1 Headline in today's Merc: ONE MORE!
2 Headline column by Tim Kawakami: Giants have this series in the bag
3 I know, right?
4 My Bold Prediction: The Cardinals will not make it out of here alive. There. I said it. Jinx, schminx. Go the Distance. Period. Interesting Sidebar: Items 5-23 jumped away two pages the second I wrote the words Go the Distance, and the cursor slider thingy bounced up and down like a yo-yo. I swear. Electronics. October. October baseball. I shall boldly repeat: Go the Distance.
5 Moving On, Part One: Had to do a quick history lesson yesterday with Field of Dreams.
6 I had a couple of challenges.
7 They chose James Earl Jones to play the amazing actor, singer, director and philosopher Terrence Mann.
8 As a color-blind director, I get it. James Earl Jones commands respect, which the character needs.
9 It took me half the film to get our students interested. They just don't watch too much baseball, and don't get its intricacies.
10 I can't teach them the sport in a week's time, but I sure am trying.
11 They LOVED the other stuff. They LOVED the PTA meeting where the parents wanted to ban Mann's works.
12 Any time two wimminz start going at it, students enjoy it. They also understand, and even argue about book banning.
13 The entire film is highly teachable. I gambled with it, never used it before. It's like my third year teaching. I forgot how nerve-wracking creating new lessons can be.
14 The result? Most students looked engaged and responsive, even after a grueling morning of doing PSAT tests.
15 Fortunately I've been around the game my entire life and knew a lot of background stuff. Hell, I even knew more of the 1919 Black Sox players' names than I thought.
16 I didn't say too much; I wanted them to respond naturally to the stuff.
17 They wound up laughing at all the huge lines.
18 Best response of the day? When Shoeless Joe runs toward the corn early on, he turns and shouts across the field, "Hey! Is this Heaven?"
19 Costner looks up, shouts, "No," smiles for a few seconds and shouts back,"This is Iowa!" The entire class laughed. What a moment. They started to understand baseball. Classic.
20 Sidebar: The entire company of the film LOVED making the film. The Iowa/Heaven connection worked.
21 It stunned me.
22 These guys seem ready to give baseball a try.
23 We'll see how they do today.
24 Baseball.
24 It hangs around in October like a grass-stained jersey.
25 Anybody lookin'?
26 My morning class should be okay, but my afternoon classes will come in after lunch and 90-minute classes.
27 They know I tend to be kind, and will be ready to take quick advantage.
28 I need to manage my own game.
29 Perhaps I should aim at their insecurities.
30 "I'm grading your essays. You'd better watch the movie or I'll dock the entire class 50 points per paper."
31
32 Talk about a field of dreams.
33 Ah, the things we wish we could do if we were lesser people.
34 I'll manage.
35 Moving On, Part Two: I'm not the only guy to jinx the Giants. Yesterday morning the Merc's TWEET OF THE DAY was this: "That's what I'm talking about Gmen!" @aubrey_huff.
37 Moving On, Part the Thoid: Do I really have to go to work today?
38 I love my JOB and still feel that way, especially on Thursdays, my personal favorite day of the week.
39 I love Thursdays because it is GARBAGE NIGHT!
40 And every Thursday it seems I bring that up.
41 Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. Never forget.
42 Seesly?
43 Yup.
44 I went there.
45 I gottago. My phony baloney job beckens.
46 Have a GREAT day.
47 GO GIANTS!!!
48 See you again.
49 Peace.
~H~
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