We need to take a break…

The plan for this week’s Wednesday Words went out the window yesterday.  In a crushing blow, the news of the Astro’s cheating was almost too much to take.  Over the past few years Professional Sports has been less and less of a draw for me for various reasons – primarily it was no longer about the game, rather individual agendas.  Baseball was my true love and seemed to be the last refuge from all that has taken over professional sports – no longer.  Since the news broke I’ve been trying to make sense of it all.  In a funny way, this can all be summed up very easily in one TV episode of Friends that was filmed 20 years before the 2017 World Series; “The One With The Morning After.”

For those not in Houston at the time, the Championship was a big deal in 2017 for many reasons.  First, of course it was our first World Series Pennant ever for the city.  But even more so it was a huge lift in a difficult time for many due to Hurricane Harvey and the widespread flooding that impacted so many.  This game brought us all together and made us forget for a moment that things were bad – it just didn’t matter at the time.  Now, we’re being told there’s a taint to that moment, that for many outside of Houston it didn’t really happen, or shouldn’t stand.  We get it – which is why it’s all the more painful to hear yesterday’s news.

Like many, I will still recall with fondness the way we all felt at the time when we so desperately needed good news in Houston.  However, how I feel when I see the Astros will forever change.  It might be corny to quote this, as I’m not clearly Rachel Green, but at the time I think Houston is the “Rachel Green” to the Astro’s “Ross.” 

“I can’t, you’re a totally different person to me now.  I used to think of you as somebody that would never, ever hurt me, ever…..It’s just changed, everything.  Forever.” 

That pretty much sums up the mood of many in the city.  We can’t look at our Championship T-Shirts, Hats and Jerseys the same way.  Our pride is definitely going to take a hit for sometime.  It’s going to take a while for many to build back the trust and have fun.  In the meantime, go easy on the fans, we didn’t know and definitely do not endorse this behavior.  It’s time I take a break from professional sports to focus more on the teams that matter, The One Where My Kid Is On The Team.