Category Archives: Sports

31 December 2022 – Remembering Roberto

It seems difficult to believe that fifty years ago today, Roberto Clemente died on an errand of mercy. I will remember how he played. I will remember how he lived.

Remembering, I made a donation to the Roberto Clemente Foundation.

Remembering, I created this playlist:

Roberto – Ismael Miranda
Sueño Se Un Niño – Tito Allen
Somos La Fuerza Latina – Andy Montañez & Ismael Miranda
Roberto Y Tirabala – Andy Montañez
Orgullo De Borinquen – Lefty Pérez
Clemente (Estrella 21) – Edel Borrero
Jugando La Pelota – Jesús “Chocolate” Coombs
Jardonero Del Amor – Wichi Camacho
Lo Mejor Que Dios Ha Hecho – Angel Ramírez
Roberto Clemente – Bill Tiberio Band
Roberto Clemente – Nelson Feliciano and His Orchestra (feat. Junior Cordova)
Te Recuerdo – John McCutcheon

Advertisement

Leave a comment

Filed under Antiracism, Human Rights, Pittsburgh Pirates, Sports

October 13, 2022

Every year on this date, I find myself in mind and spirit and heart at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. With my father, I sit in the right field stands watching Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

62 years ago today, my father took me out of school on Neville Island for the day. We travelled 11 miles or so to see the game, to see history.

Heavy underdogs, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Yankees when Bill Mazeroski hit a home run in the bottom of the 9th inning.

The memories of the day remain clear. But time has blurred the source, particularly in regard to the game. Some of it, I believe I still remember on my own; some is from remembering each year; some I remember from reading, seeing photos, and watching clips on TV (see below), and some is from watching the full game for the last ten years through the magic of film transferred to DVD.

Whatever the source, the memories remain of one of the most special days of my life.

Leave a comment

Filed under Family, Pittsburgh Pirates, Sports

A prayer poem as Roger Federer’s career comes to an end

All things end, God.

You alone are permanent.

All good things,

all bad things,

all things end, God.

Some endings we choose,

some are forced upon us,

all things end, God.

Some endings we welcome,

some we seek mightily to avoid,

all things end, God.

May the awareness of endings

lead us

to live fully in the moments we have,

to love boldly the people with whom we share life,

to enjoy wholly our experiences.

May our awareness of endings

inspire us

to love kindness – now,

to do justice – now,

to walk humbly – now.

And to do so in every now we have.

For all things end, God.

Amen.

Leave a comment

Filed under Current Events, Sports, tennis

Arthur Ashe

Arthur AsheI finished Arthur Ashe by Raymond Arsenault tonight. Here are several six word stories about Arthur Ashe. I will keep trying.

Black man,
white game,
undying love.

Days of glory,
days of grace.

Calm in storm,
gone too soon.

Returned
blazing serves;
justice for injustice.

Living well,
dying young,
never forgotten.

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Books, Sports, tennis

Why I like New York 41: The World Cup?

isMost of my friends know that I am not a football (soccer) fan. It is not a sport I played, in part because of when I grew up, and in part because I am not built for the game. I don’t understand the rules. I watched Bend It Like Beckham multiple times and still don’t understand the offside rule. Perhaps that’s because none of the players dress like posh French mustard.

But today, as I returned home from Queens, I heard that Iceland had played Argentina to a draw. And I know enough to recognize that Argentina is a big name in football. I also know that this is Iceland’s first World Cup and they are a small nation. It seems to me a big deal.

As I walked the 1 Train platform at Penn Station, I saw a father and son wearing Iceland t-shirts. The father had a smile wider than the New York Harbor. As I passed them, I made eye contact with the father and said, “Good game!” His smile increased in size, pride filled his eyes, and he said, “Thank you.”

New York.

See you along the Trail.

Leave a comment

Filed under Current Events, New York, Sports

We Meet Again Tour – 24 April 2018

IMG_7265The return tour to New York has continued although posts have not been made. Efforts will be made to address that.

Last night, the tour made its way to Yankees Stadium. The first time I saw the Yankees play was against the Pittsburgh Pirates on 13 October 1960. The Pirates, my Pirates, won. I have remained a Pirates fan every since through triumphs, and a whole bunch of losing and frustration.

But my friend Don had tickets from his work and so, with Don and our friends John and Jim, I went to the game.

The Yankees put on a show of power. CC Sabathia pitched well. And a fun time was had!

Leave a comment

Filed under Baseball, Friends, Pittsburgh Pirates, Sports

We Meet Again Tour – 20 November 2017

The sports theme of the tour continued. John Gingrich, Don Jang and I went to the Barclays Center for the Legends Classic. Men’s basketball. Penn State, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M played.

It was my first time to Barclays. An impressive facility.

IMG_6576

Leave a comment

Filed under Friends, New York, Sports

Purple flowers, U.S. Open 1

IMG_6230

2 September 2017
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
New York, New York

Leave a comment

Filed under New York, Photo, Sports

The Until We Meet Again Tour – 2-5 September 2016

The Until We Meet Again Tour played the US Open from Friday evening through Monday night, an exhausting and invigorating schedule. A number of friends and family members sat in during the appearance. The heart of the group was Sean and Eric. Great tennis was viewed. Good times were shared. The renovations at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center were impressive. The new Grandstand became a favorite. It was good to see some matches in Louis Armstrong Stadium. Much food was consumed. The hamburgers came highly recommended and lived up to their billing.

img_4014

Leave a comment

Filed under Family, Friends, New York, Photo, Sports

The Until We Meet Again Tour – 25 August 2016, part 2

An effort to take the Until We Meet Again Tour to Governors Island in honor of the centennial of the National Parks failed because of timing. A trip to the Brooklyn Museum ensued. An exhibit of approximately 230 photographs related to sports, Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History, 1843 to the Present, proved inspiring and enjoyable.

IMG_3893

Leave a comment

Filed under New York, Photo, Sports