A game giving testimonial of baseball is America's past time

Wednesday evening Game 5 of the National League Division Series gives a testimony of why baseball is America's past time.  It played at Dodger Stadium.  I feel compelled to write a post.

grand slam runner

Trailing 3 to 1 at the top of 8th inning, Washington Nationals hit two back-to-back homers against LA Dodgers ace pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, to tie the game, then on top of 10th inning, the Dodgers closer intentionally walked Juan Soto to load the bases as he was one of the twos hit the homer on 8th inning, ironically the next Nationals at-bat hit a grand slam, eventually beating Dodgers 7 to 3, on the way to the National League Championship Series.

Dodgers fans responding to Nationals' grand slam: cannot bear to see it

At times I wonder the wisdom of the intentional walk, a decision of the pitcher himself or the pitching coach?  From the statistics or probability perspective, walking Soto seems to be a logical choice, but little did they know the next one at bat hit a grand slam.  Baseball is not an exact science, divine intervention is very real.

Kershaw after giving up 2 back-to-back homers to Nationals

T.S. Eliot may not be correct when he said “April is the cruelest month” in his Waste Land, to Dodgers （winning record 106 games regular season this year) and especially Kershaw October is the cruelest month. Kershaw, a potential candidate for baseball Hall of Fame, doesn’t look as sharp and powerful as he was.  Off hand I do not have his statistics, but at age of 31, if he has seen his best days, it will be a sad story.

This will be the first time Washington Nationals reach the NL Division Championship to continue to stay in the games.  I normally root for Dodgers, but one fringe benefit is that the Nationals Park is the only place where the politicians from both aisles will cheer together for the same thing.

Take us out to the ball game

Atlanta Braves came to town, take us out to the ball game at PNC Park last night.  More often than not did I write something after watching a game, but there is no good sport writing unless there is a good game; when the 'lowly' (it was not lowly the day before as Pirates' Frazier hits a walk-off homer in 11th inning against the formidable Chicago Cubs) Pirates was defeated 1 to 0, all I can do is just posting the photos, a thing rarely done in my blog.

Football game miracle

I recently wrote a post of “How can a rational medicine man accept the miracles performed by Jesus: a philosophical approach,” I had a letter-to-the-editor published in the Observer-Reporter today, talking about different type of miracle—football miracle.

It is difficult to explain the controversy of the unfair call by NFL officials unless one watched that important Patriots-Steelers game on December 17.  Here is the video of Steelers Jesse James’ touchdown reception.

https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2017/12/17/16788458/jesse-james-touchdown-replay-overturned-steelers-patriots

It ain’t over until it’s over

Watching the Game 2 of the LA Dodgers vs Houston Astros World Series, one would agree that it ain’t over until it’s over.  The tenacious Astros never wanted to give up; trailing 3 to 1 when we heard God Bless America at the bottom of the 7^th inning.  They made it a one-run game at the top of 8^th inning and tied the game (3 to 3) at the top of 9^th inning.

Photo credit to NY Times

Astros had a consecutive one-run homer at the top of 10^th inning.  Dodgers returned the favor in kind to tie it again at the bottom of the 10^th.

The ferocious Astros hit a two-run homer at the top of 11^th inning (the ‘star’—George Springer—is shining), Dodgers quickly hit another one-run home run, but ran out of steam.  Astros took the game 7 to 6 and evened the World Series at one game apiece.

Who said the game is not won by home runs?  There are combined 8 home runs in this game.

Heading back to Houston Friday (Oct. 27), Astros will be more confident, but Dodgers has realized that the best World Series will be the one to be decided at 9^th inning or beyond at Game 7.

There are many heroes in this game that played more than 4 hours, approaching the status of an Epic Game.  I am puzzled by Dodgers manager who took out the start pitcher, Rich Hill, after throwing 60 pitches in just 4 innings, and then paraded 8 relievers; he changed his relievers more often than Henry VIII his queens.  Astros start pitcher, Justin Verlander (The 2017 M.V.P. of A.L.C.S.) lasted for 6 innings.

