>Tony Kanaan ended his string of bad luck at Indy when he won the 500 in 2013. He's no longer a full-time racer in the series, but Kanaan is back to try for a second Indy 500 victory. He's still a fan favorite and comes into the race with a total of 346 laps led at the speedway. His last win in an IndyCar, of his 17 total, came back in 2014. </p><p>He's the oldest driver in the field at 47 years, 149 days old as of race day. He's starting from the second row for a second year in a row, starting fifth and finishing 10th last year. </p><p><b>Row 3</b></p><p><b>Pato O'Ward - No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP car</b><br />Team: Arrow McLaren SP<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 232.705 mph<br /></p><p>O'Ward was the 2020 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year with a sixth-place finish. Last year, he started 12th and finished fourth. He won this year's race at Barber for his third career win. </p><p><b>Felix Rosenqvist - No. 7 Vuse Arrow McLaren SP car</b><br />Team: Arrow McLaren SP<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 232.182 mph <br /></p><p>The 2019 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year, his lone IndyCar win came back in the 2020 season, which is also the last time he's finished in the top-5 in a race. This year's Indy 500 will be his 51st career IndyCar race. </p><p><b>Romain Grosjean - No. 28 DHL car </b><br />Team: Andretti Autosport<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 231.999 mph <br /></p><p>He's an experienced rookie in the field in his second full season of IndyCar racing. He previously made 180 starts in Formula One before 2021. He recorded three podium finishes in IndyCar last season but is still looking for his first win in the series. He's been the focus of some controversy lately, bumping into drivers' cars on track, most recently bumping Graham Rahal twice around the same stretch at Barber. </p><p><b>Row 4</b></p><p><b>Takuma Sato - No. 51 Nurtec ODT car</b><br />Team: Dale Coyne Racing with RWR<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 231.670 mph <br />Indy 500 wins: 2017, 2020</p><p>Sato won the 500 in 2020 under caution when the race was moved to August because of the pandemic. He also came close in 2012 when he and Dario Franchitti touched on the final lap, sending Sato into the wall and Franchitti to his third Indy 500 win. Sato has six IndyCar wins, the last being that 2020 Indy 500. </p><p>Last year, he started 15th and finished 14th for the big race. </p><p><b>Will Power - No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car</b><br />Team: Team Penske <br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 231.534 mph <br />Indy 500 wins: 2018</p><p>Power was the only Team Penske driver to make the Fast 12 in qualifying, which is much improved from his disastrous last-row start last year. He's also this season's points leader in the IndyCar standings with 170 points after he's finished in the top-5 of all five races so far this season. He's won at least one IndyCar race from 2007-21 and looking to make it 16-straight seasons with perhaps a win at Indy for the second time. </p><p><b>Jimmie Johnson - No. 48 Carvana Chip Ganassi Racing car</b><br />Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 231.264 mph<br /></p><p>The buzz about Johnson is that this is his rookie start in the Indy 500 at 46 years old. He's in his second season as a full-time IndyCar driver, but he only raced on the road and street circuits in 2021. Of course, he's most famous for being a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and regarded as one of the best drivers in the history of that sport. The only drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 in their careers are A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti. Johnson will look to join that short list. </p><p><b>Row 5</b></p><p><b>David Malukas - No. 18 HMD car</b><br />Team: Dale Coyne Racing with HMD <br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 231.607 mph <br /></p><p>Malukas is the youngest driver in the field at 20 years old, his birthday came a couple of weeks after 9/11. He's come up through the Indy Lights ranks, winning seven races in the support series in 2021. He's led three laps so far this year in his rookie season. </p><p><b>Josef Newgarden - No. 2 Shell Team Penske car</b><br />Team: Team Penske<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 231.580 mph <br /></p><p>There's no doubt that Josef Newgarden has established a successful IndyCar career. He won the series championships in 2017 and 2019, after all. He's won a lot of races. But unlike most of his Penske teammates from past to present, Newgarden hasn't won the Indy 500 yet. Running a Penske machine always seems to give drivers a leg up in the Indy 500, so that helps. Newgarden started in row 7 last year but finished 12th. </p><p>Newgarden won back-to-back races this year, on the Texas oval and the Long Beach road course. His best finish in the Indy 500 was third in 2016 with Ed Carpenter's team. </p><p><b>Santino Ferrucci - No. 23 Palermo's Screamin Sicilian DRR car</b><br />Team: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 231.508 mph <br /></p><p>He started back in 23rd last year but rebounded well and finished sixth. He's dabbled in the Formula One support series for a few seasons before landing back in IndyCar for the 500. His seventh-place finish at Indy in 2019 earned him Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors. </p><p><b>Row 6</b></p><p><b>Simon Pagenaud - No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM car</b><br />Team: Meyer Shank Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 231.275 mph <br />Indy 500 wins: 2019</p><p>Pagenaud is with a new team this season after racing for a while with powerhouse Team Penske, and winning the Indy 500 in 2019 when he and Rossi made it an entertaining finish with multiple passes in the closing laps. He won the IndyCar Series in 2016 and is a 15-time race winner. But he didn't find victory lane in 2021. He started his career in the Champ Car days in 2007. </p><p><b>JR Hildebrand - No. Homes For Our Troops/AJ FOYT RACING car</b><br />Team: AJ Goyt Enterprises<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 231.112 mph <br /></p><p>Until Hilebrand does anything else worth noting, he will always be known as the driver who crashed in turn four of the final lap in 2011, paving the path for Dan Wheldon to win the race. It's just the way it is. Hildebrand was still the rookie of the year in 2011, and I imagine that race still haunts him. He's not a full-time driver in the series anymore and instead has made the Indy 500 starts the past few years. </p><p><b>Conor Daly - No. 20 BitNile car</b><br />Team: Ed Carpenter Racing<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 230.999 mph</p><p>One of the most exciting moments in the 2021 Indy 500, especially for Hoosier State natives, was when Indiana-native Conor Daly led the race. He finished 13th and led a race-high 40 laps. His best finish was 10th in 2019. The son of former racer Derek Daly, he's still looking for his first win in IndyCar. </p><p><b>Row 7</b></p><p><b>Callum Ilott - No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing car</b><br />Team: Juncos Hollinger Racing<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 230.961 mph </p><p>He has one top-10 finish this IndyCar season, after racing in three events in 2021. </p><p><b>Alexander Rossi - No. NAPA AUTO PARTS / AutoNation car</b><br />Team: Andretti Autosport<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 230.812 mph <br />Indy 500 wins: 2016</p><p>Rossi's brightest moment was a fuel strategy that paid off and sent him to victory in the 100th running of the Indy 500 in 2016 - as a rookie. He has seven victories but the last coming in 2019 when he won at Road America and finished third in championship points that season. He wasn't too pleased with how Indy 500 qualifying shook out this year, a combination of weather/track conditions and the "luck of the draw" of the qualifying order. </p><p><b>Graham Rahal - No. 15 United Rentals car</b><br />Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 230.766 mph<br /></p><p>Rahal didn't finish last year's race due to a crash. He's turning into a series veteran now, racing for his dad's (1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal) team since the 2007 Champ Car days. He's a six-time race winner but last won in 2017 when he swept the doubleheader at Detroit. He's a driver that's always in the mix but never seems to find himself at the top of the podium. </p><p><b>Row 8</b></p><p><b>Sage Karam - No. 24 AES Indiana DRR car</b><br />Team: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing <br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 230.464 mph </p><p>Karam is probably just happy to be starting somewhere other than the last row this year. From 2019-21, Karam started 31st on the grid. He had his best finish last year, in seventh place. There was a <a href="https://theathletic.com/3275992/2022/05/04/sage-karam-pocono-nascar/">great piece recently about Karam's struggles</a> and journey through racing in the years following the tragic incident that led to driver Justin Wilson's death at Pocono in 2015. It was a piece of Karam's car that struck Wilson on the track. <br /></p><p><b>Marco Andretti - No. 98 KULR Technology / Curb car</b><br />Team: Andretti Herta Autosport w/ Marco & Curb<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 230.345 mph <br /></p><p>This marks the second year that Marco Andretti isn't racing in IndyCar full time. He stepped away to pursue some other racing interests, but of course, he still wants to enter the biggest race of the year. With his dad, Michael Andretti, still a team owner, it's a logical step. This will always be a sentimental pick to win, as long as Marco enters the Indy 500 field. He famously lost the 2006 race in his rookie season by the slimest of margins to Sam Hornish Jr. He also won the pole position in 2020. </p><p>Marco is always chasing family history behind his grandfather, Mario Andretti, who is the only Andretti to win the race in 1969. Marco's dad Michael is the greatest driver to never win the race (<a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2022/05/30-years-later-breaking-down-1992.html" target="_blank">he got close in 1992, for example</a>), though he's won as a team owner multiple times. Marco usually runs well at Indianapolis, even if drinking the milk always ends up out of reach. </p><p><b>Devlin DeFrancesco - No. 29 PowerTap car</b><br />Team: Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 230.326 mph <br /></p><p>He's a rookie who competed in the Indy Pro 2000 on the way to IndyCar. </p><p><b>Row 9</b></p><p><b>Colton Herta - No. 26 Gainbridge car</b><br />Team: Andretti Autosport w/ Curb-Agajanian<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 230.235 mph <br /></p><p>If you believe in momentum, Herta has already won one race at Indianapolis this month, the grand prix on the speedway's road course. He's still on the young side of IndyCar - and became the youngest IndyCar winner ever - but he's been successful already in his fifth season in the series with seven victories. His dad and former driver Bryan Herta is part team owner for his car.</p><p>Colton will start his fourth Indy 500 this year; he finished eighth in 2020. </p><p><b>Scott McLaughlin - No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske car </b><br />Team: Team Penske<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 230.154 mph<br /></p><p>McLaughlin, the 2021 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year, won the first race of this season and ranks third in this year's series points. Before IndyCar, the New Zealander was still with Team Penske but as a successful driver in Australian Supercars. </p><p><b>Helio Castroneves - No. 06 AutoNation/Sirius XM car</b><br />Team: Meyer Shank Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 229.630 mph <br />Indy 500 wins: 2001, 2002, 2009, 2021</p><p>Castroneves joined legends A.J. Foyt, the late Al Unser Sr. (died Dec. 9, 2021) and Rick Mears on the list of four-time Indy 500 winners when he won the race last year driving for Meyer Shank Racing rather than Roger Penske, the team owner he drove for in most of his successful career. At 47, Castroneves is one of the oldest drivers in the field; he would be the third-oldest winner of the race should he win this year behind Al Unser and Bobby Unser. Al Unser was 47 and 360 days old when he won his fourth in 1987; Castroneves turned 47 on May 10. </p><p>He's the most experienced driver in the field with 21 previous Indy 500 starts. Thirty-five starts is the record, set by A.J. Foyt from 1958-92. </p><p>The Indy 500 has seen five back-to-back winners, with the last being Castroneves when he won in 2001 and 2002. Before that, it was Al Unser in 1970 and 1971. As an extra incentive, BorgWarner (of the famous Borg-Warner trophy) put up a $400,000 bonus for Castroneves if he can achieve victory once again. </p><p>Castroneves has won the race starting in rows 3, 4 and 5, never from the pole or the first two rows. </p><p><b>Row 10</b></p><p><b>Kyle Kirkwood - No. 14 ROKiT / AJ FOYT RACING car</b><br />Team: AJ Foyt Enterprises<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 229.406 mph </p><p>He's the only driver to win championships in all three divisions on the Road to Indy support series in Cooper Tires USF2000, Indy Pro 2000 and Indy Lights series before making the jump to IndyCar as a rookie this season. <br /></p><p><b>Dalton Kellett - No. 4 K-LINE / AJ FOYT RACING car</b><br />Team: AJ Foyt Enterprises<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: 228.916 mph <br /></p><p>It's his third year as an IndyCar regular. He struggles to find speed during races. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get lapped early. He crashed out of Indy in 2020 to finish 31st but improved to finish 23rd last year. And as I worked on this piece, Kellett crashed into the wall in practice the Monday following qualifying. He came out of it unscathed. </p><p><b>Juan Pablo Montoya - No. 6 Arrow McLaren SP car</b><br />Team: Arrow McLaren SP <br />Engine: Chevrolet <br />Qualifying speed: 228.622 mph<br />Indy 500 wins: 2000, 2015</p><p>Another one of the most veteran race drivers in the field at 46 years old. He won the storied race as a rookie in 2000. Montoya dabbled in CART, NASCAR, sports cars and Formula One in his diverse racing portfolio. He's the only driver to win the CART championship (1999), Indy 500 (2000) and Rolex 24 at Daytona (2007) in his first attempts. He has 15 career wins in CART and IndyCar. </p><p><b>Row 11</b></p><p><b>Christian Lundgaard - No. 30 PeopleReady car</b><br />Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 227.053 mph </p><p>He's in his first full season in IndyCar this year, with one top-10 in five races so far. </p><p><b>Jack Harvey - No. 45 Hy-Vee car</b><br />Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 226.851 mph</p><p>He finished 18th in last year's Indy 500. He's one of five drivers who have won on both the oval and the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Indy Lights series. He's still looking for his first victory in the top IndyCar series. <br /></p><p><b>Stefan Wilson - No. 25 DragonSpeed / Cusick Motorsports car </b><br />Team: DragonSpeed / Cusick Motorsports<br />Engine: Chevrolet<br />Qualifying speed: No speed; did not run due to engine change/weather<br /></p><p>Wilson carries on the racing history in the footsteps of his late brother Justin Wilson. Stefan's best finish was 15th in 2018; he was the leader on lap 195 but had to pit for fuel on lap 196 and surrender the lead. He crashed out in last year's racing, registering a 33rd/last-place finish. He'll make his fourth Indy 500 start this year. </p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-37519094439271287842022-05-24T14:42:00.001-05:002022-05-24T14:45:02.046-05:0030 years later: Breaking down the 1992 Indianapolis 500<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNEvU4tuV5JvUn38Y2g-hIV-_MFVBECv5pWEm3zsprUx_oTcM-FociqJK9khWUAdEygV6H3-2Hf_YAEs4-uWkvjBmnKGvYCYmGBNAZPBln5cpFIEryrCk7oBmJoCvMJQrmhXYttSG3vfjpVFgI3DJJK_0Fuywz6NeEuXbPvnMMgkTOexng1WA0mAa/s720/39713_600766392572_2900867_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNEvU4tuV5JvUn38Y2g-hIV-_MFVBECv5pWEm3zsprUx_oTcM-FociqJK9khWUAdEygV6H3-2Hf_YAEs4-uWkvjBmnKGvYCYmGBNAZPBln5cpFIEryrCk7oBmJoCvMJQrmhXYttSG3vfjpVFgI3DJJK_0Fuywz6NeEuXbPvnMMgkTOexng1WA0mAa/s320/39713_600766392572_2900867_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon Johncock's 1982 Indy 500 winner.</td></tr></tbody></table>It's 2022 and time for the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500. This means it's been 30 years and 40 years since a couple of the closest finishes in the history of the greatest spectacle in racing. In 1982, Rick Mears and Gordon Johncock dueled in the final laps to the checkered flag. Mears tried to make a pass on the final straightaway but came up just short. At a 0.16 margin of victory, it was the closest finish in Indy 500 history until that point. <p></p><p>Then a decade later, the 1992 race essentially said: "hold my beer" and became the closest finish in the history books, a 0.043 margin of victory for Al Unser Jr. over Scott Goodyear that still holds up today.</p><p>When thinking back on the history of the Indy 500, there are a couple of races and finishes that will always stand out. And the thing is, as exciting as those finishes were, plenty of memorable things happened earlier in the race as well. In 1992, the polesitter spun before the drop of the green flag. And 1982 is also known for a completely chaotic start with a front-straight crash involving multiple vehicles when Kevin Cogan's car suddenly veered sideways and turned into another car. </p><p>So, let's dig into the 1992 Indy 500, the 76th running of the race. First, we need to set the mood by watching the intro video from the ABC broadcast, narrated by the legendary broadcaster Paul Page and set to music from the Delta Force theme. If these intro videos don't pump you up for watching the Indy 500, I don't know what to tell you. </p><p><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CSzgwCql_mo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>"The largest single gathering of people for a sporting event," Page tells us. Yes, it's true. The speedway is massive and full of fans, especially during this era of the early 90s. "There comes a time in a race where money doesn't matter, living doesn't matter, winning is the only thing that matters," says Al Unser Jr. </p><p><b>Pre-race festivities, setting the scene</b><br />Jump to some of the pre-race festivities, and we hear Gomer Pyle, aka Jim Nabors, singing Back Home Again in Indiana. It's about the traditions and people. That song title seems to be used more and more in recent years for Indy 500 marketing and merchandise. Maybe not being from Indiana contributes here, but I don't think it's *that* great of a line that we need to go that hard on the marketing. </p><p>Anyway, next we get the "lady and gentleman, start your engines" call from Mary Fendrich Hulman, the chairman of the board emeritus Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Lyn St. James made her rookie start in the field, necessitating the need for the call change. Then we get a few close-ups of cars getting fired up, the driver faces in their helmets as Page narrates. </p><p>Page mentioned the "crisp, cold day here... the coldest we can remember." My dad attended this race as his first Indy 500 in-person, and he is still disappointed that it was "like a football game" as far as the weather is concerned. It was overcast and a chilly 51 degrees for the race, which seems more like a typical Memorial Day weekend in Minnesota than in Indiana. </p><p>Pit reporter Gary Gerold walks with team owner Chip Ganassi from the grid back to the pits. And then, we have our first of many, many glitches of the race. John Paul Jr.'s No. 93 machine failed to start on the grid, so they hand-start it to get going. </p><p>Cue the on-screen graphics for the Valvoline-sponsored Race Analysis for the 500-mile, 200-lap race. The average speed record was 185.981 mph set in 1990, and the field averaged a qualifying speed of 223.479 mph. Things are a bit faster 30 years later. </p><p>ABC's Jack Arute is in the pits with some new rules for pit lane, one of which is that the pit lane speed limit is 100 mph during cautions. Now, I believe the pit speed is even slower and drivers have the capability to put on their speed limiter to avoid going too fast. Some still get penalties because they must get on that button just a little too late. </p><p><b>Issues before the green flag drops</b><br />Legendary Bobby Unser, a 3-time Indy 500 winner and then-broadcaster (may he rest in peace), is driving the pace car and reports a bit from the vehicle. Page is very concerned about how the cold day is going to affect the cars. As if on cue, this is when polesitter Roberto Guerrero spins out on the backstretch, hitting the inside wall on the second parade lap. Win the pole, and you don't even make it to the green flag after not getting up to race speed. </p><p>They're not done with that incident yet, and then there's a stopped Philippe Gache, a rookie, who spun in the fourth turn of the track. "We're not even to the pace lap of this race," Page says. Three cars have had issues already. Time for a quick commercial break from the early carnage. </p><p>Finally, it's time for the green flag to finally drop, with only the two-car front row of Eddie Cheever and Mario Andretti. Green! Green! Green! Cheever takes the lead, but he is quickly sandwiched/passed by the father/son duo of Mario and Michael Andretti. Commentator Sam Posey later says that he thinks Cheever missed a gear. It's son Michael who quickly jumps to a commanding lead, leaving the rest of the field in his dust. No one is even close to him. </p><p>Arie Luyendyk from Team Chip Ganassi passes Mario for second place. And for as much minor carnage as there was before the race started, the entire field should be commended for making it through the first turn and first lap without any incident. But don't worry, we're less than 10 laps in when rookie Eric Bachelart, the Indy Lights (support series) champion slows and pulls off to the inside of the track, bringing out the first of (spoiler) many cautions we'll see on this day. </p><p><b>Signs of the 90s times </b><br />Before going to break again, the broadcast catches a shot of Sandy Andretti, Michael's wife, sitting along the pit wall in what must have been a very-stylish-at-the-time puffy white jacket and hat with stars and gold trim. It's always been a theme for the camera crews to catch up with wives and girlfriends in the pits during the race and then usually as the winner crosses the finish line. </p><p>I should mention, too, that 1992 has on-screen graphics to let viewers know the leaderboard. That's been in place for many years, but the graphics only pop up at certain times, usually right before commercial breaks. So keeping track of the leaders is a bit tougher than it is today with the constant on-screen crawl of names. </p><p>Back to the caution period, Mario Andretti comes into the pits in his Havoline/Kmart machine. There's something electrical his crew is working on. We also get a brief interview with Kenny Bernstein, Guerrero's car owner, who can't really shed too much light on the situation about the polesitter's spin. </p><p>St. James, who's 45 years old at the time, is in 22nd place, and we'll keep an eye on her throughout the race. Bobby Unser has also made his way from the pace car to the broadcast booth. </p><p><b>Back to green, for a moment</b><br />We're back to green-flag racing, and Michael Andretti again runs away from the rest. They run a lap or less before 1983 Indy 500 winner Tom Sneva slams into the wall to bring out another caution. He's crashed in five of his last seven starts and hasn't finished the race since he won it, Posey tells us. But hey, he'll still always be an Indy 500 champion. In this case, Senva lost it coming into turn four and slammed into the outside wall. Parts go flying. Sneva is taken off on a stretcher into the ambulance but waves to the crowd as he goes.</p><p>Time to check in with polesitter Guerrero. "I keep hoping this is a dream or a nightmare," he says, adding that he was trying to warm up his rear tires in light of the cold weather. He seems in complete disbelief, for sure. </p><p>Another commercial as the caution continues, and then we come back to a pre-done feature from Arute showing us the 1911 winning car, then shows the IndyCar decades later, with the computer screen for drivers behind the steering wheel along with all the other knobs and buttons. Things look much different today, of course, with all the advancements in technology. </p><p>Mario Andretti had a short in the ignition wire, so he's back running. But we're not done checking in with him. At this point, Al Unser Jr. is back in 20th place before the restart after 19 laps. Tuck that away for later. Apparently, the drivers have also radioed their crews that they're pretty cold while turning laps. No, really? It's cold.</p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HCyRpaCYFFw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><b><br />Checking in with the field</b><br />Scott Brayton is in second place, and then Luyendyk passes his teammate Cheever for third place. Michael Andretti is still dominating out front. He has speed (220 mph) that no one else can seem to match yet. </p><p>Checking in on other parts of the field, Bobby Rahal moves around John Andretti, the nephew of Mario. This race field has four drivers named Andretti, with Mario, Michael, John and Mario's other son, Jeff Andretti. </p><p>We get a little on-board camera action with 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, driving the Miller Genuine Draft-sponsored car before making another pass. Scott Goodyear also jumps into the pits, starting the race from the back row. Then we go back to the track and get a leaderboard update to find out the race is on lap 37. </p><p>Cut to a pre-taped interview with Michael Andretti answering a question about the Indy 500 and how he's not intimidated by it. A lot of it has to do with the family history, he says, adding that if he wins this race it will be a bonus because he's done so many other things in his career. Thinking about it 30 years later, that's a good way for Michael to look at it. </p><p>The 1989 Indy 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi passes Jimmy Vasser, whose name we hear for the first time as the fastest rookie in the race. Vasser went on to a successful career in the car before becoming a team owner. </p><p>Also, much of the field isn't on the lead lap anymore. Michael Andretti just put his dad a lap down, for one thing. Rick Mears is also down a lap and comes into the pits for a routine stop, which are in the 15-16-second neighborhood in 1992. Posey comments that Mears doesn't have the speed today. </p><p>After 51 laps, Michael still leads, with Cheever in second, followed by Brayton, Luyendyk and Fittipaldi. Then we see driver Scott Pruett, in a Budweiser-sponsored car, glides into the pits with a cloud of smoke coming behind him.</p><p><b>Racing history in the booth</b><br />Page informs us that Michael led 97 laps in the 1991 race, the most of any driver that year. But it was Mears who came away with his fourth (and final) Indy 500 victory that year. Posey adds that Michael is running away with this race. Will the Andretti curse show up once again this year? The Valvoline Race Summary graphic shows us that after 50 laps, Michael led 39 of them with an average race speed of 158.631 mph and five lead changes (pit stops shuffle things). Thirty cars of the 33 are still running at this point. </p><p>Johncock makes his way onto the inside apron of the track with smoke coming out of his rear, a blown engine. Johncock, you'll remember, is famously the winner of the 1982 race, beating out Mears. Johncock heads into the pits here, but the caution flag comes out anyway after 62 laps. Nothing with Johncock here, but we see a John Andretti crew member getting stretchered the pits after an injury from that last pit stop. Sounds like he came into the pits too hot.</p><p><b>More cautions and updates</b><br />Green flag once again with only three cars on the lead lap - three! Michael, Cheever and Fittipaldi. And as restarts breed more cautions, there's another crash. It will end Gache's day this time, a day he'll probably want to forget. His car was hit, sitting in the middle of the track with various debris scattered around while the safety team attends to him. Stan Fox was the other car involved, and he apparently hit Gache in the incident. </p><p>On the replay, we see Gache lose it in a corner, hit the outside wall and then the car drifted down the track as traffic comes by. Fox really didn't have anywhere to go. While Fox walked away, Gache is wheeled to the ambulance on a stretcher, appearing to be moving around and relatively alright though. </p><p>We get a couple more pit-row updates during the caution, talking to Pruett after his engine blew, learning more about a supposed radio problem for Michael Andretti and an update on Luyendyk. Unser Jr. is up to 6th during this caution, and we get another update on St. James, "taking her time" during a pit stop. Cue the pre-taped interview with St. James and her discussing how she got interested in racing. She talks about being friends with some guys as a teenager, and they were all interested in cars. "It was just a lot of fun," she says, of racing. </p><p>She also adds: "I was the girl. But it was ok." She was comfortable in that world, too. So, before Danica Patrick, before Sarah Fisher, there was Lyn St. James. </p><p>Under caution, Arute has another Indy 500 Track Facts feature, about a new safety feature near the entrance of the pits, where there have been some bad crashes in the past. Then we check in with Fox outside the medical center, he's fine. </p><p><b>This one is shaping up to be a weird one</b><br />On the restart, Michael Andretti continues to leave the rest of the field in his wake. I guess they really didn't wave off the restarts because the field wasn't bunched up enough like they do now. Posey comments that this is effectively a one-man race right now. </p><p>And just as quickly as we had a restart, the caution flag comes out again as Fittipaldi, one of the cars who had been running up front, crashes into the wall. It's here that Page remarks what an unusual race this has become, from the polesitter spinning before the race started to all of these crashes during the race. </p><p>On the replay, it looks like it's Mears and Jim Crawford who connect for a crash, too, and then Fittipaldi comes into frame hitting the wall on his own before coming across the first crash or any debris. Mears and Fittipaldi are both Team Penske cars, so Roger Penske is not too pleased at this point, I'm sure. Mears is stretchered off, waving to the crowd. Fittipaldi gets onto his stretcher under his own power but looks to be in some pain. </p><p>When two Penske cars - two Indy 500 champions - go out within seconds of each other in the race, you know it's a bad day at the speedway.</p><p><b>'More like a war zone'</b><br />Let's check in with Gache outside the track medical center. He's alright as well. He also indicated that he had an engine problem before the start of the race. And hey, it's a good thing Arute and ABC made a few of these canned feature stories because here's another one during this caution. It goes over the evolution and changes of the cars at Indianapolis since 1911, complete with old footage from past races. </p><p>Let's have some carnage in the pits, too. Dominic Dobson had an issue when he tried to drive away without a left rear tire attached. We also have a crew member for Mario Andretti's team getting his right foot attended to, complete with a close-up of the man's ankle. </p><p>We have another leaderboard update after 70 laps, with Michael leading, Cheever in second and an update needed as it still lists Fittipaldi in third even though he's out of the race. Luyendyk, Rahal, Unser Jr., Brayton, Goodyear and Paul Tracy follow. At this time, 26 cars are still listed as running, with Mario in the last spot. </p><p>Just as I note that, the green flag drops, we see Michael navigate through some lapped cars on the front stretch, and just as quickly we see yet another crash coming out of turn four. It's Mario Andretti, and his car comes to rest on the inside of the track near the pit entrance. His onboard camera shows him throwing his steering wheel aside.