Centerfield
By J.C. Fogerty
Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We're born again, there's new grass on the field.
A-roundin' third, and headed for home, it's a brown-eyed handsome man;
Anyone can understand the way I feel.
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine, watchin' it from the bench;
You know I took some lumps when the Mighty Casey struck out.
So Say Hey Willie, tell Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio,
Don't say "it ain't so", you know the time is now.
Oh, put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
Yeah! I got it, I got it!
Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat, and brand-new pair of shoes;
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride.
Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all - a moment in the sun:
It's gone and you can tell that one goodbye!
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This is going to be an all-baseball entry, so if baseball bores you, you might want to scroll down. *g* We went to the Nationals home opening game, leaving the house early because they were having one of those mini-carnivals for kids across the street by the DC Armory for the two hours before the game. The Nationals went from playing badly to playing terribly over the course of the game while the Mets either played pretty well (David Wright drilled a perfectly hit ball down the third base line to bring home the first run of the game) or took advantage of some mediocre pitching by Ramon Ortiz. In the end, the score was 7-1, though we were gone before the final two runs in the ninth inning, having seen no evidence that the Nats had any hope of a comeback.
That said, it was a really fun day: inflatable slides, moon bounces, batting cages and obstacle courses sponsored by local radio stations before the game on a perfect sky-blue 70ish degree day, then peanuts, cheese fries and chicken nuggets waiting for the game to start...first with a video of last season, then a lengthy introduction of the full staffs of both teams, then a presentation of the largest flag I have ever seen by at least 100 members of the DC National Guard, which is headquartered in the Armory, while their chorus sang "God Bless America," and then a treat I had not known to expect -- Placido Domingo singing the Star Spangled Banner! Then Vice President "Dick" Cheney came out (to more boos than applause) to throw the ceremonial first pitch, which he threw right into the dirt (to even more boos). He brought three veterans from Iraq wounded in the line of duty with him, and they got a standing ovation, but not Dick. Heh. They also flew fighter jets in formation over the stadium and set off lots of fireworks -- one for each member of the Nationals' starting lineup, etc. They were prepared for more fireworks for home runs, but the Nats only got one of those, unlike the Mets!
It was a funny crowd -- a goodly number in business suits with cell phones and Blackberrys out all game, playing hooky from the office, and a goodly number in new Nationals t-shirts with multiple bottles of beer, hot dogs and the opening day pennants that The Washington Post was giving out. Often there are lots of Mets fans who come down on weekends to see their team, but it seemed to be entirely a partisan Nats crowd...just not that excited as the Nats were not playing very well. The wave was not until after the seventh inning stretch and seemed a little lackluster even though we were in a section with a student tour group. Our kids did not whine at all, though, except when they wanted Dippin' Dots, and in weather like that, who can complain about sitting outdoors for several hours watching anything at all? I tested my new telephoto lens again, here are some of the results:
The DC National Guard rolls out the colors.
Domingo sings the national anthem.
Cheney receives his ceremonial baseball after throwing his ceremonial pitch into the ceremonial dirt.
And ball is played!
Wednesday both kids have dentist appointments -- older son to have a baby tooth pulled, younger son to see the orthodontist -- and then my in-laws and
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