The news this week about the little puppy, Magnum, broke my heart. Especially because Magnum didn’t survive after his sickening mistreatment and abandonment.
In the aftermath, I have read on The Eagle’s editoral blog, and in a letter to the editor on Sunday, thatwe should also remember the many children who are abused and abandoned. Well, yes, we should. And we should do everything in our power to see that not one more child has to face such a terrible tragedy.
But while I’m mourning for Magnum, let me mourn. Don’t try to tell me that it’s somehow shallow to feel this way about a dog when so many children are out there facing difficult circumstances. I don’t want to divide my attention right now. I want to feel bad for this little puppy and I want laws passed to help make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen. And it doesn’t mean I feel anything less for human beings _ especially children _ who are victims of mental and physical abuse.
This blog is not always going to be so cheerful. Most of the time, but not always.
I just got home from the ballpark, Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, where the NBC World Series is being played. My intent was to stay for the 3 a.m. game that involved the Park City Cowboys, the Cinderella team in the tournament.
Well, as I write this it is 2:44 and there is a full game to play before Park City takes the field, probably somewhere around 5:30. Sorry, folks, can’t do it. Too old. Too tired. Back in the day (I’m now old enough to use that grandfatherly term) I would have done it. Easy. And I might have stayed up the next day, too.
While we’re on the topic of the NBC World Series, here are my top 10 all-time favorite teams who have played in the tournament. Remember, I’ve been going to this thing since the mid-60s, so that’s my time frame.
1. Midlothian (Ill.) White Sox _ Loved those guys because they were brutes and they knew they were brutes.
2. Wichita Rapid Transit Dreamliners _ Best nickname ever and the team had an aura.
3. Eureka (Calif.) Humboldt Crabs _ OK, maybe this is the best nickname.
4. Ponchatoula (La.) A’s _ These cajuns could play some baseball. And I love saying "Ponchatoula."
5. Liberal BeeJays _ These guys just looked good in their uniforms. Wait a minute, did I just say that?
6. Fairbanks (Alaska) Goldpanners _ When I was a kid I expected to see the players on this team wearing parkas and caring for their pet polar bears.
7. Wichita Cessna Bobcats _ I’m not sure why, but I liked them even though my father worked at Beech.
8. Boulder (Colo.) Collegians _ Trotted out one future major leaguer after another, including former Wichita State Shocker Joe Carter in 1980.
9. El Dorado (Kan.) Broncos _ My good friend and co-worker Gary Karr, who helps run this team and is its statistician, would kill me if the Broncos weren’t on my list.
10. Grand Rapids (Mich.) Sullivans _ I always got a kick out of this team’s cantankerous manager, Bob Sullivan. He reminded me of me.
Now, good night.