</p><p>Bobby Unser offers up this line: "Well it's been more like a war zone today than it has been a race." </p><p>Well said. </p><p>On the replay riding with Mario, it looks like the back end just got loose and sent him into the wall. Posey said Mario has failed to finish in 20 of 27 Indy 500 races to this point. Andretti Curse, anyone? Add another piece of evidence to the file. </p><p>Posey, upon seeing this crash replay again, says this race has turned into a demo derby. Also, he mentions the technology of the IndyCars keeping the drivers safe. We get plenty of replays of Mario's onboard camera, seeing his head whip around in the car. </p><p>This marks the sixth caution period of the day. Take a ride around the track with Rahal's onboard camera while another graphic-box with his pretaped interview shows Bobby talking about his love for the sport of IndyCar racing. That's why he keeps racing, because he loves it. </p><p><b>Pit stops, check-in for more medical updates</b><br />Michael and Cheever enter the pits for routine stops under the yellow. The speed limit in the pits under yellow is 100 mph, and Posey notices how slow that looks. He's right. It's amazing how slow the cars look, even when they go around the track under caution speeds. Cheever beats Michael out of the pits amid the lapped traffic. </p><p>The booth fellas talk a little bit more about the cold day and how that affects the tires. Now let's see if this next restart is a clean one for a few laps. Michael has some lapped traffic to jump around here. The speed he's carrying is really fun to watch. </p><p>In another interview outside the medical center, we hear from Rick Mears' dad, Bill Mears, which is different. He assures us all that Rick is OK, including his feet, which is concerning from a past crash Mears had years ago where his feet were badly injured. </p><p>As Rahal and Brayton compete for third place, Brayton's engine lets go with the now-familiar sight of a cloud coming out of the car's rear. Another Buick engine fails a driver on this day, according to Bobby Unser. This is right before the halfway mark of the race, about 93 laps in, as Brayton makes his way down pit line and out of harm's way. </p><p><b>More and more cars are out of the race</b><br />The Goodyear blimp gives viewers a shot of Michael Andretti on the restart from high above. But hold on, because Tracy slows and pulls off into the grass while rookie Vasser slams into the wall and settles into the infield grass while the safety teams attend to him. Bobby Unser has had enough and casually slams the rookies for not knowing about the cold tires etc. It's been a day in the booth, folks. </p><p>Brayton is out of the race, by the way, and also mentions the cold temperatures affecting things in his on-camera interview. I wonder what Michael Andretti is thinking at this point. He obviously has an extremely fast car and is turning laps like nobody else. But the near-constant caution periods have to be annoying, too. </p><p>With all the carnage, we get a word from Dr. Henry Bock, the medical director at the speedway, to update the media on Sneva (good condition, negative X-rays), Crawford, Mears (right knee injuries), Fittipaldi (left knee puncture wound) and Mario Andretti (feet injuries) are going to Methodist Hospital. </p><p>Some more pit interviews here, including Rick Galles, the car owner for Al Unser Jr. He mentions being back on the lead lap and says "you never know." </p><p>Only 19 cars are still running. We get a list of those out of the race: Guerrero, Bachelart, Sneva, Pruett, Johncock, Gache, Fox, Mears, Crawford, Fittipaldi, Mario Andretti, Brayton, Tracy, Vasser. So yeah, fun times out there on track. Most of those were from crashes, too, rather than mechanical issues. </p><p><b>Another restart, another crash</b><br />We're finally ready for another restart, and we get only a couple of seconds of green-flag racing before rookie Brian Bonner crashes hard into the outside wall in turn four before he reached the green flag. He gets out of the car wearing a white driver suit with an apparent Applebee's sponsorship on the back. </p><p>At about halfway through the race, 51 laps were run under green and 51 laps under yellow. So not only are all the bundled-up spectators having to sit outside in these cool temps, they're not being treated to a ton of green-flag racing. And the staff making up the safety teams and the track medical center certainly earned their money on this race day. Speaking of, let's throw it to another pretaped feature about the track medical center, getting an inside look at the facility and procedures. </p><p>127.982 mph is the average speed of the race up until this point, with eight caution periods. </p><p>It's not just the drivers who've had issues during the race either. Come back from the commercial and we see a member of Luyendyk's crew getting some attention after a mishap where he was refueling, lost his balance and slipped across the back of the car as Luyendyk pulled away. Page comments "thank goodness" that the refuelers in the pit crews are required to wear helmets. What's jarring to watch this 30 years later, however, is that he's the only one wearing a helmet. Now, all pit crew members wear firesuits and helmets for safety. </p><p>Time for a restart once again, if we dare. Seven cars are on the lead lap. Due to some shuffling, Al Unser Jr. had the lead, but it didn't take long for Michael Andretti to charge back to the lead. A few more laps tick off, Rahal makes a pit stop for a flat tire and we get a brief shot of Michael's No. 1 Texaco car along the back straight. </p><p>Then, another crash. Posey simply utters "Jeff Andretti" as we see his car hit the wall and come to a stop in the middle of the track. Gary Bettenhausen is also caught up in the aftermath in his bright Glidden car; he's now failed to finish 15 of his 20 Indy 500 races. Man, that is some bad luck right there. </p><p>On the replay, it looked like Jeff's car lost a right-rear wheel before the corner and his car went flying into the outside wall. "That's a head-on crash. That's a bad angle there for Jeff," Bobby Unser says as we see the gruesome replay of the car indeed slamming into the wall and destroying the front end. <br /></p><p><b>Halway point</b><br />Just past halfway, and Page calls this "a race riddled with accidents" as he throws it to break. Crews are working hard to get Jeff Andretti out of the car. The way the driver's feet are so close to the front wing of the car, it's pretty obvious there would be some bad potential injuries to his feet. Posey reminds us that two Andrettis are on their way to the hospital, the other being Jeff's dad, Mario. </p><p>With another caution, let's roll an in-depth feature about driver Nelson Piquet, a former Formula One champion who suffered a brutal crash practicing for the 1992 Indy 500. He hit the wall outside of turn four, injuring his feet and legs pretty badly. Seeing the replay, it looks like a similar crash to Jeff Andretti's, who by this time is getting loaded into the ambulance. </p><p>Meanwhile, his brother Michael is still driving around the track, knowing that his family members (and yes, fellow racers) are both headed to the hospital. We're up to 119 laps of the race, with 16 cars still running, 17 out of the race. </p><p>We're so desperate for some content here - before calling it "content" was even a thing - that ABC now throws the segment to pretaped interviews with Formula One drivers, asking them what they think of the Indy 500 and if they're interested in the race. Nigel Mansell, Riccardo Patrese and the legendary Ayrton Senna weigh in. </p><p>As we get back to some shots of crew chiefs and driver wives sitting in the pits, I have to say, it's weird to see everyone sitting out in the open. I'm talking about canopies and timing stands that today are commonplace in the pits. Every team has their own booth area, also with their technology toys like laptops etc. How times have changed. </p><p>Remember Luyendyk's crew member who nearly got run over? Well, we learn that a member of Crawford's crew stepped in to help out with Luyendyk's pit stops in his absence. That certainly doesn't happen much. </p><p>Green, green, green again. Let's see how long it can last. </p><p>"We're at lap 124, and I think we've got a race on our hands," Posey says. </p><p><b>Focusing in on the leaders</b><br />Cheever is assessed a penalty for passing on under the yellow (that's a no-no), so he's fallen back in the field now. But they talk to car owner Chip Ganassi, and he's irate because he has no idea where that penalty came from. He apparently passed Raul Boesel. </p><p>Al Unser Sr. is up to fourth place, and Page floats the idea of Big Al being the first five-time winner. Meanwhile, Michael is flying at 228.6 mph around the track. Unser Jr. went by on a 222.178 mph lap. I don't want to jinx it, but we're also getting a bunch of green-flag laps. Michael has about a nine-second lead, ahead of Luyendyk and Unser Jr. Sixteen cars are still running after 130 laps. </p><p>And... we're back. Second-place Luyendyk connects with the wall to end his day and bring out yet another caution period. That pushes Unser Jr., Unser Sr. and Scott Goodyear into the positions behind Michael. </p><p>The Unsers are now leading under caution as I imagine Michael must have come into the pits. Let's cut to a pre-taped clip of Unser Jr. talking about how emotional he gets during races. Keep that one in the back pocket. </p><p><b>A day to remember for the Andrettis</b><br />Posey says that it's certainly going to be a day for Michael to remember, not only for his domination of the race but because his dad and brother both ended up in the hospital following crashes. He's also working his way up the list of all-time leaders in terms of laps led at Indianapolis. </p><p>As Michael weaves his way through lapped traffic, he comes across Unser Sr., and the elder driver passes Michael right back before Michael gets him again on the inside. He just seems to have speed that isn't matched by any other driver on this day. </p><p>Buddy Lazier slows on the backstretch on lap 149. He's a young driver at this point, but I recall him as a driver that perhaps overstayed his welcome and raced for a long time in the Indy 500. </p><p>With another caution period, let's go back to the doc outside the track medical center for more updates. Dr. Bock tells us that Brian Bonner has gone to Methodist Hospital with a bruised left foot and right shin injury. Vasser has an apparent fractured right thigh bone. Jeff Andretti has a concussion and severe injuries to his feet and ankles. Luyendyk will be released shortly with a bruised right foot. </p><p>Unser Jr. is the leader of the 14 running cars on the 12th caution period, two fewer than the record number of caution. The booth also confirms that Michael came in to fill his fuel tank, which took him out of the lead. Ted Prappas' car is pushed down pit lane, leaving St. James as the lone rookie still running, in 11th place. Thirteen cars remain in the race with 150 of 200 laps complete. </p><p>Lap 154, and it's back to the green flag. Unser Jr. still holds the lead, and under-the-radar Goodyear is in second place. He started in last place. No driver has ever won from last place. But after 165 laps, Michael has regained the lead, turning laps at 229 mph. This is definitely his race. </p><p>Now, the chatter in the booth has started to really turn toward discussing Michael's dominance of the race and the potential that he'll go all the way and win it. It would be the second win for the successful Andretti family at Indianapolis. Posey brings up this point in the race in 1987 when Mario was in about the same position as Michael is now, and Mario's engine decided to let go at that point. Interesting. </p><p>Michael is into the pits now, giving up the lead if only for now. A clean stop for Michael, getting him new tires and fuel. Goodyear comes in for his final stop, too. This puts Big Al and Little Al into the top spots, but they still need to stop here, and they do. It's 628 Indy 500 laps led for Big Al before he heads into the pits. One of the best to ever run at the speedway. </p><p>Lap 178 and Michael is back in the lead after that round of pit stops. Stops here are 14-17 seconds or so, and yes, they're much faster today. Under 10 seconds. With so many cars out, here's a reminder that four-time winner Foyt and 1986 winner Rahal are still running, too. They come in for routine pit stops. </p><p>We're at 18 laps to go now, and how can Michael not win this race, right? </p><p><b>Closing in on the finish, and it's dramatic</b><br />Posey comments on the battle for second place "should anything go wrong with Michael" being one of the best they've seen in a long time, between Unser Jr. and Goodyear. Posey is so good in the booth, by the way. I enjoy going back to old races and hearing his voice alongside Page. </p><p>Lap 188 is complete, and Little Al passes Goodyear for second place. </p><p>Eleven laps to go, Page says, followed up by this with a shot of Michael's car: "And Michael is slowing. Michael is slowing. The rest of the field is coming past. Michael Andretti is slowing down. Al Unser Jr. will take the lead as Michael Andretti slows down at Indianapolis. An unbelievable turn of events. The man who has dominated this race, on the 189th lap, suddenly the car slows and Michael appears to be done."</p><p>Then we get Bobby Unser: "Paul, that is another Andretti thing. It's sad for Michael. I have never seen a race driver in my life that deserves this race more than Michael Andretti. And he isn't even going to make it back to the pits." </p><p>"We've got a whale of a race on the racetrack," Page says, as the focus now turns to the tight battle between leader Unser Jr. and Goodyear. The yellow flag does come out here, because of Michael's car on the track. Arute tells us about Michael's radio communication to the team: "I can't believe it, the engine quit," Michael reportedly told his team. </p><p>There are 10 laps to go. What a heartbreaking day for Michael and the Andretti family. Michael led 163 laps. Total domination. And his engine failed him. </p><p>We go back to green with less than 10 to go as Goodyear tries to chase down Unser Jr. Forget all the caution periods, the cold day, all the cars that are out of the race. There are seven laps to go, and these two are going to give the fans a shootout of a finish. Goodyear is definitely within striking distance to try and make a pass. For now, just enjoy watching these two race around the oval. </p><p>Goodyear is closing the gap, there's no doubt. Three to go, and he's right there. Right behind him. Two laps to go, and Page reminds us that this was the time in 1989 when Fittipaldi and Unser Jr. touched wheels, sending Unser Jr. into the wall and Fittipaldi on to victory. </p><p>The white flag is out, Page reminds us of the close finish a decade ago in 1982 between Johncock and Mears. The final corner, the final stretch before the yard of bricks. Goodyear closes in and tries to come around Little Al on the inside. And I've gotta say, that's some not-so-great camera direction from ABC going on as the cars cross the finish line. Right at that happens, we get a shot of the flag stand waving the checkered and one holding up a sign completely blocking the shot. Is that really necessary? Kind of ruined the moment a bit. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5lzJ7_szm5QJjrnYFaaeENmNmj0XES9Ky-e6mRYPDOmkyM1tjfHtysysNMZ2hS2XrlN2qcJhBmc7VTCA-cQPUM7itkquq8NLqSmv44hE22lf8Z2_aA0tRGIRQyRsjiQu68n1XYuOhVTTIQaufIR2D212NjMZkbrkv1FaVb2E3WFmnCvvdebWkcbr/s720/253895_673245219422_1585864_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5lzJ7_szm5QJjrnYFaaeENmNmj0XES9Ky-e6mRYPDOmkyM1tjfHtysysNMZ2hS2XrlN2qcJhBmc7VTCA-cQPUM7itkquq8NLqSmv44hE22lf8Z2_aA0tRGIRQyRsjiQu68n1XYuOhVTTIQaufIR2D212NjMZkbrkv1FaVb2E3WFmnCvvdebWkcbr/s320/253895_673245219422_1585864_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Al Unser Jr.'s 1992 Indy 500 winner.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />But anyway... Little Al holds him off and wins his first Indianapolis 500! <p></p><p>Posey is right there with this: "I believe that's the closest finish in Indy history. Closer than the race 10 years ago when Gordon Johncock beat Rick Mears!" Bobby Unser, Little Al's uncle, says it's the most fabulous finish he's ever seen. </p><p>We see the Unser Jr. pit crew celebrating, then get an interview with car owner Rick Galles who says "this feels good." </p><p>The broadcast does show us a slow-motion view of the finish, with Goodyear's pass attempt and Little Al winning by less than a car length. The margin of victory: 0.043. It still holds up prior to the 2022 race as the closest finish in Indy 500 history. So for all that, one of the most unusual, crash-filled, injury-riddled days at the Speedway, fans were treated to the closest finish ever. </p><p><b>An emotional celebration for Unser Jr.</b><br />Page then tells a story about Unser Jr. telling him on a plane recently that he was worried he may never win this race. </p><p>Now it's time to see Unser Jr. in his car with the Borg-Warner trophy behind him. Arute is there for the comments and celebration. Unser Jr. says he almost took it too easy off turn four, then gets a hug from his car owner as the traditional jug of milk is handed to him. </p><p>Arute asks Unser Jr. about his dream of winning the Indy 500. Unser Jr. said he didn't think he had a chance to win this race, mentioning Michael Andretti. Arute jumps in with an "it sounds like there's some tears in your voice right now." </p><p>Then Little Al offers this line that is one of the most memorable from Indy 500 celebrations: </p><p>"You just don't know what Indy means."</p><p>Go listen to the clip to hear the emotion in his voice as he gets more hugs. </p><p>Page has this fact for us, too. Bobby Unser won on May 24, 1981. Al Unser Sr. won on May 24, 1987. Al Unser Jr. wins the Indy 500 on May 24, 1992. By the way, Big Al took third place in this one, not that anything really matters other than first place here. </p><p>So, we've reached the end of the minute-by-minute, lap-by-lap journey through the 1992 Indianapolis 500. A race that is most notable for the polesitter's spin before the green flag, the high volume of car carnage and the closest finish of all time. Thanks for coming along on the ride with me. </p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-27999228505571782702021-05-29T23:30:00.002-05:002021-05-29T23:30:24.704-05:00Indy 500: The field of 33 in 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ7zgwNOE7E/TGW9YPwfo0I/AAAAAAAAAEs/p2lOyuquZ_kNYr_pVxmEfzkBtHD3BvDLQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/P1020356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ7zgwNOE7E/TGW9YPwfo0I/AAAAAAAAAEs/p2lOyuquZ_kNYr_pVxmEfzkBtHD3BvDLQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/P1020356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The world is healing. That's a phrase I've heard and used many times recently, especially when it comes to the sports world. Things are much different than they were a year ago, when everything was pretty much shut down because of a worldwide pandemic. While the COVID-19 virus is still around, vaccines have been shot into arms and restrictions have eased. <p></p><p>Now, it's time for the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500 this weekend. </p><p>Last year, the Indy 500 was delayed and run in August without fans in attendance. While the series was fortunate to run the event, not having hundreds of thousands of fans there to witness it just wasn't quite the same. This time around, the brickyard will welcome back about 40% - or about 135,000 fans - to the storied oval. </p><p>This year's field of 33 IndyCar drivers represents the fastest field in the history of the race, averaging 230.294 mph. It eclipses the 2014 grid at 229.382 mph. The cars will be led by Scott Dixon after he won his fourth career pole at Indianapolis, tied with Rex Mays, A.J. Foyt and Helio Castroneves for second-most all-time; Rick Mears has six Indy 500 poles. </p><div wfd-id="7">Part of the story in IndyCar the past couple of seasons has focused on age and a bit of the changing of the guard. This year's Indy 500 field contains nine drivers who are at least 40 years old. One of those is polesitter Dixon. Four-time winners A.J. Foyt and Al Unser were both 47 years old when they won their final Indy 500. Unser won his last 500 in 1987. </div><div wfd-id="6"><br /></div><div wfd-id="6">According to Indy Star, Troy Ruttman was only 22 years and 80 days old when he won the Indy 500 in 1952. This year, Rinus VeeKay (20), Colton Herta (21) and Pato O'Ward (22) will try to beat that mark and become the youngest winner of the race. </div><div wfd-id="6"><br /></div><div wfd-id="5">Castroneves is still trying to become a member of the elite four-time-winner club. He turned 46 years old earlier this month. But he's not quite the oldest driver in the field. Tony Kanaan hit 46 last December. Two-time winners Juan Pablo Montoya (45) and Takuma Sato (44) will try for win No. 3. Champ Car champion Sebastian Bourdais is 42. Dixon, Ed Carpenter, Will Power and Ryan Hunter-Reay are all 40 years old; Carpenter is the only one of those four to be without an Indy 500 win, though he's won pole multiple times. </div><div wfd-id="4"><br /></div><div wfd-id="3">On the flip side, the other two drivers on the front row are 21 and 20 years old. The field also has a pair of 22-year-olds in Pato O'Ward and Santino Ferrucci and a pair of 24-year-olds in Alex Palou and rookie Pietro Fittipaldi. </div><div wfd-id="2"><br /></div><div wfd-id="2">This year's race field also features a record nine former Indy 500 Rookies of the Year. Eight ROY winners started the race back in 1990. </div><p><b>Starting grid</b><br />Traditionally, it's usually best to start in the first two rows if you want to win the race. That makes sense, of course. But 104 races is quite the sample size, too. The winner has come from the first three starting spots (row 1) 45 times, including each of the past three years. Sixty-four of 104 race winners have started in the first two rows.</p><p>Here's a look at the field of 33, the details and some other tidbits about the drivers.</p><p><b>Row 1</b></p><p><b>Scott Dixon - No. 9 PNC Bank Grow Up Great car</b><br />Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 231.685 mph<br />Indy 500 wins: 2008 </p><p>Dixon is fresh off his sixth IndyCar championship in 2020. He won his fourth IndyCar pole position, and also his first overall IndyCar pole position since 2017. He started from the Indy 500 pole in 2015 and 2017. When he won his only Indy 500 race in 2008, he also started from the pole. The polesitter has won the Indy 500 21 times, most recently in 2019 with Simon Pagenaud's first 500 victory. </p><p>Dixon has a race win under his belt this season in Texas. Last year at Indy he started and finished second. For all of his overall success in IndyCar, Dixon still only has one Indy 500 victory to his name. Should he finish his career without another trip to victory lane for the storied race, he'll be tied on my list with Mario Andretti as the best drivers to not reach two-time winner status. </p><p>Though Dixon only has one race win, he's led 563 laps in the Indy 500, more than any other driver in the field. </p><p><b>Colton Herta - No. 26 Gainbridge car</b><br />Team: Andretti Autosport w/Curb-Agajanian<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 231.655 mph</p><p>Herta has already shown in his young career that he might be better than his dad, team owner Bryan Herta. He's already matched dad's four-win total in his fourth season. Colton is the first IndyCar driver born in the 2000s and also became the youngest race winner in IndyCar history with his 2019 win at Circuit of The Americas in Texas. He was 18. </p><p>This year, Herta was on the provisional pole for Indy before Dixon knocked him off at the end. Herta won at St. Petersburg this season. This is his third Indy 500; he finished eighth last year. </p><p><b>Rinus VeeKay - No. 21 Bitcoin car</b></p><p>Team: Ed Carpenter Racing<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying speed: 231.511 mph</p><p>At 20 years old, Rinus has the honor of being the youngest front-row starter ever for the Indy 500. He started fourth and finished 20th last year. This is his first full season competing in IndyCar. Rinus already has a win at Indy this season, on the IMS road course earlier this month. </p><p><b>Row 2</b></p><p><b>Ed Carpenter - No. 20 SONAX car</b><br />Team: Ed Carpenter Racing<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying speed: 231.504 </p><p>Ed is a hometown favorite who's won the pole at Indy three times but is still looking for a win at the speedway. He splits his time between being a team owner and driving the ovals. He has three career victories, the last coming in 2014. </p><p><b>Tony Kanaan - No. 48 The American Legion car</b><br />Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 231.032 mph<br />Indy 500 wins: 2013</p><p>He's led a total of 346 laps at Indy and had his share of bad luck before finally reaching for the milk bottle in 2013. The 2004 series champ is always a fan favorite though he no longer races full-time in the series. His last career win came back in 2014; he has 17 victories overall. </p><p><b>Alex Palou - No. 10 NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing car</b><br />Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 230.616 mph</p><p>Palou finds himself in a good starting spot in his second Indy 500 and second IndyCar season. He earned his first IndyCar victory on the Barber Motorsports Park road course in April, fending off the likes of Will Power and Scott Dixon. </p><p>Two winners in the past 10 years have come out of row two: Dan Wheldon (2011) and Takuma Sato (2017)</p><p><b>Row 3</b></p><p><b>Ryan Hunter-Reay - No. 28 DHL car</b><br />Team: Andretti Autosport<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 230.499 mph<br />Indy 500 wins: 2014</p><p>Hunter-Reay is a 2012 series champ and 2014 Indy 500 winner along with being the 2008 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year. He's run into some overall bad luck, especially so far this season, but will look to join the two-timer club at Indy. </p><p><b>Helio Castroneves - No. 6 AutoNation/SiriusXM car</b><br />Team: Meyer Shank Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 230.355 mph<br />Indy 500 wins: 2001, 2002, 2009 </p><p>The big story for Castroneves, as it has been since 2010, is his quest to win four 500s. He came close in a shootout with Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2014. Should Castroneves win this year, it would mark a 20-year gap from his first Indy 500 victory to his last. That would set some additional history; Al Unser Sr. went 17 years between his first and fourth Indy 500 victories (1970-1987). </p><p><b>Marcus Ericsson - No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing car</b><br />Team: Chip Ganassi Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying speed: 230.318 mph</p><p>The Swede is in his second season with his current team and third in IndyCar in search of his first win. His first two Indy 500s have been forgettable, finishing 23rd and 32nd. He spun coming into pit lane and hit the wall in 2019, and he crashed only 25 laps in last year. </p><p>Kenny Brack was the last row-3 Indy 500 winner, back in 1999 during the dreadful IRL/CART split years. Eight winners have come from these three starting spots. </p><p><b>Row 4</b></p><p><b>Alexander Rossi - No. 27 NAPA AUTO PARTS/AutoNation car</b><br />Team: Andretti Autosport<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying time: 231.046 mph<br />Indy 500 wins: 2016</p><p>Rossi made a name for himself as a rookie who won the Indy 500 with a great strategy in the race's 100th running in 2016. He came close to victory No. 2 in 2019 in a shootout with eventual winner Pagenaud the last few laps. Rossi had the lead but Pagenaud passed him headed into turn 3 on lap 198. </p><p>The last winner out of row 4? Rossi in 2016. Four winners in the past 20 years have come out of row 4. </p><p><b>Ed Jones - No. 18 SealMaster car</b><br />Team: Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser Sullivan<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying time: 231.044 mph </p><p>After not having a full-time ride in 2020 due to the pandemic, Ed Jones is back in 2021 for his fourth Indy 500 start. Ed also started from the 11th spot at Indy in 2017, when he finished third as a rookie. Ed also earned IndyCar Rookie of the Year honors for his 2017 season. He is searching for his first IndyCar victory and has three top-five finishes to his credit. </p><p><b>Pato O'Ward - No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP car</b><br />Team: Arrow McLaren SP<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 230.864 mph</p><p>Pato is last year's Indy 500 Rookie of the Year. He's one of the three youngsters that has a chance to break Ruttman's 69-year-old record as the youngest winner of the Indy 500. Racing in his second 500, O'Ward finished sixth last year after starting 15th. This season, he earned his first victory in the second Texas race and also started from the pole at Barber. </p><p><b>Row 5</b></p><p><b>Pietro Fittipaldi - No. 51 Military Salutes NURTEC ODT car</b><br />Team: Dale Coyne Racing with RWR<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying time: 230.846 mph </p><p>Pietro may be one of two rookies in this year's Indy 500 field, but he's another driver who has a family history in the sport. His grandpa Emerson Fittipaldi is a former Formula 1 champion and two-time winner of the Indy 500, most famously getting his first win in 1989 when Emo's car touched wheels with Al Unser Jr. near the end of the race, sending Little Al into the wall and Emo to victory lane. Emo ranks sixth on the all-time laps led list with 505 in his 11 Indy 500 starts. </p><p>Pietro has some solid racing experience for being only 24 years old. He raced in IndyCar in 2018 and was supposed to make his Indy 500 debut that year. But he broke his legs in a qualifying crash in the WEC. </p><p><b>Felix Rosenqvist - No. 7 Arrow McLaren SP car</b><br />Team: Arrow McLaren SP <br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 230.744 mph</p><p>The Swede won his first IndyCar race last season at the four-mile road course, Road America, driving for Chip Ganassi. He's a 2015 FIA Formula 3 European champion. He finished 12th in last year's Indy 500. </p><p><b>Takuma Sato - No. 30 Panasonic/PeopleRady car</b><br />Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying time: 230.708 mph <br />Indy 500 wins: 2017, 2020</p><p>Sato, a two-time Indy 500 champion, will attempt to be the fifth driver to win the race in back-to-back years. It's a feat that's been accomplished only five times in race history, the last being Helio Castroneves in 2001-02. A win Sunday would also make him the first driver to win three Indy 500s in his 40s. He's also noted as the first Japanese driver to win an IndyCar race.</p><p>Nine Indy 500 winners started in row 5, the last being Juan Pablo Montoya in 2015. </p><p><b>Row 6</b></p><p><b>James Hinchcliffe - No. 29 Genesys car</b><br />Team: Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying time: 230.563 mph </p><p>Hinchcliffe has quite the past at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He nearly died from injuries he sustained during a practice crash at Indy in 2015. He was back a year later and won the pole position; he finished seventh. He started in the middle of the pack in 2017 and finished 22nd. Then in 2018, he was bumped from the Indy 500 starting grid. He made the last row in 2019 before starting sixth and finishing seventh for the 2020 race. </p><p>He has six career IndyCar wins, the last coming during the 2018 season. </p><p><b>Scott McLaughlin - No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske car</b><br />Team: Team Penske<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 230.557 mph </p><p>McLaughlin may be a rookie when it comes to IndyCar, but he's no stranger to racing. He's also the highest-qualifying Penske car in the field, as the team struggled to find speed during qualifying. </p><p>Ten rookies have won the Indy 500, including Juan Pablo Montoya in 2000, Helio Castroneves in 2001 and Alexander Rossi in 2016. McLaughlin will look to be No. 11. </p><p><b>Graham Rahal - No. 15 United Rentals car</b><br />Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing <br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying time: 230.521 mph </p><p>Graham has become quite a veteran of the sport over the years, racing for his dad, 1986 Indy 500 champion Bobby Rahal. Graham is seeking to become another father-son combo to win the race. Graham has six career victories since he started in Champ Car in 2007, the last coming in 2017.</p><p>Only four drivers found themselves drinking the milk after starting in row 6. Dario Franchitti won his third Indy 500 from there in 2012, and Dan Wheldon won his first in 2005. </p><p><b>Row 7</b></p><p><b>Conor Daly - No. 47 U.S. Air Force car</b><br />Team: Ed Carpenter Racing<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 230.427 mph </p><p>He'll be the driver sporting a mullet if you spot him outside of his race suit and helmet. Conor makes his eighth Indy 500 start looking to improve on his best finish of 10th place in 2019. He's another second-generation driver. His dad Derek Daly drove in Formula 1 and IndyCar. </p><p><b>Jack Harvey - No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM car</b><br />Team: Meyer Shank Racing <br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying time: 230.191 mph </p><p>Harvey has already had success at Indianapolis. He won the Freedom 100 Indy Lights race in 2015 and won the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. He's one of five drivers to have won on both the oval and road courses at Indy. </p><p><b>Josef Newgarden - No. 2 Shell Fuel Rewards Team Penske car</b><br />Team: Team Penske<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 230.071 mph </p><p>Josef, a two-time IndyCar champion in 2017 and 2019, has plenty of race wins to his name. He's still looking to put his name on the Borg Warner trophy, however. He's won 18 races in his career, including four each in 2018 and 2019. Racing for Team Penske always puts drivers in a good spot to have success at Indy, but Newgarden has watched his teammates like Castroneves, Pagenaud and Will Power celebrate Indy 500 victories the past few years. </p><p>He'll have his work cut out for him. Ryan Hunter-Reay is the most recent winner to start out of row 7, back in 2014. </p><p><b>Row 8</b></p><p><b>JR Hildebrand - No. 1 ABC Supply Foyt Stewart Racing car</b><br />Team: A.J. Foyt Enterprises<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 229.980 mph </p><p>Hildebrand's famous moment at the Indy 500 is one he'd probably like to forget. Until he wins the race, he'll always be known as the driver who hit the wall coming out of turn four in 2011 on the race's 100th anniversary. He perhaps got a little greedy trying to go around a lapped car and ended up hitting the outside wall. Dan Wheldon went on to victory lane, his last victory before he was killed in a crash at the end of the season. Hildebrand did earn Rookie of the Year honors for that 2011 race though. </p><p><b>Santino Ferrucci - No. 45 Hy-Vee car</b><br />Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing <br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying time: 229.949 mph </p><p>The youngster finished fourth last year in his second Indy 500. He'll rebound Sunday after a practice crash at Indy. Santino finished seventh as a rookie in 2019 when he also started from the 23rd spot. </p><p><b>Juan Pablo Montoya - No. 86 Arrow McLaren SP car</b><br />Team: Arrow McLaren SP<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 229.891 mph <br />Indy 500 wins: 2000, 2015</p><p>Montoya is a veteran driver returning to Indy with hopes of joining the three-timers club. He's done it all, racing in CART, sports cars, NASCAR and Formula 1. He won the Indy 500 as a rookie in 2000 and then again in 2015 in his third running of the race. He returned to open-wheel racing in 2014 after six years in F1 and NASCAR. Sunday marks his sixth start in the Indy 500. He crashed out in 2016 to finish last, but other than that he's never finished lower than sixth place.