Photo credit to NY Times

Justin Verlander, Photo credit to NY Times

Watching baseball, thinking about medicine

Watching baseball, I have so many medicine stories to tell, and yet I am not talking about sport medicine.

Andrew Mcutchen

The lowly Pittsburgh Pirates finished another losing season.  I have to look for teams to root during the October Fest.  Red Sox has bowed out of the race and the manager, John Farrell is not coming back next season.  It is less fun to watch Red Sox after its slugger, David Ortiz, retired last year.  Someone please reminds Pirates owner/manager that having a star player is crucial when they think about trading Andrew McCutchen.

My reading has been focusing on the history of cancer treatment, which will be an ongoing project for years to come.  Watching baseball, I found out many related stories.

Jon Lester beat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Jon Lester was diagnosed to have anaplastic, large-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma during his rookie year as a Red Sox pitcher during 2006 season. Terry Francona, then Red Sox manager visited Lester at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and brought the news to the team, ending the rookie’s season prematurely.  He had the first round of chemotherapy at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and finished it at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center at Seattle, his home state.

Jon Lester in action

I wrote a post after watching the Red Sox game when Lester returned only a few months after finishing the chemotherapy in 2007.  He beat Cleveland Indians and cancer.  I recall watching his parents watching the game with great relief and gratification.  Praise the Lord! He went on to pitch the game that clinched the World Series champion that year (2007) for Red Sox, the first since 1908.

Last month I attended a six-day cancer medicine conference at Boston, given by Dana Faber Cancer Institute, MGH and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  On the lecture of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the speaker mentioned Jon Lester with pride and gratification as Dana Faber participated in his treatment.  He mentioned that Lester was not doing too well, not the best of him this season, not medically, though.  He was struggling on the ball field at times.

Another game lost for Jon Lester yesterday

It was painful to watch how the Chicago Cubs collapsed at the bottom of 8^th inning yesterday.  Jon Lester left the game at the bottom of 8^th inning with Cubs trailing Washington Nationals 0 to 1, Cubs pitcher was changed again when the bases were full of Nationals players.  Two out, all bases occupied.  The Nationals hit a grand slam homer upon the second pitch, how could Wrigley Field full of people be so quiet?

Now both teams tie at 2:2, the division champion will be decided at Washington, DC tonight, good for politicians on either aisle; they will finally cheer the same thing.  So root for the Chicago Cubs, especially if you were not happy with the politicians.

What is anaplastic, large-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Anaplastic, large-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a rare form of lymphoma (seen in 1-2% of all lymphoma, 10% of all childhood lymphoma, and 50% of large-cell pediatric lymphoma, the second most common T-cell lymphoma), most commonly seen in children or young adults.  It is a high grade (aggressive with a rapidly progressive course if untreated) cancer that is also highly responsive to chemotherapy.

The prestigious Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is related to baseball

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center was founded by William Hutchinson, M.D. in honor of his brother, a former all-star pitcher with Detroit Tigers and later manager of various teams, including the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds.  He died of cancer in 1964, at age 45.

Dr. E. Donnall Thomas was awarded a Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1990 for pioneering bone marrow transplant.  He is from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

The serendipitous car accident led to the discovery of cancer for Jon Lester

The discovery of Lester’s cancer was the result of an auto-accident in which Lester’s care was rear-ended; he was on his way to Fenway Park on August 18, 2006.  He began to notice back pain after the car accident. He went to see his uncle, who is a physician in Tacoma when Red Sox were in Seattle for a West Coast swing.  His physician uncle detected several enlarged lymph nodes that eventually led to the diagnosis of lymphoma.

Money talk in baseball

Jon Lester was traded to Oakland Athletics in July 2014.  After a short sting at Athletics, he joined Chicago Cubs with a six-year $155 million deal.  Red Sox tried to get him back with a $135 million offer.  San Francisco was a close bid of $150 million. Lester went on to help Chicago Cubs clinch the World Series champion in 2016, the first in 108 years.

