Home > Furman Bisher > Archives > 2008 > September > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBoosted by a day at the ballpark
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is why I can’t quit this business. This is why I look forward to waking up each day and wondering what’s next out there. Sunday, the Braves were playing the last game of the home season, the Mets were the last item on their Turner Field menu, and the Mets were just a hare’s breath back of the Phillies for the lead in the National League East. A half game. The Braves were out of it, and had been for weeks, but they could have a say about who does win it, from the distance of 19 games back. Think of it, they could take the Mets down, the lofty dudes from Flushing.
It was a steely sky, but the stands were filled again. Saturday night 50,000 had come to see the Braves gut one out against the lauded Pedro Martinez. This afternoon over 49,000 were back again, and they came in full voice, cheering anything that moved. Scuffling for the T-shirts the scantily clad American beauties were firing into the seats, even started a wave for no particular reason. The wrong team was at bat and the home team was losing, all of which would have gotten deep under Skip Caray’s skin. (He hated the wave.) It was invigorating exercise, however, good for the pecs.
The Mets took a lead, then David Wright added to it with a home run, and the game sauntered along for several unnerving innings, and the 4-2 score was beginning to look permanent. Among the more exhilarating highlights of it all was that Jeff Francoeur was coming out of his long doldrum. Two doubles, but that was only the beginning of better things to come. It was the eighth inning, Mets still leading 4-3 when Omar Infante doubled. Casey Kotchman followed him with an excuse-me single to right field, started his swing, then changed his mind but couldn’t get the bat back in time. Score tied.
Here came Francoeur again, this time with a blast that brought back memories of the Francoeur who has been missing this season. By the time all the dust had cleared, Greg Norton, who is becoming more valuable each day, walked, Infante drove him in and the Braves led, 7-4. You couldn’t believe it. You could believe how that ball park rocked and the fans, who had been entertaining themselves all afternoon — one last sip of the nectar — rocked with it. Nobody was going home mad from this outdoor spree.
Carlos Delgado hit his 37th home run with another Met on base, but the rocking, grimacing Mike Gonzales closed the shop with two strikeouts, of Carlos Beltran and Damion Easley, pinch-hitting. Nineteen games out of first place and Turner Field had never seen such glee. The standings took you back to the days of the ‘80’s, when managers flowed through these portal like Wine, Haas, Tanner and Nixon, but these people had come to the old ball park to be joyful and they wouldn’t be turned off.
The Braves were doomed to lose their 88th game, it had seemed, but it would not be. All across town, there was joy. Georgia and Georgia Tech had won the day before, the Falcons were gutting Kansas City, and all was well elsewhere, but nowhere was there more joy than at the old ball park. Francoeur would be the Player of the Day, Jorge Julio would get the victory, the swinging and swaying Gonzales would get the save, and never in such losing circumstances (69 won, 87 lost) have you ever seen such happiness. Including, I might add, this old dude who is inoculated by such spiritual vaccine, who can’t give up such moments as these. I’m happy I was there.
Permalink | Comments (29) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves/MLB
Comments
By journalist jimmy smith
September 21, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
oh, the humanity! the old journalist at the old journalist’s best.
By Rimfire
September 21, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher, I am glad too, you were there to bring it to us… We had gotten fairly spoiled since we moved to Turner Feild…but it is nice to remember those cold harsh days when we could only rejoice as a spoiler this time of year…Here’s to a new year, with hopes for better Braves!
By Hillbilly Deluxe
September 21, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
As Ernie Johnson, Sr. used to say, you can’t beat fun at the ol’ ball park. That goes for the majors, minors, even a little league game. There’s nothing quite like baseball.
By country boy
September 21, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
As usual very interesting article Mr. Bisher. Really baseball is much about a good afternoon at the park.
HOWEVER - 17 games ( last I saw about a week ago) out of first is simply unacceptable. We all wanted this series to be important to the Braves playoff drive - not just the Mets.
By dogfan
September 21, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this
Furman, I still enjoy your writing as I have since 1962. Don’t give it up. You find positive things to say, unlike some of your fellow writers.
By Kennesaw
September 21, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this
Did the Braves really draw an 100,000 fans between Saturday and Sunday games? Seems like a nice spike considering how they are playing.