</p><p>Getting further back into the field makes it harder for drivers to get up front and win the race. A car starting in row 8 hasn't won the 500 since 1935. Only two drivers have won out of this row.</p><p><b>Row 9</b></p><p><b>Marco Andretti - No. 98 Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana/Curb car</b><br />Team: Andretti Herta-Haupert w/Marco & Curb-Agajanian<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying time: 229.872 mph </p><p>For the first time in his career, Marco isn't a full-time IndyCar driver. The 2006 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year stepped away this season to try his hand at some other forms of racing. But, of course, he's back at Indy on a course where he usually runs very well, despite the family history that's largely disappointed. </p><p>His famous Indy 500 moment came down to one of the closest finishes in the race's history. He looked like he was going to erase the Andretti Curse in 2006 and win the race, until Sam Hornish Jr. passed him on the front stretch to take the checkereds. That second-place finish is still Marco's best, though he's always raced among the leaders. He won the pole position last year but finished 13th. </p><p>Marco has often lived in the shadow of the successful careers of his grandfather Mario (1969 Indy 500 winner) and father, now-team owner Michael, who's considered the greatest driver to never win the Indy 500. Thirty years ago, Michael dominated the race before Rick Mears ended up crossing the line first for his fourth Indy 500 win. </p><p>A driver named Andretti has raced in the Indy 500 every year since 1965.</p><p><b>Simon Pagenaud - No. 22 Menards Team Penske car</b><br />Team: Team Penske<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 229.744 mph <br />Indy 500 wins: 2019</p><p>Pagenaud battled it out with Alexander Rossi in the 2019 Indy 500. Pagenaud made a pass going into turn three to seal his first victory at the yard of bricks. He's a 2016 series champion with 15 career IndyCar victories. He's also won the Indianapolis road course three times since the inaugural run in 2014. In 2019, Pagenaud swept the month of May with a win on the Indy road course, winning pole for the Indy 500 and then winning the race.</p><p><b>Sebastien Bourdais - No. 14 ROKiT/AJ Foyt Racing car</b><br />Team: A.J. Foyt Enterprises<br />Engine: Chevy <br />Qualifying time: 229.744 mph </p><p>Bourdais' greatest success came in the 2000s when he dominated Champ Car during the last years of the IRL split, winning four straight championships from 2004-07. He might already have an Indy 500 victory or two under his belt if not for that ridiculous split. He's made 213 career starts in Champ Cap and IndyCar, winning 37 races.</p><p>While there's a lot of experience coming out of this year's row 9, it will take strategy and some luck to get a win. The last winner coming out of row 9 was Johnny Rutherford in 1974. A win this year would be No. 3 for a row-9 starter. </p><p><b>Row 10</b></p><p><b>Stefan Wilson - No. 25 LOHLA SPORT/Cusick Motorsports car</b><br />Team: Andretti Autosport<br />Engine: Honda<br />Qualifying time: 229.714 mph </p><p>He's the younger brother of the late Justin Wilson. Stefan doesn't have a full-time ride in IndyCar, but he'll make his third Indy 500 start this year. His best finish is 15th in 2018.</p><p><b>Max Chilton - No. 59 Carlin car</b><br />Team: Carlin<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 229.417 mph</p><p>Max has raced in IndyCar since 2016 with only one top-five and eight top-10 finishes in his career. This is his fifth start in the Indy 500 (he failed to make the field in 2019). His only top-10 finish was fourth in 2017. </p><p><b>Dalton Kellett - No. 4 K-Line Insulators/AJ Foyt Racing car</b><br />Team: A.J. Foyt Enterprises<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 228.323 mph</p><p>In Dalton's second year in the series, if he leads a lap at Indy, it will be his first in an IndyCar. He crashed out of last year's race, good for 31st place.</p><p>Only two winners have come out of row 10 in more than 100 years. The first was Ray Harroun, the inaugural winner in 1911. The last was in 1936. </p><p><b>Row 11</b></p><p><b>Sage Karam - No. 24 DRR-AES INDIANA car</b><br />Team: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 229.156 mph </p><p>Sage Karam is another driver who doesn't have a full-time ride in IndyCar anymore. But he's found himself starting in the 31st position for the third year in a row. </p><p><b>Will Power - No. 12 Verizon 5G Team Penske car</b><br />Team: Team Penske<br />Engine: Chevy<br />Qualifying time: 228.876 mph <br />Indy 500 wins: 2018</p><p>Power, lucky to make the field which is new territory for Team Penske, will start from the back row as the second-ever Team Penske car to do so. Mario Andretti started 33rd in 1978 because of a driver switch after qualifying; Mario raced the Belgian Grand Prix in Formula One during Indy 500 qualifying. </p><p>Power is an IndyCar champion and won the 500 in 2018. He struggled to find speed all qualifying weekend and managed to qualify at the top of the last-row shootout. </p><p><b>Simona De Silvestro - No. 16 Rocket Pro TPO/Paretta Autosport car</b><br />Team: Paretta Autosport<br />Engine: Chevy <br />Qualifying time: 228.353 mph </p><p>Simona is making history with her team, an all-female-owned squad with women on the pit crew as well. She raced in open-wheel previously. Her last start at this race came in 2015. She'll suit up for her 69th career IndyCar start this Sunday. </p><p>Last year's race was the first time the field of 33 did not include at least one female driver since 1999. This year, de Silvestro is back with a history-making race team. </p><p>Once again, here's my annual reminder to readers that no driver has ever won the Indy 500 starting from the last row. For these drivers, it's usually a victory in itself simply to make The Show. That's especially true this year for Team Penske-affiliated entries Will Power and Simona de Silvestro. </p><p>And now, drivers, start your engines! </p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-14622123563893996722021-01-26T22:57:00.005-06:002021-01-26T23:01:42.664-06:00Minnesota Whitecaps NWHL bubble season, game 3: (Return of the Mack) once again <p>The last fans saw of the National Women’s Hockey League in 2020, the Minnesota Whitecaps defeated the Metropolitan Riveters in a 1-0, overtime game in St. Paul in the Isobel Cup semifinal. Picking up where the league rivals left off, they skated for nearly 60 minutes of scoreless hockey Tuesday night at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid. </p><p>In a game filled with chances and outstanding goaltending at either end, the Whitecaps found themselves with a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage near the end of regulation. Time ticked down on the final 20 seconds. Meghan Lorence accepted a pass at the point and sent the puck toward her teammate Haley Mack near the goal line. </p><p>Mack wasted little time on the doorstep, firing the puck past Riveters goaltender Sonjia Shelly with 10.5 ticks on the clock. Whitecaps win, 1-0. Shelly made 36 saves, while Amanda Leveille stopped all 38 shots she faced for Minnesota. </p><p>“I had full faith in my teammates that we were going to score on that 5-on-3,” said Leveille, before referencing Mack in a postgame Zoom call. “Superstar over here just netted another goal for us.” </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Haley Mack (<a href="https://twitter.com/HaleyMack9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HaleyMack9</a>) for ROY <a href="https://t.co/vjrkk6ny1D">pic.twitter.com/vjrkk6ny1D</a></p>— Minnesota Whitecaps (@WhitecapsHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhitecapsHockey/status/1354253581864620032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>A “superstar” to her teammate, Mack is also an NWHL rookie who’s left quite the first impression. Only three games into her NWHL career, she’s responsible for the game-winners in two games, adding a shootout goal against the Toronto Six on Sunday. </p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>“It’s a huge win for our team,” Mack said Tuesday. “Just go out there, outwork them on the 5-on-3. We had an opportunity, and we were able to execute that. So that was good.” </p><p>Mack, who was drafted 23rd overall in the fourth round of the 2020 NWHL Draft, spend the past four seasons playing for Bemidji State University. She’s coming off a season in which she scored 15 goals and 28 points in 37 games. </p><p>Chatter about the Whitecaps roster for the 2021 shortened season often focuses on it being a veteran squad, obviously with a lot of Minnesota natives on it as well. Names like Jonna Curtis, Emma Stauber, Allie Thunstrom, Audra Richards and Meaghan Pezon have all been on the Whitecaps previously, along with a bunch of their teammates. </p><p>But three games in, it’s the rookie Mack who’s been one of the biggest factors in the 3-0 Whitecaps record.</p><p>In this 2021 NWHL Bubble Season, each team is scheduled for fives games (one against each NWHL team) before the playoffs, and then Isobel Cup semifinals and championship. The Whitecaps started out with the matchup no one got to see at the end of last season, when they were set to face the Boston Pride in the Isobel Cup Final before COVID-19 precautions shut everything down in March. </p><p>This past Saturday, the Whitecaps used a comeback victory and more stellar goaltending to earn a 2-1 victory over Boston, a team that was nearly unbeatable a season ago. Down 1-0 in the first period, Curtis tied the game about a minute later. The game-winner came in the second period from captain and original Whitecaps defenseman, 42-year-old Winny Brodt Brown.</p><p>It was Brodt Brown’s first goal in the NWHL. </p><p>But the true star of the game was Leveille. No stranger to big games and backstopping her team to victory, Leveille made 36 saves. </p><p>The next day was a bit of a different story, with Leveille surrendering three first-period goals to the Toronto Six, in their inaugural season. Allie Morse came into the game in relief before Leveille finished off a perfect third period. </p><p>The Whitecaps were on their heels early, getting down 3-0 before Sydney Baldwin scored late in the first period on the power play to shrink the deficit. Toronto took a 5-1 lead with 1:32 left in the second period before a flurry of activity. Thirty-one seconds later, Haylea Schmid got one back for the Whitecaps. Then with 12 seconds left in the period, Mack officially got on the scoresheet with her first NWHL goal to make it a 5-3 game headed into the second intermission. </p><p>In the third, Richards scored a shorthanded goal with 7 minutes to play. Only 1 minute, 23 seconds later, Pezon fired the puck into the goal on the power play to tie the game, 5-5, completing the Whitecaps’ comeback with four unanswered goals. Special teams were a factor in this one, with 17 total penalties and plenty of 4-on-4 hockey.</p><p>It took five rounds of the shootout to get the Whitecaps win. While Leveille made four of the five saves, Curtis scored for the Whitecaps before Mack added her shootout winner. </p><p>Then came the back-and-forth, odd-man-rush type of game against the Riveters.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Some NWHL history made tonight.<br /><br />With tonight's sensational 38-save performance, <a href="https://twitter.com/MandyLeveille29?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MandyLeveille29</a> is now the NWHL's all-time leader in shutouts (6). Tonight's win was the 46th of her NWHL career and 30th with <a href="https://twitter.com/WhitecapsHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhitecapsHockey</a>.</p>— Mike Murphy (@DigDeepBSB) <a href="https://twitter.com/DigDeepBSB/status/1354255746117079041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>“Whenever we play the Riveters, it’s always a close game,” Lorence said. “It’s always a battle to the finish. Being able to draw that penalty and capitalize on it was huge.” </p><p>The Whitecaps face the Connecticut Whale at 7:30 p.m. CST Thursday before seeing the Buffalo Beauts Saturday afternoon. All games at broadcast on twitch.tv/nwhl, with the Isobel Cup semifinal and final games getting the nod on television via NBCSN. </p><div><br /></div>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-72705068981848244602020-12-31T13:47:00.008-06:002020-12-31T13:50:05.129-06:00Sharing positive vibes through #SportsSmiles <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1nngAH9lANw/X-4rBsnCvuI/AAAAAAAAdwk/8uzDUV6uFfUKgIgoEjlw4_TwsyKGAgHVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/ETAOzQlWsAIQeo5.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1nngAH9lANw/X-4rBsnCvuI/AAAAAAAAdwk/8uzDUV6uFfUKgIgoEjlw4_TwsyKGAgHVwCLcBGAsYHQ/w233-h175/ETAOzQlWsAIQeo5.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>When the COVID-19 pandemic caused the shutdown of sports in March, I wanted to get some positive vibes out on Twitter. I shared a photo from Target Field with the hashtag #SportsSmiles, and I asked others to share their favorite photos and/or memories from times that sports made them smile. <p></p><p>I got a lot of great responses that I retweeted at the time, but I thought it would be fun to group them all together and share them here as well. </p><p>It's never too late to submit a <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23sportssmiles&src=typed_query" target="_blank">#SportsSmiles</a> photo! </p><p><br /></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Let's get some positive vibes going here by sharing some favorite photos and/or memories where sports have made you smile. <br /><br />I'll start: 2019 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MNTwins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MNTwins</a> season. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/KysZKAHfxU">pic.twitter.com/KysZKAHfxU</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1238506176725372931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Joe smiling when he got to catch in his final game made me smile (and cry, there was a lot of crying too).<a href="https://t.co/xGU0mxK86H">https://t.co/xGU0mxK86H</a></p>— Laurel Krahn (@wintwins) <a href="https://twitter.com/wintwins/status/1238538900009877505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I was actually looking for a tweet with a different photo of Joe smiling that day. Finally found it, fourth photo in this tweet:<a href="https://t.co/MTjlMOVzwW">https://t.co/MTjlMOVzwW</a></p>— Laurel Krahn (@wintwins) <a href="https://twitter.com/wintwins/status/1238541662709846017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Every trail mix run with you. <a href="https://t.co/1Wzp1qnVZn">pic.twitter.com/1Wzp1qnVZn</a></p>— Joe Ceplecha (Mr. 2000) (@JoeCepps) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeCepps/status/1238638319971569664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="und"> <a href="https://t.co/8C7R2dCI0a">pic.twitter.com/8C7R2dCI0a</a></p>— Justin Ekstrom (@thesportscrib21) <a href="https://twitter.com/thesportscrib21/status/1238641273344593920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Meeting Iowa alum and WNBA player Megan Gustafson, MN girls state hockey tournament, taking the pooch to the TC marathon, and watching those two GOAT centers square off. Favorites that I just happened to be working (for 3 of the 4) <a href="https://t.co/6jmgBtPsbj">pic.twitter.com/6jmgBtPsbj</a></p>— Sloane Martin (@SloaneMartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloaneMartin/status/1238507348412563456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Best day! <a href="https://t.co/CTkrgV0egw">pic.twitter.com/CTkrgV0egw</a></p>— Tracy Hannan (@tracyahannan) <a href="https://twitter.com/tracyahannan/status/1238508644846706691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Taking this little guy to his first baseball game on Father's Day. <a href="https://t.co/kNOx5FFkCq">pic.twitter.com/kNOx5FFkCq</a></p>— Tyler Mason (@tylermason21) <a href="https://twitter.com/tylermason21/status/1238538298445967360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">when the gophers beat penn state and everyone rushed the field <a href="https://t.co/BnprX2jBua">pic.twitter.com/BnprX2jBua</a></p>— sam (@samanthauren_) <a href="https://twitter.com/samanthauren_/status/1238549594100969474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Great idea! <a href="https://t.co/AzoKgmi4ec">pic.twitter.com/AzoKgmi4ec</a></p>— YHH (@YouthHockeyHub) <a href="https://twitter.com/YouthHockeyHub/status/1238589169221406721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Took literal planes, trains, and automobiles to get to Landon Donovan's farewell match in Connecticut in 2014. Meant the world to me to be able to be there to clap him off for the last time in a US shirt. <a href="https://t.co/XV3pbhhMsL">pic.twitter.com/XV3pbhhMsL</a></p>— Dana Wessel (@DanaWessel) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanaWessel/status/1238629951894630401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">2010: <a href="https://twitter.com/ThePeterJNelson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ThePeterJNelson</a> rented out the Dome & we played baseball. <a href="https://t.co/7PYSA5lTYH">pic.twitter.com/7PYSA5lTYH</a></p>— Tracy Perlman (@Partray) <a href="https://twitter.com/Partray/status/1239045480631414784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Meeting Tom Kelly at the 2019 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mntwins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mntwins</a> opener. <a href="https://t.co/bHQKfpDoY6">pic.twitter.com/bHQKfpDoY6</a></p>— Nathan Misses Twins Baseball (@Plouffe24Fan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Plouffe24Fan/status/1239047314276220928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Donte Lawson Feb 2019 GWG against Hermantown at Amsoil. <a href="https://t.co/ipDiJbG74T">https://t.co/ipDiJbG74T</a></p>— FabFiveHockeyfansMN (@FabFiveHockeyf1) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabFiveHockeyf1/status/1239567810742947840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gopher Justin Holl Frozen Four Semi GWG against NoDak 2014 <a href="https://t.co/ISGV7smBNm">https://t.co/ISGV7smBNm</a></p>— FabFiveHockeyfansMN (@FabFiveHockeyf1) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabFiveHockeyf1/status/1239606787306917889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">And Just To Be Balanced , the Most Exciting Walkoff Lady Gopher Playoff Goal Ever ! Sarah Potomak 2016 <a href="https://t.co/PJVG10nTpn">https://t.co/PJVG10nTpn</a></p>— FabFiveHockeyfansMN (@FabFiveHockeyf1) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabFiveHockeyf1/status/1239608903337459714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">One More . Got to Save a Few for Later . Lee Stecklein OT GWG 2019 Whitecap Championship <a href="https://t.co/U6pjxgHkiP">https://t.co/U6pjxgHkiP</a> <a href="https://t.co/syrbmF9DH1">https://t.co/syrbmF9DH1</a></p>— FabFiveHockeyfansMN (@FabFiveHockeyf1) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabFiveHockeyf1/status/1239611993172164608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">One More . Got to Save a Few for Later . Lee Stecklein OT GWG 2019 Whitecap Championship <a href="https://t.co/U6pjxgHkiP">https://t.co/U6pjxgHkiP</a> <a href="https://t.co/syrbmF9DH1">https://t.co/syrbmF9DH1</a></p>— FabFiveHockeyfansMN (@FabFiveHockeyf1) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabFiveHockeyf1/status/1239611993172164608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Same! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/0u5gbWWTKS">https://t.co/0u5gbWWTKS</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1238537621502070784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">2019/20 youth hockey season! U10s an mites. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mnhockey?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mnhockey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/zHceISUxsU">pic.twitter.com/zHceISUxsU</a></p>— Jason H (@jhehir00) <a href="https://twitter.com/jhehir00/status/1238531229693157379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="und">5-3-11 <a href="https://t.co/oSAkkx0I0C">pic.twitter.com/oSAkkx0I0C</a></p>— TCAnelle (@TCAnelle) <a href="https://twitter.com/TCAnelle/status/1238538738290044928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Just before the Gophers beat Auburn <a href="https://t.co/FEjUF0DdgW">pic.twitter.com/FEjUF0DdgW</a></p>— Gopherated〽️ (@Gopherated) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gopherated/status/1238601513301401602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="und"> <a href="https://t.co/aRXEYxYMj5">pic.twitter.com/aRXEYxYMj5</a></p>— Jeremy Fraker (@FrakerJeremy) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrakerJeremy/status/1238647233102430208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Love it! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/zZPk1fQ3Um">https://t.co/zZPk1fQ3Um</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1239008418591113216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Playing this amazing sport with these amazing humans. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/derbytwitter?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#derbytwitter</a> <a href="https://t.co/FWWCvA74vF">pic.twitter.com/FWWCvA74vF</a></p>— Kate Tremaine - Kitty Skittles #181 (@widdershins_cat) <a href="https://twitter.com/widdershins_cat/status/1246867464706801667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Keeping <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> going tonight with a photo of the overtime aftermath as <a href="https://twitter.com/WhitecapsHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhitecapsHockey</a> beat <a href="https://twitter.com/Riveters?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Riveters</a> 1-0 in the Isobel Cup semifinal. <br /><br />Any more favorite sports moments that made you smile? Share them! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/vDJZ96Yuh8">https://t.co/vDJZ96Yuh8</a> <a href="https://t.co/9nTzWNndGf">pic.twitter.com/9nTzWNndGf</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1239026727407493120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">From Indy last year. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/vDJZ96Yuh8">https://t.co/vDJZ96Yuh8</a> <a href="https://t.co/pvPMEASXfw">pic.twitter.com/pvPMEASXfw</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1239224857939845128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">In today's edition of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a>... <a href="https://t.co/vDJZ96Yuh8">https://t.co/vDJZ96Yuh8</a> <a href="https://t.co/VZDvs9AdOk">pic.twitter.com/VZDvs9AdOk</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1239550540129894401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">More Whitecaps...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/8vYPlMgyUv">https://t.co/8vYPlMgyUv</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1239051542386413569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">This qualifies for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a>. <a href="https://t.co/Dom1fxIvqH">https://t.co/Dom1fxIvqH</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1239223999403626496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Another throwback for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a>. <br /><br />Trying to keep the positivity going! <a href="https://t.co/0AgyMroKbn">pic.twitter.com/0AgyMroKbn</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1240300938226806784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">This was a week ago. Kinda feels like a month ago. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MNTwinsST?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MNTwinsST</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/agbfN2faFM">pic.twitter.com/agbfN2faFM</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1240400528053501959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Haven't run out of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> pics yet. 😊 <a href="https://t.co/DUBzTfAvwy">pic.twitter.com/DUBzTfAvwy</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1240700531430920192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">that time we accidentally photobombed the face of the minnesota twins and the owner of the minnesota twins 😂 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/u4ClDaKVZx">pic.twitter.com/u4ClDaKVZx</a></p>— triciawashere (@TriciaWasHere) <a href="https://twitter.com/TriciaWasHere/status/1240723275354791936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> 😊 <a href="https://t.co/KFw8HCTy9g">https://t.co/KFw8HCTy9g</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1241046970300538880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/roadamerica?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@roadamerica</a>. <a href="https://t.co/ewCBQFH1az">pic.twitter.com/ewCBQFH1az</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1241048300184313856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> with my Austin fam at Target Field. <a href="https://twitter.com/PBJkayfate?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PBJkayfate</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/porkchoplane?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@porkchoplane</a> <a href="https://t.co/e3BFPg7inp">pic.twitter.com/e3BFPg7inp</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1241412591659909121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">More <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/roadamerica?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@roadamerica</a>. <br /><br />Still welcoming/sharing any photos you all want to share! <a href="https://t.co/7vtFRHM6vL">pic.twitter.com/7vtFRHM6vL</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1241756040380768259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Today it became official that high school sports in Minnesota are canceled this spring season. <br /><br />I'd love to help share some love and positive sports memories these athletes have from this school year or past seasons. <br /><br />Share you photos and stories with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a>! <a href="https://t.co/KfklpjEJ87">pic.twitter.com/KfklpjEJ87</a></p>— Heather Rule (@hlrule) <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule/status/1253455907519893504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Andover winning the 2020 consolation bracket 💛🖤 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsSmiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsSmiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/GlsMf7kMBL">pic.twitter.com/GlsMf7kMBL</a></p>— Megan (Dahl) Knops (@mntwinsfan07) <a href="https://twitter.com/mntwinsfan07/status/1253456760658169858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-26133282030490801682020-12-31T13:14:00.001-06:002020-12-31T13:14:08.097-06:00The 2020 chapter<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKqo29m9JwnA5E1DG_y2CPVpydVRr16X2R8bD22NBlTNBuJQgaY8id0uCPydBWnhvb9xeNzUnftsq7ZVHQCtS3epC5N49RfkLMeBf_myCiB26Bye6QlxAPXX74rCb5gZayuCYfYaF3hU/s2048/20200109_224452.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKqo29m9JwnA5E1DG_y2CPVpydVRr16X2R8bD22NBlTNBuJQgaY8id0uCPydBWnhvb9xeNzUnftsq7ZVHQCtS3epC5N49RfkLMeBf_myCiB26Bye6QlxAPXX74rCb5gZayuCYfYaF3hU/w268-h201/20200109_224452.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>Hindsight is quite a funny thing. <p></p><p>I ended <a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2019/12/writer-journalist-blogger-author-social.html" target="_blank">a lengthy post on New Year's Eve 2019</a> with this line: "Cheers to 2020 and the next decade of work, friends!"</p><p>Looking at that now, a year later, saying cheers to 2020 seems absolutely ridiculous. Who would want to toast to the year that gave us a pandemic? As my dad has said for months, 2020 will go down as the year where nothing happened. </p><p>I guess it's true that the world didn't completely shut down, but what a whirlwind of differences. I think many of us can agree that time played tricks on us this past year, or some would say that time means nothing in 2020. Working from home, what day is it? A 60-game baseball season ended this fall but made me think it was June. I felt like I got my weekends back, without work/sports, while many friends felt the opposite and more overwhelmed. </p><p><b>Baseball returned... eventually</b><br />Reflecting at year's end is quite common, and I'm proud of what I wrote last year encompassing my work over the decade. As for this year, I'd also direct readers to <a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/07/pandemic-projects.html" target="_blank">my post from July titled Pandemic Projects</a> where I detailed many of the things that occupied my time, work-wise and otherwise, throughout the spring and early summer before baseball started. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oPx3Q1DCYJQ/X-1hMJvqDpI/AAAAAAAAdvs/umI2HNqkExw4cPk869w2uM3c7BMMIV8yQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200929_131338%2B%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="167" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oPx3Q1DCYJQ/X-1hMJvqDpI/AAAAAAAAdvs/umI2HNqkExw4cPk869w2uM3c7BMMIV8yQCLcBGAsYHQ/w223-h167/20200929_131338%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>The only real sense of normalcy since the pandemic started came with that 60-game baseball season from the end of July through September. Covering games again was so nice, even if it was all from the comforts of home instead of only the road games from home. It was odd watching games played at Target Field on TV, and even in the final week of the season I always had to remind myself when a new homestand or road trip started so my pregame work routine wouldn't get messed up. <p></p><p>The Minnesota Twins finished with back-to-back American League Central Division Championships, getting another stellar year from designated hitter Nelson Cruz, phenomenal pitching from Kenta Maeda (including a near no-hitter) and a few Bombas thrown in, too. Max Kepler started the season with a home run on the first pitch he saw, after all. We don't need to get into the postseason, except to mention that the playoff format changed a bit and teams played in bubbles in California and Texas. </p><p><b>A busy, pre-pandemic winter</b><br />When it comes to my writing this year, let me back up to pre-pandemic times. One of the first things I covered in 2020 was a Minnesota Wild outdoor practice in St. Louis Park. It came right after the announcement that the Wild were *finally* going to host a Winter Classic, scheduled for Jan. 1, 2021 at Target Field. Oh man, I haven't thought about that in a while. My baseball and hockey worlds were going to collide, and I was so ready for it. Of course, the pandemic canceled that fun. </p><p>Also in January, I filled in covering a few Gopher men's basketball games, including an upset of No. 19 Michigan. I continued my work with Minnesota Hockey Magazine as a Wild beat writer and a contributor to NBC SportsEngine covering high school hockey games. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IDpcS8NqEdk/X-1hX4sLI7I/AAAAAAAAdvw/0lDE5FLKylE1VlXqV6axUhYqZNAWpEe3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/IMG_a0ww2k.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1024" height="185" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IDpcS8NqEdk/X-1hX4sLI7I/AAAAAAAAdvw/0lDE5FLKylE1VlXqV6axUhYqZNAWpEe3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w218-h185/IMG_a0ww2k.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>Since Hockey Day Minnesota stayed local in Minneapolis this year, I covered my first HDM. Fun fact: It's more than one day. Despite the very cold, snowy and windy weather at the outdoor rink, I covered two high school games Thursday night, featuring local schools Holy Angels and Blake girls' hockey teams each hosting an opponent. On Friday, I watched the women's all-star game with Minnesota Whitecaps, NWHL and former Gophers players. Saturday, the Gopher women hosted a game. Each of those brought features for the spring 2020 issues of Minnesota Hockey Magazine. <p></p><p>The main events on the sunny, but chilly, Saturday were great match-ups between boys' high school hockey powerhouses. I covered Blaine versus Blake. Conditions weren't ideal, but I had a great time running around the rink, talking to players and watching outdoor hockey. </p><p><b>Hockey, hockey, hockey </b><br />Among the bigger stories on the Wild beat last winter, top forward Jason Zucker got traded to Pittsburgh and coach Bruce Boudreau was fired on Valentine's Day. That's still an interesting move to ponder. I also wrote a story on the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, jumping on a conference call with other media and Al Michaels, who had the famous call. </p><p>As the prep hockey season wound down, I covered section finals for the Star Tribune, then put on my Minnesota Hockey Magazine cap to cover the boys' and girls' state tournaments. Breck won yet another Class 1A championship, while Andover knocked off three-time champs Edina in Class 2A on the girls' side. The Andover boys' team finally made the tourney, only to be upset as the top seed in the quarterfinals by St. Thomas Academy; Hill-Murray won it all in Class 2A, and Mahtomedi finally broke through for a championship.