Terry Francona had a cardiac ablation

Just last week the Cleveland Indians, beating Yankees two games in a row, literally shouted “Yankees Go Home!”  What a comeback for Yankees whose starting pitcher CC Sabathia (yes, we do need a star pitcher) beat Cleveland Indians on Game 5 of the “Best-of-Five” of the 2017 ALDS yesterday.

It must be quite a disappointment for Cleveland Indians manager, Terry Francona (a longtime Red Sox manager), who underwent cardiac ablation procedure for some sort of cardiac arrhythmia in July this year, thus missing the chance of managing the American League team in All-Star game.

Jameson Taillon

Testicular cancer afflicts young men

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon underwent surgery for testicular cancer on May 8, 2017, he has since returned pitching.  Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis was also diagnosed to have testicular cancer in November 2016, on the day of his first wedding anniversary. He has since returned pitching this year.  Three years after beating the advanced testicular cancer, Lance Armstrong won the 1999 Tour de France.

For some unknown reason the incidence of testicular cancer seems to be on the rise.  It used to be less than 7,000 cases in the States annually; it has reached 8,850 cases so far this year.  It primarily afflicts young men, no wonder so many young athletes were stricken.  It is the most frequent cause of cancer in men age 15-34 years.

Using pop culture (Deadpool) as cancer advocacy

Dr. William Oh

Dr. William Oh (an urologist, Chief, Medical Oncology at Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NYC) was one of several guest speakers during the six-day oncology medicine conference that I attended last month.

At the end of the lecture, Dr. Oh showed a Youtube (“Deadpool [a comics character]: Gentlemen, Touch Yourself Tonight”) of how we’re using pop culture for cancer advocacy.  It also features in an article in Lancet Cancer. To detect it while in early stage, still confined to the testicle, yields the best result.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsdD1MJXOpk

Super Bowl LI: The anatomy of a game

Why am I writing this post when the Bostonians are probably no longer walking with halos above their heads?  There is no good sport writing unless there is a good game.  This is why sport writers love Super Bowl LI.

天將降大任於斯人也，必先苦其心志，勞其筋骨

What Mencius (孟子) said is that if the Heaven is about to place a great hard work on Tom Brady, it would put the utmost stress, frustration and burden to his mind and body.  This was what happened to the first half of the game or even toward the end of the third quarter, as the Patriots was still trailing at 3-28 with 2:06 left in 3Q.

Sport writing of a good game also let you relish the moment of glory and ecstasy one more time especially if you’re the Patriots fans.  Generations from now people will still talk about this game embodying the greatest come back or the greatest collapse depending which team you root.

Having two daughters at Boston and visiting the Beantown every so often I naturally root for Red Sox and Patriots, even though the latter deprived the Steelers the chance of going to Super Bowl this year, but we had good reason to blame ourselves.

Falcons QB Matt Ryan is the player to watch and to admire

But I was not too disappointed when the Atlanta Falcons appeared on the way to clinch the Super Bowl champion, as they are well deserved.  During the Division championship game with Seattle Seahawks, the Falcons fans at Georgia Dome chanted “M.V.P, M.V. P.” during the 4Q, as its quarterback Matt Ryan completed 26 of his 37 passes with 3 touchdowns and zero interceptions.

The last game at Georgia Dome (Atlanta Falcons will showcase their new $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium next season) was to host Green Bay Packers for the NFC championship and the Falcons was once leading 31 to 0.

Matt Ryan was indeed honored with the NFL MVP award as well as the Offensive Player of the Year award the day before the Super Bowl.  Ryan’s success came from the hard work; he spent last summer honing his throwing skill in a Los Angeles training camp.  Being 6 feet 5 inches, he has a good wide view of the battle field to match his strong and accurate arm.

Richard Feynman liked to say how he was impressed by meeting great scientists in his own field, under circumstance when he knew so well the reason of their greatness.  So if you know the reason of the greatness of the quarterbacks, the likes of Matt Ryan, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rogers, and Russell Wilson, you will be more impressed.

You will see and hear about Matt Ryan more and more next season, take my words.

Divine intervention

A quarterback cannot win a game alone, even if he is Tom Brady, who has had amassed five Super Bowl rings.  With 2:03 left in 4Q, the Patriots Julian Edelman made a dramatic catch fighting with two wild falcons around (the video review confirmed the ball indeed never touch the ground—see photo on right).

