No POst Season for Warriors. What's Next?

 The Sacramento Kings attacked relentlessly and the Warriors of an earlier era would have had an answer, but not last night's Warriors. These were not the Dubs. These were older, slower, less aggressive Warriors. So, what can be said, realistically? There is no dishonor in saying that the great Dubs era that saw 4 NBA Championships and 6 Westeern Confrernce Championship is over. The Splash Brothers and D. Green will be heading to the NBA Hal of Fame. Lat night, with the addission of CP 3,we had the priviledege, despite the loss, of seeing 4 Warriors Hall of Fame players on the court at the same time. 

So what's nextThe Kings were beaten badly by the Pelicans abd akk tge play in teams have found their places eithr in or out. Teimberwoves, Knicks, Denver,  Clevland all won their first games. It is Sunday and their will be the rest of the first round games to watch. I wouldn't be surprised if the Pels upset OKC. I wouldn't be surprise if the Mavs upset the Clips. Boston should go through the first two rounds easy enough. But if it runs out it is the Knicks vs the Celts for the East, I wouldn't be surpised if the Knicks upset the Celtics. My grandson like the Mavs as his upset team. I have no faith in Kyrie Irving's defense. But the Mavs made a fabulous trade at the deadline gettin Gafford and PJ. So, it's possible. But I don't see a Western team that will beat Denver in a seven game series. This is someting that I was used to saying about the Waarrios. You could upset the Dubs once, but not over seven games. True for Mike Malone's team. 

So, let's get back to "What's next" for the Warriors. First, the era of small ball is over. The Warriors must acquire long, tall and altheletic players to compete in the future. Let's use as an examle, Franz Wagner of the Magic. The Warriors could havd drafted for him, but didn't, selcting instead Johnathon Kuminga, a 6'5" granted athletic guard or wing. As one coach told me, "Franz Wagner had Warriors written all over him." Too bad. Nothing agains Kuminga, but will he ever be a reliable 3 poin shooter. Anyway, this is just about saying The Wariors must retool. How the go abou ti is not for me to say. But no moar small ball please. Hats off to Steph Curry for continuing to carry the Warrios on those talented shoulders. but how long before he becomes frustrated? If I were him, I sure wouldn't want to do it for one more season, like the last two. 

   I live in Sacramento, so the Kings are my alternative favorite team. What's next for them? They have plenty of offense. And I've seen them play some decent defense. But I've NEVER seen them play sustain aggreseive defense for 4 quarters. They might be the worst second half team I've seen in a long time. Sorry, Mike Brown, reality check. So, the answer is: get defense credibility or it's a future of PlayIns. Ugh! 

Hat's off to Michel Porter Jr for not allowing his terrible family misfortuen to affect his play. I'm sure he loves his two brothers,, Coban and Jontay, but he also feels a commitment to his teammates. He's a pro.  

Thrilled to see the picks for our Olympic basketball team. Thrilled to se that Jrue Holiday was selevted, proving that Grant Hill know the value of a two way point guard. This is going to be the best American Olympic team since the Dream Team. 

My pick for the NBA Championship? The Denver Nuggets. 

VENDER

You think that championship banner belongs to you?
Let me tell you guys something, it belongs to us,
The hawkers with the cotton candy and the ice cream bars. 
a few extra bucks. In my case, to save money
for my son to go to camps, become great,
perhaps someday win a ring like ya’ all.
I’m thinking wouldn’t it be great to be like
Stephen Curry’s dad watching his kid hit
those silky jump shots, or Klay Thompson’s dad.
the time his son scored 50 point, 34 in one quarter.
Or Durant’s mom, how proud I’d be to be
that proud of my son, and him proud of me.
Here I am hawking frozen ice cream bars,
counting up in my head how much I can make
this basketball season to send my son to camp.
Only ten years old but, damn, he’s pretty good already.
Heck, isn’t this what fathers dream for their sons?
Like little boys dream of going to games
sitting with their dads, eating cotton candy
and watching the Dubs win an NBA Championship?
 