By captain Midnight
September 21, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
Jeff F. finally got a few hits after the Braves were well out of it. Where in the hell was him and his bat at when we were still in the hunt. If you wanted a rally or a threat of a rally killed just let him come to bat with the bases loaded.
By gotigers72
September 21, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this
MAJOR KUDOS to the fans who came out and backed their team this weekend! Way to go guys and girls. That was just fantastic. Backing your team that has been out of the race for 6 weeks now. Would have been there myself, but my disability keeps me from being in large crowds.
AND Kudos to you Mr. Bisher for continuing your work, if you can call watching a ballgame work! Just kidding, I know there is work in meeting deadlines, overcoming the occasional writer’s block,etc. But you have to admit it’s not a bad way to make a living. And you my friend are a living legend. Especially here in the South.
I still miss the columns of the guy that was the Sports Editor of my local paper. He retired 3 or 4 years ago and I’ve missed him every since. You probably know him Mr. Bisher. Dan Foster of The Greenville News. The man could write and was especially good with local stuff. Yeah, they hired somebody to take his place, but he can’t carry Mr. Foster’s jock when it comes to sportswriting. For some reason he seems to have a bias against my Clemson Tigers. At least it seems that way to me. Not a good way to make a living for him since this is heavy Clemson country. He needs to learn where his bread is buttered. It’s on the orange side.
By Ken Stallings
September 21, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this
Ultimately, it is the game that matters.
Furman, likewise, it is your game that matters, and we hope to savor it a long while to come!
By BraveFan05
September 22, 2008 12:05 AM | Link to this
I was there and the game actually brought tears to my eyes. It was so wonderful to see so much enthusiasm and support from the fans after such a long and difficult season.
I’m hopeful that next year will be better.
By BravesFan79
September 22, 2008 4:05 AM | Link to this
Keep up the good work Fisher. Hopefully the right strings will be pulled and well be a playoff contender. One things for certain… with Moylan, Gonzo, Smoltz and Ohman well have the best bullpen in the NL! With a all star catcher and 3rd baseman, and a few key free angents…and ANYTHING is possible!
By BravesFan79
September 22, 2008 4:05 AM | Link to this
Keep up the good work Fisher. Hopefully the right strings will be pulled and well be a playoff contender. One things for certain… with Moylan, Gonzo, Smoltz and Ohman well have the best bullpen in the NL! With a all star catcher and 3rd baseman, and a few key free angents…and ANYTHING is possible!
By BravesFan79
September 22, 2008 4:06 AM | Link to this
Keep up the good work Fisher. Hopefully the right strings will be pulled and well be a playoff contender. One things for certain… with Moylan, Gonzo, Smoltz and Ohman well have the best bullpen in the NL! With a all star catcher and 3rd baseman, and a few key free angents…and ANYTHING is possible!
By mark
September 22, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
Braves Fans have really been great this season! Fans are the Teams MVPs for sure.. As bad as the Braves were they stayed with them.Nice job Mr. Bisher!
By Gene
September 22, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Your description recalls memories of the magic at the end of the ’ 91 season that carried into the championship and the series. I haven’t seen anything like it before or since. Cox has still got some intuition. I saw Norton play earlier in the season and wondered why he was in the majors. Next year will be better.
By Kelley
September 22, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
Great article.
I really enjoy watching Mike Gonzalez, I just love his intensity, passion, and excitement when he comes into the game. I love the look on his face when the camera gives us a close up, pure intensity. I can’t wait to have him for a full season next year.
Yes, it’s unforturnate the way the season went this year. But, I am optimistic about next year and am anxious to see the off season moves Wren will make. I do hope Frenchy is on his way out of this year long slump that he was in.
I watched the game from home, but also thought of Skip too when I saw the wave going on Mr. Bisher. I think I will forever hear his voice in my head when I see the wave going on, complaining endlessly about it. How I miss Skip.
By Kelley
September 22, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
Also, it must be maddening to be a Mets fan.
As close as they get to the playoffs each year (even when the Braves don’t) one fact remains: The Mets cannot beat the Braves.
