DC-Jockularity

Jimmy Dugan's Baseball Prayer

Not exactly a playoff prayer but epic in its own rite.

Polo Ground Trivia and "The Catch"

Sixty years ago, New York Giants Outfielder Willie Mays made "The Catch" during the first game of the 1954 World Series against the Cleveland Indians.

In the top of the eighth inning, the score was tied 2-2 with men on first and second. Giants left handed relief pitcher Don Liddle served up a pitch which Indians batter Vic Wertz drilled into deep center field. In most ballparks, the Wertz 420 foot hit would have been a homer, which would give the Indians 5-2 lead.

However, the 1954 World Series opener was played in the Polo Grounds.

Willie Mays rushed in from short center field and made a spectacular on-the-run, over-the-back basket catch on the warning track. "The Say-Hay" Kid then spun around and tossed the ball to second to check the runner, although the lead runner was able to tag up and take third.

"The Catch" is the stuff of legend, which might make George Will wax poetically on the George Will Sports Machine, if such a show existed.

George Will Sports Machine on "The Catch"

Steve Austin on Tackles

Towards the end of the first half of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats football game, a rowdy fan dressed in in a rushed onto the field at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

This unruly behavior was unwise to do around Ohio State Buckeye Football Assistant Coach Anthony Schlegel. The Buckeye's conditioning (strength) coach was a linebacker for OSU as part of the class of 2006. In addition, Schlegel was a 3rd round draft choice by the New York Jets in 2006 as well as playing for the Cincinnati Bengals.

So when the disruptive fan evaded a security guard while storming onto the football field, Coach Schlegel sprang into action. Schegel made a horse collar tackle and body slammed the disruptive fan onto the turf, but Schlegel was not penalized on the play.

The record setting crowd of 108,262 Buckeye boosters roared its approval. Security officials then escorted 21 year old Anthony Wunder off the field, who apparently is a 6'2" Ohio State University Senior who hails from Cincinnati. Wunder will be arraigned on charges of criminal trespass for his stunt. No word on how many ice packs Wunder needed after his close encounter with Schlegel.

While the Buckeyes beat the Bearcats 50-28, the big winner of the day seems to have been Coach Schlegel for his protective tackle. Pro wrestler Steve Austin shared his kudos on Twitter, suggesting that Schlegel earned several performance perks usually reserved for players, Another enterprising Buckeye booster scored the scene into a music video titled "Here Comes the Boom".