One of Bone Daddy’s favorite sayings is “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass….it’s about learning to dance in the rain…..cuz there is absolutely nothing to fear about tomorrow …for God is already there.”…..so, I’m not going to worry about this post….even though it is the only time that I have chosen to tell a story exactly as I heard it from Bone Daddy….rather than having the normal dose of that undeniable “Chiweenie Touch” sprinkled in….cuz I’m a natural born writer because God Dog blessed me with the talent to do….as I do so well….and if you don’t believe me….just keep on reading more of L E’s Stories in this video museum…you’ll see what I mean. If this is your 1st post that you have read, please know that with each of my stories, I will post some of my favorite videos out of the 5,419 currently posted….which I feel quite sure that you’ll enjoy at least a couple or more…..cuz this historic moment in track history around the world ranks at the top with many track enthusiasts….as the accomplishment broke a barrier in the mile that no athlete thought was possible just 10 years before.
Track + Field – 1954 – Special Feature – The Tale Of Roger Bannister And The 4 Minute Mile Barrier
Today though, I have a verbatim story as told by the original Sportsphile….for in truth, I wouldn’t change a thing…..because Bone Daddy says it well enough….as folllows:
The universe of sports in the United States has become interwoven into the very fiber of a huge cross section of so many Americans with so many different cultural backgrounds, to include athletes and participants, parents and families of participants, fans, owners / operators of sports facilities, advertisers, sponsors, all the support businesses that service the sporting arenas and venues across America. Sports is woven into the core fabric of society in small towns from sea to shining sea on Friday nights for high school football….while providing a wide variety of televised sports daily from 5 to 8 different sports…..which is then followed by the almost ritualistic society every Sunday (now Monday and Thursday included) by the NFL multiple time slot games….while morphing into an international happening every four years with the Olympics.
Boxing – 1964 To 1986 – Special – The Elegance + Eloquence Of Jim McKay In Tribute To Muhammad Ali
Sport in the USA has evolved into a special kind of therapy for a fast paced high stress immediate gratification nation. The fields and arenas where sporting events are played in America, since back in the day in 1956 when I first started collecting Yankee baseball cards, these venues have become almost like a “therapist’s couch” for a significant amount of folks in this country.
Horse Racing – 1983 – Actor Telly Savalas Pays Homage To The “Incredible Big Red” Secretariat
Whether the fan goes to the event live or watches it on TV, the event always provides numerous opportunities to vigorously verbalize each individual observer’s thoughts and opinions regarding what transpired during the time frames of any and all sporting events. These opportunities to respond vocally to the plays on the field allows each fan the opportunity and ability to yell and scream at the top of their lungs over a good play, a stupid decision, an incredible expression of athleticism or a bad call by a coach, manager, umpire or referee. And typically by the time any and all sporting events have come to their conclusion, each athlete, coach, fan or event servant who played, observed or supported that sporting event, has for the most part been drained of the better part of all of their pent-up aggressions, emotions, anger, anxieties and energies, all of which had been expressed and left behind by the time the game had ended. By the time each person involved in a sporting event starts to head home at the end of the event, almost everyone has left most of their pent-up frustrations, stress and anxieties behind.
Golf – 1954 – Highlights Of Final Round Of Womens US Open Featuring Winner Babe Didrikson Zaharias
Any way you cut the pie, actively participating in any sporting event is so much better than going home after a demanding and stressful day of work, yelling and screaming at anyone in the way, or even worse, taking it out on the kids or the little lady or maybe drop kicking the dog, by taking out all of the pent up frustrations of the day on the ones they love rather than leaving all that baggage at the sporting event.
NBA – 1987 – All Star Game Slam Dunk Contest Semifinals With Michael Jordan + Clyde Drexler
By the way….even when you HUMANS have enough restraint to not do something abusive to the family members like that….there are many of you who will kick the dog….OUCH !!! So going out to the ballpark and yelling for your team…..that my HUMAN friend is what we dogs tend to think is really good HUMAN therapy….costing much less than clinical therapy….and a hell of a lot more fun. Therefore….from a dog’s perspective….BD is dead on in his assessment that “The universe of sports has become America’s therapy couch”…..but what if what sports has become in America is “its legal narcotic”…..cuz the HUMANS in this country have become seemingly addicted to sports.