                       Tom Meschery

ON JOKIC'S GREATNESS & etc

 When I think back at all the particular skills the great centers of the NBA past possessed over the years and apply them to Nicola Jokic's skill-set, there are none in which the maginficant Serb doesn't excel. One can argue rightly that he is not as great a shot blocker as Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain, and one can argue that he is not as prolific a scorer as Kareem or as powerful in the paint as Shaq. But as season after season begin to prove, the Joker possesses all the skilss I've just meantioned and more, like passing and handling the ball and initiating offense and God know what else, perhaps piloting the Nugget's airplane. I do not need a ten year career history to say that at this point in his NBA career, Nicola Jokic is he greatest All Around NBA center that ever played in the NBA. And he does it with humility, grace, and a touch of humor. He is a pleasure to watch. He doesn't scream; he doesn't whine; he is all about TEAM. He possesses that same mature profressional personality of Steph Curry and Doctor J, players whom I christen: Gentlemen Daggers. 

A quick note, Oakland Univeersity basketball team defeating Kentucky began the slippery slope to most of my brakets being busted. Oakland almost beat NC State and should have. Terrible coache's decision to keep one of the team's worst free throw shooter on the floor in the last 16 seconds of the game??? 

My Gaels  lost in the first round to upstart Grand Canyon. I love upsets, except this one. Talking heads mentioned prior Gaels going to the Sweet 16, but failed to mention the Saint Mary's Gaels' team making the Elite 8 in 1958, losing to Pete Newell's University of California Bears that went on to win the NCAA Championship. 

Perhaps I've mentioned but perhaps not that my wife, an excellent portrait painter, has an All Handsome NBA Team. Yesterday, watching the North Carolina play in the Big Dance, I saw Elliot Cadeau and told her she should wish that Cadeau, with the face of one of Raphael's Renaissancee Angels, should make it into the NBA. By the way, Cadeau means Gift in French. 

It pains me to say it, but I can not see how my Warriors can go beyond this season with the roster they have. I do not envy GM Mike Donvely's job this summer. How do you gracefully bring the Dubs' decade of exquiste basketball excellence to a close and rebuild? Luckily, we found two superb rookies. When this season ends, it might end appropriately with Edward R Murrow's famous closing line: "Good night and good luck."

I'm on the bandwagon with U Conn winning the NCAA. That might be the kiss of death for them, as I've never been right in all the years I've tried to pick a winner. Sad tale.

I'm going to fudge a bit with the poem finish today. This is not a poem about sports, unless you consider waltzing requires a lot of athletic coordination. A recent article in The Athletic in the New York Times was all about my wife and I and our lives in our elderly years, (Notice I do not use the word Old) so when I saw this poem, I wanted to share it with all of you in my Blog Land. Enjoy!

HE SAID WALTZ WITH ME DARLING

 ‘till the soft cloth
hammers shatters
and no longer reach
the strings
 
‘till the metal pedals
wear down to nubs
unable to dampen
the music rings
 
‘till the keys turn concave
with decades of use
and middle C warbles
instead of sings
 
waltz with me darling
come waltz with me
until we are the last
two things
 
        Angelle McDougall

THE CORNER THREE

The regualar distance of the NBA three point line is 23.9 feet. The distance of the three point line in the corner in 22 feet, one foot and nine inches shorter and still it is valued as 3 points. First of all, this doesn't pass the fair test. Second of all, its existence seems contrived to increase scores. Thirdly, it is a position that is very dificult to guard, given the speed of the game today. Some defensive minded coaches say there are schemes to guard against the shot, but the analytics says differently. More threes are made from the corner than any other place behind the 3 point line. 42.5% makes from the corner compared to 34.9 from the wing three and 38.9 from straight on three. That's a heck of a distance and it provides players who normally might not make a three-point-shot from anywhere on the court the opportunity to call themselves three point shooters. 

IN ADDITON, it makes the game BORING and FRUSTRATING. Furthermore,  it damages something that was a very important part of defense as I learned in high school and college and during my years in the BBA: the importance of HELP D, particularly from the weakside. This deserves a quick explanation: players drive to the basket - do they ever these days ad nauseum knowing that the charging foul in the NBA is rarely called. Before the corner three, alert help D  often prenvented the easy layup. The kick pass to a waiting wing? Of course, but the shot, if made, would only be valued as a deuce. 

MR. SLILVER TEAR DOWN THAT THREE POINT CORNER SHOT!! 

Let's make the three point shot a REAL three point shot. 

I would have to do more research, but I'm willing to bet anyone that I'll be able to come up with some names of players who can NOT make threes except from the corner. Why would players who can't make threes from 34.9 feet be rewarded for making corner baby threes? 

