The Sporting Life

On alert for Linus, Sally and Snoopy
The guy who's been renting the field behind my parents' house chose to grow pumpkins this year. Previously it's always been corn, soybeans, sorghum or potatoes. I took this photo early in the morning of Oct. 23, after the harvest. The pumpkins you see are some of the leftovers, and I brought 10 back to Atlanta.

Battle fatigue

Days later, finally able to discuss Astros' amazing run that fell short

What? You mean the World Series has been over for days? How long have I been asleep?

Seriously, by the time it was down to Game 4, my brother said, "Well, look at it this way: If we win tonight, then we didn't get swept. If we lose, then we've been put out of our misery and can start getting some sleep."

All those late-night games really began to take a toll on me. Even though it would be an exaggeration, it seemed like I was going to bed after midnight every night for the last three weeks. Houston's final game vs. Atlanta went 18 innings; Game 3 vs. the White Sox went 14 innings.

So now that I've had some time to shake off fatigue and gather my thoughts, I thought it would be unfair to the Astros and their incredible journey in 2005 if I let the season go without any sort of acknowledgement.

  · I agree with what a couple of commentators pointed out: Albert Pujols perhaps cost the Astros a World Series. We'll never know whether it actually would've made a difference, but Roy Oswalt would've taken the mound in Game 1 of the World Series if Pujols' infamous home run hadn't forced a Game 6 in St. Louis.

  ·  It killed me to see Brandon Backe's Game 4 performance go to waste. You have to love his enthusiasm for the game.

  ·  I was glad Jeff Bagwell got a hit during the World Series. It was great to get him there, but I hated the thought of him not contributing in any way. I suspect, however, that he would trade situations with Frank Thomas, given the chance.

  ·  A lot of fans from other teams got to know Lance Berkman, my favorite player besides Bagwell, for the first time. For even more insight into this character, check out this story and this one. You gotta love Fat Elvis.

  ·  This World Series was the lowest-rated one in TV history. I heard many people say, "After my team's out, I no longer watch or care." I hear this sort of comment frequently, especially in college sports. It makes me wonder whether a person is truly a sports fan or simply a fan of a team. If you watch a game only when it involves your team and never at any other time, then I'd say you certainly have passion for your team but don't really have a true love for the sport.

  ·  By the way, if you cared enough to root against the Astros only because of George H. and Barbara Bush, you're as small as anyone who rooted against the Arkansas Razorbacks in their run to the Final Four because of the Clintons.

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  ·  Thousands support Astros at rally
  ·  First taste Series well worth the wait
  ·  No tricks left in a magical season 

House of Cards
Astros overcome Game 5 to bring down Busch Stadium,
reach World Series for first time in franchise history

More than six months ago, a birthday card arrived in my mailbox from my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and niece. Inside were two handmade tickets — tiny vouchers, according to the words printed on them, that I could exchange for admission to the Saturday and Sunday games between the Houston Astros and the St. Louis Cardinals in April.

My brother and nephew wanted me to go with them to see Busch Stadium during its final season.

I'll admit I wasn't sure. For one, it would require a lot of driving. First to my parents' house in northeastern Alabama, where I would meet my traveling companions, and then on to St. Louis by way of Nashville and across the Tennessee River where I'd never seen it before, in Kentucky.

Besides the time the three of us would spend on the road for only a two-day trip, the past also had me doubting.

My brother and I had traveled to the Northeast just a couple of seasons earlier for historic first-time trips by the Astros. After our flight and procurement of a rental car, we journeyed to some nondescript roadside hotel in Connecticut, dropped our bags in our room, turned on the TV and discovered, in our absence, Houston's pitching staff had thrown a no-hitter against the Bronx Bombers.

But we would be in attendance not until the next day, for the final game of the series at Yankee Stadium (a loss), followed by the first game of the series at Fenway Park (another loss).

So I had my reservations. But I hated more than anything to pass up a chance to spend time with my nephew. So off we went.

And the Astros lost back-to-back games on the road in my presence once again.

On that chilly Saturday afternoon or intensely sunny Sunday afternoon in April in the Gateway to the West, in the middle of Houston's 15-30 start to the first 45 games of the season, if you had told me I'd later see my team put this place to rest for good en route to a World Series, I would've said you're a sick-minded bastard to taunt anyone from such a tormented fanbase.

But you would've been right.

What an unexpected gift this season has become.

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  ·  The joy of Game 6 erases a painful past
  ·  First-hand account of fans beginning the celebration
  ·  Roy Wonder puts team on shoulders
  ·  Biggio finally has reason to celebrate
  ·  Work day, school day, the celebration goes on
  ·  White Sox up next for the new NL champions
  ·  Astros cast out ghosts of past Octobers
  ·  Biggio and Bagwell's long wait ends
  ·  A new chapter written in Astros history

18 and over

Astros overcome 5-run deficit to win series, longest-ever playoff game

When will I learn?

With the Astros down by five, I left for the grocery store, convinced we'd be seeing Houston head to Atlanta for a final game in the series.

You'd think I would've stayed with them after last year's stunning run in the last half of the season to win the wild card on the final day of the regular season.

You'd think I would've stayed with them when they were 15 games out this season before putting together yet another unbelievable comeback to — yes, again — qualify for the postseason with a win during the last outing.

But I didn't.

This afternoon, I got back into the truck with all my Publix bags just in time to hear the radio play-by-play of Lance Berkman's shocking grand slam in the 8th to get us back into the game.

And I was already consoling myself that we'd at least put up a fight and gotten into their bullpen when Brad Ausmus launched a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into extra innings.

And how fitting, for Roger Clemens, the man who didn't have strong stuff on his start for Game 2, to come in and get the win for us in the final innings before Chris Burke hit a solo shot in the 18th to give the Astros their second-straight postseason series win over the Atlanta Braves in a 6-5 victory in Game 4.

Yep, you'd think I would've believed. I'm glad the ones who mattered — the players who play the game — always did.

LSU fans, get ready

It appears there's a chance that Auburn fans will take a road trip in 2009 worse than the one they brave every other year in Baton Rouge. So you'd better start gathering your tallest urine cups and thickest whiskey bottles now if you're going to retain your title as least-hospitable fans in the eyes of your Tiger brethren four years from now.  (Hat tip: EDSBS.)

The Truman show: Judging by the reviews listed on moviefone.com, Capote is certainly worth enduring the 25 minutes of commercials and 20 minutes of previews that precede films at theaters these days. KCRW's The Treatment has an interview with Philip Seymour Hoffman.

About a reluctant boy: I've yet to read Nick Hornby's latest, as I waited to find it used (which I did last weekend). If you enjoy his work, then you may be unaware (as I was) that a short story of his was a part of an episode of This American Life in August. "Small Fish, Smaller Pond" begins shortly after the 32-minute mark.

Peaches and Sugar: The Georgia Dome will play host to not only the Peach Bowl but also the Sugar Bowl, according to the AJC's Tony Barnhart. What a relief for you Bama fans that you'll be in Pasadena and not making two boring trips to Atlanta, huh?

Finger-lickin' good: If you were graduated from Auburn, Alabama, Georgia or Florida State and now live in the Atlanta metro area, you'll welcome this news: Guthrie's of Dunwoody is expected to open later this month.

Is nothing sacred? I'm a nerd when it comes to advertising, but even I object to the use of Babe Ruth imagery to pitch Bud Light.

Astros wild again

A friend of mine was in town for the weekend, so I didn't see any of the Astros' series vs. the Cubs. While traveling the roads of North Georgia yesterday, I could've scanned the radio in the truck for a sports talk station within range to get a score update. But I decided I didn't want to get the news from some guy reading the puns he invented to report the sports headlines on a Sunday afternoon.

Not until I got home, opened Firefox and saw the mini-headline beneath the Red Sox' story did I know the Astros, once again, had secured the wild-card spot on the final day of the season.

I'd love to defeat the Braves again and get another shot at the Cardinals to see whether we can finally make the World Series. But I'm realistic. As an Astros fan, I should simply be thankful we're in the postseason. After all, this is last year's team plus Andy Pettitte — but minus Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran.

Off the shelves: The place where I buy used books never disappoints. On Saturday, I found hardcover copies of Everything Is Illuminated, A Long Way Down and Hello to All That for $6 apiece and a paperback of In Cold Blood for $3.