PART VII of a Trilogy of VII
The Usual Suspect(s)
Part I - BackgroundPart II - The Dancey Interview
Part III - The Furious Five
Part IV - The Detour
Part V - Confrontation
Part VI - Revelation
Bummed? Yeah, I was pretty miserable when I left the meeting with Ed Hopkins. The "Grand Master". Crap, all that work for nothing.
I left the meeting room and walked into the Clubhouse basement, went to the bar and ordered a pint. I went to go sit down and noticed one solitary person sitting a table. I got a pit in my stomach when I saw it was Jeff Dancey. He waved me over.
Nothing against Jeff particularly, but I was not in the mood to talk with anyone, I just wanted to be alone with my depressing thoughts. And if I was to pick someone that I HAD to sit with, the last person would be Jeff Dancey. Jeff started this whole crazy goose chase over a year ago when he accidentally revealed information to me during an interview. I really wanted to give him hell, but I promised Ed that I would let those involved continue to believe what they believe.
I sat down with Jeff and we exchanged pleasantries. Well, that's not entirely true. Jeff offered pleasantries and I grunted. Jeff was chatting away and I offered no conversation in return. I was mired in my thoughts and was absently (and quite rudely) letting him drone on while making no contribution myself. He really wasn't taking the "leave me the hell alone" hint.
The odd word from Jeff would work its way through the messy machinations in my brain. "Game" ... "hit" .... "playoffs" .... "meeting". Just random words.
Me: Wait a minute...did you say 'meeting'?
Jeff: Yeah, just a second ago, why?
Me: Well, how come you're not at the Captain's Meeting?
Jeff: Oh, I've been traveling a lot. Just felt a break, you know?
Me: [Grunt]
Jeff: [More random words. "Bat" ... "DeLand" ... "glove" ... "school" ...]
Me: Huh? What was that about school?
Jeff: I asked where you went to school?
Me: Um, Trent, why?
Jeff: No reason really, just making conversation.
Me: [disinterested grunt]
Jeff: That's an 'arts' school isn't it?
Me: I guess
Jeff: So what did you take?
Me: Why Jeff? I just want to have my beer and quietly relax.
Jeff: Just trying to be sociable! You should try it some time - some people call it being polite.
Me: Fine, I took Philosophy and English.
Jeff: Really? English? You'd think you'd write better. [he laughs] [I don't] And Philosophy, huh? Cool, I dig philosophy.
Me: Great.
Jeff: Hey, do you remember studying that Rene Descartes' ontological argument on the existence of God?
Me: Of course, everyone in first year had to write a paper on that.
Jeff: Sure, right. Now how did his argument go again....
Me: [in the most 'bored' voice i can possibly muster] It was basically a reverse argument to prove the existence of God. The theory being that IF there is a God then God must be the greatest and most complex of all living things. Because if there is an order of complexity then there must be a God at the top of the order which is the most complex at all. Its an oversimplification, but that's the gist.
Jeff: That's right, that's right. I remember now. You know, I always thought there was a hole in that argument that could have been exploited, but no one ever seemed to do it successfully.
Me: [I looked over at Jeff for the first time. He looked relaxed sitting in chair. Not slouching, just comfortable. He had an easy, confident smile] What's the flaw?
Jeff: First, you owe me a beer.
Me: [I wandered over to the bar to reload, looking back at Jeff who was making a quick note on phone. He didn't seem preoccupied, he seemed - calculated. I shook it off and got a couple of pints and returned]
Jeff: Where was I....Oh, yes, Descartes' flaw. So, the most complex thing in the order HAS to be God according to Descartes. But say you're a mosquito and you find yourself in a spiders web, who's your God?
Me: Yeah, that argument has been made. Its been rendered invalid over the years on a couple of counts. The 1st is the mosquito is a soulless creature and therefore its an irrelevant argument. The second is that you can only argue the existence of the 'True God' from a once removed place in the order of things....meaning humans. If you can't conceptually understand what a 'god' would be, you can't believe or disbelieve.
Jeff: [he has a bit of a sideways grin as if he was expecting this] Okay, so you did study 'a bit'. So, the counter to that is that it's humanity's arrogance to assume that they are one removed from God and are not just a mosquito themselves to a benevolent spider they don't understand. And, of course, beyond the god that humanity knows are an infinite number of more complex "gods".