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_WnhoKjTohZZ7PTh9xovQXuvzgr6TJA5AlI9E61VRMtLihrpSenYmIOOOYUFdzWC7BoFqejTV9b8khbjgoq-n11mzgTUKgq8fC39LehBFaDfgG7EI4gXab3ZNjSO7ADUlXc8InzRLoo/s926/IMG_-kq02xd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="926" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_WnhoKjTohZZ7PTh9xovQXuvzgr6TJA5AlI9E61VRMtLihrpSenYmIOOOYUFdzWC7BoFqejTV9b8khbjgoq-n11mzgTUKgq8fC39LehBFaDfgG7EI4gXab3ZNjSO7ADUlXc8InzRLoo/w256-h208/IMG_-kq02xd.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>I followed the Minnesota Whitecaps for their second season in the NWHL, covering their 1-0, overtime, semifinal victory in March. They were supposed to play the title game a week later. A title game that never happened. <p></p><p>I kept somewhat busy during the pandemic with feature stories for USAHockey.com and SportsEngine. Then there were winter preview stories for Breakdown Sports. Throughout the year, and especially this fall, I put together a couple dozen feature stories for the Otter Tail Lakes Country Magazine, focusing on communities throughout Otter Tail County. </p><p>A few of the most fun projects for me this year came out of some pandemic creativity as I strived to determine how to keep busy, keep writing and keep focused on sports. I had so much fun writing the 14-part series for three sports movies: <a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-league-of-their-own-commentary-part-1.html" target="_blank">A League of Their Own</a>, <a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-rookie-commentary-part-1-what-kind.html" target="_blank">The Rookie</a> and <a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield</a>. I turned them into a combination of summary, sarcasm and asking questions about why certain things were done in the movies. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sYV7DPJBXo9DRe94iFXDTK9OlPuNBN79BiK1RA3bji7KhaIezfA_51Wxz00y8lzUXxmpJrumkHIiqBiqfBrBkj9ZfUBhmktCAzJpZyNLJAJtGbY8_4Ea-MskC95yAb9hUpbHciXlhVw/s2048/20201105_000133+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sYV7DPJBXo9DRe94iFXDTK9OlPuNBN79BiK1RA3bji7KhaIezfA_51Wxz00y8lzUXxmpJrumkHIiqBiqfBrBkj9ZfUBhmktCAzJpZyNLJAJtGbY8_4Ea-MskC95yAb9hUpbHciXlhVw/w201-h151/20201105_000133+%25281%2529.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><b>Finding the good in 2020</b><br />So, those were some highlights of my year. Was it fantastic? No. Was it terrible? Also no. I'm blessed to continue writing. I've seen a lot of takes on social media lately as the year 2020 wraps up. Some people want to make it clear that just because the calendar flips to 2021 doesn't mean everything goes back to whatever normal will be. Others don't want to hear about good things that happened to people, because the year was so bad for many; others have the opposite view and want positive vibes.<p></p><p>For me, I wanted to share some of the good things. Part of it is a way to look back and realize what I've accomplished, especially when work is slower and motivation can be light. I'll also admit that I've felt the pandemic fatigue lately. It can be tough missing traditions we used to have, missing sports seasons that are normally in full swing, missing friends, missing simple things like getting together in-person, wondering when things will return to whatever definition of normal. </p><p>But there's always hope. For whatever is going on in your life, clinging to hope and faith is huge. And if there's one thing a new year can bring, it's hope for good things. </p><i>Thanks, as always, for reading. Let's connect on Twitter and Instagram; I'm @hlrule. </i>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-82063171970234621692020-12-31T08:15:00.007-06:002020-12-31T12:37:32.118-06:00When sports went dark in 2020 <i>Most of the content in this entry was written in mid-March, right as the COVID-19 pandemic started shutting things down. I didn't feel compelled to share my thoughts at the time, but I thought they would be good to post as the year 2020 comes to a close. <br /></i><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dT5ipaRZF-M/XmsDfGO8hYI/AAAAAAAAY4Y/bfRSjokwzYI6LtuHkOKTJDRcUPvA-tlVgCKgBGAsYHg/s1600/20200311_135936.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dT5ipaRZF-M/XmsDfGO8hYI/AAAAAAAAY4Y/bfRSjokwzYI6LtuHkOKTJDRcUPvA-tlVgCKgBGAsYHg/s320/20200311_135936.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What ended up as the final Minnesota Twins spring training <br />
game of 2020.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The sun was shining on the lush, green grass at Hammond Stadium. The temperature at game time was 79 degrees, exactly 40 degrees warmer than the Twin Cities, which was met with cheers from those fans in attendance for the Atlanta Braves versus Minnesota Twins game on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.<br />
<br />
It's always fun for Minnesota baseball fans who make their way to Fort Myers for some baseball and summer-like weather during February and March. Though the results don't count or much matter, it's all about the baseball atmosphere that hasn't been around for months. It's about checking out the new players and seeing the familiar faces. It's about the anticipation of a new baseball season, which this year was pretty much off the charts for fans in Twins territory.<br />
<br />
As the game went on, the Twins lineup didn't produce much for runs. But the bright spot in the 3-2 Twins loss was Jose Berrios on the mound during his 4.1 innings with 5 strikeouts (many, if not all, were looking Ks). Later that day, Berrios was named the Opening Day starter for the second straight year for the Twins.<div><br /></div><div>I attended the game as a fan with my parents. We walked out of the stadium with some friends after the game, having no idea that it was going to be the final game of the Minnesota Twins 2020 spring training.</div><div>
<br /><b>Unprecedented - yes, I used the word - times </b><br />Twenty-four hours later, everything in the sports world was turned upside down and effectively shut down for the time being in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Major League Baseball announced the cancellation of the rest of all spring training games, adding that Opening Day (March 26 against the Mariners for the Twins) would be delayed at least two weeks.<br />
<br />
Before I go further, let me just say that with all the information and takes going around social media that it seems to me there is a both/and situation going on. When it comes to sports, one can 1) Absolutely understand that public safety and health are a top priority and most definitely take precedence over sports. You agree that postponements and cancellations are the right call. 2) Still be disappointed, sad, frustrated or feeling whatever you want to about these unprecedented and abrupt changes to sports.<br />
<br />
And I will focus on sports here, because, well, that's my arena.<br />
<br /><b>All the unanswered questions</b><br />So much has happened this week and particularly in the past 24-48 hours. I'm already a bit of a Twitter junkie, but it felt like hitting the refresh button couldn't be done enough. And then every time you'd check it, something else was canceled or postponed, or first, it was set to be played without fans. NCAA, auto racing, all the major sports leagues, etc. The news cycle was constant and stories seemed to be outdated faster than Byron Buxton can get down the line.<br />
<br />
It's a weird time. There are so many more questions than answers about so many things. Ticket refunds? Travel refunds? How will part-time/freelance workers make ends meet? Will seasons be shortened? Will Mikko Koivu play in an NHL game again? What else will be canceled?<br />
<br />
Many answers aren't there right now. The important thing was getting everything buttoned up and postponed. Now the work begins or trying to figure things out from here. It's no secret that scheduling for professional-sports venues is a logistical mess, and that's during regular-season play. Try rescheduling games now or figuring out how to resume seasons or playoffs while still making it fair for all involved. It won't be an easy task. But I'll save that for those in charge.<br />
<br />
While the Coronavirus has hit, that uncertainty has also hit the stock market. Say what you will about the market, but it's taken a hard hit here recently. That's not the only measure of the economy, of course. Things will certainly trickle down immediately to plenty of people, and that's just considering the sports shutdown.<br />
<br />
I saw plenty of Tweets about who's affected and what this abruptness of no-sports means to them. Of course, the one that hits home are those who aren't employed full-time with benefits. Freelancers and contract employees and hourly/seasonal/part-time employees (hand raised). It's everyone from sports venue employees to sports writers to those who work in sports TV production. I'm sure there are many more I'm not thinking of, like food or merchandise industry workers who won't have ballparks or arenas to supply with their products. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Fast forward to December 2020...</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>It's interesting to go back and re-read this. I don't remember why exactly I didn't share the post in March. If I recall, I think I really felt compelled to write something that day, even if I didn't share it immediately. </div><div><br /></div><div>It really was amazing how quickly things escalated. Had our scheduled vacation been set for a few days later, I don't think we would have traveled. But there we were in Fort Myers, having attended a baseball game one afternoon and then preparing for the next game to get canceled. </div><div><br /></div><div>That Thursday was an odd day. As more news unfolded and high-profile cases were reported that Wednesday night, March 11, we figured it was only a matter of time before baseball followed. The Twins had a rare spring-training night game scheduled for that Thursday. Had it been the usual 1 p.m. start, they would have gotten it in, not that it really matters. So we spent the day out and about, grabbed a patio lunch at Panera and kept obsessively checking our phones to see the latest updates. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also had my eye on the Minnesota state basketball tournaments back home, too. After other winter sports, like hockey, finished their seasons and tournaments, boys basketball wasn't able to crown a section winner in some cases, and girls basketball had their state runs stopped in the middle. Those stories are still being told. I wrote a story about Henning girls' basketball for Breakdown Sports for the 2020-21 season, following the team's heartbreaking end to the season without a state-title game. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, a very odd vacation turned into a long spring and summer for me. Thankfully, the blessings of good health and safety have been with me and my family. From the sports perspective though, it was certainly different not working baseball games for a while, and then watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs being played in a bubble. <br />
<br />
With 2021 on the horizon, there's a light at the end of the tunnel with a vaccine. Sports came back, though nothing is back to normal, or even a new normal. Here's hoping for good things for all in the new year. </div></div>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-8343825973488740732020-11-25T10:05:00.017-06:002020-11-25T10:05:00.663-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 14: ‘It could happen’<p>Clark is dripping sweat and spits in slow motion. The batter
spits, too, except he’s clearly chewing tobacco. Gross. He also has quite the
impressive mustache.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89p55UWQnTA/X7nlNtUfrzI/AAAAAAAAdQ4/8fCyCzxq9lILcajft4PGu_XVcMoblAdfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Clark%2Band%2BKnox%2Bend.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89p55UWQnTA/X7nlNtUfrzI/AAAAAAAAdQ4/8fCyCzxq9lILcajft4PGu_XVcMoblAdfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Clark%2Band%2BKnox%2Bend.png" width="320" /></a></div>Then for once, I’m actually on the same page with Ranch
here: “I can’t believe he’s leaving Clark in the game. Any hit scores a run.”
I’m pretty sure that last sentence is to make it clear what’s at stake for the
non-baseball folks watching the movie. One of those things you might not say in real life but have to add in order to educate the viewing audience. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">J.P. comes over to Roger in the dugout, thinking, hoping,
that there’s an angel with Clark. Roger looks like he’s about to puke because
he knows that’s not true. No angels are coming to the rescue this time. Foul
ball, 0-1 count. Down in the dirt, 1-1. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>His pitch count is what now?!</b><br />
And then, this from Wally in the radio booth as Clark shakes out his pitching
arm: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“His arm has to be tired. He’s thrown 156 pitches.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m sorry. What? 156 pitches? Even when I first started
watching this as a kid before I knew my baseball, that seemed like a lot. Once
I knew that 100 pitches was the general ballpark for a solid outing, this stat
is downright comical. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2-1, pitch No. 157. Way inside, 3-1. Knox nods to the
bullpen-phone guy in the dugout and asks Roger if there are any angels. Next
pitch is a deep, deep fly ball, but it barely lands foul in the seats. Well, it
comes down to a full count. Cue Ranch to give us a rapid-fire scenario: Full count,
two outs, Angels lead by a run, “and for Mel Clark, this is the pressure
cooker.” Oh. I’m sure he hasn’t been under any pressure already. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Finally, it looks like a good pitching decision… or does
it?</b><br />
And <b>now</b> Knox tells Roger he’s going to pull Clark. Are you freakin’
kidding me? Now? You sit around all game, let him get into jam after jam out
there, let him thrown nearly 160 pitches, hit a batter to load the bases, but
it’s finally that full count that gets you to make the move? Sure, skip. You do
you. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-1CTzqA4k-rS-dp5-TzliiWroIm46XvVaxQnkUMOxiaiybT6K7jmMmz_l4efBdWWcBAEAb7DvoGGRSN9AhyphenhyphenHaR_7QlpevfZwlYeKKQuzrC62aJHoSYdkzkpIVIxf-V9k3z-fiFlXlBI/s800/Angel+signal.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-1CTzqA4k-rS-dp5-TzliiWroIm46XvVaxQnkUMOxiaiybT6K7jmMmz_l4efBdWWcBAEAb7DvoGGRSN9AhyphenhyphenHaR_7QlpevfZwlYeKKQuzrC62aJHoSYdkzkpIVIxf-V9k3z-fiFlXlBI/s320/Angel+signal.png" width="320" /></a></div>Roger, implores Knox like a little kid, wanting Clark to “try.”
Knox says Clark is “all used up.” Well, duh. Any pitcher would be all used up
at that pitch count. Not to mention, Clark doesn’t exactly look like a
22-year-old out there. Age isn’t on his side. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, even though no guys in sparkling pajamas are coming to
help out tonight, we’re going to get one final moment of movie magic. Roger
tells Knox that all Clark has to do is believe, and then they put their heads
together to come up with a plan. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve never seen a pitching coach in this movie, and that
would have been a good time for a visit. But Knox heads out of the dugout to
presumably relieve Clark. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“All I can say is, it’s about time.” I’m with ya, Ranch.
Though he seems really gleeful about it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Everybody make that angel signal</b><br />
Clark tells Knox that he has nothing left. Knox says he has one strike left,
and Clark is almost begging to be taken out with his body language. But wait!
Roger steps out of the dugout and makes the angel signal with his arms. Knox
tells Clark he has an angel with him. As the inspirational soundtrack rolls,
J.P. and the rest of the Angels in the dugout join them in the signal. Then the
fans in the stands all start doing it, like it’s the wave or something. I hate
the wave, by the way.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEXhRYeZIjA/X7nlcFuhNFI/AAAAAAAAdQ8/MzXjW3wm5aM-_xf0YLbiQv2bAkyKozu3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Angels%2Bsignal%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2Bteam.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEXhRYeZIjA/X7nlcFuhNFI/AAAAAAAAdQ8/MzXjW3wm5aM-_xf0YLbiQv2bAkyKozu3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Angels%2Bsignal%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2Bteam.png" width="320" /></a></div>Knox and Clark look around the stadium as the music goes
full inspirational with everyone standing to join in the signal. Knox utters an
“It could happen,” just to put the cheese factor over the top. And we see David
in the box seats; he’s ditched the suit and bowtie in favor of the Angels-souvenir-shop
look, complete with a halo atop his Angels cap. We also see the drunk fan,
who’s still wearing a sleeveless tank. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the owners’ box, Murphy gives the signal, too. He looks back
at his family so they join in as well. Plenty of them are wearing cowboy garb, of
course. We get it already. In the radio booth, Wally has that idiotic grin on
his face as he and the producer give the signal. Ranch, obviously, sits there
doing nothing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is a really long mound visit, and I’m sure the umpire
would have been out there by now if this wasn’t a movie. Knox leaves Clark in
after all that, again mentioning the “championship.” The angel signals turn to
cheers. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ranch can’t hide his displeasure for leaving Clark in. “This
is not smart baseball. This is ridiculous.” That gets Murphy to switch his
radio dial to the off position. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>It all comes down to this </b><br />
We have dramatic music and slow motion for this pitch on the full count.
Silence at the delivery. The batter connects with a loud crack of the bat. Eyes
grow wide in the Angels dugout. Clark leaps to his left to grab the ball. He
catches it in his glove as he falls to the ground. It almost bounces out before
he secures it with his right hand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Play that happy soundtrack! The Angels celebrate on the field
at the end of the game, and Roger and J.P. get on the field, too. Clark and
Knox have a delirious hug in the middle of the scrum, where Clark says he
believes in angels, but Knox says “you did yourself.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qfXCdJ3VgmE/X7nl0oteFYI/AAAAAAAAdRI/iVs0Ga9z-QQYBwZA_Hi76Ggi-ykF3kDQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Final%2Bpitch.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qfXCdJ3VgmE/X7nl0oteFYI/AAAAAAAAdRI/iVs0Ga9z-QQYBwZA_Hi76Ggi-ykF3kDQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Final%2Bpitch.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Knox and the lads get lifted up on shoulders. It’s pure
jubilation. Although I don’t see any personnel on the field handing out hats
and t-shirts with the division-champion logos on them. Too bad. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the radio booth, throwing professionalism out the window,
Wally and the producer celebrate while Ranch yanks his headphones off saying “I
can’t believe it!” in disgust. Murphy promptly enters and fires him. I can’t
say I dislike the move. But can you really blame the guy for calling out Knox
for leaving Clark in the game? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You can’t fire me! I got a contract! I’m Ranch Wilder!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then Wally gets his revenge after taking a beating all
season from his co-host. “Easy Ranch. Less is more.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>A happy ending in multiple ways </b><br />
The celebration continues and ends as the boys run back home to celebrate with
Maggie. She says she heard. I hope she would have made an exception and
actually watched the game. Then there are a couple of lines very obviously dubbed
in, one of Roger saying “the Angels won the pennant” and Maggie saying “it’s
great!” and “well done!” like they had something to do with it, while hugging
and kissing the boys. That cheese factor is astronomical again. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maggie then informs Roger that his social worker called
about finding him a permanent home. Roger, the poor kid, is still hung up on
his dad and thinks it’s about him. J.P. runs off to cry about his best friend
leaving. Knox is there to talk it over with Roger. Because again, Knox takes
the boys home. I guess he didn’t have any media obligations or bubbly to drink
with the team after winning such a big game. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Vn0RyXgD9Nqt7Py7O_q0WbCtq89PEfdKlXUew53gnZ20fbYskx4g311W34jLCf3sQn-0jO1kEqZv_fld-JfLNQkNCcyRoiEIEtt_tLBc-kDUZsZOadjDOJwSilIZ1BPmYSyvmhwx_wU/s800/Final+scene.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Vn0RyXgD9Nqt7Py7O_q0WbCtq89PEfdKlXUew53gnZ20fbYskx4g311W34jLCf3sQn-0jO1kEqZv_fld-JfLNQkNCcyRoiEIEtt_tLBc-kDUZsZOadjDOJwSilIZ1BPmYSyvmhwx_wU/s320/Final+scene.png" width="320" /></a></div>Knox tries to convince Roger a family to take care of him
will be a good thing, and Roger reluctantly agrees. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then, we get one more special moment in this movie. Knox
reveals that <b>he </b>was the one that called about wanting to take Roger in
and “try to be a dad.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I want you to come and live at my house.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger rushes to hug him, immediately excited at the idea.
But upon hearing J.P. enter the room, still upset, Roger backs off and says he
can’t leave J.P. Knox says he could never leave J.P. “He’s coming, too!” J.P.
overhears, and then it’s group-hug central. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, maybe he should have mentioned something to J.P.’s
social worker as well. Maggie tells them that it’s OK to leave her behind, too.
“There are plenty of little angels looking for a home.” Aww, how sweet. The
trio rejoices at the prospect of being a family, and J.P. is excited about
having a daddy. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then, J.P. looks out the window and sees the boss angel give
a final cap tip. “I knew it could happen!” For some reason, J.P. can now see
the angels, too. I’m cool with it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the parting shot, Al the angel turns into the graphics of
an angel again and flies away, telling the camera “we’re always watching” as he
flies into the starry night sky. The credits start to roll as a few bright
stars form a baseball diamond in the sky while an instrumental version of “Take
Me Out to the Ballgame” plays. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There you have it. More details than you ever wanted to know
about Angels in the Outfield. This was another fun series to put together.
Thanks for reading any part of it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/s1627/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/w136-h200/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-3.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-4.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: 'God, if there is a God...'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-5-i.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 5: 'I love it when they come from above like that'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-6.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 6: 'There were *angels* in the outfield!'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-7.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 7: 'Let's keep the profanity down'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-8.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 8: 'This is not baseball'</a><br /></i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-9-if.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 9: 'If the angel pitches with him...'</a><br /><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-10.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 10: 'Take me out to the ball game'</a></i><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-11.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 11: 'You can't go through life thinking everyone you meet will one day let you down'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-12.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 12: 'You gotta have faith. You gotta believe'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-13.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 13: 'Show them what winners can do!'</a></i></div><p><br /></p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-1312750461886492232020-11-24T09:45:00.019-06:002020-11-24T09:45:00.276-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 13: ‘Show them what winners can do!’<p>Finally, it’s time for that last ball game. And get this?
It’s a <b>night game.</b> It’d have to be, if they were going to keep up with
continuity. No way they have a morning press conference like that and then play
that afternoon. Still, the fact that the owner was possibly going to fire his
manager on the same day as a pennant-clinching game is ridiculous.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0COZPqsQ7zQ/X7nik5t9XYI/AAAAAAAAdQM/mOLE1eef4g4CnA4NSctreh9I4yd_XxDAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s709/Knox%2Bdugout%2Bspeech.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="709" height="253" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0COZPqsQ7zQ/X7nik5t9XYI/AAAAAAAAdQM/mOLE1eef4g4CnA4NSctreh9I4yd_XxDAQCLcBGAsYHQ/w285-h253/Knox%2Bdugout%2Bspeech.png" width="285" /></a></div>We get a helicopter view of the stadium at night, before
heading in to see Knox beaming down at Roger and J.P. They’re in the dugout for
the big game, wearing Angels jerseys with their first names on the back. “There
are no seats left in sports heaven,” Ranch says to his listeners. Cornball
alert! It’s a sold-out crowd for the big game, because of course it is, to see
who wins the Western Division. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For some reason, Knox gives his pregame speech at the top of
the dugout steps to his team standing in front of the bench. I’m not sure why
the clubhouse wasn’t an option, but alright. Knox starts by saying he didn’t
believe in his players – or anything – at the start of the season.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“But when you stood up this morning, you gave me back my
reason to believe. I’m more proud of being a part of this team than any team
I’ve ever been on. You’re all winners, and I believe in you!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Knox raises his voice now, but in a good, pump-up way. Not
like that vein-popping way when he dumped the snack table. He’s already got
Clark fired up, as the pitcher removes his Angels jacket with a determined look
in his eyes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Pump up time!</b><br />
Knox continues, pumping his fist: “So let’s go out there and show them what
winners can do! Let’s take that championship!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is this a good time to tell him this isn’t the World Series?
This was another point that I didn’t quite realize until many viewings later,
but this is for a division title. Now granted, the team is on the cusp of an
improbable comeback from last place in the middle of the season. It’s a huge
deal for them, yes. But this isn’t the end of the line, and the movie makes it
out to be so. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAU1Uz4oPd4kA73WSQ25VdAELei0EGs9kYr2BMa_ZKkEeJNuNVn5ap04RcT_QAFN2RR2HPT0C3DwyMz9cg1A6OkyDY3YWdaLQlnltyD3N_v4HKAMd8y-UpfULkuJsZwCztzt685mUMIU/s800/Clark+dugout.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="800" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAU1Uz4oPd4kA73WSQ25VdAELei0EGs9kYr2BMa_ZKkEeJNuNVn5ap04RcT_QAFN2RR2HPT0C3DwyMz9cg1A6OkyDY3YWdaLQlnltyD3N_v4HKAMd8y-UpfULkuJsZwCztzt685mUMIU/w266-h187/Clark+dugout.png" width="266" /></a></div>Back to the pumped-up players. They all start cheering and
high-fiving on their way to take the field to a roaring crowd as the
happy-music soundtrack plays. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Starting pitcher against these White Sox? Mel Clark, of
course.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Rough start for Clark </b><br />
For some quick adversity right off the bat, Clark gives up a two-run single in
the 1st inning before a diving catch from an infield ends the half inning to
limit the damage to 2-0. We move along to the top of the 5th, as Ranch guides
our way, still down 2-0 with a struggling Clark on the mound. (How fast would
his hook have been in today’s game?)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clark is tiring, and there’s a man up in the bullpen. It’s
inning five, remember. The third baseman makes a play at the bag and celebrates
about it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A screen fades to another inning, the 6th, with a runner on
for the Angels. Ray Mitchell is up, the Angels best hitter who was yanked for
Hemerling earlier in the season. Ranch notes, however, that Mitchell has choked
in the past when the pressure is on. On cue, Knox gets up in the dugout and
starts yelling encouragement to Mitchell in the batter’s box. Appreciate his
spirit. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On cue again, Mitchell connects for a 2-run home run to tie
the game. What’s a little funny is we see the crowd looking on to see where the
ball goes, then Knox and the players follow suit, yelling “Go! Go!” as if to
will the ball over the fence. And… the ball lands in the crowd at the top of
the bleachers. So, more of a no-doubter than a shot that barely made it over
the wall. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Celly time for Angels fans. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Clark needs an angel</b><br />
Chicago threatens again the next inning, and to hear Ranch tell it, Clark has
been in trouble on the mound all night. Then why is he still in the game?! I
get that it’s still a tie ball game, but I’d like to hear what the LOB (left on
base) count is for the Sox. It has to be high.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Clark definitely could use an angel now,” Ranch says,
because the cheesy-line department wrote this part of the script. OK, maybe
it’s not that bad. “As he’s tiring late in the game.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fRqdavrBDIs/X7nj7xE5IeI/AAAAAAAAdQg/M69Kr6Ai1coMGvZdNU-Q5BtsRQ8RVmS6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Al%2Bbehind%2BMel.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fRqdavrBDIs/X7nj7xE5IeI/AAAAAAAAdQg/M69Kr6Ai1coMGvZdNU-Q5BtsRQ8RVmS6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Al%2Bbehind%2BMel.png" width="320" /></a></div>Clark gets out of the jam with a running catch from Williams
in center. When Clark greets Roger in the dugout, the boss angel shows up
behind him. Al tells Roger that no angels are coming today, because
“championships have to be won on their own.” Again, not a championship. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Al is the bearer of bad news </b><br />
Also, it’s the bottom of the 7th, maybe give the kid a better heads-up about
the lack of angels tonight. And really, why no angels? If championships really
have to be won on their own, then the angels should have never shown up in the
first place. What a dumb rule. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Al then really puts a damper on things by saying he’s there
to check on Mel who’s “coming up soon” and will be an angel. Not sure why they
have to kill of Tony Danza, but alright. Al makes a comment about Clark’s
“smoke-free” years as a way of commenting on how he’s going to die. So, lung
cancer? He has six months to live and is carefree at the moment. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Al basically tells Roger to stop worrying and concentrate on
his own life. The angels expect great things from Roger, which is kind of a
nice way to wrap things up with the boss angel. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Like a broken record, we’re reminded in the 8th inning as
Clark is on the mound that he’s fatigued. But a GIDP “bails Clark out of a
jam.” It seems to me they’re playing with fire on that front. With a runner on
third in the bottom half, the Angels score on a squeeze bunt play to take a 3-2
lead. Well. That was a play we hadn’t seen in this movie yet. Celly time again!
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Top of the 9<sup>th</sup> = The pressure cooker </b><br />
Deep breaths, time for the top of the 9th… and Clark is back on the mound to
face the heart of the Chicago order. This is definitely going against the
baseball book. Where’s the closer? First pitch is a bloop single to center.
