Introducing a new blog....

 

10/31




series time


Introducing a new blog....


For the last several years, up until Covid hit, every Wednesday morning I would meet with an eclectic group of friends foe what we called "the Underground" for breakfast at the famous Tom's restaurant on 112th and Broadway, better known as "that Seinfeld restaurant."  We had our special booth in the front.  You might find the Episcopal bishop meeting with the Dean of St.John the Divine Cathedral or in their special booth, this lions of Black theology Cornell West and James Cone.  Heady company indeed.  We focus our conversation, often with readings, on the intersection of faith, theology and society.

One of my colleagues noticed my penchant for hats and asked me to explain what I was wearing and why, beginning a weekly ritual that has continued even now in our virtual state. I have decided to begin to share these stories ...so here goes....


10/27


So last night began the World Series. And somehow of all possible combinations, my two least favorite teams have made it in.  One by one, all teams I had any reason to like went out. We're down to Astros and Braves. Although I have always loved the Braves unis, and even kind of liked them in Milwaukee, I have hated them ever since Francisco Cabrera stole a trip to the Series from my Pirates in the 1992 NLCS with only one out to go. Finally reversing the magic I had felt ever since Maz and the 60 series. Twice watching Braves pitchers on cold October nights freezing out the Bucs at Three Rivers. Then there's that racist tomahawk chop and flying to the suburbs for their  new ballpark. No, just no.

As for the Astros, well the cheating thing gets me. Especially as it affected my Yankees (where I live now) in 2017. And I still don't know what they are doing in the American League. Doesn't feel right. They'll forever be linked with the Mets for me. On the upside, there are those priceless tequila sunrise jerseys ...that alone rocks. And then this...manager Dusty Baker is one good man. A true "baseball guy." Five division titles with five different teams and one previous trip to the Series with the Giants, but no ring. SO for this time, I'm pulling for a ring for Dusty. Hats off, Dusty Baker.

As for "hat's on," today's hat is pretty unique. At some point in the mid '90's, my hometown Frontier League Washington Wild Things threw back to an Astrosesque tequila sunrise uni with this hat, a Wild Thing superimposed on an Astros star. (Couldn't find it anywhere online...) It's also the hat I took with me to see the Astros play at BallPark of the Palm Beaches while visiting a friend in Florida.

The best shirt for the hat is the UniWatch "ransom note" tee. Perfect for a ballpark shared by Nationals and Astros and well, nothing else even close...

(Sadly...on the day I post this, the Braves are one game away from winning the Series...sigh...)




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Honoring Veterans

Image
 11/11 PACKOS and MASH Today’s hats off is to our veterans.   I’m not usually one for military style wear and especially the wearing of camo by shorts teams. But I’m making exception in a unique way. We’ve got a military style hat and olive green sweat shirt from Tony Packo’s, the famous hot dog emporium in Toledo, Ohio.  Packo’s was made famous by Toledo native Jamie Farr in his role of Klinger in the long-running Korean War era series M*A*S*H.   While Klinger usually dressed as a woman in an effort to get out of the service, his parents regularly sent him care packages from Packo’s and Klinger would occasionally opt for a Toledo Mud Hens jersey and hat thus creating an ongoing connection between MASH, Mud Hens and Packos.  Klinger and Hawkeye in MASH Though set in the Korean War era, MASH was clearly reflecting on the then active Vietnam conflict. The Korean War was the first of what would become an ongoing pattern of US involvement in post colonial struggles ...
Read more

All Souls and el trueno de Trenton (Trenton Thunder)

Image
11/3 el Trueno de Trenton   Yesterday was All Souls Day , or El Dia De Los Muertos (the Day of the Dead ) as it’s known in Mexico. So what better way to commemorate the day than with this “sugar skull” logo from “ El Trueno de Trenton ” or Trenton Thunder . Sugar skulls are both used as treats for roaming bands of children and decorations for one’s own ofrenda , or altar.   This particular logo was developed as part of Trenton’s contribution to La Copa de Diversion, or Fun Cup, a program developed by minor league baseball to attempt to build closer ties with the Hispanic community. This year, El Trueno de Trenton was the Friday edition of the team playing as the Trenton Thunder which in fact was the Buffalo Bisons displaced when the Toronto Blue Jays left Dunedin. Trenton being available when the Yankees abandoned the city for Somerset, New Jersey. When the Bisons returned to Buffalo, the Trenton Thunder finished the year as a “Draft League” team so the team that began ...
Read more

Hanging on to Christ,mas

Image
12/29 fifth day of Christmas Hanging on to Christmas the December pin Micah's mug “I’m hanging on to Christmas,” I tell my friends as we gather for our Wednesday morning conversation. I am a firm believer in celebrating all twelve days and this is just the fifth day. So I’m keeping the Christmas attire going…the red and green Yankee hat I wear every Christmas, and a new addition, it’s a swinging Santa, based on the design by Tod Radom for the December Uniwatch Pin Club.   And I'm drinking from the mug my  then 8 year old son Micah made for Christmas 1992. He wasn't quite ready for Micah so spent some time  calling himself Mike. He grew into Micah soon enough.... I see trees out on the curb already.   My father used to take our tree down during the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.   I’m partial to the older tradition where Christmas   doesn’t begin until the 25th.   And goes on until January 6th when we celebrate the visit of the three kings, or ...
Read more