I think the turning point is the moment when with 8:24 left in 4Q Patriots forced a fumbled from Falcons, even though with 5:56 left in 4Q Patriots still trailed at 12-28, at which time Patriots had a touchdown and a two point conversion.  It is now 20-28.  All hope was not lost.

During the coin throw for the Overtime, the Patriots picked the head and got the ball and managed to engineer a dramatic touchdown, causing “sudden death” of the Falcons.

These are all signs of “divine intervention”.  I normally cannot tolerate superstition or even un-scientific thinking.  But with so many “improbable” games in sports, I think divine intervention is the only explanation. 

I am not alone or original in this thinking.  In 1986 when the Harvard professor, Dudley Herschbach, was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry (with whom Prof. Yuan-Tseh Lee shared the prize).  Prof. Herschbach wore a Red Sox cap to the press conference and all he wanted to talk was Red Sox and baseball and he said “divine intervention” was at play.

The Overtime rule needs to be changed to be fair to all parties, and not subject to divine intervention

As we know flipping the coin at the beginning of the game has no or little impact to it.  But flipping the coin for the Overtime is a very big deal.  The current rule ensures the team (that didn’t get the ball initially) will have a chance to get the ball unless the team (that got the ball, Patriots in this case) had a touchdown, causing the sudden death of Falcons, who never had a chance for the offence in Overtime—the very strength of Falcons, recall Matt Ryan was voted the NFL Offence Player of the Year.

This unfair rule deprived the more than 110 million viewers watching the final offence by the best NFL Offence Player of the Year.  It is ironic, isn’t it?

The kicker’s miss set up the high drama

With 2:06 left in 3Q, Patriots still trailed at 3-28, at which time Patriots had a touchdown, but the kicker (Gostkowski) missed the extra point kick.  This ‘improbable’ miss set up the stage of high drama for Tom Brady to engineer two touchdowns with two two-point conversions to tie the game with 57 seconds left in the game (4Q), a feat rarely achieved by any quarterback.

The commentator said this is the 5^th time Gostkowski has missed the extra point kick, insinuating he is no good this season, but to be fair the commentator should have said the percentage of the failure of his kicks, as missing 5 in 10 is different from missing 5 in 50; sports are all about statistics as you know.

With 5:56 left in 4Q, the Patriots still trailed at 12-28, at which time they had a touchdown with 2-point conversion, bring the score to 20-28.  Then with 57 seconds left they repeat the same feat to tie the game 28-28.  So the two touchdowns with two two-point conversions were achieved in less than 5 minutes.

The breathtaking Belichick-Brady pair

Since 2002 Patriots have gone to Super Bowl seven times and won five of them (the only two defeats were all handed by NY Giants) and these were done by the breathtaking Belichick-Brady pair.

Prior to this Super Bowl they never came back to win with more than 10 points deficits, and they never let the opponents score more than 24 points except in 2004 the Panthers scored 29 points, but they beat it with 32 points.  So when they’re still trailing 3-28 with 2:6 left in 3Q, they must be thinking this is it; this will be the year to do us in.  In fact, Brady said “hard to imagine us win” after the game.

We’re here to make you feel good

Provided we cannot measure the degree of happiness and treat all happiness (whether a little bit happy or ecstatic) the same, then the Atlanta Falcons fans were all happy, screaming, or laughing throughout the game until the last six minutes when Patriots had a touchdown to make it 20-28 or the last eight minutes when the Falcons fumbled.

Lady Gaga said “We are here to make you feel good”; that is why we went to the Stadium or like hundreds of millions watching TV or streaming.  We want to be entertained to feel good.  The Falcons fans shouldn’t complain as they felt good almost the entire game until the last moment.

Unfortunately one cannot be happy unless one wins the game.  When Red Sox was beaten again in the 1986 World Series (they last won the World Series in 1918), a Harvard professor, director of expository writing program, who wrote a biography of Thomas More (My mind was with Thomas More when I visited The Tower of London), who said he rode his bicycle around Cambridge for hours to try to dispel his desolation.

