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At the Intersection of Sports and Culture

Photo Credit for Header: Alex Foucre-Stimes

View from Spring Training: 2011 Texas Rangers

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2011 Texas Rangers

NFL Equivalent – Arizona Cardinals: Not much behind this comparison except that in recent years both teams, the Cardinals and Rangers, have lost championship game(s) to more established and beloved franchises. Before that, both were kind of obscure entities that the general public didn’t hear much about unless the manager was caught doing drugs or the starting quarterback was giving up on his team.

Google Search: Should Neftali Feliz start or close? Does Michael Young want to be traded or is he happy as a DH? Is Ron Washington still sporting a fake mustache? These are questions the reigning AL champs need to answer as the 2011 season begins. The Rangers have decided that Feliz will in fact remain the teams closer but this decision has not stopped fans/columnists from clamoring for a change. With the offseason acquisition of 3B Adrian Beltre, veteran Michael Young has been forced into a new role as DH and reports out of Arlington were that Young was none too pleased with the Rangers front office and requested a trade. Rangers would be very wise to keep Young who remains a very valuable bat and versatile infielder.

Famous Movie Quote: We’re adding a little something to this month’s sales contest. As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody want to see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you’re fired. Alec Baldwin from Glengarry Glen Ross

A-B-C. Always-Be-Closing! Another memorable line from the too often overlooked, seldom cited 1992 classic starring Kevin Spacey, Al Pacino, the late Jack Lemmon, and Alec Baldwin. I see a lot of Jack Donaghy in Baldwin’s character from Glengarry Glen Ross. Of course, after 19 years, and 100 lbs, Baldwin is now twice the man he use to be. Making it to the World Series in 2010 was a huge statement for the Texas Rangers franchise. Expectations are once again high as most baseball people pick Texas to return to the playoffs in 2011. This year, is just getting to the World Series enough or is A-B-T (Anything-But a Title) considered a little bit like a set of steak knives? 2011 prediction: 88-74, 1st place AL West.

view from BB&T Coastal Field courtesy of @carolinakidder

View of the Day: November 1, 2010

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Congrats to the the San Francisco Giants and their loyal fans on winning the 2010 World Series.  Tim Lincecum beat Cliff Lee twice in the series and Edgar Renteria, your soon to be retired series MVP, had the biggest/loudest hit of the post season with his 3 run homerun off Lee in the top of the 7th inning.

Where do we go from here?  The Giants could be set up for the next few years.  Their pitching staff is young/under contract and Buster Posey may very well end up winning the Rookie of the Year award.  On the other hand, the Texas Rangers are sure to lose Cliff Lee to the Yankees, and will face a much tougher road in getting back to the World Series.

I’m happy for Giants fans and the city of San Francisco.  56 years is a long time to wait for a championship.  Cubs fans, I can only imagine.  Share your views.

The World Series Will Determine the Midterm Elections

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Never has a World Series cast such a polarizing shadow over an upcoming election.  Voters across the US will pour into the polls on Tuesday in what is shaping up as an enormously important referendum on the economic/cultural direction of this country.  Political pundits looking for a last minute poll or electoral formula need to look no further than the 2010 World Series.  The winner of this series could very well represent the current political mindset of the general electorate.

On the left, you have the San Francisco Giants.  The city of San Francisco has long been considered the liberal bastion of the United States. Progressively minded social/cultural reformers have been flocking to the Bay Area since the middle part of the 20th century.  A win for the Giants could spell success for the Democrats.

On the other side of the diamond you have the Texas Rangers.  The great state of Texas is the indisputable center of cultural conservatism.  The Lone Star state has long represented strong minded, freedom loving individuals.  Presidents Bush, 41 and 43, are frequent guests of Nolan Ryan in the owners box at the Ballpark in Arlington.  A win for the Rangers and maybe the Republicans take back both Houses of Congress.

Of course, there’s a good chance that a connection between the two does not exist.  However, if you catch yourself rooting for one team more than the other, you may want to take a closer look at your voter registration.

View of the Day: October 28, 2010

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McCovey Cove looks like the kind of view where the tailgate is more important than the game.  However, judging by what they are charging for tickets, this may be the most cost effective way to watch Game 2 of the 2010 World Series.

World Series Game 1: Unexpected Results

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Before last night, I would not have predicted that Juan Uribe would be your 2010 World Series Game 1 MVP.  His three run homerun in the bottom of the 5th inning all but sealed the deal for the Giants, who would go on to outlast the Texas Rangers by a final score of 11-7.  Cliff Lee wasn’t good (too much time off?), giving up 6 earned runs over 4.2 innings. Tim Lincecum wasn’t much better but was saved by the Giant offensive explosion.

Heading into the series, everyone wondered whether or not the Giants would be able to score enough runs to beat the Rangers and Cliff Lee.  Well, if last night was any indication, San Fran is more than up to the challenge. Are people surprised by how easy the Giants made it look against Lee? Did anyone else fall asleep before the game ended at 11:30? Share your views.