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We’ve reached a fork in the road
in New York City, as July 2021 finds some folks venturing out to dine
once again and gather in the parks
The
summer will not be denied as the most famous sports address in the
world—Yankee Stadium in the Bronx—switched on the bright
lights this year for a full season.
So
far we have not seen our team climb to the top of the American League
East but as it is said, “It ain’t over until it’s
over!”
Having baseball back feels like a blessing
at this time after all the lockdowns, terrible loss of life and scares
of a new strain.
Now once again
in 2021 we can think about the Boys of Summer. We can think about
the game.
We realize that many of
our readers around the world may not follow baseball and certainly
U.S. football carries a much bigger audience.
Of
course “football” to almost everyone in this world is
also the word for soccer.
To be
clear we love them all.
Here we
share some words about U.S. baseball.
 The
late, great George Carlin defined why baseball is so special:
“Baseball
is different from any other sport, very different.
“For instance, in most sports
you score points or goals; in baseball you score runs.
“In most sports the ball, or object,
is put in play by the offensive team; in baseball the defensive team
puts the ball in play, and only the defense is allowed to touch
the ball.
“In fact, in baseball if an offensive
player touches the ball intentionally, he's out; sometimes unintentionally,
he's out.
“Also, in football, basketball,
soccer, volleyball and all sports played with a ball, you score with
the ball, and in baseball the ball prevents you from scoring.
“In most sports the team is run
by a coach; in baseball the team is run by a manager.
“And only in baseball does the
manager or coach wear the same clothing the players do.
"In baseball the object is to go
home!
“And to be safe!
“I hope I'll be safe at home!
“Baseball is the only major sport
that appears backwards in a mirror.
“Baseball has no time limit:
“We don't know when it's gonna
end - might have extra innings.”
Baseball Versus Football
George Carlin hits the “home
run” here:
“In
football you wear a helmet.
“In baseball you wear a cap.
“Football is concerned with
downs - what down is it?
“Baseball is concerned with
ups - Who's up?
“In football you receive a penalty.
“In baseball you make an error.
“In football the specialist
comes in to kick.
“In baseball the specialist
comes in to relieve somebody.
“Football has hitting, clipping,
spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting and unnecessary
roughness.
“Baseball has the sacrifice."
 Leaves
of Grass
Walt Whitman, an American poet, essayist,
journalist and humanist in his 1855 book of poems, titled "Leaves
of Grass" said this about baseball:
“I see great things in baseball.
It's our game, the American game.
“It will repair our losses and
be a blessing to us.”
Now let the fabled words echo
through the land.
Happy Fourth. Play Ball 2021!
Geoffrey
Editor's Note:
This one is for Emily. Youngest daughter Emily Parker (pictured
above) enthuses,“I'm
so pumped for baseball to be back."
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