Summer Over In A Flash, But Nothing Short Of Eventful
By Scott Miller
CBS Sports Senior Writer
Kids, kids, kids. Where did the summer go? Labor Day, that unwelcome stalker, is banging on the screen door. You know what that means. Any day now, Mrs. Opferman or Sister Noelita will be standing in front of the classroom demanding your first essay: "How I Spent My Summer Vacation."
Your response should read something like this (and feel free to click the "print" button and turn this in -- my little gift to you):
Kerry Wood returns to Wrigley at a discounted price, a sign of loyalty to the team which gave him his first job in 1998. (Getty Images)
First thing I did was, I slung my mitt over the handlebars of my bicycle and pedaled as quickly as I could to the park. Never even looked back. You kidding me? After that bubble gum incident in the cafeteria last spring, I was sure you people were coming after me. We picked captains. We chose teams. One of the captains tossed a bat to the other, then they went fist-by-fist toward the knob to see who got first pick. For some reason, one of my picks was Sherri. I thought she really liked baseball. By the time vacation was just a couple of weeks old, I discovered what she really, really liked was ... ah, summer.
Laid in the grass under a shade tree staring up at the sky all afternoon one day wondering: Where do they get the chalk to make baselines?
Watched Justin Verlander pitch every chance I could. Saw the no-hitter in Toronto, the near-miss against Kansas City, another near-miss against Cleveland, another one against the Angels ... Tampa Bay.... In fact, this guy is so great I may have a "dentist appointment" next Wednesday if he pitches that afternoon game in Cleveland. I have a note, I swear. And yes, that's my mother's signature.
Stayed up late to listen to games from the West Coast, got up early to check the box scores (does before 11 a.m. count as early?) and shook my fist and cursed at the heavens when it started pouring just as my own baseball team was supposed to take the field.
Worked on math every day. Every single day. Andre Ethier's hitting streak reached 30 games, Dan Uggla's went to 33, Jared Weaver signed an extension with the Angels for five years and $85 million -- below market value! -- and Craig Kimbrell, my goodness. Do you know that he now is up to 33 consecutive scoreless appearances? Dude hasn't allowed a run since June 14, and he's whiffed 107 of 257 hitters he's faced this year. Yeah, let's see Sister Furmine teach me something about math this year.
Gained a new appreciation for royalty. Prince Fielder, I bow before thee. Especially since the All-Star MVP award and all those Miller Park wins the Brewers are rolling up. What -- you were thinking I watched Prince William and Kate Middleton get hitched? Please. England isn't in the major leagues. Is it?
Studied geography, and "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" still makes about as much sense as a veggie burger.
