.....It's been a while since I published my 10 best something, so now I will divulge my lifelong secret--the 10 best athletes I ever saw in person. 10. Michael Phelps (swimming), 9. Tiger Woods (golf), 8. Pele (soccer), 7. Jim Brown (football), 6) Jackie Robinson (baseball), 5. Wilt Chamberlain (basketball) 4. Willie Mays (baseball), 3. Michael Jordan (basketball) 2. Babe Ruth (baseball), 1. Mohammad Ali (boxing). And there you have it. Of course, no slouches were Sandy Koufax, Joe DeMaggio, Roger Federer, Bo Jackson, Jim Thorpe, Rafer Johnson, and Usain Bolt. There are many "10 Bests" in my lifetime (including my sons and daughters as a union, of course). But I'll get to them some other time. There are more important things to write about.
.....I have been asked, on occasion, why I wear baseball caps with U.S. Navy inscriptions on them, and suspenders or clothing with miniature replicas of medals I have earned as recognition for what I did in WWII. I know that some acquaintances have attributed it to self-aggrandizement; that I usually dress that way as a means to increase my own power and influence, or to draw attention to my own importance. Not only are such thoughts silly as they apply to me, but as far from the truth as they can be. I wear a Navy cap and display medal replicas as a constant reminder to myself of the sacrifices my crewmates made, and as a tribute to them that will continue for the rest of my life. No one that I know of, and those I have never met who live here have had the experiences I endured in WWII. Nor can any of them possibly understand--and I am not at all blaming them for that. I am usually the oldest among them and for them WWII is a distant memory, or it's simply history.
.....Ever since I was discharged in November of 1945 I have had to endure psychological clinic services, including trauma resolution, anxiety treatments, and comprehensive psychopathic diagnoses, and have been unable to shake what is now called PTSD, and was once known as battle fatigue. In spite of all this, I survived and accomplished things I only dreamed of as a returning war veteran who had no money and no job, but what I've done since May 8, 1945 is a matter of record and it is not self worship. I know nothing and I know I know nothing.
Dear Ruthie, my comment merely urged you to read today's blog posting.
ReplyDeleteDear Baron, I look eagerly for your postings EVERY DAY, and need no urging thereto!
ReplyDeleteWasn't it Socrates who is supposed to have said that all he knew was that he knew nothing? I say "supposed to have" in case there are readers of your blog who don't know that Socrates never wrote down a single word of what he said, so that we are left solely with what Plato said he said. The result of that particular historical misfortune is that for all intents and purposes, Socrates and Plato can be considered as constituting only one philosophical writer.
Wear your medals and insignia and war tokens for any reason that you like, but always with pride, Baron: let everyone "hold their manhoods cheap while any speaks that fought with us upon St Crispin's Day!" ("Henry V.") However, your stated reason - to honour your comrades-in-arms who sacrificed their lives and health - is measured and just.
Much love, Cuzzin Ruth
What were the circumstances under which you saw Jim Thorpe in person?
ReplyDeleteNever wrote that I saw Jim Thorpe in person--only the first 10. Also never saw several of the other athletes that I mention "in person". Meant simply that they were "no slouches" as athletes. Wish I had seen them in person. Use your good sense so you would know I never could have seen Thorpe in person, or else he would be in my best 10. You were only kidding. Right?
ReplyDeleteNever saw Roger Federer nor Usain Bolt in person neither. I thought 'twas obvious; I'm not a tennis fan. And the lone Native Americans I've seen in person are the Seminoles in casinos. Let's not be so technical; you're retired from the Agency.
ReplyDeleteBut what is Joel up to NOW? That's what I want to know! I mean, he has all this arcane in-depth knowledge of SPORT. This is highly suspect. Cuzzin Ruth
ReplyDeleteActually, Joel and Baron, now I come to think of it, I HAVE seen (chalked on boards outside pubs announcing what sporting event will be on their TVs) the word "live" to mean "as it happens," rather than "in the flesh." So - we have a word which, in one of its usages, is changing in meaning a little. All part of language development. So, you are BOTH right! Cuzzin Ruth
ReplyDeleteNothing 'twas obvious, nor clear neither. We also don't know you as a swimming or boxing fan (although maybe you watch them more than tennis?), but there is Phelps and Ali on the list. And "good sense" concludes that you were almost 30 years old when Thorpe died, so you very well could have seen him in person. Or do you mean this list means "at a sporting event"? If so, which Ali fight did you witness, and which Phelps swim meet? This is not a challenge; it's just out of curiosity.
ReplyDelete...as you know, JR, I lived a block from the ocean when I was a tad; my dad threw me from the high board when I was five. I won many a swimming race in my time and swam 80 laps (one mile)in the pool here when I retired. (The pool in our yard was too small for me) Of course I did not see Phelps in the Olympics, nor Federer at Wimbledon, nor Ali at a boxing venue (I was a fan because my father was a professional boxer). I saw these guys on TV! Only knew about Thorpe from print. There--you have my full resume!
ReplyDeleteRuth: I wasn't contending anything, so I'm neither right nor wrong; I was just seeking clarification of meaning of an interesting list. "Live" certainly can mean "as it happens," but what else, if anything, can "in person" mean? If you are watching an event on TV "as it happens," are you watching it "in person"?
ReplyDeleteNo. If you watch someone on TV you are not watching them "in person". Of course not. If you reach out to touch them you'll only smudge your monitor. But I am getting old and cranky and I say and do as I please; and I stand on my First Amendment rights. If that bothers you, deal with it.
ReplyDeleteGosh! I seem to have stepped into a big family argument, in which everything is heavy with emotional overlay! But just to let you all know that I talked to Mike about what "live" means. He goes to sporting fixtures a lot, and also watches sport on TV at home and in the pub. His understanding is that "live" has meant "as it happens" and not necessarily "in the flesh" for many years. When questioned about how many years, he was unable to give a satisfactory reply: he seemed to feel he was being interrogated, rather than being asked for philological information. Ho hum. Cuzzin Ruth
ReplyDeleteNo.No. Not an argument at all. Just verbal game play. Like British football. We try to score goals. I thought JR and I were finished with my last comment. If he says TV is not "in the flesh"--then that's it. Now, I hope you say to yourself, "Oh, so that's it!" The comments on this post can already fill a book, so no more "10 Bests" that seem to get the Baron into trouble.
ReplyDeleteOkey-dokey, Baron! So, to change the subject, I'll just say how much I liked the quotation at the top of this blog-post: plus I've also remembered a quotation of which it reminded me. It used to be drilled into the head of every English schoolboy!
ReplyDelete"For when the One Great Scorer comes
To write against your name
He marks, not that you won or lost,
But how you played the game."
(Grantland Rice 1880-1954, "Alumnus Football!)
Just Googled Grantland Rice, and found, to my utter surprise, that he wasn't English! He was from your side of the Pond, and was very big on American sport! Cuzzin Ruth
ReplyDelete