THE AMAZING "SIXTH"

As a sports fan I most often attribute the term "sixth" to being a referral to "the sixth man" in basketball.

That's the guy who comes off the bench - usually early in the game -and performs so well you wonder why he's not a member of the starting five. John Havlicek, early in his career with the Boston Celtics, is a classic example.

However, the term "Sixth" may now forever be associated with last nights World Series game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers.

One of the quotes I read on-line today said that most of the players in the game - won in dramatic fashion by St. Louis in the bottom of the 11th- expressed a belief that this was the best Series game of all time.

Bill Mazerowski may disagree.

But, even Maz would have to admit this game was one for the ages.

It was filled with errors that heretofore were most closely associated with defensive play at either a Little League, or perhaps, Pony League play.

It was a tough call as to whom I was rooting for as the game bounced back and forth with the sloppy fielding and clutch hitting.

I was watching the "Sixth" in the living room at home after a rather long day that included one more doctors visit and an evening spent with friends.

I had ordered take-out and, despite all the advice of nutritionists, was devouring it as I watched the game.

Phyl and the Chihuahua were busy sawing logs in the back of the house. Apparently I became jealous of their comfort level while I strained to keep my eyes open. That happens to old people a lot.

But, Sony and Brighthouse to the rescue. I simply hit the record button and went on my way to join Phyl and the dog in Dreamland.

The secret to using this modern day recording trick is to avoid any news about the results of the game via next mornings newspaper.

In my case this is not difficult as I skip the local paper, and rely on my USA Today,that is conveniently delivered to our door around 3 or 4 A.M.

This is a great newspaper in my opinion.

The flip side, however, is my conclusion that they should change their motto from "The Nations Newspaper" to one that declares: "Yesterdays Sporting Results - Tomorrow".

Thus, there was no need to fear my paper would reveal the results of the game - until Monday - as they don't publish on Saturday.

So, I sat back down in my recliner this a.m. and turned on the tape.

The players were at least half right. What I was able to watch was indeed exciting, replete with the above mentioned errors and clutch hits.

What was not half-right for this old guy was the game from the bottom of the sixth on.

For, it was about that time my Brighthouse cable people who foolishly assumed a baseball game - with as many commercials as playing time - would conclude at exactly three hours - and turned off my precious recording of the event.

My congratulations to all of you baseball fans who had the stamina and will power that I sorely lacked.

Or, at the very least, had the requisite smarts that told them it might be best to also record the show subsequent to the showing of their sporting event.

Something I definitely plan to do this evening in case this old
f--t doesn't make it through the "Seventh" game either.

But, just in case - please don't call me tomorrow morning.

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