Me: [nodding] That's good. I really don't have an argument for that one off the top of my head.
Jeff: So, the logical next step. Do you believe in evolution?
Me: Of course.
Jeff: One more plunge. Do you believe in God?
Me: Yep.
Jeff: Aren't those mutually exclusive?
Me: Hmmm, maybe to fundamentalists, but that's okay. People can believe what they want. The question I ask myself, in a Descartes way I guess, is this: If God is all powerful, what would be the greatest demonstration of his power? A) To go "poof" and create everything in a celestial 'blink of an eye' OR B) Start with an imploding speck of dust that would eventually end up being all of creation after billions of years? personally, I like B).
Jeff: Bingo.
Me: Glad you like it, but it doesn't make it right. And "bingo, what"???
Jeff: I'm only going to take 2 more minutes of your time because I know you have a lot on your mind; but let me ask you this....How amazing would it be to quietly influence the creation of an organization led by a man who believes that he's created it on his own, what has recruited participants who believe and trust that they are hiding secrets that they aren't even capable of understanding about a life prolonging agent and aliens? How perfect would it be to be a nothing, low-level soldier in that 'army' so you'd know what's happening within it. The "leader", thinking that he's simply playing out his own joke would only have to keep a group of 5 in line and that group of 5 would protect the secrets they don't know to the end.
Me: [I was staring at Jeff but seeing someone else. Every conversation with him, Hopkins, Jens, Scott, Paul, John, Mike, Jim and Andy came flooding back. A year and a 1/2 of meetings were processed in seconds. They were all evaluated and calculated to only one possible conclusion.] You're the real Grand Master.
Jeff: Aren't we past that yet? There is no Grand Master Doug. That whole organization was there to protect a secret. Look at your Red Stockings pic again [He pushes it in front of me] Look top middle
Jeff: Its me.
Me: And the secret?
Jeff: Things changed a few thousand years ago.
Me: Are we still on philosophy?
Jeff: A bit. You see, 3000 years ago when everyone lived in fear that every heat-wave, earth quake or poor crop was caused by an angry God or vindictive Demon of some sort. But that changed. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he and god didn't exist. Do you see how clever that is? Not that I would ever be arrogant enough to compare myself to either, but I have created an organization so perfect that no one even knows they're working for me. Your compatriots who were seemingly on the verge of blowing this wide open would never believe again in a "Grand Master" or "secret society", would they.
Me: Nope
Jeff: So, the only person who knows, is you and you can't do anything because the people who actually have some data to support you became non believers over the last hour or so.
Me: There's still the Furious Five.
Jeff: [softly laughing] Yes, there is. At the most, they could expose Hopkins who in turn could only tell the truth, his truth that is. That being of course that he made the whole thing up.
Me: And how did you get Ed to do this?
Jeff: I simply planted a seed and watched it grow. Did some pruning and watering to make sure everything grew in the right direction. Appealed to his natural curiosities. It wasn't that hard really. You just need to be patient and honestly, I've got nothing but time.
Me: Okay, and the secret.
Jeff: To answer that you'd have to know who I am. That question is bigger than the secret and one that you'll never solve. I believe that this is where I bid you a fond adieu.
Me: Will you be back to finish this?
Jeff: I'll leave you with this. There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here in all of its grandeur and complexities; it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. Sound familiar?
Me: Vaguely. But it isn't enough. You can't leave me as the last man standing without giving me the answer.
Jeff: You already have the answer.
Me: [completely baffled]
Jeff: I know why you're here Doug. [he's intent, but not the least bit aggressive] I know what you've been doing... why you hardly sleep, why you live alone, and why night after night, you sit by your computer. You're looking for the answer. I know because I was once looking for the same thing. And then I found it. But when I did, I realized that it wasn't the answer I was looking for. It's the question that drives us. It's the question that brought you here. You know the answer, what is the question?
Me: I don't know.
Jeff: The question is key to everything. Maybe next year you'll understand. [He stands, picks up his keys and takes a couple of steps toward the door before turning and looking back at where I'm seated] Say... have you ever tried to hit a home run? I mean really tried to launch one?
Me: Not any more. A long time ago I guess I tried, but never managed it, I don't have that kind of power...just singles and the occasional double; you know that.
Jeff: This is just a suggestion, but maybe you're hitting singles because you believe you can.
