The Wild World of Sports

(Jocks)

In A World of Their Own

To say the ‘flakes’ or ‘screwballs’ have disappeared from the playing fields and courts in this modern era of sports is not true. What IS true is that there are just fewer of them. But, still a laugher is MORE than a lopsided victory.

There still are many bona fide jocks with the natural wit that sets them apart from many individuals who would like to fit that talented mold, but only find themselves working at it. The NATURAL is determined by an inherent sense that is determined by nature.

Two examples: Pete Gray was a remarkable one-armed outfielder who played for the St.Louis Browns during World War II. One sweltering day, as Gray came off the field after a strenuous game in Chicago, he was stopped by an extremely talkative woman. Caught in a “sticky” situation, Pete tried to remain polite as the woman droned on and on about his handicap. After several uncomfortable moments, dripping with sympathy and sentimentality – to say nothing of the heat – the woman finally gushed, “You poor boy...just how did you lose your arm?” Pete saw his chance, and as he headed for the clubhouse he replied solemnly, “A woman in St.Louis talked it off!”   

And, by Bo Belinsky: “Happiness is a first-class pad, good wheels, an understanding manager, and a little action.”

Player quotes have a way of bringing the fan directly into the clubhouse or locker room and of helping to recognize the individual personalities of these athletes. Since direct contact is minimal there is no other way to look at these gladiators as every day human beings. It is, of course, not the final summation of their lives, but in most cases satisfies the people who watch daily and would like to get closer to them.

This story will illustrate the perception fans have of Yogi Berra. In his early big league days, pitchers could play on one batting weakness of Berra. It was a cinch to make the Yankees catcher bite on the first pitch, no matter its location.

Once, with Berra about to take his turn at bat, Yankees manager Bucky Harris drew him aside and cautioned: “Now look, Yogi, don’t always take your cut at the first one. Wait for a good one and think before you swing. The idea is to think!  Now get in there and do what I tell you.”

Yogi picked up his bat, pulled down his cap, and took his place in the batter’s box. He didn’t bite at the first one. The umpire called it a strike. The second one split the plate. Yogi never moved. The third pitch, too, was a sweet one, but Berra watched it pass by.

Berra dragged his bat back to the dugout and dropped it on the pile. He walked over to Harris. “It’s your own fault,” Yogi said bitterly, “What do you expect?  How can a guy think and hit at the same time?”

That’s how you probably know Yogi Berra and we’ll start this chapter of quotes with another of his Yogisms.