Say Hey

Is it not macho to be blubbering at the opening of the All-Star Game? The tribute to Willie Mays just got to me. I did not realize that Mays hit for the cycle in the 1968 All-Star Game. Wow. It was great to see how the other players stood in awe of #24 and shared in his joy. Jose Reyes had him sign the ball was thrown by Mays; and Willie tossed out baseballs as he drove around the stadium in a pink cadillac and made sure one of the guards got one, too. Then all the umpires came up to shake his hand. They didn't have to do that. How appropriate that Willie Mays got be honored while at San Francisco for the Giants. I prefer these moving tributes to happen while the person is still alive and well enough to be there and appreciate the kudos.

Oh, and it was nice to see Junior grinning over his shoulder. Griffey will indeed pass Frank Robinson this year. I am so proud of that boy. This week, while clearing out 'stuff' of my own, I came across the personalized autograph I got from his dad, Ken Griffey when the Reds played the Dodgers and I bravely wore red to the stadium. For so many years, I had to miss watching the All-Star game because classes were on Tuesday nights. Happilly, not this year. Belle and I are watching this line-up together as our own Padres, Jake Peavey as the starting pitcher. With the game being in San Francisco, I don't even mind watching Barry Bonds tonight. It is so damn cool to watch these amazing players come together to play in this creative line-up and to watch how they are tickled to have been invited to play with the best.

Can any sports buff reading this let me know how Junior went from #30 (which was also his Dad's jersey number) to the current #3? And speaking of team numbers, is it just a coinkydink that Willie Mays was #24 which is the reverse of Frank Robinson's #42???

It was a very exciting ninth inning. I am a NL gal so it was disappointing to have them lose yet again. I don't understand why the NL keeps losing? Why didn't LaRussa put in Pujols at the end instead of that Phillies guy? If the NL had won, Junior probably would have gotten MVP instead of Ichiro. The second Mariner since Griffey, Jr. in '92 and ok, the first inside-the-park HR. So what? Funny huh? Giving a Chevy to a Suzuki.

Lest you think this is just a sports blog, I want to refer the new animated film, "Ratatouille". Don and I saw it last night and we so enjoyed it. Beyond the amazing Pixar animation, it is a very witty and original film.

Onward to Cooperstown later this month.