And, perhaps, just maybe, the absence of the corner three will lower the number of head-long-dives into the paint and allow for coaches to strategize shots coming from different spots on the floor, maybe even from midrange, be it ever so humble. I say this with great admiration for DeMar DeRozan who's  made a living off the midrange jumper. 

i kow so little about hockey, but I do admire the skils it takes to play Canada's national sport. Here's little poem about the game. Just for fun. 

 WHY I NEVER PLAYED HOCKEY   by Tom Meschery

It’s too fast. I can’t follow the puck.
I’m cold even in this padded uniform.
I feel like I’m in the North Korean army
and we’re invading the South,
then the South is invading us,
then we’re back at it. We will go on
like this forever invading each other
on a field of ice. I feel as if I have a cage
over my head. I am ten and the ice
on the pond is cracking under my skates.
I’m twenty in the NHL, and I have no teeth.
 

NBA ALL-STAR HANDSOME TEAM

 In 2015, my wife Melanie Marchant and i were watching a Warriors' game. It was sometime in the fourth quarter and the game was close. I had to leave for a bathroom break. I told my wife to give me a running play by play account of what I was missing. This is how it sounded: "Steph is bringing the ball up the court; he' passes to Klay who passes to Draymond, Steph cuts off Draymond for a handoff and Harrison Barnes is looking very handsome tonight."

Melanie is an artist. Before I conviced her to retire, she taught art and art history at Sacrmento City College. She is an eclectic painter and can paint just about anyting from religious icons to landscapes. I am particularly fond of her portraits and there is no questtion she excels as a portrait painter. As I've often told her, she would have made a fortune back in the day when their was not photography. It is this special talent that draws her to examine faces. And as a huge NBA fan, it was only a matter of time until she came up with her favorite faces. 

I tried to talk her into a 1st, 2nd, & 3rd team, but she believes keeping selections without tiers will allow for other portrait painter/NBA fans to subtract and add, which would make for better comments on my Blog. I won't argue with that. Arguing with my wife is usually wasting my breath  anyway. She also wants me to explain that handsome can also mean cute or interesting. We're talking bone structure and things of that nature. And she wishes to express her apologies to the guys on the bench who don't play a lot that she hasn't seen, who could make the team had she the opportunity to see them properly. So here goes: Congratulation to all you handsome dudes. 

STEPH CURRY            HARRISON BARNES        AARON GORDON   

THE THOMPSON TWINS (Count as one face)      VICTOR WEMBANYAMA

JALEN GREEN       CHRIS PAUL     BISMACK  BIYOMBO    MYLES TURNER

JOSH GIDDY      DENI AVDIJA     KEVIN LOVE      TYRESE MAXEY

GUI SANTOS     JEREMY SOCHAN   RUI HACHIMURA    DE'AARON FOX

 While the NBA season is starting its sprint to the finish line, I'm reminded that the NHL season is underway. I don't do hockey. I can't follow the puck. But I do admire the sport. And I did write a poem about it in my collection Sweat: New and Selected Poems About Sports. 

 WHY I NEVER PLAYED HOCKEY  By Tom Meschery

It’s too fast. I can’t follow the puck.
I’m cold even in this padded uniform.
I feel like I’m in the North Korean army
and we’re invading the South,
then the South is invading us,
then we’re back at it. We will go on
like this forever invading each other
on a field of ice. I feel as if I have a cage
over my head. I am ten and the ice
on the pond is cracking under my skates.
I’m twenty in the NHL, and I have no teeth.
 
 

All Star Weekend Ends Badly

 The NBA must do something about the Sunday All Star Game, as in something that makes it interesting to fans and players. The scoring binge I watched disgusted last night was, in my opinion, the worst performance of many recent years of All Star Sunday performances. 

That said, I completely understand the players refusal to play tough Defense. I believe fans understand this too. If not, they should. To risk hurting themselves in a game that has nothing to do with the regular season is stupid. There is plenty of wringing of hands over this problem. So, what's to be done? But before we tackle this question, let's look at the earlier events.

The Rising Stars Game on Friday night was okay because the players played enough Defense that the game did not turn into a shooting contest. Drives were somewhat contested. Guys shot with hands in their faces. I like the tournament approach. The final game looked like the teams wanted to win. The winners' celebration looked unscripted. A tournament format would not work for the Sunday All Star Game. If I were the NBA, I'd bring back the Old Timers Game to preface the Rising Stars game. It would be a nice contrast. From the way Rick Barry looks, I bet at close to 80, he still might be able to play some minutes. How about getting Reggie Miller back on the court. For a fun gimmick, how about an old timer vs a new timer free throw shooting contest? 

Moving on to Saturday Night's Extravaganza:

The skills contest needs to be a more interesting tests of a players' handle, Dribbling around cones, taking layups? There needs to be something along the line of through the legs, spin passes. Look-away passes. Baseball passes full-court to cutters, Think Pistol Pete, White Chocolate. That said, Saturday's contests won the weekend award for most engaging and fun to watch. The Dunk Contest still needs the best NBA dunkers. Where was Jonathon Kuminga, for example. There are other high flyers that don't want to participate. The League needs to figure out how to make it more enticing. So, McClung saved the day. He was once again fabulous. He should be allowed to compete next year for a third try. I don't think other G League guys should be allowed to compete unless they have been signed to an actual NBA roster. The Steph vs Ionescu contest was brilliant. A WNBA vs NBA contest should be a future from now on. Also, how about a free throw shooting contest. Four standards at each end. Who can make the most free throws in a row without a miss. No time limit. Lots of tension as, say, two players have missed and drop out, two remaining shooting, the announcer counting. 

Moving on to Sunday:

The NBA finally has to admit the Sunday's game is not really a game. There is NO DEFENSE, so it can't be called a competition. No one is competing. It is finally a test of offensive skills, windmill dunks included. Well, then, let's make it more of a strategic shooting test: 1) Create a 4 point line. 2) Create two 5 point boxes where the half-court line meets the sideline. Reduce layup and dunk points to one. How about a running hook shot for three points. Change the concept of Defense for the All Star Game from obstruction to distraction. Also, get back to the quarter point format. I can imagine players practicing running hook shots and five point shots during the summer. I can see coaches thinking about when best to take the five point shot or how best to utilize the layup or dunk as opposed to the higher valued shots. 

As is commonly heard in our conversations these days, "You see what I'm saying?" 

Lots of talk these days about injuries and the NBA League's 65 game rule. Here's a old school poem about injuries:

Spit On It        By Tom Meschery

 The first time he landed wrong
he came up lame and wished for a miracle
that never happened. All season
he limped, but sucked it up the way
the older boys said he must to be a man
and not a pussy, a dictum he carried
with him into other sports and into life.
 
Today, he hears on television that so and so
won’t play because of a bruised knee
or a sore shoulder or ankle, and he hears
his high school coach yelling, “Spit on it!”
which never worked. Or did it? He recalls
the passage from the Bible where Jesus cures
blindness by mixing mud with his saliva
and rubbing it into the blind man’s eyes.
Scientists have proven saliva contains
a healing agent called histatin. As for mud,
who knows? So, he does not complain
that his knees throb or his fingers
are arthritic, or raising his right arm
causes him to grit his teeth. He sucks it up,
spits and rubs. He says it seems to help.

  

TRADE DEADLINE OVER

The trade deadline is over. The Big Dogs went early. So it's time to for a few over all comments. First of all, congratualations to the Warriors for for staying pat and not jumping the gun. With the return of Draymond (playing great at small-ball center and keeping his cool), the Dubs have figured out a solid Starting Five, which allows them all sorts of flexibility off the bench. Don't be surprised if the Warriors SURPRISE by the end of the season. 

 I was also happy to see the Kings didn't make any big moves, but they should have signed Robin Lopez and waived Lim.I would have liked it if they had gone all in for Alex Caruso and in a pinch if not too costly, for Patrick Beverly. The Kings desperatly need a defensive PRESENCE, atpoint of attack. Caruso, apparently was not available and Beverly was.I guess a little iffy for the GM. Speaking of Beverly, the Bucks were smart to pick him up. They were mired in defensive quick sand. Beverly is not just an attack dog. He's a decent all around guard, and he'll stir things up, that's for sure. He did it for the TWolves. 

 I like 7 foot Olynyk going to Toronto. Canadian back home, but he is solid off the bench and will suprise the team with plus minutes when they need it.Another well coached Gonzaga player. Suns helped themselves with Royce O'Neale. I'm still not a big fan of Beal. Nurkic is working out for the Suns. he's not a Jokic, but he's tough and can pass and the suns sure don't need scorers. Another team that stood pat was Portland. Waiting until the end of the season to see where Grant and Brogdon shake out was smart.They did make a mistake acquiring Ayton who is I've heard is not very stable and a bit of a malcontent. T

