Grand Slam For Hillary

On a night where two political rivals needed a great speech, where millions of potential voters may have been at stake, where the November 2008 election could have been lost, Hillary Rodham Clinton was all aces.

As I'd written here several times before, I had never been a fan of Hillary Rodham Clinton. That may have changed after she gave what was probably the most powerful speech a runner-up has ever given. She came through in every way. And in doing so, I think I understand her a little more.

Not surprisingly, the Republican machine went heavily on the attack just moments after the speech. I would have expected nothing less. They wouldn't get the speech. It wasn't written for them. It was a message for others. They couldn't understand.

This speech was not for me, either. I was already heavily entrenched in the Barack Obama camp. I didn't need convincing.

No, this was a speech for the supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton -- supporters who were not convinced they should vote for Obama.

This was a speech for women from a generation before me. This was for the women who grew up watching their mothers suffer as second-class citizens, who wanted a better life for themselves and their daughters, who faced glass ceilings, sexism and hatred at every turn. This was a speech for these women, women who consider Hillary Rodham Clinton not only as one of them, but as their leader and spokesperson.

I cannot pretend to be or to understand that generation of women. I cannot begin to feel what they have felt, or to see what they had seen in Hillary. I can, being a person of conscience, appreciate their thoughts and feelings and I can recognize what Hillary did last night.

And, for the first time, I became a fan of hers.

In a moment where Obama needed her, where she herself needed her, and where the country needed her, Hillary shined as brightly as ever.

The Journey Ended But The Memories Remain

Last night, as I watched the inning that got away from Shelton's Little League team, I recognized once again the true importance of youth sports.

Shelton, CT, is two towns away from Milford. In fact, the ball fields where the Shelton Little League teams play are closer to my house than the fields where Jonathan practices, clear across town from us. Milford and Shelton are district rivals. Having a team so close to home do this well was exciting.

The Shelton team made the front page of the paper nearly every day since defeating Manchester, NH, to claim the New England crown. In doing so, they were invited to Williamsport, PA, to participate in the wonderful Little League World Series.

They lost a close game to Hawaii to open the series. Then their bats came alive against South Dakota. At 1-1, they had a chance to make it to the next round if they could beat the Tampa, FL, team. And for a short while, it looked as though it was going to happen.

Then they had an inning that got away from them.

Shelton lost the game, but won so very much more.

All of those boys get to keep the memory of Williamsport with them. Going home to see DVDs of their games -- games that were broadcast nationally on ESPN and ABC. They get to remember being interviewed by sportscasters. They will collect all of those front pages of the newspapers. They'll be able to reminisce about the fields, the big celebration parade and everything else that comes along with the Little League World Series.

Who knows, maybe one or two of those boys have a real shot at playing professional ball. They were, after all, a pretty darn good team. But realistically, the majority of them just had their finest sports moment.

And that was some moment. Some day, one of these kids will be a grandfather. he'll pull an old newspaper, yellowed and frayed, from his closet of a lifetime of collectibles. He'll call his grandson over and show him the picture of himself on that front page, and he'll get to relive that memory.

And that is what is so wonderful about youth sports.

The Diamond Is My Best Friend

I've heard it said how Boston is such an intellectual city. Saturated with colleges and universities, not to mention the big "H", it seems to be a population half-filled with college students, professors and the like. If that is so, why is it then that the population of such learned folk have rejoiced in their team's giving away Manny Ramirez?

To be certain, they didn't exactly "give him away". In the deal, they did receive a capable ball player in Jason Bay. He is a very good fielder with pop in his bat and is certainly not a clubhouse personality.

For the sanity of Bay, they gave away the game's greatest right-handed hitter. Manny is so much better than everyone else it's practically silly.

And they are happy about this.

Wisdom, they say, is gained by learning from experience. Boston has had tons of experience. Let every home run that goes into the Los Angeles night be a reminder of that experience.

No, Manny is not Babe Ruth. He doesn't need to be.

The Red Sox, it seems, are still the Red Sox.

* * * * *

I haven't had the opportunity to write about spring baseball this year. It's a shame, because what I've had the pleasure to witness should have been shared as these things unfolded.

Jonathan, my eight-year-old son, played Little League and PONY baseball this year for coach-pitch teams. We debated whether or not it was beneficial for him to play on two teams, but he loves the game so much we decided to make it work. We were glad we did.

The PONY league in Milford has several fields, one of which had put in a fence for the first time the previous winter. It was quickly the target of all the "big" hitters of the league. Jonathan, my son, was the first. He hit one just over the fence in right. He didn't stop there. Five other players cleared the fence at Conklin Field in Spring 2008. Two of them did it twice. Jonathan homered six times at Conklin -- including three that went into the yard some fifty feet past the fence.

The local Little League has two coach-pitch fields -- Clarkson II and Liptak. The last time anyone could recall a home run at Clarkson was three years ago. No one had remembered a home run at Liptak -- the largest of the three coach-pitch fields in town. Twice, Jonathan homered at Clarkson this year. And while he struggled during the season at Liptak -- partly because he wanted to hit a homer there so badly it affected him -- his reputation grew.

Being Jonathan's father during this season was certainly thrilling. There was, admittedly, some reservation. He's eight. He isn't even old enough to play "real" baseball with pitchers and walks and hit batsmen. He is younger than I was when I started to play organized ball. And yet, several times as we made our way to the ball field, we'd hear the same thing from opposing players and coaches: "There he is", "He's the one", "That's Jonathan". Outfielders moved to the fence instinctively as he came to the plate. And while time and again, he gave them reason, he still is only eight.

Not surprisingly, Jonathan was selected to play in tournaments for both leagues. He was a hitting star for the PONY team, which won the championship. He led the tournament in hits, average and extra-base hits. The Little League tournament team was not quite as successful. However, he added to his little legend.

In his last ever game at Liptak, I was on the train home from work. Claudia was feeding me updates via cell phone. In his first at bat, Jonathan hit a hard double over the right-centerfielder's head. It was a perfect way to begin the game. A short while later, Claudia called me to say he'd made a nice play in the field. I was happy, but anxious to get to the game.

As the train crossed the Housatonic River and headed into Milford, the phone rang again. Claudia's voice could barely be heard, as there was a great deal of cheering behind her. Her words: "Jonathan just hit one out of Liptak."

* * * * *

After such a spring, there was no doubt which sport Jonathan was going to play this fall. Sure he had a great football experience, but he was riding high from his amazing season and wanted to challenge himself.

He's playing real baseball now. He's moved up to Mustang in PONY -- with real pitchers, and stolen bases and running to first on dropped third strikes. He'll get a chance to pitch as well. Jonathan will also be playing fall ball in Little League at the Farms level. He'll have to make a real adjustment -- no more will he be batting .800 for the season. He'll strike out. He'll get hit with the ball. He'll get caught stealing. I can't wait to see him play.

* * * * *

As a Yankee fan, I find it difficult to come to terms with what I want to see happen in 2008. But I must admit the truth.

I want a Chicago Cub - Tampa Bay Ray World Series.