As we move forward in the baseball post season I saw a moment in today's sports history that brought back some memories. Brutally painful for some, tragic for a family and yes, joyous for some others. Like most of you guys it is sometimes hard to wrap the brain around just how many games I've watched through the years. Mind boggling when you start to actually attempt to put some hard numbers to it. To me the most significant obviously lay with the team I am personally a fan of. The Cardinals. The world series winners celebrating with family & friends. And of course the ones that got away. Around these parts the mere mention of the 1985 series will still spark anger. Game 6 in Kansas City and the name of umpire Don Denkinger still causes some fans to dissolve into a ranting vent. I have some good friends who have attended the Cardnals fantasy camp in florida and my buddy Bo got into a lengthy conversation with ex Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog who will take his bitterness over that game to his grave. BUT, the game I saw today that sparked my interest, or renewed it did not involve the Cardinals. It was actually a playoff game between two clubs in the American league playoffs I had absolutely no allegiance to. It was the Red Sox and Angels playing game 5 out in Anaheim. I am certain many of you out there recall that game. It showed how cruel sports can be and it also is the poster child for never giving up on a game until the thing is settled. We all know the type, if their team is trailing even by a narrow margin I know people who will throw in the towel in the third inning. Never have quite figured out that mind set myself. My usual suspicion is many never actually played much ball themselves. If they had and still harbor that kind of negativity well, there are more serious issues to be dealt with. Way over my pay grade. But back to this specific game. The Angels, managed by Gene Mauch had never made a world series appearance. Despite managing for several years and being a highly regarded manager Mauch also had never made the series. But as circumstances had it that day Mauch and his Angels were ONE lousy pitch away from clinching the AL title and advancing to the big show. They had their ace closer on the bump, Donnie Moore. Red Sox outfielder Dave Henderson was at the dish and then belted a forkball from Moore over the wall. You could just see the air sucked out of the stadium and the Angels players. Of course the Red Sox went onto win the series against the Angels and advance. Gene Mauch never did make the world series and what was most tragic is Donnie Moore evidently never could get over the trauma of giving up that shot to Henderson. He ended up killing himself in a suicide. He shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself. Now I am no head shrink and don't pretend to believe that pitch was the only reason Moore did what he did. I would think there had to be other issues with the man simmering below the surface. It would be my guess, and obviously this is a guess at best, that the home run he allowed to Henderson simply lit the fuse Moore was carrying around inside him. It was a fuse that once lit just slowly continued to burn until ultimately and I suppose inevitable it went off and he went on full tilt. Sad really that such an epic game in baseball history had to be tainted by such a tragic ultimate outcome. If you are younger and not really familiar with the game itself or the Donnie Moore story you might want to take some time and check it out. Not your run of the mill game or subsequent story tragically following it all up.
Okay, back to football. I am suggesting a small play on Iowa State this Saturday hosting West Virginia catching 6.5 points at home in Ames. Been a fan of the Cyclones for years and well, maybe a fan is a little strong considering I am a Mizzou guy. Maybe respectful of the programs is more appropriate. I had the pleasure of sitting and talking with ex Tiger basketball coach Norm Stewart at length one night about his rivalry with the late Johnny Orr. Priceless stuff. But anyway, Iowa State has tremendous fans in both hoops and football. Attending a big night game at Hilton is amazing. Anyway, none of this had a thing to do with this game Saturday and I do get it. Here we have the Mountaineers coming into Ames unbeaten and a top 10 team. Very solid club and led by a standout QB under center in Will Grier. I could go position by position here but the bottom line is I expect West Virginia to find itself in it's toughest battle of the season. I get it, West Virginia is undefeated but when you look at their schedule it is not as tough as one might suspect. The win at Texas Tech being the highlight. Kansas State is nowhere near what they typically are and although improved Kansas is still a bottom feeder. As is Tennessee in the SEC and the home win over Youngstown State was just a win to pad the record. We all know that. They had their game against NC State called due to weather and that likely would have been a good test. It's my opinion they are in for a real battle here and in the end it is just too many points. I say take the Cyclones.
On the business side we cashed last night with Texas Tech over the Horned Frogs and I have another featured release going tonight. My other packages for the weekend are up and posted. Been on a very strong run in the NFL and having a very solid season. 13-3 run with my top release loaded for sunday. But anyway, it is all up and published. Amazing time of year fellas. Baseball playoffs, college football, NFL football and the NBA about to tip off for real. Seems like the NBA playoffs just concluded. Best of luck this weekend with all your action.