Me: Meaning?
Jeff: Hmmmm....how to explain. Instead of trying to hit the ball over the wall, maybe you should realized the truth and that will get you closer to the question.
Me: What truth?
Jeff: There is no wall.
Me: There is no wall?
Jeff: Then you will see its not the ball that has far to go, it is you.
[Dancey was a like a shadow being thrown by a tall building leaving a quarter of a city in darkness...then a thunder cloud came and blocked the sun....The shadow that was Jeff had just disappeared into a deeper shadow of conspiracy and complexity and a level of skill and descriptiveness for which this meager writer is not equipped to explain]
[And poof, like Keyser Soze, he was gone]
======
Okay, end of story, thanks for feigning interest, its greatly appreciated! Back to normal stuff for the balance of the season. Before I leave this...
My thanks to: Thanks to Jens, Scott, Jim, Andy, Mike & John who allowed me to abuse their previous good names without knowing where this was going. (I didn't either).
Thanks to Jeff & Ed who have afforded me a blank cheque to besmirch them at will.
Thanks to Gord & Paul who didn't give permission but didn't complain about being victimized (yet). Paul is just a good sport, whereas I think Gord secretly listens to Celine Dion.
======
THE SPEECH
For the first time in 3 seasons, a player on the team has come forward to do a song in place of Rob. Last year I was pretty sure Chiasson was going to do a version of Black Velvet Band and 2 years ago McCarron had lined up to do Barrett's Privateers, but I think he got cold feet. (ahhh, I do love that song).
Anyway, here's to you Mr. Robertson is the first man to step forward a preform a pre-game speech / song in front of the team. Your voice has really held up and choosing one of your own classics is pretty cool too. So, without further ado, here is the lead singer of Queen performing Queen's "We are the Champions"; however it is now, "We are the Grisslies".
I know no one needs music for this one, but here you go anyway CLICK ME
We've paid our dues,
Time after time,
We've played with brilliance,
Hasn't earned us a dime.
And bad mistakes?
We've made a few,
We've had our share of facing a pitching ace,
But we've come through.
The Grisslies will not weaken - my friends
No, we'll keep on playing - till the end
We are the Grisslies - We are the Grisslies
No time for Rounders
'Cause we are the Grisslies - drinks are swirled -
I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame but not fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all -
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise -
I consider it a challenge to make it to Sunday -
And we ain't gonna lose
The Grisslies will not weaken - my friends
No, we'll keep on playing - till the end
We are the Grisslies - We are the Grisslies
No time for Dog Catchers
'Cause we are the Grisslies - drinks are swirled
THE GAME
Sometimes its not easy to figure the turning point of game.
This was not one of those situations.
Rob Farah was admittedly bitter about Dave Argue's last game when Dave set the Grisslie record for put outs at first base AND strikeouts by a pitcher. I interviewed Rob and he had this to say, "I'm bitter". When I pressed him for details he expanded a bit saying, "really bitter".
Strong words.
The Grisslies hit like crazy in the first inning scoring 3 runs before taking the field. Then Robbie boy went to work. Rob Farah retired the first three Torn Ligaments he faced on 3 pitches. WOW!
The team in grey went back to work in the second inning scoring a couple of more runs. In the bottom of the inning no ligaments reached base and Rob only threw 6 pitches in completing the inning.
In the third inning Rob retired the first two batters before Steve Wynnyk got aboard on a cheap error. It wasn't until the fourth inning that Charlie O'learly broke up the no hitter with a clean single up the middle.
Understandably the Grisslies were disappointed and a little distracted after the no hitter was broken up and let the Ligaments scratch out a few runs. 5 in total for the game.
The final score was 17 - 5 for the Grisslies and the game was never in doubt. Our outfield continues to be incredibly responsible in not giving up extra bases to our opponents. The Grisslies can be beat, for sure, but you've got to earn your hits. No freebies.
Rene Simard had a great night playing four positions and all of them well. The infield defence was sound and the pitching was top drawer. Jerry Muirhead made some exceptional catches in right and our sub, Calvin "Klein" Russell was one of our top 5 outfielders on the night! (Just kidding. Cal was awesome).
We'll try to keep things going and overcome the return of Bob Smith on Wednesday, good lord willing!
No comments:
Post a Comment