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One of the great things about baseball is not necessarily the sport’s immediacy but its history. Which is why people show up at fun events such as SoxFest in Chicago and at more somber gatherings such as the funeral for Stan Musial in St. Louis.
These lovely ladies from Buffalo Wings and Rings brightened up SoxFest.
Former White Sox and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was at both. He participated in a SoxFest seminar Friday on the 1983 team (the first Sox squad to reach the postseason since the 1959 World Series) and was in St. Louis on Saturday for the funeral for one of the greatest players in baseball history and the greatest player in Cardinals history.
Certainly there was a contrast in settings, but you have to think there was a certain similarity in celebrating a memorable team and an unforgetable ballplayer. Granted there are more people on the planet who saw the ’83 Sox than remain those who were fortunate enough to enjoy Musial perform with a bat — rather than a harmonica, as he did later in life — on a ballfield. Even so, the ’83 Sox and Musial have the ability to bring back magic moments.
Musial retired after the 1963 season and died Jan. 19 at age 92. He had been in declining health for a while.
La Russa told St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Rick Hummel that Musial ‘‘was perfection. I wish there could be more like him. If you couldn’t be as a player, you can be as person. Every St. Louis Cardinals player should use his passing as permanent memory of what it is to be a Cardinal and to represent it publicly like he would.”
Memories live on — whether they are from more than a half-century ago, two decades ago or merely a matter of hours. Hold onto the pleasantness of the past, enjoy the present and look forward to the future. Easier said than done. But for a little while this weekend, SoxFest and a funeral for someone we knew mostly from afar afforded the opportunity to do exactly that.
Some of the scenery at SoxFest included these (not sure what they are exactly) of Carlton Fisk, Ron Kittle and Harold Baines.
For those in need of some early Super Bowl odds, here are a few from the fine folks at Bovada, (www.Bovada.lv, Twitter: @BovadaLV). Of course, these are for entertainment purposes only — and because of that, we’re providing entertainment-related prop betting odds (football-related odds likely to come as we grow closer to the contest between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens):
How long will it take Alicia Keys to sing the U.S. National Anthem?
Over/Under: 2 minutes 15seconds
Will Alicia Keys be booed during or after her rendition of the U.S. National Anthem?
Yes: 5/1
Will Alicia Keys forget or omit at least 1 word of the official U.S. National Anthem?
Yes: +150 (3/2)
No: -200 (1/2)
Will Alicia Keys add at least 1 word of the official U.S. National Anthem?
Yes: +200 (2/1)
No: -300 (1/3)
Merely guessing Beyonce’s Super Bowl attire won’t be this.
Will Beyonce be joined by Jay Z on Stage during the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Yes: +110 (11/10)
No: -150 (2/3)
Will Beyonce’s hair be Curly/Crimped OR Straight at the beginning of the Super Bowl Halftime show?
Straight: -140 (5/7)
Curly/Crimped: EVEN (1/1)
What predominant color will Beyonce’s top be at the beginning of the Super Bowl Halftime show?
Black 9/4
Gold (Yellow) 11/4
Silver (Grey) 7/2
White 5/1
Red 13/2
Pink 15/2
Orange 12/1
Blue 15/1
Green 15/1
Bob Costas’ eulogy at Stan Musial’s funeral Saturday is worth taking a few minutes of your time:
And Harry Caray’s radio call of Musial’s final at-bat in 1963:
Some reflections on “Winning Ugly” by members of the 1983 White Sox with Ron Kittle, Harold Baines, Tom Paciorek, Greg Luzinski and their manager Toy La Russa with moderator Steve Stone at SoxFest:
And what would we do without providing video for you? Never fear, the video staff at elliottharris.com is here:
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