Jewish World Review Oct. 31, 2002 / 26 Mar-Cheshvan, 5763
Drs. Michael A. Glueck & Robert J. Cihak
Deep thoughts on Baseball, the World Series and Life: How about them Anaheim Angels?
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Doctors are people and like baseball too. Since one of these writers lives
in Orange County, California, home of the World Champion Anaheim Angels,
and the other in Seattle, where the Mariners have finally kissed adioses to
Lou "Never did a manager do less with more" Pinella, we thought we might
offer some deep thoughts on baseball, the Word Series and life.
Have we mentioned that the left coast Anaheim Angels won the World Series?
Both local and national media keep referring to the Angels as a team
without stars. Well, not exactly! While they do not have anyone who behaves
or acts like a spoiled brat or conceited superstar -- they have a dugout of
athletes who just "play" like stars. No one here who has four lockers, a
special private rest area, with Barcalounger and personal TV. Not even the
kind of top-tier well-behaved stars that (Forgive us, one of us is bitter)
Lou Pinella squandered for so many years in Seattle: Griffey, A-Rod, Randy,
Ichiro, a pair of Martinezez, and come back, Joey, all is forgiven.
But there are now 31 other teams who would be glad to have some of
Anaheim's "non-stars." Garrett Anderson, Darren Erstadt, Tim Salmon, Scott
Spezio, Adam Kennedy, Troy Glaus, David Eckstein, Jarrod Washburn, John
Lackey, Ramon Ortiz, Brendan Donnelly, Frankie Rodriguez and Troy Percival.
TO NAME A FEW. HEY THERE, YANKS AND GIANTS. WANNA TRADE?
During Tuesday's celebration at Edison Field, shortstop David Eckstein --
all five foot six inches of him (truly a short stop) -- told the
youth-filled audience that his success was due to good supportive parents
and siblings, making the right decisions and choices, and never letting
someone else tell him that he wasn't good enough. All the Angel players
will tell you that the "x-factor" of grit and pride was the mega-force of
this special, scrappy, relentless, inspiring team.
But alas, not everybody showed similar grace. Negative kudos to Disney CEO
Michael Eisner for:
Not keeping his mouth shut in his rush to tell the world
that the Angels were for sale. This could have waited until after the
Series ended, when the team would be worth at least as much. Insider
trading, Michael?
And for:
Wearing that obnoxious Mickey Mouse tee shirt under his blue blazer
at the World Championship award ceremony.
And for:
Delivering an acceptance speech that must have been written
by Goofy, edited by Mickey, and approved by the entire Board of directors.
And for:
Not being seen at Edison Field all year until the Angels
unexpectedly to him were in the Series.
Negative kudos also to East Coast fans for not watching the World Series
and making it one of the lowest rated ever. After the Angels crushed the
Yanks in the League Championship, guess they couldn't bear to watch them
(or the Giants) win. Even the New York press acknowledged that the Yanks
were lucky to win one game!
And while we're at it (and not to rub it in, of course) -- if the East
coast fans refuse to watch any finals they're not in-- they will be in for
many sportless seasons, days and nights.
Lets review the champs of the last six months:
Men's Basketball -- The Los Angeles Lakers
Women's Basketball -- The LA Sparks
Mens's Soccer -- The LA Galaxy
Baseball World Series -- The Anaheim Angels
Football -- As of this writing the San Diego Chargers have the
NFL's best record
And then lets not forget:
Men's Golf -- Tiger Woods is from LA
Mens Tennis -- Pete Sampras is from LA
Women's Tennis -- The Williams sisters are from LA
So a roaring Bronx cheer to the East Coast and particularly New York fans
for their resentful smugness and provincialism. They still haven't forgiven
the Giants for leaving New York. In the future would you all please refer
to the West Coast as The Lower Left Coastal Capital of Champions.
And by the way while other baseball teams are growing old the Angels are
growing young. Pitcher K-Rod is 20. John Lackey is 24. Series MVP Troy
Glaus is 25. So how about them Anaheim Angels? Our left coast guys are
young, signed and "We'll be back" next Spring for your national TV viewing
enjoyment.
Deal with it.
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Michael Arnold Glueck, M.D., is a multiple award winning writer who
comments on medical- legal issues. Robert J. Cihak, M.D., is past
president of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.
Both
JWR contributors are Harvard trained diagnostic radiologists.
Comment by clicking here.
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© 2002
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