This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on October 18, 2012 9:47 PM.
The previous post in this blog was Flocking to their 'dog.
The next post in this blog is Ooh that smell.
Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.
Detroit has won the American League championship -- the pennant, as we used to call it -- and advances to play in the World Series, probably against St. Louis. We recall a wag at Mad magazine, who wrote this famous parody about 50 years ago:
Tigers, Tigers burning bright
In the ball parks of the night
Your pitching's fair, your field adroit,
So why no pennants for Detroit?
You blaze around the big league parks
With bats that fairly give off sparks,
But when they total up the score...
You've lost again to Baltimore.
The Cleveland Indians go to work.
They beat you good; so does New York.
When Boston adds a mortal blow,
All you can shout's "Look out below!"
Tigers, Tigers, burning bright
In the ball parks of the night.
Someday the fans will get their fill
And ship the team to Louisville.
Tonight the ballclub has answered that taunt. And the Yankees have unraveled completely. Condolences to our readers in Gotham.
Comments (5)
Don't forget: the great Sparky Anderson answered that taunt long ago.
You know, this brings up a good point about this year. I've written so many songs that I sometimes wake up with a new line or two in my head. The other day it was, "I've been too long where the politicians rule. I've been too long in the company of fools."
I am not getting anything out of knowing about Jefferson Smith or Charlie Hales. It's not adding anything to our lives. I needed the money so I agreed to interview them and now I'm entangled in this long dreary process.
There are 7 billion of us and some people really inspire you and make life better. They are not just entertaining. They enrich the world.
I want to get back to thinking about the Sparky Andersons of the world. He won World Series in both leagues. Jefferson and Charlie are just one long subtraction from the quality of life. They're shabby people.
Why aren't we thinking about Ray Charles? We could have taken the hours we've spent on Jeffy and Charlie, and put them to such good use: "I've been too long where the politicians rule, I've been too long in the company of fools."
My Dad was a huge Mad Magazine guy back in the day. I don't like actual parody songs, but I loved reading the parody lyrics, and all the other stuff in the early Mad Magazine. Remember Spy vs. Spy? Remember Don Martin?
When this wretched campaign is over, I'm going to return to the good stuff: Music, Sports and Comedy. These politicians suck the joy from the world and they can go to hell. It's all about them and they don't give you any worthwhile feelings in return.
The 1968 Tigers answered that taunt well before Sparky. In fact, 50 years ago, the Tigers were nipping at the heels of the Mantle-Maris era Yankees. Methinks the poem's author just wanted to rhyme "adroit" with Detroit.
I saw mention of that 1968 championship but thought it was more sporting to go from my personal memories. I remember a young Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris and the catcher who I just looked up: Lance Parrish.
As a Yankee fan for 55 years, I want to congratulate your Tigers for a great post-season.
But, even more, I want to thank you for the text of the Tiger, Tiger from Mad Magazine....I was thinking about it this morning as I was walking in the park and for years I couldn't remember the couplet that ends the third verse. I decided that Google, being the font of all knowledge, might dredge them up for me, and there they were.
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
Columbia Crest, Les Chevaux Red 2010
14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
Familia Bianchi, Malbec 2009
Terrapin Cellars, Pinot Gris 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2009
Campo Viejo, Rioja, Termpranillo 2010
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2010
Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
Tarantas, Rose
Chateau Lajarre, Bordeaux 2009
La Vielle Ferme, Rose 2011
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio 2011
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
Anindor, Pinot Gris 2010
Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
Les Fiefs d'Anglars, Malbec 2009
14 Hands, Pinot Gris 2011
Conundrum 2012
Condes de Albarei, Albariño 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2007
Penelope Sanchez, Garnacha Syrah 2010
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2007
Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
Vega Montan, Mencia
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
Portuga, Rose 2011
Revelation, Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc 2010
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 2005
Monte Alto, Tinto Reserva 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2009
Espiral, Vinho Rose
Vin-Koru, Pinot Gris 2011
14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
The Occasional Book
Neil Young - Waging Heavy Peace
Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
Jenny Lawson - Let's Pretend This Never Happened
J.D. Salinger - Franny and Zooey
Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
Timothy Egan - The Big Burn
Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
Cheryl Strayed - Wild
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karamazov
Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Road Work
Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (5)
Don't forget: the great Sparky Anderson answered that taunt long ago.
You know, this brings up a good point about this year. I've written so many songs that I sometimes wake up with a new line or two in my head. The other day it was, "I've been too long where the politicians rule. I've been too long in the company of fools."
I am not getting anything out of knowing about Jefferson Smith or Charlie Hales. It's not adding anything to our lives. I needed the money so I agreed to interview them and now I'm entangled in this long dreary process.
There are 7 billion of us and some people really inspire you and make life better. They are not just entertaining. They enrich the world.
I want to get back to thinking about the Sparky Andersons of the world. He won World Series in both leagues. Jefferson and Charlie are just one long subtraction from the quality of life. They're shabby people.
Why aren't we thinking about Ray Charles? We could have taken the hours we've spent on Jeffy and Charlie, and put them to such good use: "I've been too long where the politicians rule, I've been too long in the company of fools."
My Dad was a huge Mad Magazine guy back in the day. I don't like actual parody songs, but I loved reading the parody lyrics, and all the other stuff in the early Mad Magazine. Remember Spy vs. Spy? Remember Don Martin?
When this wretched campaign is over, I'm going to return to the good stuff: Music, Sports and Comedy. These politicians suck the joy from the world and they can go to hell. It's all about them and they don't give you any worthwhile feelings in return.
I think I'm going to watch the World Series.
Posted by Bill McDonald | October 18, 2012 10:51 PM
Remember Spy vs. Spy? Remember Don Martin?
Oh do I ever. My Dad used to buy us every Mad magazine. My favorite read from age 7-13.
Posted by jimbo | October 19, 2012 8:23 AM
The 1968 Tigers answered that taunt well before Sparky. In fact, 50 years ago, the Tigers were nipping at the heels of the Mantle-Maris era Yankees. Methinks the poem's author just wanted to rhyme "adroit" with Detroit.
Posted by Hank | October 19, 2012 12:57 PM
I saw mention of that 1968 championship but thought it was more sporting to go from my personal memories. I remember a young Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris and the catcher who I just looked up: Lance Parrish.
Posted by Bill McDonald | October 19, 2012 1:08 PM
As a Yankee fan for 55 years, I want to congratulate your Tigers for a great post-season.
But, even more, I want to thank you for the text of the Tiger, Tiger from Mad Magazine....I was thinking about it this morning as I was walking in the park and for years I couldn't remember the couplet that ends the third verse. I decided that Google, being the font of all knowledge, might dredge them up for me, and there they were.
I think I was in 4th grade when I read it.
Thanks,
Hank in Albuquerque
Posted by Hank | October 24, 2012 10:58 AM