Wink of an Eye

I know this is a blog for the San Francisco Giants but after watching Game 6 of the Stanley Cup playoffs between the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars and the effort the players on each team put forth I have to acknowledge them in some way.

We have to support those players who give of themselves on and off the field and present themselves in a professional, sportsmanlike manner. It is important that we, the fans, realize Nice Guys Finish Last because in the sporting world everybody is trying to find the edge to gain the advantage over their opponent so foul play is often more common than fair play.

Throughout the playoffs, the Sharks took the approach of execution within the rules while both Calgary and Dallas shook that off by aggressively attacking the rules and seeing what they were able to get away with. As the series extended into another game they were able to determine what was being called and what was not called.

Last night was proof that Dallas was getting away with all kinds of interference and late hits in a 1-1 quadruple overtime. Unfortunately, there wasn't a thing the Sharks could do about it except to try to overcome this miscarriage of justice and hope the puck would bounce their way. That had been how the series had been called and the officials weren't about to change how they were interpretting their decisions this late into the series.

This is how it will be for the young, scrappy, San Francisco Giants. Umpires will not give them the benefit of the doubt but most likely will give their opponent the benefit of the doubt. Something about a christening into the big leagues. (All rookies must go through. Funny how that is, because the umpires don't have to go through any such thing. But as good as umpires have it, and believe you me they have it pretty good, I still don't see or hear too many little kids aspiring to be an umpire. Thank God for small favors!)

Like these words to Jackson Browne's "The Pretender"

they say in the end its the wink of an eye...

Caught between the longing for love
And the struggle for the legal tender
Where the sirens sing and the church bells ring
And the junk man pounds his fender
Where the veterans dream of the fight
Fast asleep at the traffic light
And the children solemnly wait
For the ice cream vendor
Out in the cool of the evening
Strolls the pretender
He knows that all his hopes and dreams
Begin and end there...

I'm going to be a happy idiot
And struggle for the legal tender
Where the ads take aim and lay their claim
To the heart and the soul of the spender
And believe in whatever may lie
In those things that money can buy
Though true love could have been a contender
Are you there?
Say a prayer for the pretender
Who started out so young and strong
Only to surrender.

(thanks to Jackson Browne, off his The Pretender album.)

Kevin Marquez