he Knicks made a good trade after losing Randle and Annobye to injury. Bojan Bogdanovic shoots 41% from deepm which will help to keep the middle open for Brunson. Burke is solid off the bench and know's Tib's system.If DeVincenzp can keep up the shooting threes? I read Randle will be back. If he can regain his game in time for the playoff, the Knicks are my upset team to win the East Tillman will help the Celtics.However, Tatum has got to show me he has playoff chops. Now, Brown, on the other hand, does. Cal guy. The Bulls are a mess. They stood pat, probably for the best, but they have no plan that I can see. Every team in the league wants Caruso. Lavine's medical history makes him an iffy trade value.They have to find a direction. Questinable GM as a decision maker. Rozier was alreay traded to the Heat by deadline and will help Spoelsta a lot come playoff time when the Heat start scaring the pants off teams. Might want to threaten him that if he doesn't play well, they'll send him back to the Hornets. That sould stoke his fire. I"ve neveer liked "sylish" ball-handlers, that's why I've never been a big fan of Dennis Schroeder, but he is a good defender and will help the Nets. So smart to hold on to Mikal Bridges. The West has to watch out for Dallas. The Mavs picked up PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, a 4 & a 5 with length and toughness. They had to give up Grant Williams, these two will give the Mavs a power game. 

Have you ever noticided how players like Doncic and Curry,the great deep shooters' shots always swish? Big trade winner in my mind is the Detroit Pistons that have been operating on two cylinders. They dumped a bunch of players and completly shored up a woeful bench. Bench strenght is essential. Grimes will definately be a big plus for them. They'll miss Bojan, but you get nothing for nothing. Grimes was a good choice.They might start winning some game finally and will be tons better going into summeer with tradeable players. Denver stood pat. Right now it's the Clippers and the Nuggets to win the West. Right now does not mean in April or May.The Clips lose either Kawhi or Paul George and they become vunlnerable Jokic will be only better come Playoff. He plays harder the closer he gets to a chance to get home tto his horses.

I had some computor problems and could not post the poem I wanted in honor of the 49ers Christian McCaffrey:

McCaffrey (With apologies to T.S. Elliot)

 McCaffrey’s the running back

Who’s a mystery to none at all

He breaks through any D line

He keeps his fans in awe

He’s the bafflement of tacklers

Defensive coaches’ despair

For when they look to find him

McCaffrey’s not there.

 

 

McCaffrey, McCaffrey,

There’s no one like McCaffrey,

He breaks the rules of velocity

His powers of misdirection

Would make magicians stare

For when the tacklers look for him

McCaffrey’s not there.

 

Defenders seek him running

Or receiving, which is hardly rare

But they are left with weeping

‘Cause McCaffrey’s never there

 

                         Tom Meschery  (49er fan)

                         Golden State Warrior, #14 ret.

All Star Teams and Etc

 This is the first time I can't vote for Steph Curry on my All Star starting five. He's great but struggling, most of it do through no fualt of his own but the lack of a fixed rotation and some of the floundering of players on the the Warriors so far this year. I do see some hope recently as Klay looks to be getting his 3 pts shot back and Jonathon Kuminga playing with more and more confidence. I sure wish Wiggins would get his game back, but it I see only glimpses of 2022. Anyway, it is certainly affecting Steph's game, which in turn will keep him for a starting Five in the West. I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way. So, below is my picks for starting Fives in the West and East:

WESTERN CONFERENCE: Doncic, Gelgious-Alexander, KD, Jokic, & Antoney Davis. 

EASTERN VONFERENCE: Jalen Brunson, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embid and Antetokounmpo. 

With a note to say how ridiculous it is that Lillard was picked over Jalen Brunson. Noone who knows basketball would ever do that. Brunson turned the Knicks into a contender. He's as good a pure point guard as there is in the NBA today. This is why fans should not pick All Star teams. It's a love fest instead of a skill fest. 

Watching the 76ers vs Nuggets game and wondering if there are some mind games being played, keeping Embid and Maxey out. Keep the Nuggets thinking to the Great game Emid had vs Jokic. Just wondering. Teams wouldn't do that would they? No? Really? 

Question: Will Doc Rivers be able to get the Bucks back on track. Probably not unless he can find a super defender who can cover up for Damion Lillard's lack of Defensive chops. First the GM who made that God-Awful trade getting rid of one of the finest two-way guards in the NBA as well as losing a young, tough reserve two-way guard in Grayson Allen. Oh, I forgot, they gave up a first round draft choice too. Send the GM packing. 

