Fall Sports

11/01/04

 

24 hours to deadline. That is the e-mail I just got from our fearless leader. I guess with all of the excitement of the Red Sox winning their first World Series in 86 years, the Patriots breaking the all-time consecutive win record before falling to a 23 year old quarterback with a name that sounds like something you would order at the local diner, and NASCAR’s new “Chase for the Cup” producing some tremendously hard and close racing, I forgot. Evidently George forgot too, or he would have e-mailed me sooner. There is, and never has been, any question that I would forget and it is his job to remind me. Just as I have to prod my teenage daughter to get up and go to school although she has been doing it for 10 years, George has to prod me into sending in a column although I’ve been doing it for 5 years. I don’t know which one of us is the bigger slacker but I like it just the way it is, I always know that I’m on someone’s mind, and if the column is late I can say “I never got your e-mail reminding me!”

Here are some disjointed thoughts and observations about the fall sports season. As this paper will find its way to the west coast next week, there may be some readers that won’t share my enthusiasm and excitement. To them, I apologize. I’m glad your Angels had the opportunity to be a part of the Sox post season run into the history books. To you New York and New Jersey fans who read this every week, rest assured that we can all feel your pain and I, personally, will hold off wearing my ‘Yankees Suck’ tee shirt until it warms up again next spring.

The Red Sox turned a lot of casual fans into rabid fans and non-fans into fans this fall. Thousands of folks were up late every night watching the excitement and knowing that we might never see anything like it again in our lifetimes. One of the biggest benefits of having the Red Sox in the ALCS and the World Series was that my son, who is away at college and hardly ever comes home for a weekend, called nearly every night after the game to be sure that I had stayed up late to watch and to share his excitement with me. That was special!

I was fortunate enough, due to some very good friends, to not only be at the Patriots-Jets game where the historical record was broken but to be in the club seats for the very best view in the whole stadium. A fantastic game and a fantastic time, it was a day I will not soon forget!

Not only has ‘Our own’ Martin Truex Jr. had a great first season in the Busch series but he has just announced that he’ll run the full series again next season along with 7 Cup races and then go full-time Cup racing in 2006 and 2007. Bass Pro Shops will be the sponsor and I’m certain that it will be as exciting watching him as this year has been. We also received word that Ryan Moore will run a partial schedule in the Busch series for DEI in 2005 with hopes of running for ROTY in 2006. PASS champion Johnny Clark’s name has been on the roster for Roush Racing’s ‘Gong Show’ Craftsman Truck Series tryouts at the old North Wilkesboro Speedway. This is all pretty exciting news for Maine race fans.

NASCAR went way out on a limb when they changed the point system and added the “Chase for the Cup”, I’m sure there are many folks that still think it was a foolish move but it sure has piqued interest in the final 10 races. It’s always good to have sub-plots in big scheme of things and this system does it well in my opinion. I’m going to Darlington next week to see the next to last race of the Cup season and not only am I excited about watching Martin try to win the Busch Series championship in his first full season and watch the Craftsman Truck Series in Darlington’s first ever night race, but I’m sure to see a good Cup race as the championship will not be decided until the last race under the new system. I’m hoping for a great Shootout race in Irwindale and am confident that the North will bring home the trophy this time. I’ll be watching if I can find a television at the track in Darlington or in Myrtle Beach where I’ll be holed up next weekend.

On a final fall sports note, Am I the only one that is very happy that the WWE-like presidential election games are over by the time you read this? I’m writing it the day before the election and have heard so much mudslinging and general bull(25-point word) from both sides that I don’t give a (25-point word) which one of the (25-point name) wins!

As always, send Questions, Comments, Hate Mail, and Indecent Proposals to, Fish c/o Busch North Scene or e-mail them to fishy@ctel.net