That must be hard to take as a Mets fan. Especially after the Braves owned the NL East for 14 years.
By Buz
September 22, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
Your column was better than the game. Glad I stayed home and read your story. Don’t retire; we need you…
Buz
By Bill
September 22, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this
Good read Furmee to everyone remember all you are able to BUT harbor the GOOD and if you are truly unhappy then the Yankee team is who you should root for (aka cuss and boo)
By WileyP
September 22, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
As a former resident of Atlanta in the 50’s and 60’s, who lives in Pennsylvania, it was great to read another column by Furman Bisher, whose writings helped get me hooked on sports as a child, so many years ago. Under the circumstances, I hesitate to quarrel with his use of the language, but I believe the proper phrase is “hair’s breadth” not “hare’s breath”. In any event, it’s great to know that one of the great influences of my youth is still writing with the same passion and observational skills I remember.
By Doug in Tucson
September 22, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
One thing I know for certain, when you become a Brave fan it gets into your blood stream and never will leave. Throught the good and the bad since 1959 I would not give up a moment rooting for the Braves and all the memories from those who also Love this franchise. I’m already looking forward to 2009 and this season still has some games to go.
By richbrave
September 23, 2008 1:39 AM | Link to this
Well done once again, oh good and faithful servant. Yes, being a slave to the sports gods is pretty good after all, right FURMAN.?
By Scottbravesfan
September 24, 2008 1:16 AM | Link to this
Great column today. I love going to the ballpark and I think the national media needs to get off the Braves fans about being bad. The Braves drew 2,532,834 fans this year. That’s 14th best in the majors for a team that has been out of it pretty much since Memorial Day. Not bad if you ask me.
By The Fight Realtor
September 24, 2008 6:29 AM | Link to this
This is why I love Furman Bisher. He adds perspective to the sporting world. He can find joy in the home team, even when it is hopelessly out of the playoff race. That’s not an easy thing to do. I’ll miss Furman Bisher when he’s gone.
By TheAntiMe
September 24, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher, you are a rare gem that sets the bar of class when it comes to sports journalism.
Thank you for imparting to those too young to remember or to those of us who may have forgotten over the last decade or so how it was to be a Braves fan back in the day.
Those were the days when we were just happy to have a big league team to root for and on those unusual occasions when we actual won the game it was very much a bonus. Selah.
By rob
September 24, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
To bad of the 100,000 people in attendance for these games, 40,000 of them were Mets Fans…
By bruce
September 25, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this
Mr Bisher: *one last sip of the nectar * love the phase… thanks. watching from TV rather than actual presence… last night against Philly (game 3) was a very nice sip of nectar… so enjoyable after that difficult series in Philly in July…. I laughed out loud when Chipper hit the homer… wish I was there…
By Lisa C.
September 27, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
Dear Mr. Bisher:
I am and have always been a die-hard Phillies fan and live only five miles away in South Jersey. Despite my intense loyalty to the Phillies, I would be remiss in not expressing my utmost respect for the Atlanta Braves, who are my next favorite team.
The Braves’ record this year truly does NOT reflect the talent of the team. I am sure that Mark Texeira’s departure did not help, but you have Chipper, Brian, and Jair (et al.) who are immensely talented. While I adore Ryan Howard, I truly think that Chipper is more deserving of an MVP award this year!
If you will allow me, I would like to share a story …
I was returning on the train from the Monday night game against the Braves and met a fellow Phillies fan who makes his permanent home in Atlanta. He told me that the only problem he has with the Braves is the FAN BASE. He said the fans only turn out when the Braves are doing well, apparently preferring college football to professional baseball. And that is a shame! The Braves are a terrific organization, and I can tell you this much that many, many Phillies fans think as I do. I can easily dislike the Mets, the Nats, the Marlins, and a few other teams; but the Braves organization is a well-managed ball club with a lot of really nice young men who honor the city, the team, and the game itself every time they put on their uniform!
Even in lean years when the Phillies did not make the play-offs, the capacity crowd turnout still reached 80% full. So please, Atlanta, support your Braves! They deserve that much at least …
By juggernaut
October 7, 2008 1:48 AM | Link to this
Check this out www.theoldbarbershop.com funny stuff.