I think Justin Herbert is going to benefit having Jim Harbaugh as his Coach. A good move for Chargers. Jim Harbaugh is a bit eccentric, but he knows football and he's got energy and charisma, something the Chargers needed badly. 

The 49ers should beat the Lions. Lions have already succeeded making up for the Piston's miserable season. Rumors are that the Pistons are going to trade James Wiseman. I continue to believe the young man could actually become a solid contributor to a team. He should have stayed in the G League for two full years before being allowed to play with the Big Dogs. He was a total baby and had to grow up. Wishing him the best if the trade happens or not. 

No poem to end, but a literature suggestion. Watch this Podcast from Ireland. It is fabulous. And any short story writers out there, you will be particularly impressed by the story called "The Stone." I'm signing up for future podcasts of the Blind Boy. 

https://shows.acast.com/blindboy/episodes/the-lost-irish-tradition-of-lifting-heavy-stones

 

FOR THEY WERE JOLLY GOOD FELLOWS

 The recent ugly loss to the Memphis Griz, lacking their star players, is now being hailed as The Demise of the Dub's Decade. One might have said the same thing the season after the '22 Warrior NBA Championship. Do Not Weep for the Dubs, Argentina! The Warriors have won Four (Count them, 4) NBA Championships since 2015. The Warriors' owners and fans were treated to a lot of great hoops. A new arena was built in San Francisco, bringing the team back to its roots, while remaining Golden. 

As we look at the team right now, things appear pretty grim. It seems that we will have to leave The Dubs to their place in history and begin the process of building a new history. Allow me to humbly suggest that they not panic and start forcing trades before the February deadline. The way some of the tradeable guys are playing, they will never bring back the value the Warriors need to become a contender again. Right now, the Warriors need to start playing DEFENSE. They need to STOP MAKING TURNOVERS and they need to STOP TEAMS FROM GETIING SECOND SHOTS. These are not impossible goals, given that the season is not quite half over. If they accomplish these goals, the offense will flow as it flows historically and organically following energy and toughness. 

Whatever happens by the end of the season will be the responsibility of the players and coaches, but at the end of the season, the Warriors must bite the bullet. Owners and GM must REBUILD. They have some young players that can become the nucleus for a new generation of Dubs. But they must be willing to let go of the past. I will always remember my old coach, Alex Hannum telling me: "Tom, you know I love your game, but I would trade you in a second if I thought it would make the team better." If I sign off my blog with this quote, call it cowardice because the Warriors MUST be willing to trade EVERY SINGLE PLAYER on the team in order to make the transition work for the future of the franchise. That's going to mean withstanding the slings and arrows and an arena of BOOING as the transition takes place. It will mean saying a fond farewell to iconic Warriors' faces. Do not weep for them, Warriors' fans. Their banners will hang in the rafters for you to see and remember with gratitude and joy for four (Count them, 4) NBA Championships in eight years and 7 (Count them, 7) Western Conference Championships.

I just sent this poem by Richard Hugo to Ron Adams, an assistant coach of the Warriors. He's in the poem and he approves this message.

MISSOULA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT    Richard Hugo

This summer, most friends out of town
And no wind playing flash and dazzle
In the cottonwoods, music of the Clark Fork stale,
I’ve gone back to the old ways of defeat,
The softball field, familiar dust and thud,
pitchr winging dips and rises, and wives,
The beautifuful wies in the stand, basic, used,
Screeching runners home, infants unattended
In the dirt. A long triple sails into right center,
Two men on. Shouts from dugout, go, Ron, go.
Life is better run from. Distance to the fence,
Both foul lines and dead center, is displayed.
 
I try to steal the tricky manager’s signs.
Is hit and run the pulling of the ear?
The ump gives pichers too much low inside.
Injustce? Fraud? Ancient problems focus
In the heat. Bad hop on routine grounder.
Close play missed by the team you want to win.
Players from first game, high on beer,
Ride players in the field. Their laughter
Falls short of the wall. Under lights, the moths
Are momentary stars, and wives, the beautiful wives,
In the stands now take the interest they once feigned,
Oh, long ago, their marriage just begun, years
Of helping husbands feel important just begun,
The srimping, the anger brought home evenings
From degrading jobs. This poem goes out to them.
Is steal-of-home the touching of he heart?

Last pich. A soft fly. A can of corn
The players say. Routine, like morning,
Like the week. They shake hands on the mound,
Nice grab on that shot to left. Good game, Good game.
Dust rotates in their headlight beams.
The wives, the beautiful wives are with their men.