MLB – 1981 – Special – Highlights From 1st 100 Years Of Major League Baseball Put To Terry Cashman HOF Song “Talkin Baseball”
Adding to what Bone Daddy said above….and in commemoration of yesterday’s MLB’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies….an event that we both enjoy very much….especially listening to the acceptance speeches every year….which has motivated me to provide all you Yankee fans out there by my decision to feature every Yankee autograph baseball card in our memorabilia collection here at ImaSportsphile at the completion of this story.
If these cards provide a catalyst to take a jaunt down memory lane….and you enjoy looking at them, just remember BD has many more pieces of Hall of Fame memorabilia like autographed pictures, baseballs, etc….and you’ll find that each story has more and more memorabilia items to see.
Golf – 1986 – Masters Special – Pat Summerall Remembers Jack Nicklaus Historic Victory At The Masters
From this Sportsphile dog’s perspective….and I love baseball…but for me…..I prefer the Wall of Fame to the Hall of Fame….as the Wall of Fame is located in the basement of the University of Texas Rec Center. The Wall of Fame commemorates every All University Intramural Champion from years past…a place where Los Tres Hermanos (BD and his brothers Little W and Runt) pictures show up on numerous teams in numerous sports throughout their college career from 1963 to 1972….but that is another story for another time.
1963 To 1971 University Of Texas Intramural Wall Of Fame Photos Of Delta Tau Delts Champions
Photos From The University Of Texas Rec Center “Wall Of Fame” Depicting Various University Championship Teams By Los Tres HermanosFor Delta Tau Delta Fraternity From 1963 To 1971 As BD was expounding his oration regarding the value of sports in American society….he suddenly stood up and cheered at the TV….when the winner of the J G Taylor Spinks Award presented for meritorious service in print baseball coverage….. Bill Conlan…..when he called for MLB “to get Pete Rose off main street….and get him into the Hall where he belongs”. Conlan has been covering sports at the Philadelphia Daily News for the past 50 years….and he touched a real nerve with virtually every Sportsphile that I know….when he commented that “Rose might very well be a cheater and a liar….but never on the diamond…and achievement on the diamond is what the Hall of Fame is all about”….and Bone Daddy is in complete agreement with Conlan’s assessment and call….for as much as BD hated Pete Rose and the Big Red Machine (and the Phillies)…..and as much as BD recognizes the stains on Rose’s career and personal life….it can never take away from what he did on the field….and when the game has been around for well over a 120 years….for the ALL TIME HITS LEADER to not be in the Hall of Fame just isn’t right.
MLB – 1981 – CNN Sports Special – Highlights Of Pete Rose Assault Of Ty Cobbs All Time Hits Record
In his speech….Conlan also touched on another theme that BD expounds on regularly regarding how interwoven sports is in the American society….as BD calls sports “America’s Therapist”….with the ballparks, cathedrals, stadiums and arenas being “America’s Therapist Couch”….whereas Conlan called sports “America’s Legal Narcotic”….While saying that America is addicted. Regardless of which description is more accurate….as American history has been written over time….sports has provided a safe haven for “junkies needing their fix” and “patients needing their therapy”….and America’s dependency on those needs grows as each year passes. This simple fact translates today into the reality that “very average players get paid way above average wages which is totally unworthy of their skills”…..thus creating another example where wealth is more often than not, dictated by timing rather than by skill.
Music – 1986 – World Champion Chicago Bears – The Super Bowl Shuffle With ESPN Bob Ley + Brian Gumble
DOG ASIDE: I am telling you now…..I am going to write on this subject sometime in the near future….cuz BD is so adamant about how the whole of the United States of America is affected by their submersion into the world of sports…..dictated by the trappings of what MONEY and GREED do to affect the most pure of all HUMAN endeavors….playing sports together. And to my opinion, BD seems to have a really good grasp of how important and valuable the universe of sport is to not only the ole Red, White and Blue….but to every culture in the world….while at the same time having a fear of what the “Money Grabbers” are doing to the whole universe for which a Sportsphile lives in daily anticipation of.