Boom. I give him the hook right there. Call the bullpen. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nope. This has to play out like a movie. All Knox does is have
a coach call down to the ‘pen to get somebody up. I’m not sure why you wouldn’t
have somebody up already. Seriously, Clark coughs on the mound and looks like
he’s about to keel over. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A grounder gets the first out but advances the tying run to
second. Still not ideal. Next batter, the shortstop dives for the ball to keep
it in the infield. It sure looks like a play where you just eat the ball and
allow the infield hit. Instead, he throws to first, off-balance, and the runner
is safe. Lucky that wasn’t an errant throw. So, two on with one out, but it’s
not all bad because this puts the double-play ball back on the board. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is this too inside-baseball? My apologies, but I can get carried
away. If you haven’t already noticed by making it this far through this entire
commentary. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbY2jPLLLAMzEv1e9mdVpfKkn_2ks450vHljcr4MQJCAANiVHquG4ldpIfLbyYurfINBf4FWTPKotHRURySnuFMb0nBenbM3_IhDkhxqSex3NtKHfuW9_KDi6ZcBsn48TVtevsuz9DwA/s695/Clark+tires.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="695" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbY2jPLLLAMzEv1e9mdVpfKkn_2ks450vHljcr4MQJCAANiVHquG4ldpIfLbyYurfINBf4FWTPKotHRURySnuFMb0nBenbM3_IhDkhxqSex3NtKHfuW9_KDi6ZcBsn48TVtevsuz9DwA/w264-h204/Clark+tires.png" width="264" /></a></div><b>Why is Clark still in the game?</b><br />I’m not sure what Knox is waiting for, but maybe he has good head-to-head
numbers as a righthanded pitcher against this next batter, from the left side
of the plate. But this batter drives a ball to the gap in center. Williams and
Norton go after it. But instead of a concussion-collision, Norton slides on the
grass at the same moment Williams leaps up to make the catch. Like, what even
is that play?<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“And Ben Williams saves the game for now with a spectacular
catch!” Ranch exclaims.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The fly is deep enough for the runner to tag-up to third
base, putting runners at the corners with two away. Then Clark hits the next
batter in the back to load the bases. The batter gives Clark a stare down as he
tosses the bat aside. Yeah buddy, he’s tired and been in jams all night while
one out away from the win. I’m sure he hit you on purpose. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who does that bring up? Why, the league’s RBI leader, of
course! This guy is nicknamed “Hit or Die,” which seems a little violent and
extreme. But hey, the message needs to be conveyed that he’s a dangerous
hitter. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/s1627/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/w136-h200/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-3.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-4.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: 'God, if there is a God...'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-5-i.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 5: 'I love it when they come from above like that'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-6.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 6: 'There were *angels* in the outfield!'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-7.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 7: 'Let's keep the profanity down'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-8.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 8: 'This is not baseball'</a><br /></i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-9-if.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 9: 'If the angel pitches with him...'</a><br /><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-10.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 10: 'Take me out to the ball game'</a></i><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-11.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 11: 'You can't go through life thinking everyone you meet will one day let you down'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-12.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 12: 'You gotta have faith. You gotta believe'</a></i></div><p><br /></p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-55458761216769646612020-11-23T08:45:00.021-06:002020-11-23T08:45:03.186-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 12: ‘You gotta have faith. You gotta believe’ <p>Back to Murphy’s living room. He’s not wearing a cowboy hat,
but it’s strategically placed on the mantle where he drapes his arm right after
putting down a newspaper and asking Knox “What in the Sam Hill is all this
about real angels?”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nH1K2IKuW2w/X7mc89A-5JI/AAAAAAAAdPk/EGXWbjTHcGASCAxnS-33OwC41HreUHDoACLcBGAsYHQ/s695/Murphy%2Bat%2Bhome.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="695" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nH1K2IKuW2w/X7mc89A-5JI/AAAAAAAAdPk/EGXWbjTHcGASCAxnS-33OwC41HreUHDoACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Murphy%2Bat%2Bhome.png" width="320" /></a></div>Knox tries to blow it off, and Murphy isn’t buying that cow
dung either. It’s obviously hard to explain, but Knox mentions the boys as his
mascots, of sorts, and downplays the angels by saying it’s between the three of
them. He clarifies that the angels are “not in on all the plays.”<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You’ve lost it, partner,” says Murphy. That cowboy lingo
just keeps coming.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then Knox follows up by saying if he lies, the angels
wouldn’t like it and wouldn’t come back. Like the profanity, I don’t really get
this line of thinking. Is it a way to teach kids good lessons in this
children’s movie, about not lying or swearing? Because the boss angel Al never
said anything about it. Then again, it’s all farfetched anyway, so why am I
nitpicking?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Owner doesn’t pull any punches </b><br />
Knox says the angels are very temperamental. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Mental is the keyword here,” Murphy says. “I’m sorry,
George, but I’m relieving you of your management responsibilities.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That seems extreme given that the team has one game left in
the season with a chance to win the division. Then Murphy shifts quickly from
firing his manager to telling Knox he’ll give him a 24-hour window “to get your
head on straight.” Then Murphy will call a presser where Knox can tell the
whole world that this “hogwash” about angels isn’t true.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“George, you repeat any of the bologna I’ve heard here,
we’re talking the end of your career in baseball,” Murphy says. “Have I made
myself clear?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">OK, I have some time issues again. The Angels had two games
left in the season, the first was the loss on the same day Roger went to court.
The next day, presumably the same one where Knox and Murphy have this
conversation, should be the final game of the season… right? What kind of
schedule would that be, to have an off day before the final game of the season?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know, I know. I’m thinking too much. I’m forgetting my
dad’s favorite line to me: It’s a movie! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All cozy by the fire, Knox is at home getting his head on
straight, or going through a box of old baseball stuff. This includes a Sports
Illustrated cover with him in his catcher’s gear.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Full house for the presser</b><br />
At the press conference the next morning, Murphy strolls to the podium wearing
his cowboy hat; the room is filled with reporters and Angels players as Knox
prepares to read a statement about these so-called angels. But before he gets into
his second sentence, Roger, J.P. and Maggie show up in the back. Their arrival
causes a stir. Not really sure why they’re late, but OK.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mUKJXvhdloo/X7mdNR08NiI/AAAAAAAAdPs/3zhfBpvhNZUHlwR-5WULNHScS8h2UgdogCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Presser.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mUKJXvhdloo/X7mdNR08NiI/AAAAAAAAdPs/3zhfBpvhNZUHlwR-5WULNHScS8h2UgdogCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Presser.png" width="320" /></a></div>Knox decides to “shoot from the hip” with his words. He
starts off by saying there aren’t always logical explanations for things that
happen in sports. Very true, in real life as well. He believes there are times
in life where something stronger, higher “or maybe spiritual is with us.” <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I can’t explain it. But something has happened to my
players this year,” Knox says, as the camera pans into the audience and spots
Ranch with a “I’m not buying this crap” look in his face. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Knox does a good job here of explaining how his players have
played differently, and he’s managed differently this season. Call it faith,
angels or whatever you want, he adds, wrapping it up. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>A</b> <b>speech from Maggie </b><br />
And because the movie didn’t bother to pay any other actors to have speaking
lines as journalists, Ranch jumps in with the first question. He’s as objective
as he always is (so, not very) in asking if Knox believes that a kid sees angels
at the games. Knox doesn’t know how to respond, so Maggie – yes, Maggie – jumps
in instead.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maggie wants to say something on behalf of Knox, but Murphy,
who apparently didn’t notice her waltzing into the presser late, asks her name
and business for being here. Maggie Nelson, takes care of foster kids, she
states. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hRlXgundXWM/X7meg7h1ArI/AAAAAAAAdP4/jmoCHwBHiIITEDpqv7KtIlLq6ObxyzyYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s749/Maggie%2Bspeech.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="749" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hRlXgundXWM/X7meg7h1ArI/AAAAAAAAdP4/jmoCHwBHiIITEDpqv7KtIlLq6ObxyzyYQCLcBGAsYHQ/w286-h236/Maggie%2Bspeech.png" width="286" /></a></div>She goes into her speech, saying Roger could tell them all
what’s happened, but everyone would laugh. She points out a double standard
though, because nobody laughs at a player when he crosses himself before going
to the pitcher’s mound, or when a player scores a touchdown. Saying it’s like
it’s OK to believe in God but not angels. It’s not the best analogy, in my
opinion, because as we all know, this is a movie with a bunch of stuff that is
so beyond realistic. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This ice-breaker exchange between Murphy and Maggie is pretty
funny though, for the people at the presser and movie viewers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Is it your belief, ma’am, that angels play baseball?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Since the All-Star Break, yes,” Maggie replies, very
seriously. It’s a great line. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We all need somebody to watch out for us,” Maggie
continues. “Every kid I have ever taken care of, has been looking for someone
to love. An angel. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You’ve gotta have faith. You’ve gotta believe. You’ve gotta
look inside yourself. The footprints of an angel <b>are </b>love. And where
there is love, miraculous things can happen. I’ve seen it.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That’s actually a pretty good speech from Maggie. In
overthinking about it as I’m working on this piece, however, I’m not quite sure
how all this is supposed to wrap together with the baseball team. Faith,
believing, foster kids needing love… it’s all very nice. But that has nothing
to do with whether Knox and/or Roger are crazy for believing these angels help
the team. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maybe I should just go with it and enjoy this sweet little
kid’s movie. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Would the real Angels please stand up?</b><br />
Her speech prompts Clark to rise from his seat and speak, because I guess this
is a free-for-all news conference. Clark doesn’t know if there are angels out
there, “other than the 25 of us in uniform.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“But I know, there is one thing I won’t do,” Clark
continues. “I won’t play for anyone but George Knox. I believe in him.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X2nOJrxFdOs/X7memUAB-tI/AAAAAAAAdP8/iM_NYmpKi_ksirWU8W_wnLmxKOXbh3L3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s627/Clark%2Bat%2Bpresser.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="627" height="230" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X2nOJrxFdOs/X7memUAB-tI/AAAAAAAAdP8/iM_NYmpKi_ksirWU8W_wnLmxKOXbh3L3QCLcBGAsYHQ/w260-h230/Clark%2Bat%2Bpresser.png" width="260" /></a></div>Whoa. Huge full-circle moment right here. Remember when
these two basically wanted to kill each other with their words early in the
movie? Their past history from Cincinnati was a trigger point? Well. My how the
turn tables.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Catcher Messmer is quick to stand up – wearing thick,
black-framed glasses that were in style in the 1960s and 2010s but definitely
not in the 90s – and say “that goes for me, too.” This creates a ripple effect
throughout the room as other players all stand up as well. Roger and J.P. rise
as Knox offers a “thank you” with teary eyes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Murphy really has no choice at this point. I’m not sure if
his intention of possibly firing Knox got out to the press, but there’s no way
he’s doing it now. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“George Knox <b>is</b> the manager of the ball club.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That’s met with cheers from the room as Murphy also comes
around on the angels, saying that he hopes they’re on their side. Well,
considering the name of the movie is Angels in the Outfield, yeah, they’re on
your side. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The applause gets boisterous in the room. Roger looks like
he’s going to hurt himself, he’s clapping so hard. Even the always-annoyed
David offers a smile and giant clap.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/s1627/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/w136-h200/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-3.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-4.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: 'God, if there is a God...'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-5-i.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 5: 'I love it when they come from above like that'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-6.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 6: 'There were *angels* in the outfield!'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-7.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 7: 'Let's keep the profanity down'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-8.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 8: 'This is not baseball'</a><br /></i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-9-if.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 9: 'If the angel pitches with him...'</a><br /><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-10.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 10: 'Take me out to the ball game'</a></i><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-11.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 11: 'You can't go through life thinking everyone you meet will one day let you down'</a></i><br /><p><br /></p></div>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-27239323389581602892020-11-22T10:20:00.019-06:002020-11-22T10:20:00.566-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 11: ‘You can’t go through life thinking everyone you meet will one day let you down’<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Meanwhile, at the courthouse, Roger sports a white shirt and
tie as he and Maggie take a seat on an uncomfortable-looking bench. Time passes.
I’ve never been to family court, but this is actually pretty realistic for the
wait time, in my experience as a court reporter. You don’t just go to court
without any waiting. It’s whenever your case is called. Things you learn when
you’re a court reporter for a small-town newspaper.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2vG-4iNT84/X7mYznyjf8I/AAAAAAAAdPE/quN5kDsjUOEhm9cgedo2bE-R31uPptnygCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Roger%252C%2Bdad%2Bin%2Bcourt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2vG-4iNT84/X7mYznyjf8I/AAAAAAAAdPE/quN5kDsjUOEhm9cgedo2bE-R31uPptnygCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Roger%252C%2Bdad%2Bin%2Bcourt.png" width="320" /></a></div>Inside the courtroom, we see Roger’s dad make an appearance,
still wearing that leather jacket and jeans. Pops looks real broken up about
the fact that he’s there to have his parental rights terminated, or however
this legal process is going. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m not proud of it. It’s not something I can change my
mind about either.” Ouch. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>A heartbreaking, brief reunion</b><br />
They finally call Roger in as his dad finishes signing his rights away. Roger
forgets all about the baseball game he’s missing for a minute and is super
excited to see his dad; he didn’t know he’d be there. Roger informs pops that
the Angels are one game away from the pennant.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Can you believe it? It’s just like you said?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, honey. For someone that knows so much about baseball and
seems like a smart kid, it’s so sad to see how much emotional investment you have
wrapped up in that sarcastic promise your dad made to you about the baseball
team. Do I blame Roger? Absolutely not. He’s a kid who wants to be with his
dad. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pops responds by standing from his seat, tapping Roger on
the cheek and muttering a sad “Sorry, boy” before walking out the door. Roger
turns from stunned to an emotional wreck real quick. Luckily, Maggie is there
for the tearful hug. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>We lost! </b><br />
Back in the tunnel at the ballpark, Messmer pounding the wall with his fist and
Williams staring at the ground indicate the game is over and the Angels
definitely lost. So, that means they’re now tied with Chicago with one game to
play. What a plot twist! No one saw this coming!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">J.P. is damn near inconsolable, though Knox tries his best,
saying “it’s only a game.” One more “It could happen” from J.P. in this scene,
too. Knox leaves him for a second before taking him home. Also, why is Knox the
one bringing these kids home every game? Shouldn’t that be David’s
responsibility, too?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ranch sees an upset J.P. and grabs a chance to pounce. He
flashes a business card in J.P.’s face and introduces himself as “the voice of
the Angels.” J.P. says he knows he’s on the radio, then insults him by saying
he has a big chin. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">J.P. is still super innocent, and Ranch takes full
advantage. J.P. spills his guts that they lost today because Roger couldn’t
come, that he sees angels that help out because he prayed for them. He tells
him everything. Ugh. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Roger’s mood turns sour. Poor kid.</b><br />
On the ride home from court in Maggie’s station wagon that looks about three
decades old, Roger loosens his tie. Maggie tries to put a good spin on his dad
leaving him, that Roger could get adopted permanently. But Roger has clearly
moved on from sad to bitter and pissed off. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rEFtqrTvmP8/X7mZJPQZpYI/AAAAAAAAdPQ/Et5ryCIUeqUIQQqqmVb28DtzAuCAzBgUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Roger%2Bsulks.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rEFtqrTvmP8/X7mZJPQZpYI/AAAAAAAAdPQ/Et5ryCIUeqUIQQqqmVb28DtzAuCAzBgUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Roger%2Bsulks.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Knox and J.P. are at home waiting for them. Maggie provides
the context to Knox, and to the viewers. They waited three hours for the court
hearing, which is “quick for family court.” The whole deal was a formality;
Roger belongs to the state of California.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger is so pissed that he won’t even get out of the car, so
J.P. and Knox join him in the front seat. Knox says he’s sorry to Roger, who
angrily assumes he’s talking about losing “the stupid baseball game.” Knox
turns and corrects him, saying he’s sorry because Roger is hurt. But Roger
doesn’t want sympathy from someone who wouldn’t understand. Or so he thinks. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some soft music plays, and it’s Knox story time. Knox talks
about his childhood, with a deadbeat dad who couldn’t take care of him and his
brothers. The pain doesn’t go away, Knox says, but “you can’t go through life
thinking everyone you meet will one day let you down. Because if you do, a very
bad thing will happen. You’ll end up like me.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Huge revelation about Knox right here. Not only did his
career get screwed by Ranch Wilder sliding into him, but he had a very rough
upbringing as well. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>More bonding for the boys </b><br />
Knox stays to make dinner, because major league managers in a pennant race have
a lot of free time to spend with kids he’s not related to. Later, the boys are
out on the front porch when Knox says he’ll try making lasagna next time. He
asks if the boys like that dish. They both say no and then ask what it is. Oh,
sweet boys. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">J.P. sees a sliver of a moon and calls it “God’s thumbnail.”
Roger, still very much in an understandable mood from earlier, informs him that
it’s just the moon because there’s “no God up there.” Roger says he doesn’t
believe in angels anymore. Man, his dad really did a number on him. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WLYnkjh6s-8/X7mZss7tNeI/AAAAAAAAdPY/n5YVjN8Zw0UrVFjS7ySYCZSqN27jjR_GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Knox%2Bcomforts%2BRoger.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WLYnkjh6s-8/X7mZss7tNeI/AAAAAAAAdPY/n5YVjN8Zw0UrVFjS7ySYCZSqN27jjR_GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Knox%2Bcomforts%2BRoger.png" width="320" /></a></div>Knox lets Roger sulk it out, even putting his arm around him
in a tender moment that catches Roger sweetly by surprise. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The angels are out of the bag </b><br />
The next day, we see the boys at the kitchen table likely doing homework. I
think. Whatever it is, Roger is not at all subtle about finishing what he’s
writing, closing his pink notebook and tossing it enthusiastically aside so he
can read the newspaper. He’s actually reading a front-page story about himself.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Someone – Ranch, obviously – let it slip to a reporter that Roger
sees angels. J.P. is identified in the story as “a source,” which Roger tells
him means a person who told. Basically, Ranch Wilder hates the guts of George
Knox so much that he had no problem going right to the newspaper with the
story. Doesn’t seem like responsible journalism on anyone’s side. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger seems pleased by the fact that the story reported it
was his idea to start Mel Clark in his first game back. But J.P. is still hung
up on getting in trouble, even though it doesn’t dawn on Roger that J.P. might
have told someone. Meanwhile, Knox is summoned to Murphy’s home, and the owner
is not pleased. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Quick sidebar. When Knox enters, Murphy says “You stood me
up last night.” All these years, I thought it was a comment about the team’s
loss, like some odd way of pointing to Knox not coming through for him. But,
remember when Knox stayed with Roger and J.P., made dinner with them? J.P.
makes a comment to him, reminding Knox that he told him he had to be somewhere.
Knox replied: “I do. Right here.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That makes it even sweeter. Knox blew off plans with his
boss, all because he wanted to make sure Roger was alright after his rough day. </p><p><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank"></a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/s1627/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/w136-h200/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" width="136" /></a></i></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-3.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-4.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: 'God, if there is a God...'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-5-i.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 5: 'I love it when they come from above like that'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-6.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 6: 'There were *angels* in the outfield!'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-7.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 7: 'Let's keep the profanity down'</a><br /></i><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-8.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 8: 'This is not baseball'</a><br /></i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-9-if.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 9: 'If the angel pitches with him...'</a><br /><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-10.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 10: 'Take me out to the ball game'</a></i><p></p><p><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></i></p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-26582166388708723762020-11-21T10:45:00.009-06:002020-11-21T10:45:00.758-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 10: ‘Take me out to the ball game’<p> After J.P. gets a hit, Knox calls on a petite tyke as the
next batter. His name is Marvin, and he is standing on top of the junky car
with a smashed windshield, wearing ripped blue jeans, a blue tee and an Angels
cap. Marvin says he’s “never played any ball.” Knox tells Marvin when to swing,
and he connects for a hit that Knox lets through his legs. It’s an infield hit
for Marvin.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PYcrg97-x78/X7iC9HDIjfI/AAAAAAAAdN4/ZnBrpflAuEkrBhPKfQbbaZkBZoKr0NsagCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Sandlot%2Bbaseball.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PYcrg97-x78/X7iC9HDIjfI/AAAAAAAAdN4/ZnBrpflAuEkrBhPKfQbbaZkBZoKr0NsagCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sandlot%2Bbaseball.png" width="320" /></a></div>Knox prepares to pitch to a big, mean-looking kid sporting a
Detroit jersey and a Brewers cap with the glove logo. “Babe Ruth” takes two
bats to the plate, taps them together and tosses one aside, further smashing
the car windshield. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not surprisingly, the kid crushes a pitch into the street,
and Knox tells Marvin to “run home!” He was instructed to do exactly what Knox
told him. So, he leaves the ballpark and starts running down the sidewalk,
muttering to himself, “run home, run home, run home…” Knox is confused, so
Roger, the catcher in this game, explains it to him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You told him to run home. He did.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can you imagine the cool factor of having a major league
manager stop by and pitch a sandlot baseball game on your block? This is the
first time we’re really starting to see Knox soften a bit and enjoy himself in
the company of Roger, J.P. and other kids in general. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>We’ve reached the musical montage</b><br />
To transition scenes, Knox tosses the baseball toward the sky, and a close-up
shot of the baseball comes down into the glove of Angels pitcher Bass. He
throws a pitch that turns into a newspaper edition of the Sports Gazette with a
giant headline – too big of a headline for a random game out of 162, in my
opinion – that reads “Angels Win Again.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the two other baseball movies I’ve watched and commented
on so far, newspaper clippings have helped tell the story. I absolutely love
that. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6LPjxcixCpM/X7iDQ9HhK5I/AAAAAAAAdOA/N62S1ueoeTw5TXiiWjC1U8jk73Xs_maCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Organ.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6LPjxcixCpM/X7iDQ9HhK5I/AAAAAAAAdOA/N62S1ueoeTw5TXiiWjC1U8jk73Xs_maCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Organ.png" width="320" /></a></div>The newspaper leads into what’s standard in many movies, but
especially sports movies where you need to advance the season or game along:
The musical montage. Boss-angel Al flips over that newspaper and begins playing
“Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on the organ. Again, another newspaper sports
section appears. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Among the clips to follow, an angel absolutely drags
Williams’ arm through a fence in the outfield to make a catch. We also see the
Angels move up in the American League West Standings (before there were the
three standard divisions of today). The division included Kansas City, Chicago,
Oakland, Minnesota, Texas and Seattle. Go Twins.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Knox argues with an umpire again, but in mid-rant changes
course and is nice about it, as to not get thrown out. Al helped him out on
that one. Not exactly that funny. Another newspaper headline, then the big
catcher – who runs like he has a stick up his butt – goes from first to third
and slides in safely, getting a push from an angel. He celebrates by pounding
his fists on his pudgy stomach, something the fans do as well. A Baseball
Weekly cover, and then a Sports Illustrated cover with Mel Clark on the front. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Unrealistic clips, but it’s a movie </b><br />
Plenty of other clips roll to show how much the Angels have turned things
around and are playing good baseball, even if some of the plays are very
ridiculous by real-life standards. Oh, and we get another joke to poke fun at David;
he’s wearing a bee keeper’s hat to protect himself from all the flying peanuts
and popcorn in the stands. I don’t know why people would waste that expensive
ballpark fare, but to each their own.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QWAK4aL2AcM/X7iD8fdOmTI/AAAAAAAAdOM/c6gV6fUVNXsVBpbz2p8hM6YYREA-PZSvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Newspaper.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QWAK4aL2AcM/X7iD8fdOmTI/AAAAAAAAdOM/c6gV6fUVNXsVBpbz2p8hM6YYREA-PZSvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Newspaper.png" width="320" /></a></div>A couple of clips later, he’s wearing a face shield to
protect from ketchup and mustard. That clip hits a little differently in 2020,
let me tell you. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then there’s a triple play – without the help of angel
intervention – which is also unrealistic. Well, I guess if a really, really
slow runner hit the ball it would have worked. Force at third, then over to
second, but for some reason the ball was lodged in the webbing of the fielder’s
glove. He looks at it for what seems like five minutes before throwing his
entire baseball glove (and ball) over to first for the out. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Take Me Out to the Ballgame” ends with Al high-fiving a
couple of angels, and copies of USA Today dropped on the sidewalk with the
front-page headline: “Heaven on Earth!! Angels in 1st place!” I do not endorse
the use of exclamation points there. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>All comes down to the end of the season, of course</b><br />
Ranch Wilder is up in the stadium stands, also like it’s 2020, filming a TV
spot but really helping give the viewers context again. The Angels went from
last place at the All-Star Break in July to coming within one win of the
division title. There are two games left in the season, “ironically,” Ranch
says (sigh) against the defending champs (because, of course) Chicago White
Sox. The Sox are one game back.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger is watching at home on TV, which Maggie (remember
her?) hangs up from a call… on the Angel’s telephone that looks like a baseball
helmet. Seriously, they’re all walking souvenir shops. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now, get ready for some conflict: Roger can’t make the game
this afternoon because his social worker called and his court hearing has been
moved. Roger freaks out about it. Honestly, I’d rather go to a baseball game
than court, too. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, I’m having continuity issues again. Why are all these
games in the afternoon in this movie so far? Sure, I know Sundays are always in
the afternoon, and maybe a weekday here or there. But all of them? And, have
Roger and J.P. really been going to all the home games? Because, uh, don’t they
have school? If this is the end of the season, that’s late September. School is
in session. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Let’s head to the ballpark</b><br />
Stands are packed as fans got on the bandwagon for the Angels during all the
winning. Ranch sets the scene for us:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The Southern California sun is shining, the field is ready,
the hot dogs are warm and there isn’t an empty seat in the house.” … As the
camera shows J.P. sadly pressing down on Roger’s empty seat next to him. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Knox comes over, and by this point David really knows his
place. Nothing is even said and David goes to get the kid a large Coke, two
(hot) dogs, three cracker jacks and maybe a car and corporate jet. It’s kind of
a random bit this whole time, but they had to come up with something for David
to do throughout the movie, I guess. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Knox is annoyed that Roger had to go to court and can’t
understand why they didn’t lie to get him out of it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That’d be lying. Maggie would never lie,” J.P. offers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Well Maggie’s not in a pennant race,” Knox mocks back. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">J.P. pulls some giant binoculars to his eyes from around his
neck (seriously, he’s right on top of the field; why does he need those
things?) and for a moment makes us think he sees an angel, but no dice. He
utters an “It could happen” (instance No. 4?) as to whether he could see
angels. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/s1627/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/w136-h200/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a></i><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-3.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-4.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: 'God, if there is a God...'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-5-i.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 5: 'I love it when they come from above like that'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-6.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 6: 'There were *angels* in the outfield!'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-7.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 7: 'Let's keep the profanity down'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-8.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 8: 'This is not baseball'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-9-if.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 9: 'If the angel pitches with him...'</a></i></div><p><br /></p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-27101167251344638292020-11-20T10:05:00.013-06:002020-11-20T10:05:01.866-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 9: ‘If the angel pitches with him…’<p>Back at the ballpark, Ranch Wilder has the next opponent for
us: The “long-time nemesis” of the Angels, the Detroit Tigers. I didn’t realize
that was a thing, but alright. Maybe things were different without a Central
Division. For context in the movie, the Tigers have been the hottest team
around lately, which seems weird to type. So for these purposes, the Angels
will be tested this series. We’re treated to some pregame shots of players
warming up, fans entering the stadium and Bass signing an autograph.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lH17BARHFk/X7bCdqq8myI/AAAAAAAAdMA/m8uWpgp_HRs65c0Z4p9fOPJjrGuYpx8DACLcBGAsYHQ/s639/Mel%2BClark%2Bangel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="593" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lH17BARHFk/X7bCdqq8myI/AAAAAAAAdMA/m8uWpgp_HRs65c0Z4p9fOPJjrGuYpx8DACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Mel%2BClark%2Bangel.png" /></a></div>David is sitting there in his suit wearing a clear, plastic
coat already dotted with various condiment stains. The joke was funny the first
time. Now, maybe not as much. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger spots an angel with pitcher Mel Clark (Tony Danza) standing
down in the bullpen, so he clues J.P. in to commence operation Get Rid of
David. J.P. delivers another gem, turning to David: “I gotta go to the bathroom.
I can’t go alone. Bad guys might get me.” Oh, this kid. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, Roger is free to make his angel arm signals and talk to
Knox. Of course, mini-manager Roger and his angel sense think Clark should
start the game, even though Knox reminds him that Clark’s “arm is gone.” He’s
not even on the active roster either, which also begs the question: Why is Mel
hanging out in the bullpen in uniform? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Put him in, coach </b><br />
Roger cares not for these logistical concerns. “If the angel pitches with him,
he’ll be awesome!” He appears to have convinced Knox yet again, eventually. So,
Knox strolls down the first baseline to the Angels bullpen. The fact that the
‘pen is tucked away down the baseline reminds me of the way they used to be at
the Metrodome, too. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clark, leaning against the fence with his hands stuffed in
the pockets of his team jacket, is already visibly annoyed that Knox is coming
over to talk to him. These two really don’t care for each other. Knox waits a
beat, folds his arms and then matter-of-factly tells the pitcher he’s off IR
and starting the game today. Can’t even look the dude in the eye.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clark is confused at the nod, understandably. This seems
like quite the movie-move here. Not only is he not on the roster, and he’s
presumably still hurt, but how soon is it to game time? He’s expected to start
on a few minutes notice? So much for the pregame rituals and routines of
pitchers. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>No one understands the pitching decision</b><br />
Ranch, as always, narrates for the viewers. Dan Prince, whoever that is, was
supposed to start, but he officially announces the starter change to the
“long-injured” Clark. Ranch clarifies the roster question, too, saying the
league is OK with the roster being altered up until game time. But I would
guess that’s <b>active</b> roster moves. Oh well, it’s a movie. Clark is going
to pitch because that’s what the writers want. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QznvTxyG2ZE/X7bDPXimVMI/AAAAAAAAdMI/QcDYQpgqiv8x-_UnwxnxcLhCYN8Nr43fQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Mel%2BClark%2Bangel%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="800" height="207" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QznvTxyG2ZE/X7bDPXimVMI/AAAAAAAAdMI/QcDYQpgqiv8x-_UnwxnxcLhCYN8Nr43fQCLcBGAsYHQ/w280-h207/Mel%2BClark%2Bangel%2B2.png" width="280" /></a></div><br />Fans are apparently very interested in Clark’s warm-up
tosses; they start booing him after he bounces one foot in front of the plate.
