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Friday, April 10, 2009

Celizic: Ugly truth is, the Angels have a season to play

At least take off your hat you heartless dick.

The Angels have canceled tonight’s game, but they can not cancel a week or a month or the season. They must return to work almost immediately and somehow find a way to make a mere game meaningful in the face of death.

These Angels are still one of the best teams in baseball. Eventually their thoughts will — and must — focus on winning their division, the ALCS and the World Series.

“This is real life,” team leader and center fielder Torii Hunter said in a statement. “This isn’t about baseball. That could have been any baseball player out there. That could have been any of us.”

That’s a sobering thought. Somehow the team must fight through it with it comes time to go back to work. They can begin to cope by dedicating this season to their fallen teammate, as they surely will. But whatever they do, at some level, they have no choice in the matter. They must play on. The season is still at stake.

Repoz Posted: April 10, 2009 at 12:18 AM | 6 comment(s)
Related News: General, LA Angels

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1. Robert in Manhattan Beach (nee Redondo) Posted: April 10, 2009 at 03:54 AM (#3133079)

The season is still at stake.

Yes, because that's what is truly important.

2. Best Regards, Larry Mahnken Posted: April 10, 2009 at 07:23 AM (#3133099)

They have to play not because the season is at stake, but because even in the face of death, life goes on and it must go on. There is no alternative.

3. AndrewJ Posted: April 10, 2009 at 07:28 AM (#3133100)

There was a book titled DIARY OF A YANKEE HATER chronicling the Yankees' 1979 season. When Thurman Munson died that August, the author wrote something to the effect of "We came to like Thurman because of baseball, not in spite of it, and there's nothing wrong with wanting the games to go on."

4. Still Waiting on Pork Chops (John R.) Posted: April 10, 2009 at 09:47 AM (#3133179)

I'm not sure I can actually bring myself to root for the Angels, but if the Rangers can't win the AL West, I hope it is the Angels that do.

5. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: April 10, 2009 at 10:28 AM (#3133208)

When Thurman Munson died that August, the author wrote something to the effect of "We came to like Thurman because of baseball, not in spite of it, and there's nothing wrong with wanting the games to go on."

As a fellow Yankee Hater, and one who grew up in New York, I can honestly say that there was never a point where I came to like Thurman, and I felt a little worse about his death as a result.

6. ghost of perros Posted: April 10, 2009 at 10:32 AM (#3133210)

That could have been any of us.

All of our deaths await us and we don't know when. An obvious fact of life that's difficult to accept. You mourn and grieve and then carry on as full of life as possible until it's your time.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

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Friday, April 10, 2009

Celizic: Ugly truth is, the Angels have a season to play

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