Comedy – 1986 – Special – HBO Robert Klein Showcases Great Stand Up Comedians And Their Rhythm With Henny Youngman + Martin Mull + Steve Martin Et Al
How about this for “Dog Simple vs. HUMAN Complicated” examples:
To the subject of Pete Rose is a Hall of Famer….a Dog Simple response is absolutely….and I am talking 100% of all dogs would say absolutely….cuz every game this player played in his MLB career was played within the rules of the game. However, the HUMAN Complicated response is still some 20 years later…. convoluted and confused….with many HUMANS on both sides of the fence having drawn lines in the dirt that they swear they will never cross….so….who knows how long if ever….this issues will be resolved. Can you say….Complicated??!!
Auto Racing – 1958 To 1992 – Bob Costas + Gary Gerould Tribute To Life & Career Of Richard Petty
Terry Cashman, the songwriter of “Talking Baseball WithWillie, Mickeyand the Duke” being the most famous and successful baseball song ever written, that is besides “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”, was recognized by the MLB Hall of Fame for his song that he wrote and recorded many times over. In his acceptance speech, he told the story of growing up in New York City in a family that loved music and baseball. He related that he has recorded the song over again some 32 times over the past 33 years since he first recorded the song, continually updating players, ballparks and recognizable baseball names and icons mentioned throughout the songs verses. Cashman went on to say that he had performed the song on stages all over the world, which went way beyond anything he had ever conceived when he wrote the song, and now he was being recognized for his contribution to baseball at the 2011 Hall of Fame. He then said “None of this would have ever happened if three (3) great centerfielders Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Duke Snyder had not played in New York for 7 years when he was growing up”. So….here’s too “Willie, Mickey and the Duke”, and a big thanks to Mr. Cashman for writing the song.
MLB – 1981 – Special – Highlights 1st 100 Years Of MLB Put To Terry Cashman’s HOF Song “Talkin’ Baseball”
Dave Van Horne….recipient of the Ford C. Frick Baseball Broadcasting Excellence Award….started his speech by saying “The game of baseball is MAGIC”. It is place where the players play the hardest game in the world and make it look easy”. Now this was from a man who had seen 11 no hitters, 3 perfect games, Willie Mays 3000th base hit, Steve Carlton’s 4000 strikeout and Nolan Ryan’s breaking of the all time strikeout record. Needless to say, he has seen some SERIOUSMAGIC. It is easy to understand why Van Horne has his belief that the game of baseball is MAGIC….but when you’ve seen as many sports competitions as I’ve seen….I’d have to expand his statement to say that SPORT IS MAGIC….and this is evidenced by this video below….for there is nothing but MAGIC in this little boys eyes, face and song.
Music – 1986 – Take Me Out To The Ballgame Sung By The Youngest Fan At The 1986 World Series Game 1
Robert Hemond….winner of the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award….was awarded this honor based on his seven (7) decades of contributions in MLB….from batboy to general manager. Hemond began his speech by reflecting back to the days when he was a young boy who had quit school to become the full time batboy for the New York Giants….to which he was asked by his mother in French (being a 1st generation immigrant in America)….“Where is this baseball game going to lead you?”….to which he answered while pounding his baseball glove….”I don’t know, I just lovethe game”. Hemond concluded his speech by saying “Well Ma, this is where it led, to the Hall of Fame”.
Special – 1969 – NASA Live Space Walk + Lunar Landing USA Astronauts Buzz Aldrin & Neil Armstrong
DOG ASIDE: Man, is that awesome stuff of what? So, for all of us dogs who live with HUMANS who either need their regular “sports fix” or “sports therapy” in order to understand a little better each time that I relate stories like this one above….which all came about as a result of sitting beside BD during the 2011 MLB Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The way I see it….if you HUMANS didn’t have sports to vent your frustrations at each day….you would probably come home and kick the dog for something as simple and normal as licking their privates….which is a God Dog blessing you HUMANS have no idea about. So, all I can say to all ya’ll HUMANS…..especially the ones with dogs….is to “keep on keepin on”….cuz I for one want you to go get your daily injection of sports and/or spend time every day involved in sports therapy by participating….while ridding yourselves of all those pent up frustrations that you need to get rid….or while delving into your need to alter your state of mind with the legal narcotic at the end of the day…. cuz without sports and dogs….it seems to me that HUMANS in general would be….to use a HUMAN phrase that you can all relate to….”Up the creek without a paddle”.
Olympics – 1984 – L A Games – Kayak – Mens 1000m Doubles – Heat 1 – USA Terry Kent + Terry White
