Baseball is big. I don’t know why, seeing that it’s about as slow moving as a city worker on Monday. I guess it has been mandated forever though since it was mentioned in the Bible, (In the big-inning). Personally I gave up on the sport years ago the Braves stopped selling general admission tickets behind the left field wall.

I have first hand experience too as I spent my high school years playing first base. First base is one of the most active positions and still I found time on the field to do my Algebra homework and make goo goo eyes at Donna Mitchum. (And no, she didn’t goo goo back).

Nevertheless I hope baseball gets what it deserves for it’s steroid fueled, greed invested, grabfest. Whether they strike or not, we yet again see what big time sports are all about. With this in mind, I offer my fantasy for the family in a poem in the style of “Casey at the Bat.”

The outlook wasn’t so brilliant for the Atlanta Braves that day
The score stood 4 to 2 with just one inning more to play
Then when his chips were but crumbs and his Coke was all gone
The man gazed out the window at his two foot high, un-mowed lawn

His wife tapped her foot in deep despair.. and told him
You haven’t bathed in days nor combed your hair
She clung to the hope that He would do his chores
But then he pushed right by her to see the Braves had scored!!

Chipper came to bat and Andruw stood at third
The former was slugger the latter was a bird
He fell back in his recliner and chimed for another soda
Sheffield waved his bat like a saber in the hands of Yoda

So up upon his children... grim melancholy sat
To see another Saturday pass.. dad in his chair in his baseball hat
The mom & kids stood lonely as Lopez laid down a bunt
Nothing could be so terrific ... the Braves are in the hunt

And now it had come to this as the Bravo raced for home
This could tie the contest... a game worthy of a poem
The kids were tugging at him as he tried to see the screen
And then suddenly it happened... The reckoning extreme

Oh somewhere in this favored land the Braves are in extra innings
Crowds still do the wave ... the fat lady can’t start her singing
And somewhere a man is laughing and little children shout
For there is joy in Homeville for this family has gone out...