Lady Gaga is another winner

I was never a big fan for Lady Gaga and was disappointed when I heard that Lady Gaga will perform the Super Bowl Halftime show.  But based on what I saw, what she sang, said and danced; it is all glamor and glitter.  A spectacle.  I am sold.  I previously wonder why I was falling so far behind the mainstay popular culture, then I realized I only read about Lady Gaga and never saw her performance.

She sang God Blessed America, This Land is Your Land and said “one nation indivisible”, very appropriate given the divisive political climate.

My personal solute to the owner of the Atlanta Falcons owner, Arthur Blank

When the Home Depot co-founder, Arthur Blank, retired at age of 58 in 2001, he needed to find a way to do away with billions of fortune.  He paid $545 million to own Atlanta Falcons and has been working tirelessly to make the fans feel good.

Arthur Blank with his wife on field

He said “I want to create an organization Atlanta is proud of.  I see the joy the team brings to the community when we win.  It does make me happy.” The Falcons’ next season will open the game at the new $1.5 billion Mercedes Benz Stadium.  Blank also spent lots of money and resource trying to improve the run-down neighborhood next to the stadium.  It was said Blank has “an insatiable desire to succeed”; I wish him well.  The new stadium will host the 2019 Super Bowl.  I have a bold prediction: it will be Steelers vs. Falcons.

Toward the end of game I saw Blank, with his lovely wife at his side, standing at the edge of the field.  I think he was probably too excited, wanting to be close to his players when they clinch the Lombardi Trophy.  What a disappointment for such a nice guy.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is also the big loser

Winning this Super Bowl is a sweet revenge for Patriots fans

Roger Goodell

against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who suspended Brady for four games for his alleged role in the so-called Deflategate scandal.  During the postgame ceremony and Brady’s MVP award ceremony next day, the Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, Belichick, Brady never said anything un-nice, but practically ignored Goodell.  The displeasure was not voiced, but the actions spoke volumes.

I read some ESPN reporters are writing a book (Powerball) detailing the enormous power struggles among the powerful and wealthy owners of NFL teams.  To be the NFL commissioner is not an easy task.  Goodell is a graduate of our local college, Washington and Jefferson College.

College football is no less exciting and hilarious than NFL games

(All the photo credits are to New York Times)

The persevering Clemson Tigers just beat the seemingly invincible and unconquerable Alabama Crimson Tide 35 to 31 with one second left in the 4Q in the National Championship game; what a touchdown, what a game. 

Alabama led Clemson by 24-14 going into 4Q when the high drama unfolded.  Ripping open the illustrious Alabama’s defense, Clemson took the first lead 28-24 with 4:38 left before reaching the “promise land”.  Yet the game is not over until the “fat lady sings”.

Alabama took back the lead in no time (31-28), leaving 2:07 for Clemson to create a miracle, a miracle they made.  The Clemson quarterback Watson completed six of his eight passes for 50 yards, reaching the climax of the game with that seemingly easy 2-yard touchdown throw with one second left.  The ecstasy of the victory.

The pomp and circumstance at the beginning of the game, the excitement and the expectation is what America all about and is why America is great all along. To console Alabama Crimson Tide of the agony of the defeat; it takes two to tango, there is no loser for the game like this.

I hate to paraphrase what Will Durant said of Thomas Cromwell [who was sent to the Tower of London by Henry VIII] that Alabama Crimson Tide “won every battle except the last” and at the last second (not minute or hour).  But, please take comfort in knowing that there was no loser for a great game like this—a game no one can script. Crimson Tide has built such an intimidating reputation over the years, it is always “Alabama Crimson Tide vs the world”, and Clemson Tigers had honor and privilege to be the representative of the “world” that happened to succeed this year.  We will see the Tide rolling back in big time next season, and that will “make America great again.”

Orange Bowl

I normally do not watch college football; I might have missed many good games.  I watched Orange Bowl (Michigan vs Florida State) last night and they were no less exciting or scary (if you’re rooting for either one) than the Steelers-Ravins game last Sunday.

