These overdetermined wordplay-on-oldies-song-lyrics blog post headlines don’t write themselves, you know. They sometimes take weeks, even months of preparation.
Mr. Jones (and aren’t you glad I didn’t title the post “Mr. Jones and me?”… of course you knew I’d never do something so gauche and tasteless), whose catch made the last out in the 1969 World Series—and if you have to ask what team, then, among other things, you’re not paying sufficient attention to the banners above our heads—visited my local Citibank today and of course I had to pay my respects. I don’t think it’s telling tales out of school to reveal that as I was walking in, Mr. Phillip Lopate was walking out, having paid his own respects. We old-school Mets fans are quite the band of brothers, happy breed, etc., etc.
Have a splendid weekend, all.
The image of him making that final catch and dropping to his knees is some of my favorite imagery I’ve ever seen in sports (obviously I didn’t see the games when they were first played, as my mom was 4 in ’69, but SNY shows the ’69 World Series all the time). It sums up the unlikeliness of it all so beautifully. I’m super jealous that you got to meet him. But maybe this 2010 Mets squad is in the process of forging their own miracle run…
Also, I’d like to request more posts tagged with ” Perhaps unexpected sports fandom”.
Anyone watching the “30 For 30” documentaries on ESPN? I’ve only seen a couple (Maysles’ Ali and Klores’ Reggie Miller) and have another two recorded, but they were great and should be getting more press in the movie blogs.
Chris O., I absolutely agree – and I haven’t even seen the ones you’ve mentioned. But the Steve James doc on Allen Iverson (“No Crossover”) and the Brett Morgan one on the O.J. freeway chase (“June 17, 1994”) were quite impressive. “The Two Escobars” is waiting on my DVR, and I know several people who think it’s the best one yet.
This Braves fan sent this picture to two others (one in England) who have followed the game since the ’50s and know a great season like ’69 moots most fan allegiances (hell, Cleon, Al Weis, and their team clocked the Braves in three straight lopsided playoff games). Was delighted you shared this picture.
Tim, The Two Escobars is by far the best of the series so far.…it’s literally haunting. Watching the WC today my wife actually mentioned that she hasn’t been able to shake it since watching it a few nights ago. It’s all just so terribly sad and a tragedy of such lingering effects. I remember Andres’ goal vividly watching a friends living room as it happened, but as it approached again during the film I couldn’t help but root for Columbia to somehow rewrite history and beat the U.S. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Personally, I also found one of the first in the series on Miami Hurricane football fascinating as well. As was the piece on Ricky Williams. I haven’t seen them all, but there hasn’t been a miss yet in what I have seen.
Okay. Just watched Brett Morgen’s “June 17, 1994” and I think it’s one of the best films I’ve seen this year, thus far. It reruns Wed. night at 11pm and everyone should check it out. No talking heads nor voiceover. Will record “The Two Escobars” Friday at 1:30am (it’s actually two hours) and I’m anxious to see it.
Brad – I should have mentioned the one about the Hurricanes (“The U”) as well. It was directed by Billy Corben, who a few years ago did “Cocaine Cowboys” about Miami’s 1980s drug wars, one of the most wonderfully lurid and gripping documentaries of recent years. When I watched “The U,” I remember thinking, “This is like the sports version of ‘Cocaine Cowboys.’ ” And sure enough it was the same filmmaker.
Chris O. – I agree that Morgen does a great job for the most part of staying out of his footage’s way, but in what may constitute a Spoiler Alert, I did wish he had refrained from the ironic/literal use of a certain seminal late-’70s/early-’80s New York band’s song near the end. Just seemed too self-consciously clever for my taste.
Thin, God DAMN you’re one thin fucker!