Giants Baseball... Torture

"Giants baseball... torture," remarked Giants announcer Duane Kuiper after another intense one-run Giants game. The phrase stuck. That's how it has been all year. That's how it was for the division series and the NLCS.

Each game was an intense nail-biting, nerve-wracking, down-to-the-wire finish. That's what makes it so exciting. Like they did against the Braves, against the Phillies, and against the Rangers in game 4 tonight the Giants keep on winning.

I've invested more time and emotional energy into this post-season than I ever have before. I also have invested more emotional energy than any normal human (not playing sports professionally) should for any sporting event.

I thought the Giants could beat the Braves. I thought they could beat the Phillies. And I thought they would beat Texas in Six. That's why I picked game 6 to attend.

My hope was after four games the Giants would be leading the series 3-1, and they are.

So tomorrow will not be torture for me. I will not be stressed. I will be watching with ambivalence, maybe even apathy (not about the Giants, but about them wining or losing the game).

Because nothing bad can happen for me tomorrow. I watched the Giants get swept out by the A's in the Battle of the Bay back in '89. I watched the Giants take a 3-2 series lead into game 6 in 2002, only to watch the game unravel.

I stood by during the torture last season as the Giants once again flirted with greatness only to fall short of the playoffs.

Not tomorrow. Kick off your shoes and relax. Because by this time tomorrow evening my beloved Giants will be World Champions for the first time in my lifetime, and the first time since 1954, or they will still be up in the series three games to two coming back to San Fransisco. And I will be there. Wednesday could be the first World Series game I have ever attended, or it could be day three of our celebration.

For tonight, all is right in the world.

Pic of the Week

Saving Gio's life while rafting in Honduras.

Thought of the Week

Suppose your favorite baseball team has a chance to win the World Series on the road in five games, but you have tickets to game 6 at home. Assume they are up 3-1 in the series going in to game 5. Would you root for them to lose so you could go to game 6? (What if you have never been to a World Series game in your life?)

Feel free to imagine a team from the NHL or NBA if that helps.

Ashkon's Don't Stop Believing

I've already watched this numerous times, but I thought it deserved be reposted here:



Go Giants.

It's Mi-kay-lee

I teach five classes, and I tell my students to give me three weeks to learn their names. Maybe this year I should have asked for more time.

I have four students named Alexis, three of them female. I have two Isaiah’s in the same class and two Kenneth’s in a different period. I have two Yulia’s. 2nd period has three Tayler’s. Also, in that class are Keiliyah and Kei’laja (but don’t worry those names are pronounced completely differently.)

Just two days ago I heard one of Raechele’s friends call her “Rachel” even though all year I’ve been calling her “Rachelle.” Turns out it’s pronounced “Rachel.”
I also slaughtered Michele’s name when I made the silly assumption of calling her “Michelle.” I should have known if you misspell Michelle it’s pronounced Mi-kay-lee.

In one period I have Aeakira, Cadaya, Virydiana and Waraguru. It took a little practice, but I finally say all their names correctly. Monserate is also in that class, but fortunately he goes by Mo.

And when I made new seating charts last week I unintentionally sat Yulia next to Julia.

I have three kids that go by their middle names despite the roll sheet listing their first names. Among them is Judith Holly Wood. (Yeah. On her papers she writes “Holly Wood.”)

Believe me folks. I can’t make this stuff up.

I didn’t even mention: Runako, Daysia, Aniyah, Tania, Kauron, Ke’Andre, Emoni, Janez, Berenice, Yelena, Leziya, Sevan, Goharik, Kashiemar, Leziya, Leparis, Zakiya, or Chanoy.

Pic of the Week

During the first week of school on of my best students from last year, Ayana, came back to visit me. I didn't notice that she added on to the class business section of my white board.



I was pretty amused; she made it look like my writing.

Thought of the Week

Getting a song stuck in your head is annoying. But it is much more annoying if it is a song sung by Katy Perry.

Giants Closer: Brian Wilson

I was watching Ashkon's video again, and I accidently stumbled across this Brian Wilson interview.

Rome: You get fined a 1000 bucks for orange spikes. What was the fine for?

Wilson: Uh... having too much awesome on my feet.

Click here to watch the entire interview.