I just saw that HBO will be doing a one-hour special on Mickey Mantle. Shocking. Amazing. And even more shocking, it will include commentary by Bob Costas. I'm sure Bill Crystal will be on as well
Costas will spout on and on about how Mickey was the greatest player that ever lived, that no statistic can capture his greatness, a true american icon, the symbol of baseball itself. We will hear the word mythology. And hero and tales of them sneaking radios into their classroom or skipping school to catch a Yankee game. we will also hear "tragic hero." Because the Mick had failings also - and those failings helped Costas/Crystal realize that life can be cruel sometimes. Yeah right.
I can't wait until 2010 and when we have the retrospective to Yankee Stadium as they tear it down to make room for the New (New) Yankee Stadium. All the usual crap will come out once again.
Well mark your calendar for July 13....
Hey, welcome back X! Where you been?
ReplyDeleteI don't have HBO so won't be watching it.
As for "Because the Mick had failings also - and those failings helped Costas/Crystal realize that life can be cruel sometimes" -- I suppose that's true, but just in case they missed the lesson, I'm sure the 2004 ALCS drove the point home quite well.
Was in Hawaii for the week - first couple days we were in civilization (i.e., internets availbable), but then we went out to the Eastern shores of Maui.
ReplyDeleteI have the HBO for boxing primarily but always get sucked into their other crap. As for them realizing that life can be cruel, what I really meant was that they spout that crap now as adults, but in reality what 10 or 12 year old would ever really come to such a realization. I was 11 when Bucky F*&($n Dent hit that HR, but I remember being pissed and crying but also thinking no problem, that we will get them next year. And was surprised that my (much older) cousin was still sooo pissed at Thanksgiving.