No, I’m not trying to avoid mentioning the Rugby World Cup Final… or the British Commonwealth Cup as I prefer to call it.
There aren’t many sports, to be fair, that are truly universal and can really claim to have a ‘world’ cup.
Baseball falls into that sphere with the World Series being an all-American affair (with Toronto Blue Jays).
These past couple of weeks all American, ex-pats and Americanophile eyes were on the World Series.
Between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros.
But for the rest it was only when The Donald popped up at the stadium of his local team and was booed that they took any interest.
Shame because baseball is at the heart of American culture.
And is the nearest to a blue-collar game comparable to my favourite sport football that there is.
I first got interested in baseball when I spent a summer after university working in Boston.
And spending my spare time watching Roger Clemens’ Red Sox.
I also took in the World Series-winning new franchise Toronto Blue Jays where my brother was living.
And I really got into them and their rituals such as ringing a bell when star player George Bell came out to bat.
Fast forward to a couple of years ago and I fulfilled a sporting ambition when I took my stance in a batting cage.
In the Washington Nationals’ ball park.
And knocked it out of the park.
We were being hosted by the American travel fair www.ipw.com and were treated to a fireworks display to bring down the curtain on the convention.
Mr Murty goes to Washington
Washington www.washington.org is a political town (obvs) and Washingtonians are a discerning crowd.
It remains my fave American city Easy DC although I have far too many still to visit.
I also visited Denver’s team, the Colorado Rockies when in town www.denver.org last year… Go West.
And took in an Angels game in Anaheim www.visitanaheim.org earlier this year.
When despite the best efforts of star player Michael Trout it was clear that they wouldn’t be troubling the World Series.
A new baseball ritual
Now that we’ve established that baseball is more than a game and that we love their rituals what about adding this to the seventh-inning stretch…
That every attending US President should be booed (yet to decide on which inning)!
Aer Lingus have what they are billing Wickedly Good Deals to North America, with pre-clearance, including the American capital.
From €159 each way as part of a return trip. Travel dates through to 31 March.
Book by November 4… www.aerlingus.com.
MEET YOU IN THE BLEACHERS
