GAME 2: Boys Of Summer

INTRO

All good things must come to an end.

• Rocky Marciano’s 49 fight win streak ended with his retirement. 
• Al Bales once started 38 old timers games with a shot of sambuca. 
• Edwin Moses won 122 consecutive 110 meter hurdles races before tripping and falling over one.
• Doris Casullo once played back-to-back games without get hurt.
• Rafael Nadal won 81 straight matches on Clay.
• Bill Sallustio once made 4 model airplanes in 22 minutes out of bird feces and spit
• Orel Hershiser pitched 59 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
• Rob Farah once started 21 straight games with a strike
• Byron Nelson won 11 straight PGA golf tournaments.
• Geoff Keogh’s 24 straight times on base to start a season.
• Bobby Orr won 8 straight Norris Trophies. 
• Scott Barton’s 32 straight times on base to start a season.
• Joe DiMaggio had a 56 game hit streak. 
• Rob Rumboldt once fell 38 times in one game.
• Ted Williams got on base in 84 consecutive games. 
• Gary Cox once went two pitches without a wise ass comment.
• Wayne Gretzky once scored in 51 games in a row.

 Yes.  All streaks must end. And so does the Iron Man Grisslie streak.  It dies at 126 consecutive games.

And so the Grisslie Iron Mantle is turned over to Robert Farah.  Rob has now played 7 games in a row.  118 to go Robbie.  

Oh, so why wasn't I in attendance while the Grisslies played for the this time in 5 years?  Well that's easy.  My daughter was in the School play of Little Mermaid and she (and the rest of the cast) were SPECTACULAR!

The Speech

About an hour before game time on the Donini deck....

Rob: So, are you ready for the game?
Doug: No.
Rob: Why not?
Doug: Because I'm not playing tonight.  I've been telling you this for 2 weeks. 
Rob: Oh, right.  That's tonight.  I sort of forgot.  But you're still bringing the bats, right?
Doug: No Rob.  They're in your car. 
Rob: Oh.  Okay.  But how are they going to get out of my car and to the field?
Doug: Doris will do it, I already talked to him. 
Rob: Oh.  Whew.  Well what about the lineup? We start in an hour!  I NEED  A LINEUP!!!
Doug: I printed it yesterday and gave it to Sue. 
Rob: Okay then, who's going to score the game then?
Doug: Sue!  She always scores the game. 
Rob: Have you thought about the Grisslie Banner?  Someone needs to hang that you know! 
Doug: I know, Gord Dol said he'd do it. 
Rob: What about the bases?  You know I can't put bases out!!!
Doug: We're visitors.  No bases. 
Rob: Okay, you seem to have most of the key elements covered.  But I'll need sunscreen, and umbrella in case it rains, someone to assign base coaches, my glove lubed between innings....
Doug: Rob....easy.  Everything will be fine.  Did you do your speech?
Rob:  Yeah.  The last one sucked.  This one is better.  
Doug:  I didn't think it was bad.
Rob:  Well you didn't have to deal with all the negative feedback, did you?
Doug:  Bull!  You got negative feedback on the speech?  I don't believe it. 
Rob:  I did and it was pretty overwhelming,  "too much The Beechey, not enough The Farah"
Doug:  You're a liar.
Rob: No!  I'm a Tiger.
Doug:  Rob you're full of it.  No one said that and no one calls you "The Farah"
Rob:  Its my wrestling name. 
Doug: Your wrestling name?
Rob:  Yeah, from when I was in WWE

Doug: What's the song Rob
Rob:  Oh, you remember Boys of Summer by Don Henley?

Doug: Sure do.
Rob:  Well I picked that one because "Boys of Summer" are baseball players, but you know the best part?
Doug: What?
Rob: Its all about "The Farah"

Here is the reworked version of "the boys of summer" from Robert Farah.  When he sang this for the group there were a few curious looks.  But this was Rob at his best, eyes closed, rocking, singing in his best imitation of Don Henley imitating Eddie Vedder.  Here is the TUNE. 

BOYS OF SUMMER

Nobody at the plate
Nobody on the base
I feel it in the air
The summer's nearly in reach

Empty stands, have no fans
The sun goes down alone
I'm driving by your house
Though I know you're not home

But I can see me
My leather skin shining in the sun
I got my hair slicked back and my
Helmet is on, buddy
I can tell you my love for the game will still be strong
Waiting for the boys of summer, so long

I never will forget those nights
I wonder if it was a dream
Remember how Basso made you crazy
Remember how he made me scream
Now I don't understand
What happened to his glove
But Gary, we'll get you back
We're gonna show us what we're made of

I can see me
My leather skin shining in the sun
I see them walking real slow
I'm Smiling at everyone
I can tell you my love for the game will still be strong
Waiting for the boys of summer, so long

Out on the road today
I saw a "chicks dig me" sticker on a bat rack
A little voice inside my head said:
"Don't look back, you can never look back"
I thought I knew what fun was
What did I know?
Those Grisslie antics are back forever
I just can't let them go but,

I can see me
My leather skin baking in the sun
I got the Grisslie top pulled down
Sleeveless version on baby
I can tell you my love for the game will still be strong
Waiting for the boys of summer so long

I can see me
My leather skin shining in the sun
I see them walking real slow
I'm Smiling at everyone
I can tell you my love for the game will still be strong
Waiting for the boys of summer, so long

THE GAME 

Well I've been struggling to write a game report about a game I wasn't at.  I had the score sheet but it wasn't a lot of help.  No matter how I read it, it kept saying 16-5.  OUCH.  

So I figured the best way to relate the game would be to share the email exchange between Rob and I after the game (and the school play).  I didn't get Rob's permission to publish this, but what the hell, he says no one reads the CLOG anyway.

Rob
8:25 pm
so we lost 16 to 5
I'm thinking we need some more practice
i went 3 /4 all good hits and scored twice
Hollingshead hit 2 out on me

Me
9:06 pm
Good god! I guess I can't miss again eh?

Rob
9:32 pm
Doris played the best but had no help from the rest of us
hurt himself on the first defensive play of the game
but he stuck it out
Winston played 2nd most of the game
Brad left field
Oh before the game we had a moment of silence for your streak
there were a few tears shed
but then I pointed out that I am the new holder
and that made everyone happy
did i mention i hit the ball very well tonight
and struck out 1
so 3 stars are
1. Tinkler
2. Farah ....just because i had to handle everything on my own
3. Doris ....he did play the hardest

Me
9:42 pm
If Doris played that hard, why not make him the #2 or #1 star?

Rob
9:48 pm
He made me handle the bats before AND after the game
I missed you man.  Don't miss any more games.

Me
9:53 pm
I won't

Rob
9:54 pm
EVER!

Me
9:54 pm
Okay....

Rob:
9:55 pm
Alright.
Go write something
And make me sound good

Me:
9:55
Okay. Its a gift and a curse.

------------------------

So there you go, the captain - to - captain synopsis.  Next up for the 0-2 Grisslies are last years champs, the 1-1 Beer Bros.  I've already had the pleasure of loosing to these guys once already this year when I subbed on opening night.  This is fantastic, three guys I consistently suck against, Doyle, Ross & Piellusch.  Perhaps antics are in order.  


To view the Donini 3 Stars, click HERE
To view the Grisslie results and schedule page, click HERE