Possible Delusion

"Correlation does not necessarily mean causation."

- Jim Fitzsimons

True. But ... it can't hurt.

And no one can say that by not wearing my shirt I was the source of a loss.

Which didn't happen.

Of course I'm talking about the Los Angeles Dodgers' Game 6 World Series win last evening against the Houston Astros, a game that saved them from certain elimination and forced a deciding Game 7 this evening. I like to think I contributed not only faith in my team but a little bit of causation along with a ton of correlation, regardless of my friend's statement above.

At any rate, the final curtain call for the 2017 baseball season culminates with tonight's winner-take-all. Go, Dodgers.

.......... Ruprecht ( don't STOP until the final out of the season )

And hey! This is a thing this month ... !!!

T-Shirt Collection (first in a series*)

As a diehard Los Angeles Dodger fan (which is sometimes a a difficult and burdensome proposition in the neck of the woods I'm in, let me tell you) it's hard to let things go when it comes to The Boys In Blue.

Take this shirt for example:

Working in the garage one afternoon, a can of paint "decided" to go from a table top to the ground, arcing swashes of paint in places it never should have gone in the first place. Including my shirt.

The result? Instant work shirt.

No need to toss the thing - it's still in good condition wearability-wise.

It's just got more character now ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

*An occasional series showcasing the T-shirts I own

 

Honoring An Agreement

I lost a bet.

It was loads of fun to do. I recommend it highly.

Patty liked the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series. I liked (and always have) The Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a match made in heaven to get us together and bet on the game.

The bet? Whoever loses wears the opposing team's colors, et al and posts pictures of same. It's a simple bet. And that's what makes it all the sweeter.

I must admit: It's usually a chore for me to lose a bet. But I had no qualms about losing this one.

Oh ... I grumbled and grouched and anguished mentally when my beloved Dodgers bit the dust with barely a whimper. They practically laid down their arms and gave up the fight, it seemed. Hard to swallow.

So ... under these circumstances, wouldn't it be equally difficult to come to terms with the ground rules of the wager? One would think so.

A bit surprisingly, however, at the final out and with the realization I had lost the bet ... no sinking feeling ... it wasn't a problem. I was actually looking forward to honoring my end of the bargain.

And so ... here it is. In glorious color, for your dining and dancing pleasure. Without a whimper, without a (genuine) tear shed.

Congratulations, Patty, to your Phillies. May they do well in the World Series.

I will be rooting for them ..... over those dastardly, pinstriped New York Yankees .....
























Oh. And, just to make things a bit more fun and take the wager a bit further, I wore said shirt out in public, too. I did so while picking up my youngest daughter from school.

The look on her face says it all:

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwww, Dad! How could you be dressed so in a Phillies' shirt ... ?!?!?"

..................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

NLDS, Game 2 .....

I was fortunate enough (courtesy of a friend from New Jersey - thanks loads, Matt!) to head to the second game of the National League Division Series October 8th to see the Los Angeles Dodgers commit a grand and glorious come-from-behind win over the St. Louis Cardinals and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

The Dodgers would go on to sweep the Cards and move onward to the National League Championship Series.

This game, however, was a kicker. The opposing pitcher flung a gem of a game, giving up a mere homerun and a three hit performance before leaving the game undecided.

A few pictures of my buddy Ken and I and 50,000+ of our closest friends .....

Yeah ... it's a bit packed tonight .....

Really ... ??? A line to get into the men's restroom ... ?!?!?

This guy is one of my best friends
when I'm watching the game from the comfort of my living room .....

Yup. That's Slash of Guns 'N' Roses, doing the National Anthem .....

Hey! McCourt! Lasorda! Down in front!
I'm a paying customer and I can't see, already!

I have no explanation for this guy .....

Manny at the plate .....

The eventual win and final score .....

Grins and hugs and backslaps all around .....

Car to guess which ones are the bankers?
We had these knuckleheads in stitches the entire afternoon.

Half an hour after the final winning hit, they're headed for the exits .....

Ken didn't want evidence he had, indeed, lost his car .....

I just had to get a picture
with the lone Cardinals fan in the stadium .....

You betcha .....

.................. Ruprecht ( STOP )

The High, Dashed By The Low

It should be a day of revelry in the baseball world:

13-0: Dodgers Set Major League Home Record Start

But, instead, I'm having a really difficult time of it:

Ramirez Suspension Sends Shocks Through Mannywood

......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )