Contrary to what idiots who think Cal Ripken was good say, the day baseball was officially back from the strike was the day Mark McGwire hit his 62nd HR in the glorious summer of 1998 during the historic chase with Sammy Sosa (and Ken Griffey for a little while). I was 14 years old, and with the Browns gone, on the verge of turning emo. Then The Chase started and it caught the attention of every sports loving fan.
We didn’t know any better, sure, we suspected something, but we just enjoyed ourselves, and don’t lie and say you didn’t. Remember, this is before Barry Bonds dragged us all through the bullshit and made the HR record one long, unbearable trip. No, this was pure, unadulterated bliss, and entire summer of staying glued to Jon Miller and Joe Morgan on ESPN and being too wrapped up to want to stab Joe Morgan with a rusty ice pick.
And all I can think about is that a mediocre player who had one stupid, meaningless streak is sitting in the Hall of Fame while the two guys who truly saved baseball are now blacklisted because Bud Selig wants to look like he has a semblance of gumption. It’s an injustice of epic proportions.
So, remember where you were the day Big Mac, the largest ginger dude in the history of gingers, smacked that laser about 3 feet over the wall in St. Louis, and remember him and Sammy Sosa celebrating in the infield, it was one of the truly great moments in sports history.
And onto last night’s games.
Yankees 1, Angels 12: There was quite the donnybrook! A real slobberknocker between Torii Hunter…I’ll just stop there because nobody named Torii has any balls and would go out of his way to get in a fight. Condition his hair? Maybe. But sure as hell not get in a fight. I think that episode had to be staged…just like the moon landing.
Rays 0, Menstruation Sox 3: Are we really going to have to endure another playoff series with Kevin Youkilis fouling off 30 pitches per at bat? Ugh…it looks that way. Especially the way the Rays have given away 5 games in 8 days, but this game has a little more meaning to me. This marked the 456th consecutive game the Red Sox have sold out, breaking the Indians’ record…I’ll give Red Sox fans this…they may be scum of the earth, idiotic, retarded, arrogant, dumb fucking bitches, but they have enough money to afford pink hats and show up to games to look cool. That’s as much of a compliment as they’ll get until I become MLB commish and contract the Sox.
Orioles 14, Indians 3: Fausto got shelled. He needs to be healthy. I’m sad. Some chick named Aubrey hit a Grand Slam.
Reds 5, Brewers 4: Shouldn’t the Brewers, you know, play with a little urgency? Like the Rays, they’re slumping, but unlike the Rays, they’re not in the drivers seat. The Cubs have had a little…ahem…SWOON, but the Brewers haven’t really been able to make up any ground which isn’t that big of a deal considering they have a nice lead in the Wild Card…but still…fuck them for taking CC. Assholes.
Our Leader is on Sabbatical for a reason…DBags 2, Giants 6: Can you blame him? But hey…at least the Dodgers lost too.
The Torii Hunter dick move. Pussy move pushing Pudge from the back like that. Too bad Pudge responded with a slap.
I have now switched my badge holder from the Yankees to the Cowboys. It happens every year – it just happened this year a little earlier than usual. A moment of silence, please.
yankees? cowboys? are you also a bulls fan? do you root for federer and tiger woods as well?
does it take forever for videos to load on MLB.com for everyone or just me?
i was also 14 in 1998 but not on the verge of going Emo. that’s not how i roll. but both STL and the Cubs played the Brewers and both guys mashed a bunch of home runs in Milwaukee. I was at the game when Sosa tied Mac at 62, but then Mac took off. the brewers were terrible and was a big help in getting both of those guys over 61 home runs.
You know I’m a Nowitzness. I do support Federer, but mostly because he’s a class act. I like Roddick because he lives a few houses down from one of my bosses. I don’t support anyone in golf but I definitely root against Cheatjay Singh and the ratfaced, crybaby, shrinks under the spotlight Sergio.
how can you hate vijay? anyways that whole ‘cheating’ thing was ridiculous…considering he was playing in a asian tour event and the guy who accused him hated fijians. that’d be like jeff kent accusing curtis granderson of corking his bat and the arbitrators were all KKK members.
I hate Torri Hunter. Pussy.
Roger Federer is a good guy to cheer for. But I have trouble rooting for someone that is not from this country. I wish James Blake or Roddick would do something. Nobody holds a candle to the greatness of Pete Sampras. Fuck the French Open.
I love Torii Hunter. He’s from the streets like me. I only wish i could see that video.
How can you cheer for Andy Roddick clown? What an overrated waste of talent.
I never said he was badass, fetch. It’s the hometown factor. Kind of like someone from your state went to Kansas and all of a sudden you’re a hardcore Jayhawk fan.
Damn clown, I’m with spence. You must be a fan of [INSERT TEAM THAT LOOKS LIKE A FAVORITE TO WIN SOMETHING HERE].
I wished for it a few weeks ago and it has miraculously come true. Tiny Tim is now the front runner for the NL CYA. Leader in K’s (by a wide margin) and ERA and we all know how meaningful W’s are as a stat. All for a AAA squad. The meek shall inherit the Earth.
Anyone else think that Federer’s “fiance” is a rather large beard?
As for the Big Mac HR off Trachsel, I was 23 sitting in my rented room in NC slamming Busch Lights like they were soon to be taken off the market. I believe that WWF was on that night.
Imig?
A google search indicates that your abbreviation suggests that I may have missed the game (God love the internet).
I watched it and the awkward hug and all that good stuff.
I was 20 when Big Mac broke the record…I was at my parents house not slamming beer or women. Not much of a memory but I remember it god damnit.
I was 21, sitting at Stub & Herbs in Stadium Village. I think it was a good night. Age and alcohol has muddied that memory.
I was at my parents house, too. The next day I went and bought stock in Androsteindione. It worked out well, I must say.