Ranch is still on the air, cigarette in hand again, and then starts berating
his sidekick Wally and the poor producer. He also notes that Clark hasn’t
started a game in the decade. That seems significant since this movie was
released in 1994. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the first pitch coming, sure enough, an angel shows up
right behind Clark on the mound. He helps guide a fastball into the catcher’s
mitt with such force that Clark loses his ballcap upon delivery. That draws
cheers from the crowd, though Ranch is pretty certain it’s beginner’s luck of
some sort. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Clark brings the fire</b><br />
Then we’re treated to a montage of Clark throwing strike after strike to the
bewildered Tigers hitters. I’m sure it would have been tough for the opponent
anyway, with no scouting report to read. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We don’t see much of the game. Ranch pours himself another
adult beverage with a full count and two gone in the top of the ninth. You
think Clark is still hurling? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXA-2G39al0/X7bDsNozfJI/AAAAAAAAdMQ/ua2sc0TxYccKeyxu0Bfe484cevhs2X8xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Clark%2Bpitching.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXA-2G39al0/X7bDsNozfJI/AAAAAAAAdMQ/ua2sc0TxYccKeyxu0Bfe484cevhs2X8xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Clark%2Bpitching.png" width="320" /></a></div>“This could be the Tigers last chance to get back in this
ballgame,” Ranch says. I mean, wow, what a take, Ranch. Yeah, I guess if
they’re down to their last strike, that would be their last chance. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clark strikes out a lefthanded batter with a swinging strike
in slow motion to end the game. Roger and the crowd go wild as Knox politely
claps at the top of the dugout, acknowledging Roger’s call along with his
team’s win. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Angels win 1-0. I guess the writers couldn’t get very
creative with the final box scores or something. Clark completes the shutout.
Ranch is up in the booth lamenting that his old pal Knox gets the credit for
the brilliant pitching decision. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Postgame festivities</b><br />
Knox is down in the media scrum, where he should be this time, in the
clubhouse. Ranch, who’s like the FSNorth reporter equivalent, asks what
inspired him to start Clark. Knox spews some garbage about an instinct, feeling
and faith. Ranch isn’t buying. Knox continues by saying Clark has always been
“an extraordinary athlete.” A little different dialogue than when he talked
about pain pills with Clark earlier in the movie. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9jV3JhL-0Ds/X7bEMkQzgTI/AAAAAAAAdMc/hgNNN6lcVWwy6DmT4o1MyR4I4bV2fTGcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Media%2Bscrum.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9jV3JhL-0Ds/X7bEMkQzgTI/AAAAAAAAdMc/hgNNN6lcVWwy6DmT4o1MyR4I4bV2fTGcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Media%2Bscrum.png" width="320" /></a></div>Knox wraps up the interview himself and heads off, even
though Ranch was the only one who asked any questions. Not a fan of that as a
journalist, but whatever. Ranch looks pissed and also suspicious. Then, because
he’s the only loudmouth who matters in the media (or the only actor the movie wanted
to pay to say lines), he shouts over to Clark to get a comment. I’m sorry, but
where are the communications directors to facilitate these scrums?<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger, J.P. and Knox prepare to head out in the Angels
minivan, mentioning the team has won three in a row. Knox feels he owes the
boys something, although free baseball games, food and souvies seem to be a
fair trade. But we need something fun to break up the Angels baseball, so let’s
have some sandlot baseball. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not sure where all the kids came from, but they’re wearing
baseball caps and jerseys from all across the leagues, prepping to play
baseball with Knox on the makeshift mound – wearing a button-down shirt and
slacks. A junked-out car and dingy looking trailer are parked behind home plate
in whatever dirt lot this is. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maybe Clark took care of business in a tidy 2:15, giving
them plenty of time for a game during daylight hours. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/s1627/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/w136-h200/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a></i><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-3.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-4.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: 'God, if there is a God...'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-5-i.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 5: 'I love it when they come from above like that'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-6.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 6: 'There were *angels* in the outfield!'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-7.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 7: 'Let's keep the profanity down'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-8.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 8: 'This is not baseball'</a></i></div><p><br /></p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-58849967566997003712020-11-19T09:45:00.009-06:002020-11-19T09:45:05.848-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 8: ‘This is not baseball’<p>Knox makes the move. He pulls Mitchell from the on-deck
circle in favor of Hemmerling, drawing that same “huh?!” sound effect from the
dugout that we heard earlier regarding the profanity. Mitchell, the guy who
made the comment about speech for most of the team, is understandably pissed
off. He removes his batting helmet, then violently throws that and his bat
against the dugout wall. Meanwhile, Knox has to remind Hemmerling to get his
stuff; he was ready to go to home plate without a bat or helmet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sTQ1oo_eXHLWC8l5h2s7bvZniAE4gPsf5cnKhaUU6ApKJcXAnBMsJBA3Gu8dlq3v2sa-B_ZKyqBkREcc5BpJEt7l-Lo68htI9oEP2XjslgA62OJfV6DfozkXZnpqtKMiUubCDOj1OEI/s800/Hemmerling+bats.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sTQ1oo_eXHLWC8l5h2s7bvZniAE4gPsf5cnKhaUU6ApKJcXAnBMsJBA3Gu8dlq3v2sa-B_ZKyqBkREcc5BpJEt7l-Lo68htI9oEP2XjslgA62OJfV6DfozkXZnpqtKMiUubCDOj1OEI/s320/Hemmerling+bats.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ranch Wilder fills us in, saying Hemmerling is a utility
infielder known for his glove and not his bat. The right-handed hitter steps
into the box adjusting his batting gloves. Quick cut to the bleachers, and it
seems beer-and-tank-top-guy is a season-ticket holder or something. He’s there
again and leads the jeers for Knox making the move. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hemmerling looks at strike one down the middle, drawing a
ton of boos. OK, so he took a pitch, big deal. What’s really laughable is when
he swings out of his shoes on the next pitch… after the ball was in the
catcher’s mitt. Knox is pissed, while an amused Mitchell sits in the dugout and
shakes his head with a smirk. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Sparkling pajamas make a late appearance</b><br />
Angel alert. This time, it is absolutely an unrealistic baseball play definitely
made for the movies. An angel grabs the ball after the pitcher releases it and
makes it stop in mid-air right in front of Hemmerling. He swings at it like
it’s on a tee and makes contact. When he does, it cues up the soundtrack of “Hippy
Hippy Shakes” by the Swinging Blue Jeans. (I had to look it up.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hemmerling takes off running to first, while the baseball is
jerked around the infield grass, evading the Oakland infielders. For some
strange reason, we see the boss-angel Al clearly in the outfield grass kicking
the ball around like a hacky sack. But the ball is still in the infield. It’s a
comedy or errors. A player slips on the ball like a banana peel. Another player
takes his glove hand and slaps a bunch of players in the face. Of course,
there’s a ball-in-the-crotch shot, too, for good measure. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPqJUtZtU54/X7Xu6Y_PFRI/AAAAAAAAdLM/bTfqJnyZbekDen0VrHu_-IQKbRy5NsPKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Hemmerling%2Bbaseball.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="800" height="216" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPqJUtZtU54/X7Xu6Y_PFRI/AAAAAAAAdLM/bTfqJnyZbekDen0VrHu_-IQKbRy5NsPKwCLcBGAsYHQ/w305-h216/Hemmerling%2Bbaseball.png" width="305" /></a></div><br />Meanwhile, Hemmerling turns an infield hit into an infield
home run. They finally get the ball to the plate, but he slides in head-first
to win the game. It’s his first run of the season, and another 1-0, walk-off
win for the Angels. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>What just happened?</b><br />
Ranch says it will go down in the record books. Yup. As a bunch of baseball
plays that would never happen in real life. The camera looks up from the ground
to see the four umpires in a circle passing the baseball around looking
confused. The scoreboard racks up the errors for the A’s, reaching at least 19.
That’s a record right there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ranch rhetorically asks his audience if they can say the
angels are on a winning streak. Again, I’m having a little trouble with the
continuity here. Ranch mentions their “last few games.” So, did they win games
without angels that we didn’t see? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They’re freaking out in the radio booth trying to make sense
of it all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Let me tell ya, this is not baseball. This is not
baseball.” Right on, Ranch. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Bonded with the boys</b><br />
Knox is in a decidedly better mood postgame, and we get to see his office for
the first time. He informs David that he’s basically going to be the babysitter
for the boys as they attend all the games from here on out. He’s “bonded with
the boys.” Yup, Knox is a believer in whatever it is that is helping his team
win. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He walks the boys, loaded up with all their Angels
souvenirs, out of the stadium and sets up a plan for Roger to watch the road
games on TV and then they can talk on the phone. Knox is about to give them a
ride home in his sporty convertible, but J.P. hangs back with an incredibly sad
look on his face. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dP60brsNWWE/X7XwLYB7QOI/AAAAAAAAdLY/HhVas6ZFvccXNLLPXTn39uSiW6UL_vecQCLcBGAsYHQ/s645/Sad%2BJP.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="639" height="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dP60brsNWWE/X7XwLYB7QOI/AAAAAAAAdLY/HhVas6ZFvccXNLLPXTn39uSiW6UL_vecQCLcBGAsYHQ/w289-h292/Sad%2BJP.png" width="289" /></a></div>Roger fills in the history, saying J.P. used to live in a
car with his mom. The bad memories are so rough that he no longer rides in cars.
His stomachache comes back. I’m not sure how J.P. gets around, but in this
case, Knox improvises by driving the team’s coach bus to their foster home.
Seems legit. Managers always drive the team bus.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">J.P. politely thanks Knox for the ride home, which must be
the first words he’s said to Knox since he’s so shy around strangers. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Miguel, we hardly knew ye</b><br />
The boys come home to find out that Miguel is gone, placed with a foster
family. J.P. is upset at this, even though Miguel was nothing but awful to the
kid. I’m not quite sure what the purpose of having Miguel in this movie is at
all. Just to prove that Maggie took care of more than just Roger and J.P.? He
hardly got any screen time and wouldn’t have been missed. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Still, Maggie explains, in a very this-is-for-movie-viewers
kind of way, that she only has a license for short-term foster care. Miguel was
there for seven months, which is apparently a lengthy stay. Roger tries to
comfort Maggie, who for some reason feels bad. The whole scene seems really
unnecessary. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the bunk-bed room, suddenly the sleeping bags are gone and
the boys are nestled under baseball-themed sheets and comforters. Wearing
California Angels pajamas. It’s like they’re living in the middle of a gift
shop. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">J.P. bugs Roger about their parents. Roger is still hopeful
his dad will come back for him, and J.P. wonders if his mom will come to get him.
Roger leans down and throws J.P.’s line in his face. “It could happen!” </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/s1627/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/w136-h200/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a></i><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-3.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-4.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: 'God, if there is a God...'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-5-i.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 5: 'I love it when they come from above like that'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-6.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 6: 'There were *angels* in the outfield!'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-7.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 7: 'Let's keep the profanity down'</a></i></div><p><br /></p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-64206721786484441002020-11-18T09:30:00.001-06:002020-11-18T09:30:03.376-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 7: ‘Let’s keep the profanity down’<p>Let’s get set for a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics.
Ranch continues to be a slimy douchebag, going on the air – this time wearing
the headphones/microphone headset – while looking at a group of young women in
the stands through his binoculars. We also learn that color-guy’s name is Wally.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UnNmc6lw4FI/X7QNXyk6wdI/AAAAAAAAdJw/OJy2hQU-QS83zNiHe7OrYX4fiM1bJrBhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Boxseat%2Bsnacks.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UnNmc6lw4FI/X7QNXyk6wdI/AAAAAAAAdJw/OJy2hQU-QS83zNiHe7OrYX4fiM1bJrBhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Boxseat%2Bsnacks.png" width="320" /></a></div>A walk-off win to breaking a long losing streak for a
last-place team, and suddenly there are more people in the seats than the last
five games combined, Ranch tells the listeners. OK, that definitely seems a
little unrealistic. Fans do not flock back to a team that quickly, especially
after one win. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">David, sporting a bowtie, heads to the dugout seats carrying
two trays of popcorn, soda and snacks for the special guests, Roger and J.P.
They take advantage of the free snacks (why not?) and immediately ask for
peanuts and nachos as well, right before J.P. expertly squirts a mustard packet
all over the front of David’s linen suit. “Sorry.” J.P.’s lines and the
delivery are actually pretty good in this movie. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">J.P. also spills his pop (because I’m from Minnesota) on
David. It’s really an excuse for the two of them to head up top and dry off so
that Roger and Knox can have a conversation about angel potential. On the way out
of his seat, David tells Knox the kids are “evil,” but Knox wants the kiddos
kept happy because “the big one might be lucky.” OK, so he’s going with the
superstition thing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger won’t confirm a win when Knox asks though. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The boss angel is back to explain the rules</b><br />
For some weird reason, the boss angel shows up in Roger’s Coke cup and jumps
out with a splash, causing Roger to jump up, freak out and of course look like
a weirdo because the fans around him don’t have the pleasure of seeing
Christopher Lloyd.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Al says he left in a hurry “yesterday,” which is a
continuity error. The real-life-Angels game was at least a few days ago. Al
goes on to tell Roger the rules. Might have been nice to know some of these
things in advance, Al, but go off. No. 1 Don’t tell anybody about the angels.
So, that one is already broken. They don’t like recognition. Al is actually
kind of confusing here, leaving us to wonder when exactly we’ll see the angels
again. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmY-6Hgm1UoxgTw7xN6-5Y4y7AcFyvN7sxbttEg6SbpTtasiM6YdfXuwGRXwkZXoPq-vL0B7XCpaVuo3boroOzxrG-CrGp-pO0_m1XQafCNMAONlZNOqt_hWSBCtfhGzf9L_qECpwxJQs/s800/Al+and+Roger.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmY-6Hgm1UoxgTw7xN6-5Y4y7AcFyvN7sxbttEg6SbpTtasiM6YdfXuwGRXwkZXoPq-vL0B7XCpaVuo3boroOzxrG-CrGp-pO0_m1XQafCNMAONlZNOqt_hWSBCtfhGzf9L_qECpwxJQs/s320/Al+and+Roger.png" width="320" /></a></div>Roger gets hysterical after Al leaves, calling Knox over to
inform him of the angel presence… in his Coke cup. Knox clearly has no idea
what to make of this, telling Roger he’s about as good as a four-leaf clover.
Knox appeases the hysterical Roger by telling him to offer up a signal when he
sees an angel. Roger puts his arms out to the side and waves them up and down
like angel wings; that’s his signal. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Knox walks away, still thinking how crazy this all is to
grasp. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">David comes back with another tray of snacks, so of course
J.P. sets the cheesy nachos on David’s empty seat. He sits on them with a loud
crunch. David is not amused as the boys laugh it off. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>No angels? No swearing.</b><br />
In more proof that this game wasn’t “yesterday,” Bass is back on the mound. So,
we’ve at least gone through another rotation. Bass is giving up hits today, it
seems. Later, the rapper Mapel is up and takes a called strike. Knox is fired
up like it’s the deciding call in Game 7 and tells the ump that he’s “blind as
a horse’s ass” if that was a strike. J.P. is aghast as the curse word.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger waves Knox over but first has to get rid of “nacho
butt” David. Knox, not knowing the nacho incident, tells David to buy that very
item for the kids.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Anything. But nachos,” David says sternly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Buy them Angels jackets,” Knox says, getting impatient. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s 90 degrees outside!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Get your BUTT up there, now!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was a funny exchange when I watched as a kid. Anyway,
Roger establishes that it’s the fourth inning and the angels have been MIA.
Roger tells Knox he shouldn’t swear so much, because the angels don’t like it.
This is pretty laughable. I mean, being a Disney movie, we haven’t even heard
most of the profanity that goes on during a game. Also, how does Roger know
what the angels like or don’t like? He didn’t even seem to know if God was
real, bless his little heart.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNZq-zLdHO4/X7QOz9t7-4I/AAAAAAAAdKA/gr61LoQ5L9AjkDtHtIiBprcRP9IO9kg6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Roger%2Band%2BKnox1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNZq-zLdHO4/X7QOz9t7-4I/AAAAAAAAdKA/gr61LoQ5L9AjkDtHtIiBprcRP9IO9kg6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Roger%2Band%2BKnox1.png" width="320" /></a></div>Reluctantly and silently, Knox seems to agree. But first, he
has to get it out of his system. He walks away, takes off his cap and fires off
a bunch of inaudible swears, leaving Roger to cover J.P.’s ears. Knox sits on
the bench and yells toward his players to “keep the profanity down!” All of
their conversations stop as a collective “Huh?!” and heads turn in the
manager’s direction. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I mean it! No swearing!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And then, this gem from a player: “That eliminates all
speech for most of the team.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>More ninth-inning magic on the way?</b><br />
Again, it’s a scoreless game in the 9th inning. Maybe the Athletics and Blue
Jays aren’t that good either. But it’s angel time. A pretty-lady angel is
rubbing the shoulders of an Angels player standing at the top of the dugout.
Roger notices and gets super excited. In the quest to get rid of David, Roger
requests coffee. Sure. They’ll take it in cups, David.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Knox is signaled over and is still skeptical because he
can’t see the angels himself. Mini-manager Roger suggests pinch-hitting Hemmerling
into the game, and Knox won’t have it because Mitchell is coming up, the team’s
best hitter. Hemmerling can’t hit the broad side of a barn. Knox walks away
defiant but then thinks about it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What’s the worst that could happen? Fall out of last place?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/s1627/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/w136-h200/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a></i><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-3.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-4.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: 'God, if there is a God...'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-5-i.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 5: 'I love it when they come from above like that'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-6.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 6: 'There were *angels* in the outfield!'</a></i></div><p><br /></p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-39288606525706813292020-11-17T10:15:00.026-06:002020-11-17T10:15:01.921-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 6: ‘There were *angels* in the outfield!’<p>Scoreboard update: It’s the bottom of the 9th, still
scoreless with 1 hit for the Angels. Catcher Messmer is up to bat, hitless in
his last 26 appearances. I guess the Angels bench options are pretty worthless,
too, then.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTygp3Q9KkHezYxsfD0QAi1j4X6Ik4K7NNrvcho2UnOkSFnelhXHY0TVCGFN5GRbHkZF-9Eit0YbGCKz7ZKMSLPrieamMvQhJeYaBO_n-vOwG3BUeeNISmTI_d5xoDA1c4ML8D5o-4pj0/s800/Messmer+HR.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTygp3Q9KkHezYxsfD0QAi1j4X6Ik4K7NNrvcho2UnOkSFnelhXHY0TVCGFN5GRbHkZF-9Eit0YbGCKz7ZKMSLPrieamMvQhJeYaBO_n-vOwG3BUeeNISmTI_d5xoDA1c4ML8D5o-4pj0/s320/Messmer+HR.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Messmer digs into the lefthanded batter’s box. Another
angel appears and grabs the bat with him. He swings, and the bat absolutely
shatters. You do not see that in a regular baseball game. Some happy music
plays as the baseball soars very high in the air and the camera is right on top
of it, showing that one side of the ball is completely split open. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s quite obviously a walk-off homer, ending the Angels
losing streak. The teammates mob Messmer, while a bewildered Knox stands in the
dugout clapping his hands like an idiot. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger and J.P. cheer for their team as Roger tries once more
to see if his friend saw that “there were angels in the outfield… and in the
infield!” “Yeah, nine of ‘em,” J.P. responds. I’ll admit it took me a while to
get that subtle punchline when I was a kid. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Geez, what’s going on around here?</b><br />
For some reason, there’s a postgame raffle, and the winner gets to pose for a
pic with Knox. Pine-Sol lady exits at that, shaking her head and muttering
“That’s a prize, mm, mm.” She exits stage left. With a winning ticket of
477380, J.P. is a winner but gives his ticket to Roger because the lad doesn’t
like strangers. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They’re escorted onto the field by some old ballpark
employee and happen upon Tony Danza – who we’re introduced to as Mel Clark –
signing autographs for some fans. There are a lot of excited fans at this game
for a team that’s in the dumpster, but alright. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seeing Clark, Roger turns into a sports encyclopedia by
saying Clark pitched three shutouts for Cincinnati in 1986, impressing the
ballpark employee. I think it’s the type of fact women are supposed to know to
prove that they can like sports, or something. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Roger/Knox meet-cute </b><br />Not surprisingly, the angsty Knox has no interest in these photographs with
fans, telling communications-man David to hand out “publicity stills.” Knox
also says he hates kids. Because of course, he does. David sets him up on the
mound for the photo opp before whistling back toward home plate and yelling
“first kid!” It doesn’t seem like he’s a kid-person either. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6LynMlurfg/X7K-Kw9FIOI/AAAAAAAAdJM/j07WvBr2NcYGGodP9njzprB0AFpBJVGCACLcBGAsYHQ/s763/Prison%2Bphoto.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="763" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6LynMlurfg/X7K-Kw9FIOI/AAAAAAAAdJM/j07WvBr2NcYGGodP9njzprB0AFpBJVGCACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Prison%2Bphoto.png" width="320" /></a></div>Knox looks like he’s in line for a root canal, posing with
his hands on his hips and a scowl. David places one hand on Roger’s head, then
shoulder to make it look a little less creepy. The photographer with a very
old-school camera comments that it looks like a prison photo and requests that
his subjects smile since the team did have a walk-off win and all.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It was a mistake. This team can’t win,” Knox replies. I
really don’t get why he’s so annoyed here. Shouldn’t he be happy his team had a
1-0 walk-off win? Yeah, they still suck overall, but walk-offs are always fun,
right?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger takes this opportunity to inform the manager about why
his team won: The Angels. Knox is definitely creeped out now.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Great, a psycho kid! David, you’d think they’d screen these
people!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger, who couldn’t convince J.P. of the angels' presence,
doubles down with Knox, telling him to ask his players about it so they can
also confirm “something’s going on.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The players are confused, too </b><br />
Back at home that night, Maggie is working away on her sewing machine. Roger
comes out past his bedtime wearing a salmon-colored tee with a big hole in the
front, perfect for sleeping in. He asks her if she believes in angels and if
she thinks they’re real. Her reply is that a lot of amazing things in life
can’t be explained. Her roundabout answer ends with a “yes,” which seems to
please Roger. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rYlmq6zDkYY/X7K_AWbMQtI/AAAAAAAAdJY/cAuFRkTAQE4HL6yH-jnRMs2luIplEsy0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Williams%2Band%2BKnox.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rYlmq6zDkYY/X7K_AWbMQtI/AAAAAAAAdJY/cAuFRkTAQE4HL6yH-jnRMs2luIplEsy0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Williams%2Band%2BKnox.png" width="320" /></a></div>In the clubhouse, with Matthew McConaughey wearing street
clothes, he’s looking at the game film of his catch when skip asks him how it
felt. The outfielder said he felt weightless like somebody had him by the arms
and wonders how he made the catch. That gets the wheels turning for Knox a
little bit. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then the sound effect of Messmer’s home run on film, and the
crack of the bat, are matched with Messmer dumping a handful of candies on his
junk-food-filled plate. He takes a big bite of a powdered donut while his
mouthful explains that it felt like someone was swinging with him, he felt some
added power.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It must have been those chili dogs I ate before the game.
You know, that third one tasted kind of funny,” Messmer tells Knox. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let’s all take a moment and either laugh or roll our eyes at
the fat-guy joke. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Manager makes a home visit</b><br />
Knox shows up at Maggie’s door looking for Roger a few days after their
exchange. Because it’s totally normal for the manager of an MLB team to show up
at a kid’s house with the photograph he won, Knox would like to see Roger.</p><p class="MsoNormal">While Knox waits in the living room, a bit impatiently, for
Roger, he starts up the small talk by trying to figure out if Maggie is Roger’s
mom, aunt or grandma. Maggie finally explains her set-up – a short-term
foster-care facility she runs and that Roger is a ward of the state. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEow3DOGEMrRAZspcO_l-5YG6rNl09VCT9TFyFoIO73ALYk9ID6OcFvG9ztROEr8wtJnuTkaOT3vU8iqtVgx2OB_SY7hEDpaIUafg-HRpdzULCCl0DbK3OAVZ3FvY_3JiiCZJqK627AM/s800/Knox+delivers+photo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEow3DOGEMrRAZspcO_l-5YG6rNl09VCT9TFyFoIO73ALYk9ID6OcFvG9ztROEr8wtJnuTkaOT3vU8iqtVgx2OB_SY7hEDpaIUafg-HRpdzULCCl0DbK3OAVZ3FvY_3JiiCZJqK627AM/s320/Knox+delivers+photo.png" width="320" /></a></div>Knox tries to figure out if Roger is just a kid with a crazy
story, but Maggie informs him that Roger is “very grounded.” She also provides
more context for Roger’s situation, that he was taken away from his parents by
the court system. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The boys return from their bike ride, and Roger is also
surprised to see the big-league manager standing in front of him with his
photograph. He’s unimpressed when he views the photo, and J.P. echoes the
photographer by calling it a “prison photo.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Knox is really here, of course, to find out more about the
angels story from the game. The angels showed up because Roger prayed for them,
he says, matter-of-factly. Knox is bouncing between believing Roger and
thinking the whole deal is crazy. Still, he invites Roger to his box seat next
to the dugout tomorrow. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/s1627/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/w136-h200/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a></i><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-3.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-4.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: 'God, if there is a God...'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-5-i.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 5: 'I love it when they come from above like that'</a></i></div><p><br /></p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-31196068394613337172020-11-16T08:30:00.025-06:002020-11-16T11:35:52.424-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 5: ‘I love it when they come from above like that’<p>The next day, Knox shows up at Murphy’s office. Knox was
fined $5,000 for “jumping Gates.” That seems to be a little light, but maybe I’m
not factoring in that this was more than 25 years ago. But seriously, not even
a suspension? OK then. Word on the street is that Ranch is looking into civil
charges for Knox “popping him.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWogp8VdXJM/X7Huyvq09II/AAAAAAAAdIQ/MtR0fGwRe6U3Gxi-8YMqz-yNaRBcPs4yQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Knox%2Band%2BMurphy%2Bin%2Boffice%2527.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWogp8VdXJM/X7Huyvq09II/AAAAAAAAdIQ/MtR0fGwRe6U3Gxi-8YMqz-yNaRBcPs4yQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Knox%2Band%2BMurphy%2Bin%2Boffice%2527.png" width="320" /></a></div>At the mention of that, Knox breaks out in a smile and says
he’s felt better since he “slugged Wilder.” <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Your pistol’s smoking pal,” Murphy replies, keeping up his
southern lingo. He adds more context, saying Knox and Ranch have been at each
other’s throats since they were players. Bingo. These middle-aged guys have
issues that go way back. Not only that, Knox goes on to say that Ranch spiked
his knee and ruined his career. Murphy dismisses it as an accident. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It wasn’t an accident,” Knox says, in a serious tone. “When
you slide into the catcher with your nails up, it’s on purpose.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I was coming into my best years.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Murphy ends the exchange by using two more terms from his
lingo book: Cowpies (as in, Knox shouldn’t make more to step in) and Manure (as
in, Knox has enough on his boots now). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Knox and Tony Danza exchange words</b><br />It’s a new day and new game for the Angels. A bus full of kids, with Roger and
J.P. inside the stadium this time, arrives as the public address announcer
mentions that every Wednesday is Kids Day. The boys run down toward some
aluminum bleacher seats in the outfield and comment on how it’s much better
than the tree. Look carefully, because they sit right in front of the Pine-Sol lady
from the commercials. If you watched TV in the 90s, you know.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They’re at the stadium in time for batting practice, which I
find a little strange. Would this many fans already be at the stadium as early
as batting practice, for a team this bad? Anyway, Tony Danza is back and
confirms he’s in fact a pitcher on the injured list. But he asks “skip”/Knox
when he’s getting off that list, since the trainer has cleared him. <br /><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfg4B6L6vUIlUfgBbYgF49_u-1E4jowr50CMcdBY8Q9gOE0PiqvOZapBjDnqaDgxc2fUTBW25Y8u3Or8qShY97UQv2hoAgDpT3E3tpauEKJ8TTiSIZ61TfduCFNBNN0PUYjJ5eUvazNI/s800/Danza+and+Knox.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfg4B6L6vUIlUfgBbYgF49_u-1E4jowr50CMcdBY8Q9gOE0PiqvOZapBjDnqaDgxc2fUTBW25Y8u3Or8qShY97UQv2hoAgDpT3E3tpauEKJ8TTiSIZ61TfduCFNBNN0PUYjJ5eUvazNI/s320/Danza+and+Knox.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We start to get some context on Danza’s character. Knox
doesn’t seem to like the guy and informs him he has no interest in sending him
to the mound. To hear Knox tell it, the guy blew his arm out and took too many
pain pills. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Pain pills? You were the one stuffing down my throat five
years ago in Cincinnati!” Danza sputters.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They don’t dig into it much, but this establishes that
whatever the path, Knox managed Danza for those more successful teams. Knox
said he traded him back then, even though managers don’t directly make trades,
of course. Then Knox got stuck with him again. Danza has a random coughing fit
to end the exchange. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Picking up where they left off</b><br />
The Angels are lined up during the national anthem prior to the game. Many are
singing along. Knox is rubbing at his eyes. Adrien Brody thinks he’s crying,
but Knox tells him to “drop dead” because he only got sunscreen in his eyes. Knox
gives you the warm-and-fuzzies, doesn’t he?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QgEoKL-ds3Q/X7Hvbq2RSYI/AAAAAAAAdIg/WvWNZBda1jkwCPCMjihjsc2Ogo5MFlCKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Anthem.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QgEoKL-ds3Q/X7Hvbq2RSYI/AAAAAAAAdIg/WvWNZBda1jkwCPCMjihjsc2Ogo5MFlCKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Anthem.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />The dimwitted pitcher uses a magic eight ball to ask if he’s
going to win. A “no” turns up first before a “maybe,” which seems to really
please the dude. One of the middle infielders comes by and sings the anthem
“Jose can you see…” Pitch is confused and clarifies that the song is about a
Spanish guy. It takes all the fun out of making fun of him for the infielders.
