Let’s celebrate the onset of August, or, as we San Franciscans like to call it, Fogust! I love the month of August, because it means moody photos and waking up to the foghorn instead of the alarm clock.
It is also the month we see the return of the traditional cricket — test matches between Australia and England, India and West Indies, and a sundry of others for what is being called The World Championship of Test Cricket. It will be played over two years, and I am excited to watch — even though, yet again, the sports governing body has failed to get the basics right. For instance, all host countries will decide which type of ball they will use (which has an impact on the game, believe it or not). There are not many restrictions on the hitting equipment, and there isn’t much consistency in the umpiring standards.
I am confounded by the lack of uniformity across the championship. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise, because ICC is — at best — a motley collection of bumbling self-important bureaucrats, who are dumb enough to award another World Championship to England, when New Zealand has clearly won, all because an umpire didn’t know the rules.
Of course, August also means that the baseball trading deadline has come and gone. Everyone did something, except the team I love and support, the New York Yankees. It is pretty obvious that our team needs some pitching. Those who had chips to trade knew that, and they chose to pilfer their own pockets (a.k.a. our farm system). I don’t know what was asked or offered, but here we are with an odd assortment of pitchers to carry us forward.
Unlike some arm chair experts, as a fan, I am fine with the crew we have. I like the underdog status of Yankees — $210 million underdogs, but still. I like how this team of B-Bombers has won and won, beating the odds to produce the second-best record in baseball. The question is: Can we keep doing it?
As a fan, I am emotionally invested in the team more than ever. Each game — win or lose — has critical importance to the team, and it makes me feel so attached to the rest of the season. Adversity makes great champions. It helps establish dynasties. I know the rest of baseball was against us, and that alone is a reason to turn up and cheer for our team. Win or lose, these are our Yankees.
So play ball — even in Fogust!
August 1, 2019, San Francisco