April 20, 2009

Since I occupy the second floor of this house, I leave my windows open all the time, so try not to disturb the neighbors with loud TV or music. However, this past weekend, they must have thought I was up here in the throes of wonderful you-know-what, as I could not help but emit several loud "Harry Met Sally" yes(s) both Saturday night during the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Avondale and Sunday evening during the Marlins-Nationals game in Washington.

Although, after leading for several laps, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s car started to give out until it finally spun him into the wall, I still had something to cheer about as the pole setter, Junior's teammate, Mark Martin, who had led most of the beginning of the race, fell behind only to come to the front of the pack for the last part of the race. As I do at every race I'm fortunate enough to attend, I jumped to my feet there in my living room during the last few laps and on the final two, started yelling, "Yes, Yes, Yes," so many times, I ended up grabbing the remote and turning up the TV, so neighbors would know what I was actually doing!

When Martin took that checkered after not winning a race since Kansas in 2005, I, like everyone else, I expect, who was watching at home or at the track at that moment, was beside myself with joy for the 50 year old driver of the number 5. Tony Stewart tried his darndest to catch him but even he was happy for Martin, heaping loads of praise onto him during his post-race interview. All Martin's former Roush teammates, plus his old boss, himself, as well as several others, walked over to pat him on the back when he drove into winner's circle.

For one who 'retired' last season, Mark Martin proved to himself and to everyone else Saturday night, he still has it and isn't easing into retirement again any time soon. We couldn't be happier about that.

Then, yesterday afternoon, I was just as excited by Cody Ross of the Marlins, in the top of the 8^th inning, as he hit a tying homer. It really looked as though the Marlins were going to go down in this hoped-for 7 straight wins, until then. And, then when he came back in the top of the 9^th, to hit the three-run double, I was on my feet again, yelling yes so many times, I lost count! WOW! The Marlins now lead the National League with a beautiful 11-1 and are now in their 7^th game winning streak. How cool is that!

I miss going to the games, but now that Miami has approved the building of the new Marlins' stadium, maybe I will be able to take some friends and go to watch them play. Of course, that probably won't be until 2011, if that soon, but it is something cool to look forward to in these so-called 'golden years'!

For anyone who does not love sports, not even one, I say you're missing a wonderful time, even watching on TV. And, I know there are a lot of you out there and that's okay.

I once heard a former college president in West Palm Beach tell a packed chapel auditorium, "I don't trust anyone who does not like sports."

I won't go that far, but I'm sure glad I'm not one of them. Yes! Yes! Yes!

That was not a "Harry Met Sally" yell!

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