According to the thing I click on sometimes when I update this website, the majority of people reading this blog live in either Texas or Ohio, so I don’t think it’s a stretch to suggest that most of us are suffering through a similarly unsatisfying playoff baseball season.
Luckily, though, I remembered the boy scout oath and took steps to be prepared: without an emotional connection to the playoffs, I recognized the best way for the postseason to hold my interest this month would be to gamble heavily on its outcome [Couple notes: 1.) I was never a boy scout 2.) I wouldn’t be surprised to find out the Boy Scouts actually advocate against their members gambling].
In addition to my Pete Rose-esque dedication to the game, I usually get on here around this time of year and write about how one of Major League Baseball’s playoff teams reminds me of the 1994 Montreal Expos.
Previous winners of the Honorary 1994 Montreal Expos Cup have included the 2010 Cincinnati Reds and last year’s Oakland Athletics.
This year proved more troublesome: The Rays, Reds and A’s are common sights in the playoffs now, along with St. Louis. Everyone hates Atlanta. Boston, Detroit and Los Angeles have huge payrolls that stand for the complete opposite of Montreal’s small-market can-do attitude.
In fact, the Expos’ all-time hits leader, Tim Wallach, would probably turn over in his grave if he knew the Dodgers had a $220 million dollar payroll. That is to say, he would turn over in his grave if he were dead and also not currently the third base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That leaves only Pittsburgh, which has defied expectations and won over the hearts of its fans with a gritty, enthusiastic style of play. Sounds like a reincarnation of the 1994 Montreal Expos, right?
Here’s the problem: the Pirates’ last playoff appearance came at the expense of the Expos in 1992. I vowed then that I would hate Pittsburgh for the rest of my life, and I wouldn’t dream of letting down sixth-grade-Alan.
Perhaps, though, it raises the stature of the honor to not hand it out every year if no team is deserving.
Perhaps the real star of this year’s postseason has been Larry King.
Hear me out.
Have you seen him filling in for Keith Olbermann on ESPN? He’s a better host of Olbermann than Olbermann!
It’s sort of like watching your grandfather interviewing your favorite sports stars, and asking the questions you might ask them at a bar.
I tuned in the other night during his interview with Rays Manager Joe Maddon just in time to hear him ask “what animal would you like to bring in[to the clubhouse] that you haven’t brought in?”
He’d later tells Indians outfielder Nick Swisher that he’s always wanted to ask him what it’s like to hit a home run. You know, what’s it feel like?
And who couldn’t draw positive energy from King’s decision to replace Olbermann’s “Worst People in the World” segment with the more uplifting “Larry’s Likes?!” I can’t find video of it anywhere, but his likes include class and chutzpah.
As a reporter, I embrace the onus to remain neutral, but because of Larry King’s leadership on the issue, I will no longer remain silent: I am in favor of class, also!
In fact, better than any team, Larry King fits the criteria: you knew he was a superstar, but he still snuck up on you to take television by storm.
This year, the Scaianalysis Editorial Board is proud to name Larry King an Honorary 1994 Montreal Expo.