Pitch – his name is Bass – slides to the mound to prepare for the game. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the radio booth, color-guy tries to offer up weird facts
about Bass, because I’m sure his pitching isn’t anything special. Who doesn’t
floss their catcher’s teeth in the dugout? Gotta love those media guides and
game notes. Bass is 2-11 on the season. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bass sets about 18 times before delivering to the first
Toronto hitter. The pitch is lined into center and off the outfield wall with
the 400’ mark. Williams slams into the wall and obviously does not catch the
baseball. First pitch 1:10 p.m., temperature 75 degrees, error-8 and “a man on
base.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>A gum-dropping catch </b><br />
The scoreboard shows a scoreless game in the top of the sixth inning, which
seems promising for a terrible team. Before the Jays bat, we see Ranch with his
shiner that Knox gave him, putting on sunglasses… and pouring a generous amount
of liquor into his Angels mug. This guy is the model employee. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the plate, the batter offers some weird arm movements in
his batting stance. Bass is still on the mound with his giant wad of bubble
gum. The batter “smashes one to deep center,” Ranch says. But Williams is on
his horse with his eye, we presume, on the ball. Meanwhile, we see Roger slowly
stand in his seat looking up toward the sky, as the Pinesol lady sits behind
him looking board. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGLLDoAHtPSB93g_28h2SoCVqc5qagXwkIxpHIv5JDStDTYELUK-VQXXQ-2AIKC9CoN5XeH9Qep82_BrCC2QX2fm9fpfxYcuw1gjkSVhh8pvUsYeLD5jdI9OG9_8TqcNvtnHwRM0Jezg/s781/Williams+catch.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="781" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGLLDoAHtPSB93g_28h2SoCVqc5qagXwkIxpHIv5JDStDTYELUK-VQXXQ-2AIKC9CoN5XeH9Qep82_BrCC2QX2fm9fpfxYcuw1gjkSVhh8pvUsYeLD5jdI9OG9_8TqcNvtnHwRM0Jezg/s320/Williams+catch.png" width="320" /></a></div>Roger sees a graphic of two angels coming down from the sky.
They lift Williams up into the air and propel him toward the baseball. He’s
suspended in the air so long that he makes the catch. The angels drop him like
a bad habit, a significant drop, and high-five before disappearing. It’s
actually kind of amazing Williams held onto the ball. He lands with his cheek
on the baseball, which barely stays in his glove. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then the reactions start flying: A couple of “holy cow!”
reactions from Roger and J.P., which is very 90s. Knox asks how he did that.
Ranch shuts hit mic off, removes his shades with one hand and demands to know
how he did that. Bass stands looking toward the outfield with his mouth open,
causing his gum wad to fall to the dirt. Murphy looks through his binoculars in
his suite. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Who were those guys in ‘sparkling pajamas?’</b><br />
“That sports fans is a play you’re going to see on baseball highlights for
years to come,” Ranch says, before going off-air and demanding for his lackeys
to “get me something!” I’m not really sure what he wants here. Stats about the
last time angels dropped from the sky? That’s not going to be in any media
guide.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger tries to tell J.P. about the guys who came down from
the sky in “sparkling pajamas.” But, as we all know in movieland, since this
was Roger’s prayer, it’s not unusual that nobody else saw the sparkling guys. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger even tries to ask some middle-aged, beer-loving guy,
who for some reason is sitting <b>right next to these young boys</b> when there
are plenty of open spaces, about the angels. Gap-toothed guy with a blue tank
top and an abundance of chest hair, is unimpressed with the play, calling it a
lucky catch. He takes a swig of his yellow, paper beer cup (which I swear I
remember seeing from my days going to the Metrodome) and tells Roger to tell
his parents about it. There’s an audible belch as the guy gets up to walk away.
Classy. I guess he has nothing better to do on a Wednesday afternoon.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6RRCfk8UpkE/X7Hw6N5cq7I/AAAAAAAAdI0/0JY0c2UgHAcb0ckleZ1S5_Z1JO0B39JtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Al.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="800" height="154" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6RRCfk8UpkE/X7Hw6N5cq7I/AAAAAAAAdI0/0JY0c2UgHAcb0ckleZ1S5_Z1JO0B39JtgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h154/Al.png" width="200" /></a></div>Enter, Christopher Lloyd. He appears out of nowhere with
curly salt-and-pepper hair to comment on the amazing play. “I love it when they
come from above like that.” <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger is just glad somebody else sees the sparkling guys but
is still surprised to learn they’re actual angels. J.P. looks over and sees
Roger talking to no one, confirming that Roger is in fact the only one who can
see the angels; Lloyd confirms this in a second, too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lloyd makes a comment about one of them and his “training
wings” as a rookie. Getting creative with the fictional figures. I like it.
Lloyd uses his magic to get an AL hat off an umpire’s head and introduces
himself as Al. That doesn’t seem like his real name though. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger asked for help, so the angels delivered as part of an
“as-needed situation.” Then Beer-guy comes back with a fresh cup of suds,
sitting right on top of Al, who morphs away. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/s1627/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/w136-h200/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a></i><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-3.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-4.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: 'God, if there is a God...'</a></i></div><p><br /></p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-6701375861780632342020-11-15T10:15:00.002-06:002020-11-15T21:25:21.549-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: ‘God, if there is a God…’<p>Knox and the team owner Murphy have a little chat in the
next scene. For some odd reason, one I really didn’t realize until now, they’re
meeting in one of the upper deck seating areas in the stadium. Rather than, I
don’t know, one of the offices that I’m sure they both have at the park. Maybe
it was a movie thing, because having the stadium as a backdrop is more exciting
to look at than an office.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PppPzGCs8p4/X7AYaXFb12I/AAAAAAAAdG0/WP-WIe9IaSQ8CJJAD0U-K9orY7nWrANcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Murphy%2Band%2BKnox.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PppPzGCs8p4/X7AYaXFb12I/AAAAAAAAdG0/WP-WIe9IaSQ8CJJAD0U-K9orY7nWrANcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Murphy%2Band%2BKnox.png" width="320" /></a></div>Murphy has a cowboy hat and a southern accent. Expect more
of his southern drawl throughout the movie. Knox has cooled down from his clubhouse
tirade, but not by much. He says he can’t take it anymore and wants his entire
roster traded immediately. Obviously, Murphy says he can’t trade 25 players.
I’m also wondering if this guy is both the owner and general manager, because
the GM is the one who’s usually responsible for trades. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I can’t win with these guys,” Knox says, as he starts to
raise his voice. “Nobody can. There’s a thing called talent. They don’t have
it.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Murphy tells him that it’s not Cincinnati, so nobody expects
him to win with this team. There’s some unpacking here. What’s the deal with Cincinnati?
Is that where Knox managed before? And what does that comment about this Angels
team mean? Is this a rebuilding year? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If it is, Knox isn’t having it, saying he came to manage a
winning baseball team. Murphy, spewing that cowboy stuff, calls him “partner,”
and says “you’ll ride through the dark days.” Well. I don’t know about Knox,
but that seems pretty reassuring to me. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br />Postgame show</b><br />
Next up, Knox has a postgame interview with Ranch Wilder, via TV this time,
down on the field. This seems rather odd and out of place. Either way, I guess
he’s getting his exercise, first the wrestling match on the mound, tossing over
the snack table, jogging up the upper-deck stairs to meet with Murphy and now
back down on the field for an interview. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Showing again how Ranch and Knox have some past beef, Ranch
starts right in off-camera, poking Knox by saying the commissioner’s fine will
be “pretty hefty” for the ejection. Thanks, captain obvious. Of course, he’s
going to get fined. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aajjrvKPUrY/X7AZapQtVuI/AAAAAAAAdHA/bEojjtgXZx8MseBgQ9f7lIFC0FSciTZuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Ranch%2Band%2BKnox.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aajjrvKPUrY/X7AZapQtVuI/AAAAAAAAdHA/bEojjtgXZx8MseBgQ9f7lIFC0FSciTZuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Ranch%2Band%2BKnox.png" width="320" /></a></div>A TV producer of some sort holds up a clipboard with a
mirror for Ranch before she quickly ducks away with a 3, 2, 1 motion and barely
manages to get out of the live shot. She also didn’t seem to get a signal with
any earpiece, so I guess this broadcast team operates under psychic powers. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Knox pulls out some dark shades for the interview, looking
stoic and calm for a task I’m sure he’s annoyed with after a bad loss. Ranch
annoys sports reporters everywhere when he starts with a non-question in which
he might as well have said “tell me about…” but goes with a statement of “tough
loss today.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Any loss is hard,” says Knox, super calm and… wow, what a
hilarious delivery. Very insightful as well. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br />Ranch and Knox can’t play nice </b><br />
Ranch dives in with his response to offer the viewers more context into Knox
and his history: “But this one really got to you. You leave Cincinnati after 10
years of winning ball clubs, although the really big one always seemed to be
just out of reach.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Got it. Knox had success with the Reds and apparently didn’t
win a World Series. Ranch goes on to say that there were high expectations on
Knox to turn this Angels club around, but that’s not happening. Again, not
exactly a professional moment for Ranch, especially if he works for the team. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4Bwd3AT-KdT3z8hf8iN94OkmyM4FHFEuSNZziH160QY1_rCTJXx5uMvRz6Nv_gnYyZodyziTqar2hKBERmi9XbPPzfkfKFTL2ggvXPeBCAwA1UlslygpipAfvVCxUvORrWVA4YT_KZk/s1193/Ranch+and+Knox+2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4Bwd3AT-KdT3z8hf8iN94OkmyM4FHFEuSNZziH160QY1_rCTJXx5uMvRz6Nv_gnYyZodyziTqar2hKBERmi9XbPPzfkfKFTL2ggvXPeBCAwA1UlslygpipAfvVCxUvORrWVA4YT_KZk/s320/Ranch+and+Knox+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Knox can’t take it anymore. It’s OK for <b>him</b> to
badmouth his team, but he’s certainly not going to allow Ranch to slander the
fellas, telling him the season’s only half over. Knox gets right up in Ranch’s
face, taking off his glasses as he does this, one-handed, because this is the
movies, after all. Ranch reminds him the Angels are in last place.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You outta know how one incident can change the course of
events,” Knox says. Oh yeah, you can cut the Ranch-Knox tension with a knife. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ranch responds with some lame stuff about wrong place-wrong
time. The dialogue, still on the air, isn’t all that exciting, but they are face-to-face.
Professional-producer gal shifts the camera guy to color-guy standing with a
microphone and trying to wrap it up. The movie cam pans back to Ranch as he
tries to save the interview, but Knox is feeling feisty today, and he slugs
Ranch in the face, dropping him to the ground like a sack of potatoes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Color-guy tries to save the day as Knox walks away. FSNorth
postgame shows are nothing like this nonsense. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cat brains with food coloring </b><br />
Back at the foster home, Maggie feeds the boys dinner, including a new
character, Miguel, who’s a little older in his teenage years than Roger. He
makes a comment about how the Angels never win, causing Roger to visibly scoff
as he moves his fork around his plate. J.P. is the little optimist and thinks
they could win before uttering “it could happen” for the second time. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, and you could drop dead after dinner. With food
poisoning,” Miguel taunts J.P. as the little boy’s mouth literally drops open
in shock. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maggie waves some mouthwatering Jell-O around in a plastic
Tupperware container for dessert. Miguel is clearly only around to be an
instigator and says it’s actually cat brains with food coloring, adding that
Maggie kills the cats at night and does this all to save money. Roger is in a
mood and aggressively tells him to “shut up!” Children’s-movie alert: Maggie
will not have those words uttered in her house. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At bedtime, Maggie walks around the bunk-bed-filled room
collecting clothes for the laundry as she goes through the verbal checklist
with the boys to see if they brushed their teeth, washed their faces, said
their prayers, and, for some reason, picked the lint from between their toes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After she leaves the room, Miguel and Roger mention one item
they didn’t do before J.P., cuddling a teddy bear, asks what lint is, causing
Miguel to call him a “butthead” and also tell him to shut up. Such harsh words
for a children’s movie! They’re tucked in sleeping bags, and Miguel takes a
shot at Maggie being “too old to bend over and tuck in sheets.” Roger defends
her, saying she has a lot to do. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Miguel fires one last verbal shot at J.P. before the young
lad says he’ll pray that Miguel meet a nice family before “it could happen”
instance No. 3 of the movie. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EVvVhoJgjiI/X7Aak5XONdI/AAAAAAAAdHQ/_9dNKyaWs6MHArfM8PbzOLnIAkg4wglHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Roger%2Bprays.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EVvVhoJgjiI/X7Aak5XONdI/AAAAAAAAdHQ/_9dNKyaWs6MHArfM8PbzOLnIAkg4wglHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Roger%2Bprays.png" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br />Did you say your prayers?</b><br />
Roger, on the top bunk above J.P., stares out the high window by his bed and
gazes at the night sky of stars. The visit from his dad is no doubt still
weighing on him from earlier.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roger offers up a prayer: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“God. If there is a God. If you’re a man, or a woman. If
you’ll listen. I’d really, really like a family. My dad says that’ll only
happen if the Angels win the pennant. The baseball team, I mean. So, maybe you
could help them a little. Amen. … A-woman, too.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It breaks your heart a little as a star shines brighter in
the sky. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/s1627/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXXf3GT32exlST0HFqPDcdNELYjdehEtPYtXaaaksIW1s_CDF-TI7IyaVZkX1MTCZLtKy5-mRGUrP_gsFup-RMNY9UGCOhtvpSnW16THsia4rVtTI_8sE2_3EOv3NjqRaDg9Qgmi7z2A/w136-h200/Angels+VHS+box+-+EDITED.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a></i><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a></i></div><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-3.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'</a></i></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-4146291820518412272020-11-14T10:15:00.002-06:002020-11-14T11:46:05.209-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: ‘You don’t even *lose* as a team!’<p>Now, let’s get to some personalities on the Angels team.
We’re in the clubhouse postgame, watching players’ hands lightly touch a pillar
in the room as they walk by. Pitcher Gates has a front-row seat to this as he’s
icing his neck following the scuffle with his manager.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DsEY4q1qzec/X67J5CuWYtI/AAAAAAAAdEM/333TBmFFwwcfEsJEXkTeRNTeZFOmwvQdACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Tapping%2Bthe%2Bpost.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DsEY4q1qzec/X67J5CuWYtI/AAAAAAAAdEM/333TBmFFwwcfEsJEXkTeRNTeZFOmwvQdACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Tapping%2Bthe%2Bpost.png" width="320" /></a></div>“Why do you idiots do that after we’ve lost?” <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s for good luck, man,” an Angels teammate responds,
acting like Gates is a moron for asking. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then Adrien Brody walks by, saying that after 15-straight
losses (remember the continuity from the boom box in part one?) they should
find something else to rub. Another player says they should do it <b>before</b>
they lose; he doesn’t seem too bright. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From meats to meeting one of the movie’s stars</b><br />
Next, there’s the usual bustle of activity in a postgame clubhouse. Players are
at a snack table taking in that postgame spread. Win or lose, everybody’s gotta
eat. The catcher picks up a piece of lunch meat and is not pleased: “Aw, not
again. They got the wrong kind of salami!” he exclaims to the room. This
catcher, Messmer, is very tall and a bit portly. So, it looks like we’re
establishing him as the stereotypical fat-joke/food-joke character for the
movie. He and Doris Murphy should get together. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EiNqUqoDkrvsQk6utdNs0jgmWwdkcHaCCMNYC9X0A904NLlPf6mz9pixKKojnPLlg8hgLe7QPyKZZPIhYMLL7KJpHTr5LxkWBx9JYcLCaRxd7Sq647X9ae5-D3U_CpSIMsAY0t27Ffw/s800/Danza+hot+tub.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="800" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EiNqUqoDkrvsQk6utdNs0jgmWwdkcHaCCMNYC9X0A904NLlPf6mz9pixKKojnPLlg8hgLe7QPyKZZPIhYMLL7KJpHTr5LxkWBx9JYcLCaRxd7Sq647X9ae5-D3U_CpSIMsAY0t27Ffw/w235-h149/Danza+hot+tub.png" width="235" /></a></div>Tony Danza is introduced in a hot tub working his right arm.
He’s also the third actor in the first 20 minutes of the movie to puff on a
cigarette. I didn’t realize how much smoking was still an everyday thing even
in the 90s. Then again, I remember when we had “smoking or non” sections in
restaurants. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A couple of teammates ask Danza about his arm and tell him
he’ll be pitching no-hitters any day now. Alright, so this guy is an injured
pitcher. Got it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Still on Danza, the audio cuts to some kind of musical rap starting.
Here begins one of my favorite, funniest scenes in the movie. Back in the
clubhouse, a random player is making up a rap on the fly as he walks around his
teammates and starts to take off his jersey. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sSq2Vq0Q3NA/X67MTQMV99I/AAAAAAAAdEs/t2VO7DvAWugAuHvhj2bG5W0bu7mAoYY8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Mapel.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sSq2Vq0Q3NA/X67MTQMV99I/AAAAAAAAdEs/t2VO7DvAWugAuHvhj2bG5W0bu7mAoYY8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Mapel.png" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br />Rap it out</b><br />
“Boys of summer<br />
and it’s a big bummer<br />
No matter who we play<br />
We give the game away<br />
Cuz we can’t win<br />
That would be a sin<br />
We even lose the games before we begi---”<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This guy, Mapel, is abruptly cut off when Knox enters the
room from behind and shouts “Save it, Mapel!” Something I recently noticed, is
that when Knox startles Mapel, the player gets turned around and bangs his head
on the “good-luck” pole. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The room falls silent at the Knox bark. Again with a
purpose, Knox strolls across the room and uses both hands to turn over the
table of cold cuts and postgame goodies. Avid Twitter users have probably seen
this moment in GIF form as a sign of some frustration. For good measure, a
random lunch meat rolls over to Messmer. He stops it with his foot and offers a
“bummer.” Yes, the big guy is disappointed about the food. Shocker. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><br />Manager tears into his team</b><br />
And here we go. <b>This</b> is the rant where Knox is pissed. Again, it’s very
PG without the profanity, but it’s still very good. Knox goes all out with his
anger, straining his face/neck muscles, almost challenging a vein to pop, and
he screams at his team for their terrible performance. We never do learn the
final score of the game they just lost, but it really doesn’t matter. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>Here’s the Knox rant, which I didn’t even need to check the
film for because I have it memorized. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“One more loss! One more loss which could have been a win!”
Knox looks around at his team as the players stand around sheepishly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You call yourselves professionals!” I love the way Knox
moves his head around in sarcasm mode right here.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I have never, ever seen a worse group of 25 players!” On
this line, Danza shows up in the back of the room, shirtless with a towel
around his waist. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W5uhNYFKoZY/X67LBKoWy6I/AAAAAAAAdEg/kosKUu0b0Rw_tUnz4XgDsGVm3FCG_W3vwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Snack%2Btable.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W5uhNYFKoZY/X67LBKoWy6I/AAAAAAAAdEg/kosKUu0b0Rw_tUnz4XgDsGVm3FCG_W3vwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Snack%2Btable.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You don’t think as a team! You don’t play as a team! You
don’t even <b>lose</b> as a team!” Quick exit stage right for Danza. He doesn’t
need this. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You all got your heads, so far up your butts – you can’t
even see the light of day!” Again, the delivery here is so good and full of
rage that you forget there’s no profanity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“One more loss (as he looks to the sky, imploring), and
I’ll, and I’ll do this!” He grabs a chair by a locker and tosses it at a rack
of bats, causing them to go flying in the direction of players.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“… To each and every one of you!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I want you here, in uniform at 9 (a.m.) tomorrow! We’re
going back to work on fundamentals!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Fundamentals?!</b><br />
Another player quickly jumps in, asking why fundamentals, in the middle of the
season, which establishes where we are time-wise. Probably June or July. For a
team that’s lost 15 games in a row, and had two outfielders collide with each
other on a play, do the players really think they have a right to question why
their manager wants to send them back to basics? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then the not-so-bright guy says he thought the game started
at 1. “It does start at 1! And you’re a jackass!” Hey, a swear, haha. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think we’ve established that this guy will be the stupid
character of the movie. He responds by very seriously saying he’s a pitcher,
not a jackass. Another teammate informs him that he can be both; it’s very
common. The scene ends with the pitcher passing out backward into his locker,
which makes sense since one of the flying bats nailed him right in the face. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCKjvnnt64c/X6yeBxMH0UI/AAAAAAAAc-k/7djXcu5EFgcWzQjuTqqLzL6FhoODLzdjgCPcBGAYYCw/s1751/Angels%2BVHS%2Bbox%2B-%2BEDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1751" data-original-width="1313" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCKjvnnt64c/X6yeBxMH0UI/AAAAAAAAc-k/7djXcu5EFgcWzQjuTqqLzL6FhoODLzdjgCPcBGAYYCw/w150-h200/Angels%2BVHS%2Bbox%2B-%2BEDITED.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a></i><div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-2.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'</a><br /></i><p><br /></p></div>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-26154041599013406992020-11-13T08:55:00.001-06:002020-11-13T08:55:02.169-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: ‘Boy, they’re bad’<p><br />Now that some of the family drama is out of the way, for
now, let’s cut to a baseball game. We see a binocular shot with the circles and
black screen around the view of the field. True to the radio broadcast from
earlier, the Blue Jays are batting against the Angels. We hear a radio this
time, too, letting fans know the Angels are down by 7 runs in the 8th inning.
So, another banner game for the Halos.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QrVtEDm7iAk/X62BpzZtgiI/AAAAAAAAdCI/3Gnej9qkJksfCoQgtaLwCLjrJE7-bW8GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Williams.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QrVtEDm7iAk/X62BpzZtgiI/AAAAAAAAdCI/3Gnej9qkJksfCoQgtaLwCLjrJE7-bW8GQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Williams.png" width="320" /></a></div>Roger and J.P. are viewing the game on some high tree limbs
outside the stadium. Roger has the binoculars and J.P. has the radio. The avid
little baseball fans want to see a strikeout. A righthanded pitcher with a
mustache named Gates is the hurler for the California Angels. Yes, let’s take a
moment here and remember that the team was known as the California Angels in
the 90s, rather than the Anaheim Angels or the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A pitch is driven into left-center as the two fielders run
to attempt the catch. In center, Ben Williams (McConaughey) calls for the ball
while Norton just kind of looks over at him like an idiot while he continues to
also run toward the ball. Did I paint a good enough picture here? The fielders
collide and definitely do not catch the ball. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“And Williams and Norton collide, and the catch is blown.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Meeting the voice of the Angels and the fiery manager</b><br />
Here, we see the first shot of the team’s play-by-play announcer in the radio
booth, Ranch Wilder played by Jay O. Sanders. Wilder speaks into one of those
old-fashioned microphones. He’s also not wearing headphones here, something
I’ve seen all radio broadcasters do before. So, there’s a point off for
realism. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For good measure in the outfield, Norton and Williams bump
heads (with a loud sound effect) as they scramble around the field on their
hands and knees looking for the baseball. We don’t see the result of the play,
or where the batter ends up, but I’m not sure how this isn’t an inside-the-park
home run, unless the batter is hobbling on one leg or something. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3SEARfrZso/X62CF9ZrLpI/AAAAAAAAdCQ/JoF_hhLcWgg0irx2S5Y0noixOxgb2WsrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Roger%2Bin%2Bthe%2Btree.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="800" height="146" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3SEARfrZso/X62CF9ZrLpI/AAAAAAAAdCQ/JoF_hhLcWgg0irx2S5Y0noixOxgb2WsrwCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h146/Roger%2Bin%2Bthe%2Btree.png" width="200" /></a></div>Cut back Roger, who utters a “boy, they’re bad” from his
perch in the tree. Then, the camera goes right to a perfect shot of a leg
violently kicking over a Gatorade cooler full of ice and orange sports drink,
spilling it all over the dugout steps and floor. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The leg came from Angels manager George Knox, played by
Danny Glover. His introduction into the movie shows his name on the back of his
jersey with the audio of Wilder mentioning the manager’s temper. Knox puts up
his right hand to signal the bullpen move, with an angry, but stoic, face. He’s
going to take Gates out. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Not your average pitching change </b><br />
Now, this is the 8th inning down 7 runs. I sure hope Gates is from the bullpen.
Because if your starter is still pitching that late into the game down by 7,
that’s a major problem. Still, Gates looks pissed he’s getting the hook as Knox
holds out his hand and demands the baseball. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It ain’t my fault, you need a new outfield!” Gates says, as
we see Norton and Williams up walking around because apparently there’s no
athletic trainer or concussion protocol. Knox reiterates that Gates is out of
the game, a little more forcefully, and then Gates loses it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZOkGF7zp41rj33R4VqUCH7PxxwlZ-pcSgmnzgAksi88dcIEZUPTv1hkhMxWB5dqntBXCtuPU18ORXVDm1_AEsRJsX1QscBZcwg9UbuAjbfULnUx5LjcnSNtWS7wnZvDB-KEH_XWxwF8/s775/Gates+and+Knox+fight.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="775" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZOkGF7zp41rj33R4VqUCH7PxxwlZ-pcSgmnzgAksi88dcIEZUPTv1hkhMxWB5dqntBXCtuPU18ORXVDm1_AEsRJsX1QscBZcwg9UbuAjbfULnUx5LjcnSNtWS7wnZvDB-KEH_XWxwF8/s320/Gates+and+Knox+fight.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />“You want the ball? Go get it! You want my glove? Go get
it!” As he throws the ball and glove like a child.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cue the chaos. Knox grabs Gates by the shoulders and the two
begin to fight it out. The middle infielders rush in. The catcher comes out to
the mound, too, but he looks like he doesn’t know what to do as his manager and
pitcher are rolling around on the ground in a tussle.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You’re washed up, you’ll never pitch again!” Knox says. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The benches clear, but before Toronto gets too far, their
(stereotypical old-dude) manager with a giant wad of tobacco in his cheeks calls
them off by telling them it’s not their fight. Ranch says Knox has created
total chaos and rises from his seat holding his mic calling the scene
outrageous with Knox “fighting off his own players.” Gates gets pulled from the
scrum and fires back: “You can’t manage a team, man!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ejection from the game, and from the tree</b><br />
Here’s kind of a confusing part: The umpire then emphatically throws Knox out
of the game. Roger, a kid I thought was a diehard fan, is mad and wants the ump
to leave him in. Wait. Is he serious? You expect a manager to <b>not</b> get tossed
after he wrestled his own pitcher to the ground in the middle of a game? Please.
Then J.P. offers a lame “don’t throw him out!” The jury’s still out on how much
he knows about baseball. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their voices must have been loud enough to attract the
attention of a security guard, who just so happened to be on the upper-deck
grandstand stairs in view of the boys. He turns around and asks the kids what
they’re doing in the tree. Um, I think it’s obvious, buddy. They didn’t
want/have the money to pay for a ticket and are trying to watch a baseball
game. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You better have tickets for that tree!” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seriously, the guard said that. It’s not even that funny.
Obviously, if they had tickets, they’d be in the stadium. The boys quickly head
down the tree trunk, and I’m always left wondering: How many games did they
watch like this? They seemed genuinely surprised they got caught.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ranch Wilder and his true colors</b><br />
Meanwhile, Knox is trying to get his money's worth on his ejection, arguing in
the umpire’s face, complete with his ball cap on backward. Knox gets all
indignant and says that the ump can’t kick him out of the game, because he’s
leaving. Sure, alright. This exchange is only funny because it’s totally a
Disney/rated-G proof. You know this is a profanity-laced tirade if this is a
real game. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZbCxIFNOm4/X62DOD8F7gI/AAAAAAAAdCg/7Op79yHnIikhGlWl0PzcNgkzU0N2sPP7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Ranch%2BWilder2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="800" height="174" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZbCxIFNOm4/X62DOD8F7gI/AAAAAAAAdCg/7Op79yHnIikhGlWl0PzcNgkzU0N2sPP7wCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h174/Ranch%2BWilder2.png" width="320" /></a></div>In the booth, Ranch flips his mic switch to the off position
and puffs on a cigarette. He’s sitting next to who, I assume, is the
color-radio guy; for some reason, when I watched as a kid this guy always
reminded me of a Jim Carrey look alike. He asks Ranch if Ranch could do any
better with the Angels, to which Wilder scoffs and says “blindfolded.”
Color-guy promptly recalls Wilder’s troubles as a manager. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br />OK, so we’ve learned Wilder was at one time a baseball
manager. File it away. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’re seeing for the first time what a douchebag Ranch can
be, as he tells color-guy to “zip it, pal,” and puts out his cigarette in
color-guy’s Angels coffee mug. Ranch gets back on the air – without headphones
on, it seems he’s psychic and knew the commercial was over – and comments about
how long Hank Murphy, the Angels owner, will put up with these shenanigans. It
would have been nice if he actually used that word, shenanigans. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cut to an old fella in a cowboy hat listening to the
broadcast; we’ll assume that’s Murphy. Ranch wraps up his coverage with this smug
gem: “With George Knox calling the shots, you never know what will happen.”
