Yogi

Major league baseball great Yogi Berra passed away yesterday at the age of 90. While I never met him or never saw him play, I still felt compelled to say a few things about him for a couple of reasons.

First, he was a favorite of my primary care doctor, who gushed about him every chance he got. I know I will continue to see a picture of the two together in his office every time I have to get lab work.

Second, he played the position that I played in my previous life as a athlete: catcher. He was also a winner during his 23 year career. As either a player, manager or coach, he was on 13 World Series championship teams. He is only one of four players to win the MVP award three times and one of seven managers to win championships in both the American and National leagues. The 15 time All-Star (yep, 15) is still the only player to catch the only World Series perfect game. One of my favorite sport photos is him jumping in the arms of pitcher Don Larson after the final out. He became a Hall-of-Famer in 1972.

Mr. Berra was also an Navy veteran. He was a gunner's mate during the D-Day invasion of France. I related to that from my two brother's who also served.

What I will remember most about Yogi the most are his famous witticisms. They include sayings such as:

As a general comment on baseball: "90% of the game is half-mental."

On why he no longer went to Ruggeri's, a St. Louis restaurant: "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

"It ain't over till it's over." In July 1973, Berra's Mets trailed the Chicago Cubs by 9½ games in the NL East. The Mets rallied to win the division title on the final day of the season.

When giving directions to Joe Garagiola to his New Jersey home, which was accessible by two routes: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

On being the guest of honor at an awards banquet: "Thank you for making this day necessary."

"It's deja vu all over again". Berra explained that this quote originated when he witnessed Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris repeatedly hit back-to-back home runs in the Yankees' seasons in the early 1960s.

"You can observe a lot by watching."

"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't go to yours."

Yogi, who got his name from friend Bobby Hofman, who said he resembled a Hindu yogi whenever he sat around with arms and legs crossed waiting to bat (or while looking sad after a losing game), will be considered one of the best players at his position. One of the best players I've never seen.

Obsession

It's like what a famous comic said about his drug habit: I'm not hooked...I can't be hooked. My friends have been using for 20 years and they're not hooked…
 
For regular readers of my blog, you know I usually go into seclusion around this time to prepare for my upcoming fantasy football season. Using the top secret vernacular, I would tell you what I do to prepare, but then I would have to kill you. In other words, I'm serious. As serious as Tom Brady checking the footballs before a game.
 
Couldn't help the dig. It was the Ravens side of me.
 
Now this year, for some reason, it's a little different than usual. Even my boyz seem to notice a change in me. While I didn't think I could be more serious about it, one of my boyz said that I seemed to be really serious about it this year.
 
I thought about it and he had a point. I'm actually coming off one of my more successful seasons in my FF career. In the four leagues that I was in, I made the playoffs in three and won two championships, including the league that I started this whole fantasy thing in. While I enjoyed the four other titles that I won with my co-owner in this league, there's nothing like winning a title yourself.
 
As I found out last year.
 
Now, without comparing myself to pro (or for that matter, college) athletes, I got it. I'm still addicted to the competition. Whether it was winning flag football titles in college, winning spades card games or winning fantasy football championships, there's nothing like winning not one, not two...
 
To paraphrase Bugs Bunny...It's a hobby.