The lead changed twice the last 5 minutes of 4Q.  One couldn’t tell who was going to win until the last 36 seconds. Michigan fell behind (12 points at one time) until 1:57 left in 4Q when it took the lead (30:27) for the first time.

The Florida State threw a final touch-down with 36 seconds left in 4Q. Then there was some confusion that I couldn’t follow, apparently Michigan blocked the extra points and returned it for two points, but the final drive was intercepted and lost the game 33:32.

I was rooting for Michigan as their hospital in Ann Arbor was treating our son-in-law so nicely with all their expertise and kindness. But, for a game like this, there was no loser, both teams won.  As I often said, no one can script a good game like this; it took two good teams to make it happen.

War Prayers for Chicago Cubs

The best World Series is the one fight to the very end: Game 7 will be played tomorrow (November 2).

Terry Francona took Boston Red Sox to the World Series champion in 2007; it would be wonderful for him to duplicate the deed, taking Cleveland Indians to the top of the Mountain, the glory of America’s Pastime.  But, my heart is in Chicago, not only is it my first City in America back in 1971, but also our numerous visits to the Windy City during Joy’s school and resident training days.

Joy was at Wiggly Field many times, thanks to the thoughtfulness of one attending orthopedist who happened to be the team physician for the Cubs.

I wrote a “War Prayer” in 2005 when Chicago White Sox went to the World Series.  With minor revision it can be used for Chicago Cubs now.

Chicago is preparing for war; the spirit-lifting emails have reached every single soul (including Joy) in all Chicago Land.  Since this is a curse-lifting event, divine intervention is integral to this process.  Every pastor in the church of every denomination is making fervent sermons invoking the aid of the ever-merciful benignant Father of us all for this Holy War.

I plagiarized and modified from Mark Twain’s War Prayer:

It is a time of great and exalting excitement.  The White Sox Cubs Nation is up in arms, the war is on, in every breast burned the holy fire of loyalism; the drums are beating, the band playing, the bunched firecracker hissing and sputtering, the fire work exploding in the sky above the Navy Pier [where all the firework is done in Chicago], the “Go! Cubs Go!” banners flying along the colorful Magnificent Mile.  The air is crispy, lofty and euphoric.

The players and the fans march the wide Michigan Avenue, gay and fine in their White Sox Cubs uniforms, cheering and choking with happy emotions.

May merciful God watch over our players, and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their noble work; bless them, shield them in the day of battle and the hour of peril and dispute, bear them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody battle, help them to crush the foe.

The thundering music of The Battle Hymn of the Republic fills the air in all corners of Chicago, coming from the burning breasts of all Cubs fans.

P is for Polanco

Since the announcement of the $35 million 5-year contract in April, Gregory Polanco has been emerging as a shining star.  Last night he drove in 5, including a 3-run homer, in the 12 to 1 crush to Arizona Diamondbacks.  It was an outstanding performance, but not an exception.  Pirates got a bargain out of this “young boy” (24-year-old) from Dominica.

“P” is for Pirates! “P” is for Polanco!

Take me out to the ballgame: A day of "passion"

Pirates beat Milwaukee Brewers 5 to 0 yesterday.  We went to PNC Park this afternoon and Pirates routed Brewers again 9 to 3.  McCutchen had his first homer of the season yesterday and added another solo-homer today; the two photos below showed the fans responded to it.

victory ritual

With 9 to 3 win and having 16 hits, there are many contributors other than McCutchen including Rodrigues who had a two-run homer.  This is healthy for a winning team, which cannot depend on a few stars.

I like to see the “victory ritual” of the Pirates 3 outfielders at the end of the game when the jolly rogers flag was raised.  They are the gestures of happiness and pride with a sense of accomplishment.

We also bought 10 bags of Miracle-Gro Potting Mix (64 dry quarts each) today; we have used 3 bags; the 4^th bag is nearly gone.  After having sizzling chickens with Strawberry Passion fruit tea at TGI Friday’s, we called it a day.  A day of “passion”—baseball, gardening, and even ice tea.

Andrew McCutchen at bat