That definitely doesn’t seem like a homer-type announcer who works for the
team. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCKjvnnt64c/X6yeBxMH0UI/AAAAAAAAc-k/7djXcu5EFgcWzQjuTqqLzL6FhoODLzdjgCPcBGAYYCw/s1751/Angels%2BVHS%2Bbox%2B-%2BEDITED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1751" data-original-width="1313" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCKjvnnt64c/X6yeBxMH0UI/AAAAAAAAc-k/7djXcu5EFgcWzQjuTqqLzL6FhoODLzdjgCPcBGAYYCw/w150-h200/Angels%2BVHS%2Bbox%2B-%2BEDITED.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><i><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/11/angels-in-outfield-commentary-part-1-id.html" target="_blank">Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'</a></i><br /><p><br /></p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-89838435845771807052020-11-12T09:30:00.046-06:002020-11-12T09:30:02.698-06:00Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: ‘I’d say when the Angels win the pennant’<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCKjvnnt64c/X6yeBxMH0UI/AAAAAAAAc-g/SzoSSm8yY8MiX-kqzOy0Y6FxTpKj1IDcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1751/Angels%2BVHS%2Bbox%2B-%2BEDITED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div>Back by popular demand, I’ve got another sports-movie
commentary for everyone. OK, so maybe it’s back because I wanted to write about
another movie. Though I do appreciate the nice feedback I received this summer
when I wrote about <a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-league-of-their-own-commentary-part-1.html" target="_blank">A League of Their Own</a> and <a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-rookie-commentary-part-1-what-kind.html" target="_blank">The Rookie</a>.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IBHdNOx57R0/X6yerQ4MLGI/AAAAAAAAc-o/-LJDkslEA8IJfn5KPjmOejd38Ze47JD1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1627/Angels%2BVHS%2Bbox%2B-%2BEDITED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1110" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IBHdNOx57R0/X6yerQ4MLGI/AAAAAAAAc-o/-LJDkslEA8IJfn5KPjmOejd38Ze47JD1gCLcBGAsYHQ/w273-h400/Angels%2BVHS%2Bbox%2B-%2BEDITED.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>This time around, I’m dipping into the Disney well again for
a baseball movie: Angels in the Outfield. Straight out of the summer of 1994
starring Danny Glover, Tony Danza and the ever-so-dreamy tween Joseph
Gordon-Levitt. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here’s the premise as told by the film’s IMDB page: When a
boy prays for a chance to have a family if the California Angels win the
pennant, angels are assigned to make that possible. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Buckle up. If you read any parts of my first two movie
commentaries, you know I dig deep into the details and my own personal takes. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Riding around the stadium </b><br />
We start out in the clouds surrounded by blue sky and the movie’s musical theme
in the background. The standard “Walt Disney Pictures Presents” comes across
with the Angels in the Outfield graphic, followed by names in the opening
credits flash across the sky, mixed in with baseballs flying around in slow
motion. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The clouds start to break away, revealing the baseball
stadium down below as the baseball from the sky sails toward the earth and
presumably to the pitcher’s mound in Anaheim, Calif. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The young J.P. and Roger (Gordon-Levitt) are riding their
bikes – J.P. has the big, arching handlebars – around on the street, and it’s
J.P. who utters the first line of the movie: “Roger, do you believe in Heaven?”
What comes next is the writers wasting absolutely zero time giving viewers
background on these two kiddos. So if you arrived late to the theater (if you
saw this in a movie theater, which I did not, having caught it on the Disney Channel
and via the VHS player at home), you might have missed this early plot point.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEfPH0yfTVWw92-Gv8bwThsU7Ell1sDMbzlm_GQC9fZULM9TFAJPPYwTxUKzqkuqrB1f9EanO7_EcuIP5WcdGNMJ5clrWQumMDTBhNaQZnCJzGAGz5hhJDZwgLcmGXLNHjJisg0bCBh8/s800/Bike+ride.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEfPH0yfTVWw92-Gv8bwThsU7Ell1sDMbzlm_GQC9fZULM9TFAJPPYwTxUKzqkuqrB1f9EanO7_EcuIP5WcdGNMJ5clrWQumMDTBhNaQZnCJzGAGz5hhJDZwgLcmGXLNHjJisg0bCBh8/s320/Bike+ride.png" width="320" /></a></div>Roger responds to J.P.’s question by saying that he guesses
he believes in Heaven, because that’s where people say his mom went. Point 1:
Roger’s mother is deceased. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The answer gets J.P. excited for a second, saying that maybe
his dad and Roger’s mom are friends “up there,” in Heaven. Point 2: J.P.’s dad
is also deceased.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />Then the two make it a point to explicitly say that they’re
best friends, in case we’re wondering.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The boys continue to ride their bikes with shots of the
Major League stadium in the background as some more opening credits roll. Here
are a couple of things that I only realized watching the movie later. Matthew
McConaughey and Adrien Brody are in this movie. Big Hollywood stars, kind of
before they were big Hollywood stars. We’ll meet them later. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Do they have to change their name to “Foster?” </b><br />
J.P. isn’t done hitting viewers with the plot points here. Not only are these
boys without at least one parent, but J.P. randomly asks Roger why Maggie’s
house is called a “foster home.” Roger has no idea and makes something up, then
adds that they won’t be there a long time because “something good’s going to
happen.” Point 3: They’re foster kids who presumably live together. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">J.P. is quite the optimist and agrees about something good
before uttering what will become his catchphrase in the movie: “It could
happen.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZSqTn2t4Ok/X6yhyA3EfWI/AAAAAAAAc_M/lMi2hbz9JMQK_hPxRdAhzlP8suO8KlcsACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Maggie%2Band%2Bthe%2Bboys.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="800" height="160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZSqTn2t4Ok/X6yhyA3EfWI/AAAAAAAAc_M/lMi2hbz9JMQK_hPxRdAhzlP8suO8KlcsACLcBGAsYHQ/w354-h160/Maggie%2Band%2Bthe%2Bboys.png" width="354" /></a></div>The end of the credits run as a few random kids run past
what we come to know as Maggie’s house as Maggie walks out the front door
toward the clothesline in the yard. A passerby wearing jeans, shades and a
sleeveless white tee carrying a boom box (very 90s) strolls by on the sidewalk. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Listen carefully, and you’ll hear he’s listening to a baseball game, as the
announcer says that the Angels are trying to break a 14-game losing streak
during their game against the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon at Anaheim
Stadium. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Roger and J.P. return from their bike ride, though apparently,
they weren’t back by 5 p.m. when they said. Maggie flashes her watch in front
of their faces for evidence, but J.P. says he can’t tell time yet. He politely
asks if they’re back by 5. Exasperated Maggie, who must be their foster mother,
says “close.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Make room for daddy </b><br />
Maggie tells Rogers to go inside and see his visitor. There must only be one
person he’d expect because he drops his bike in the yard like a hot potato and
scampers up the porch steps inside. The camera pans to a motorcycle parked
right in front of the house as Roger calls out “Dad?” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UXE0g-_WcLQ/X6yiPPUh8qI/AAAAAAAAc_U/OFlLm2nyD-MdK_6QKtCITwRh67YJJoniACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Roger%2527s%2Bdad.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UXE0g-_WcLQ/X6yiPPUh8qI/AAAAAAAAc_U/OFlLm2nyD-MdK_6QKtCITwRh67YJJoniACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Roger%2527s%2Bdad.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Behind a puffy cloud of cigarette smoke, we’re introduced to
Roger’s dad. He’s seated in the living room portraying the classic, bad-boy,
biker stereotype wearing a black leather jacket, white t-shirt and slick, black
hair with cool-guy sideburns. This actor is Dermot Mulroney. He’s another one I
didn’t recognize until many years later. He’s gone on to do a bunch of rom-com
work, and he had a guest-star arc as Rachel’s co-worker/crush in season 9 of
“Friends.” <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Anyway. Daddy-o asks Roger if he’s surprised to see him,
then remarks on how “scrawny” Roger looks while reaching out and poking at his
abdomen. Roger assures him that he’s getting fed. Dad demands to know where
Roger was and seems miffed that his son wasn’t a mind reader about his visit and
kept him waiting. Roger tells him he was “riding around the stadium.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Then, for some reason, dad feels the need to dump all over
the Angels being Roger’s “team,” a fact that Roger tries to contain and hide
his enthusiasm for his fandom. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“They’re in last place,” Pops says. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Roger agrees, looking dejected. Way to bond with the boy,
dad. He then goes on to say a family “that likes losers” runs in the blood, as
we get a close-up shot of him wiping cigarette ashes on his blue jeans. At
this, Roger turns away disgusted, though also looking like he’s seen this maneuver
dozens of times. To be honest, the line his dad says here never really stuck in
my mind. And I’ve seen this movie enough times that I have a lot of lines
committed to memory. But that’s how powerful the cigarette ashes and the
reaction are. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>A sad, brief reunion </b><br />
As pops eases his way out of the chair amid another blow of smoke, he tells
Roger he’s going up north (wherever that is, because I’m only familiar with “up
north” as it relates to lake country in Minnesota). Here’s where daddy really
starts to break his little boy’s heart. Apparently, he promised that when he
returned, it would be to get Roger, which is evidently why the boy ran into the
house to see him like it was Christmas morning. But here, Roger simply stares
up at his dad with these oh-so-sad puppy-dog eyes. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Dad tells Roger that things aren’t working out, meaning to
take care of his son, I guess. He says he’s signed a “release thing,” which I’m
sure is the legal term for it, adding that they have to go to court to make it
final. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I did what I could with you. Maybe if your mom was alive
it’d be different. … You understand what I’m saying, don’t ya?” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrXBRYYp2Yk/X6yjPsD225I/AAAAAAAAc_g/Pmw9Hzc7SqQcRdEPSUCGISaAadVTcO4MgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/Roger%2527s%2Bdad%252C%2Bglasses.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrXBRYYp2Yk/X6yjPsD225I/AAAAAAAAc_g/Pmw9Hzc7SqQcRdEPSUCGISaAadVTcO4MgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Roger%2527s%2Bdad%252C%2Bglasses.png" width="320" /></a></div>Actually, no. For as blunt as the dialogue was at the start
of the movie, pops isn’t exactly doing a great job of spelling out this legal
stuff for junior. Is he saying he doesn’t want to be Roger’s dad anymore, ever?
Or does he need a break or something? It’s a little confusing, except that the
main thing we can gather is that dad is still going to leave Roger behind at
the foster home. Roger, who also looks confused, manages a “yeah” in response. <o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Dad seems satisfied with that answer and is glad to have
that awkward exchange out of the way, which is rather cold. He heads out the
front door with a fresh cigarette hanging from his lips. At the curb, the
motorcycle is predictably his dad’s, though he had a pick-up truck before but
tells Roger the bike is better for traveling. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>A pie-in-the-sky promise from dead ol’ dad </b><br />
Then Roger, still crushed from the brief conversation inside, asks when they’re
going to be a family again. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“From where I’m sitting,” dad says, as he flicks something
(a match?) in the direction of the visible baseball stadium off in the distance.
“I’d say when the Angels win the pennant.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">And boom. We have our main plot for this movie, folks. Dad
is basically telling this kid they’re never going to be a family again because
as we know, the Angels are in last place. But Roger, though a pre-teen, is
still a vulnerable child in this instance and definitely doesn’t see this as
the final brush-off his dad means it to be. What a douchebag thing for the dad
to say, knowing his kid is a big Angels fan. <o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Pops puts on some cool-guy sunglasses, starts up his hog and
tells his “son” to stay out of trouble as he rides away from the curb and down
the street, leaving a bewildered Roger what just happened in their very-brief
visit. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLACWwLyPI-I33SoCEuV5rC3vlEPD4bYorKYly1jNePtjhmA182_U_QvVzTNDgrj7IjU0NHvj9dpvX1ghx9yx_WXlp5pAd5UBrz1VVKe-RgAkug4yUyc7TkYE2yg0DhbR5kCLInvfhss/s600/Movie+title.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="600" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLACWwLyPI-I33SoCEuV5rC3vlEPD4bYorKYly1jNePtjhmA182_U_QvVzTNDgrj7IjU0NHvj9dpvX1ghx9yx_WXlp5pAd5UBrz1VVKe-RgAkug4yUyc7TkYE2yg0DhbR5kCLInvfhss/w640-h301/Movie+title.png" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-79044382320154749762020-08-22T15:31:00.003-05:002020-08-22T15:31:40.459-05:00The Indy 500 field in 2020: Andretti leads the way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ7zgwNOE7E/TGW9YPwfo0I/AAAAAAAAAEs/p2lOyuquZ_kNYr_pVxmEfzkBtHD3BvDLQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/P1020356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="246" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ7zgwNOE7E/TGW9YPwfo0I/AAAAAAAAAEs/p2lOyuquZ_kNYr_pVxmEfzkBtHD3BvDLQCPcBGAYYCw/w328-h246/P1020356.JPG" width="328" /></a></div><div>The number 33 came together for the Andretti family this year.</div><div><br /></div>Thirty-three cars in the Indianapolis 500 field, a tradition. Marco Andretti, a third-generation driver, is 33 years old as he competes in his 15th Indy 500. The last time someone named Andretti was on the pole position for the 500? 1987, 33 years ago, when Marco's grandfather, Mario, accomplished the feat. Michael Andretti, now a team owner, will still be the best and most successful IndyCar driver to have never won the pole or the race at the Indy 500. <p></p><p>It all came together last weekend though when Marco turned in speeds topping 233 mph to beat out IndyCar points leader Scott Dixon for the pole position for the 104th running of the Indy 500 this Sunday. </p><p>In a year where everything seems strange, the Indy 500 will have a first: Running in August instead of May and running without any fans in the stands. I commented the other day, asking for someone to convince me that this isn't May since the baseball season started recently, there are NHL playoffs happening and now the Indy 500. </p><p>But as trying as 2020 has been across the country and the world, something finally broke right for Marco at the storied racetrack that has caused his family so much heartbreak over the years. Unless something changes, Mario will still be the only Andretti family member to win the race, drinking the milk in 1969. Son Michael has led the most laps in the race (431) without having ever won. </p><p><b>Andretti Curse</b><br />It looked like the rookie Marco was going to shatter the Andretti Curse in his very first shot back in 2006. Instead, Sam Hornish Jr., who didn't waste much time jumping to NASCAR afterward, beat out Marco at the line in one of the closest finishes ever. </p><p>Instead of sparking Marco's career, the race seemed to have solidified the Andretti Curse for him. He only has two race wins, back in 2008 and 2011. His grandfather ranks second on the all-time series wins list with 52, while dad Michael has 42 victories.</p><p></p>But it's not like Marco has raced poorly in the Indy 500. In 14 starts, he's finished in the top-5 five times and in the top-10 eight times. Of course, podium finishes aren't really a thing at Indy, where the winner's circle with milk is all that matters. Marco's worst Indy 500 finish was 30th in 2009 when he crashed out on the first lap with Mario Moraes. His second-worst finish was last year, the 50th anniversary of his grandfather's Indy 500 win, recording 26th place.<p></p><p>The start of the race this year, always marked with pomp and circumstance, will feature the three Andretti generations leading the way. Mario will drive the famous two-seater car, known as Honda's Fastest Seat in Sports, before Marco leads the field to green as the polesitter. </p><p>A driver named Andretti has been in the Indy 500 since 1965.</p><p>If Marco wins, he'll be the 22nd driver to win the race from the pole position. It would be the first back-to-back pole winners since 2008 and 2009 when Dixon and Helio Castroneves accomplished the feat. It would also be the fifth time in Indy 500 history for back-to-back pole winners. </p><p><b>Starting-row stats</b><br />Pole aside, the odds are in the favor of row 1 as well, which this year is Dixon and Takuma Sato. 44-of-103 winners have come out of row 1 over the years. Nine winners have come from the front row since 2000, including the past two years. Row 2 starters do well also, with 19 winners. The last two were the late Dan Wheldon in 2011 and Takuma Sato in 2017. This year, row 2 is Rinus VeeKay, Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe. </p><p>Here are the numbers from the rest of the grid, winners and where they've started: </p><p>Row 3: 8 winners (last in 1999)<br />Row 4: 7 winners (last in 2016)<br />Row 5: 9 winners (last in 2015)<br />Row 6: 4 winners (last in 2012) <br />Row 7: 6 winners (last in 2014) </p><p>I started keeping track of some starting grid/finishing position stats a couple of years ago. One still rings true: Only six Indy 500 winners out of 103 races have come from starting rows 8-10. It's been 46 years since it last happened, with Johnny Rutherford winning the race after starting in the 25th spot coming out of the ninth row. </p><p>No winner has ever gone from worst-to-first starting in the 11th and last row. That's not good news for Sage Karam, JR Hildebrand and Ben Hanley this year, making up positions 31, 32 and 33. </p><p><b>Past champs, vets, rookies</b><br />This year's starting grid includes eight past Indy 500 champions: Castroneves, Alexander Rossi, Sato, Will Power, Simon Pagenaud, Tony Kanaan, Hunter-Reay and Dixon. </p><p></p>The IndyCar Series has a lot of veteran drivers and a lot of younger drivers this year. The Indy 500 includes five rookies this year, including VeeKay (19 years old), Pato O'Ward (21), Dalton Kellett (27), Alex Palou (23) and Oliver Askew (23). It wasn't long ago when a rookie won the big race, with Rossi winning in 2016 in the 100th running.<p></p><p>Troy Ruttman is the youngest winner of the Indy 500, winning in 1952 at 22 years and 360 days old. </p><p>Points leader Dixon is looking for his second Indy 500 win. He's a five-time series champion and ranks third all-time in IndyCar victories with nearly 50 of them but just one at the Brickyard oval. He turned 40 years old in July and doesn't show any signs of slowing down, winning the first three races of this shortened/delayed 2020 season. He nearly had pole before Marco beat him out last weekend. The "Ice Man" is known for his consistency on track and will be one to watch. </p><p>Power is 39 years old, Sato is 43, Hunter-Reay will turn 40 in December, Ed Carpenter is 39 and Kanaan is 45. Meanwhile, in addition to some of the young rookies, Colton Herta is 20 and Santino Ferrucci is 22.</p><p><b>No women this year, plus other history</b><br />This race will also be the first Indy 500 without a female driver since 1999. For a while, the grid had featured multiple women, like Katherine Legge, Ana Beatriz, Pippa Mann, Danica Patrick and Simona de Silvestro. Mann was in the field last year after being bumped out in 2018, the year of Danica Patrick's final run at Indy. Lyn St. James ran from 1992-97 and 2000, the first year Sarah Fisher raced. Prior to 1992, Janet Guthrie was the first woman to race at Indy from 1997-79. </p><p>As has been the case since 2010, Castroneves will try to join the elite four-time winner club, joining A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears. The 45-year-old will have his work cut out for him in the Pennzoil-yellow machine though; he starts on the inside of row 10 in 28th position. The last time a winner came out of row 10? Louis Meyer in 1936. Ray Harroun also started in row 10 when he won the very first race in 1911; both started in 28th position, the lowest starting spot for a winner.</p><p>Pagenaud will have to claw from that 25th position if he wants to be the first back-to-back winner since Castroneves in 2001 and 2002. Back-to-back winners have only been done five times in Indy 500 history: Wilbur Shaw (1939-40), Mauri Rose (1947-48), Bill Vukovich (1953-54), Al Unser (1970-71) and Castroneves (2001-02).</p><p>The year is a bit of a swan song for Kanaan, a veteran driver focused on running ovals this year. After some bad luck at Indy, he finally won the race in 2013. He's led the most races of any driver in race history, with 14, including 7 consecutive races from 2002-08.</p><p><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9qXxkw6TZWY/S_1WWGwWFBI/AAAAAAAAACs/VI9cJGWH2_sTQgxeEmoDbMr2Avaesy33gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/P1000391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="410" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9qXxkw6TZWY/S_1WWGwWFBI/AAAAAAAAACs/VI9cJGWH2_sTQgxeEmoDbMr2Avaesy33gCPcBGAYYCw/w307-h410/P1000391.JPG" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pole from 2009.</td></tr></tbody></table>Starting grid for the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500:</b></p><p>Row 1:</p><p>Marco Andretti<br />Scott Dixon<br />Takuma Sato </p><p>Row 2: </p><p>Rinus VeeKay<br />Ryan Hunter-Reay<br />James Hinchcliffe</p><p>Row 3:</p><p>Alex Palou<br />Graham Rahal<br />Alexander Rossi</p><p>Row 4: </p><p>Colton Herta<br />Marcus Ericsson<br />Spencer Pigot</p><p>Row 5:</p><p>Josef Newgarden<br />Felix Rosenqvist<br />Pato O'Ward</p><p>Row 6:</p><p>Ed Carpenter<br />Zach Veach<br />Conor Daly</p><p>Row 7:</p><p>Santino Ferrucci<br />Jack Harvey<br />Oliver Askew</p><p>Row 8:</p><p>Will Power<br />Tony Kanaan<br />Dalton Kellett</p><p>Row 9:</p><p>Simon Pagenaud<br />Fernando Alonso<br />James Davison</p><p>Row 10:</p><p>Helio Castroneves<br />Charlie Kimball<br />Max Chilton</p><p>Row 11:</p><p>Sage Karam<br />JR Hildebrand<br />Ben Hanley</p>Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183266322952888751.post-17501364298365565342020-07-24T13:21:00.000-05:002020-07-24T13:21:10.757-05:00Pandemic projects<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked-up at Road America.</td></tr>
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It's a day that many didn't think would arrive in 2020: Opening Day in Major League Baseball.<br />
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Yes, it's true. MLB teams will head to various ballparks across the country today and play baseball, with plenty of modifications because we're still in a pandemic, after all. One of the most notable things is that they'll be playing in empty ballparks without fans in attendance. Although from watching the Twins exhibition game the other night, the general buzz of crowd noise being pumped into the stadium is a nice touch.<br />
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It's certainly been a strange year, sports-wise and otherwise. In April, I struggled a little with how to fill my time in baseball's absence. Adjustments were made, and I started keeping a list of things I accomplished during quarantine times. There were small things and some bigger projects, but whatever made the list seemed like a productive use of my time, so I wrote them down.<br />
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Here are some of the things that made the list, in no particular order:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MNJWsUarHSgLBbg_a_pO4xpYOozi2HWMeq1XEVBdhi0lnw92yvROq6n3PeOGSQl6Sqa68Eppn4lpRuCf_o07DtR1Inzm4fTEpeSzAfVpFhFT8MNV0R8FA3LwALDFeRbcJIeGupc8BWE/s1600/20200630_175011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MNJWsUarHSgLBbg_a_pO4xpYOozi2HWMeq1XEVBdhi0lnw92yvROq6n3PeOGSQl6Sqa68Eppn4lpRuCf_o07DtR1Inzm4fTEpeSzAfVpFhFT8MNV0R8FA3LwALDFeRbcJIeGupc8BWE/s200/20200630_175011.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuna pasta dish.</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>Organized/tossed five year's worth of Twins boxscores/stats</li>
<li>Organized files on my laptop</li>
<li>Updated my <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hlrule/" target="_blank">LinkedIn profile</a></li>
<li>Grabbed PDFs of my various stories I've written over the years</li>
<li>Updated <a href="http://www.heatherrule.com/" target="_blank">my website</a> (a task that is never finished) </li>
<li>Organized my nail polish container, tossing a lot of old bottles</li>
<li>Organized/deleted items on my Google Drive to go from 84% full to 33% full </li>
<li>Saved audio recordings to my laptop folders - and deleted nearly 200 recordings off the recorder</li>
<li>Wrote a <a href="https://nismonline.org/how-covid-19-has-changed-the-sports-social-world-so-far/" target="_blank">blog post</a> for the National Institute for Social Media </li>
<li>Phone interviews, transcribing, writing for Otter Tail Lakes Country Magazine stories</li>
<li>Made a list of what to keep/delete from the DVR </li>
<li>Organized my phone apps into folders</li>
<li>Organized/deleted photos from my phone</li>
<li>Made GIFs for work</li>
<li>Put together two puzzles</li>
<li>Wrote five <a href="https://www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1111414" target="_blank">feature storie</a>s for <a href="http://usahockey.com/">USAHockey.com</a> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfM3uji0miXLIO_mt3sP3mX-9_33F0tGvISjOvUKqjas-gVgl1CbsibJCTjZM-n-Tn66hPFYHi7a3BmMVtVnFhtCExUJfvuaXalgmPgv4cDdmZVKGQ-2THDc3bI9rqm-li6rpo7xufYtU/s1600/20200404_153917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfM3uji0miXLIO_mt3sP3mX-9_33F0tGvISjOvUKqjas-gVgl1CbsibJCTjZM-n-Tn66hPFYHi7a3BmMVtVnFhtCExUJfvuaXalgmPgv4cDdmZVKGQ-2THDc3bI9rqm-li6rpo7xufYtU/s200/20200404_153917.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nail polish collection.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-league-of-their-own-commentary-part-1.html" target="_blank">A League of Their Own movie commentary</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thoughtsfromthestands.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-rookie-commentary-part-1-what-kind.html" target="_blank">The Rookie movie commentary</a></li>
<li>Guest on a couple of sports podcasts</li>
<li>Watched old Twins and Wild games, leaving commentary on <a href="https://twitter.com/hlrule" target="_blank">Twitter</a> with #HeathWrites hashtag</li>
<li>Stayed active on social with #TwinsTuesdays, #MNWildWednesdays and #TBT posts </li>
<li>Made new connections via webinars, Zoom happy hours and various social-media messaging</li>
<li>Played piano</li>
<li>Became active on TikTok, wasting a lot of time </li>
<li>Went for a lot of walks</li>
<li>Tried out a bunch of new recipes - and then did a lot of dishes</li>
<li>Enjoyed free evenings and weekends (sports colleagues feel me on this one, right?)</li>
<li>Read books</li>
<li>Attended the first IndyCar race of the season with (socially-distanced) fans at Road America</li>
<li>Binged the last four seasons of Castle (ok, this one isn't really productive, but still)</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGmq6MOenVc/Xxshr1phepI/AAAAAAAAbn0/6PSks6eD2_03qxD7YRbytKUH-KUI6dr5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200429_170722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGmq6MOenVc/Xxshr1phepI/AAAAAAAAbn0/6PSks6eD2_03qxD7YRbytKUH-KUI6dr5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/20200429_170722.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The upright piano.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I hope loyal readers and followers will recognize a few things on the list, specifically the movie commentaries. I'm particularly proud of those. I think I will look back on this time and remember those as my biggest accomplishments of quarantine. And stay tuned, because I don't think I'm done with sports-movie commentaries yet. I'll see how that goes because writing up 14-part commentaries after watching a movie and taking notes isn't done in a day. </div>
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Some things on the list are more for fun, like reading books and playing the piano. I've never stopped, it's just that during this time I started hitting the keys a lot more. I tried to work on the sheet music for "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic so I could play it a little more smoothly. It's definitely much-improved now. To let you know just how empty my calendar/planner was early on, I started writing things like "play piano" and "go for a walk" in there just so I could check something off my list for the day. </div>
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I know a lot of people cleaned things out in their homes in an amped-up spring cleaning this year. I didn't do as much of that with physical things, except for the nail polish collection and Twins boxscores, but I chose the electronic route. It felt good to get my recorder down to nearly zero, so I can stop having to delete random files to make room for additional recordings. Organizing photos, documents and files on my computer was also a necessary task. </div>
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As I stayed active on my social media channels, I wanted to make sure I set aside time to update my website with writing clips and PDFs. It's a task that never seems to end, but I enjoy having the online portfolio to showcase my work. </div>
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Thanks to Todd Kortemeier with Red Line Editorial for throwing some work my way with USAHockey.com; it was nice to have some stories to write during the downtime. And thanks to my friend Marie Noplos, who got me started with the Otter Tail Lakes Country magazine feature stories. I was glad to get a jumpstart on those this spring and summer. </div>
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During a time when time takes on a different meaning, it was nice to be able to enjoy evenings and weekends. I have some opposite feelings of other friends, who felt busier and more stressed as they shifted to working from home and had no idea what day it was. That's how I often feel in the heart of a sports season working evenings and weekends (What's a weekend?). So, a silver lining for me was the slowdown and enjoy some of this time. Part of that was going for walks in the neighborhood after supper with my parents. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO0zoUVNVhYPbS14i44CtWbyfgo675J8SNiVy-NVJ_kFpp1ScUuSGASUySL9aTyxyMluttJKnmoKBAR6nBpaXvf0eriAfJvNXf37M_f48Mutw4AJu3K5Gg7XPn0PvGvA0PZX48MhAavA/s1600/20200402_114223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO0zoUVNVhYPbS14i44CtWbyfgo675J8SNiVy-NVJ_kFpp1ScUuSGASUySL9aTyxyMluttJKnmoKBAR6nBpaXvf0eriAfJvNXf37M_f48Mutw4AJu3K5Gg7XPn0PvGvA0PZX48MhAavA/s320/20200402_114223.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bring on Bomba SZN!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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And now, baseball is here. Sure, it's for a scheduled 60-game season in roughly two months rather than a 162-game season in about six months, and there are more than 100 pages of rules for it to happen. COVID-19 is still here and ultimately still in control of what might happen. It's a consensus that the Minnesota Twins are fielding a team that's the best in the club's history - on paper. And this year more than any other, "on paper" might have a huge meaning.<br />
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For the Twins, it's 60 scheduled games for their 60th season in Minnesota. The record-setting Bomba Squad won't break the home-run record it set last year with 307 Bombas, but with most of the pieces back, and additions like Josh Donaldson and pitchers Homer Bailey, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda, the Twins should be entertaining to watch once again. </div>
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As we all get back into the swing of sports, the best we can, I'll still be mindful of caution and health. I'll also be working from home this season, which is a bummer especially from the standpoint of the camaraderie I've been missing with friends and colleagues in the press box. But let's hope we can all adapt and find ways to get our work done while still enjoying some baseball. </div>
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Thanks to everyone for following along with me on my social channels and reading my work. It's always appreciated. </div>
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Now... bring on baseball! </div>
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<br />Heather Rulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03639910805074585296noreply@blogger.com4