What Mark Twain might have said about the St. Louis Cardinals win?
Let’s start with the fact that Mark Twain had an appreciation for baseball. In his own words:
Baseball:
1889 The very symbol, the outward and visible expression of the drive, and push, and rush and struggle of the raging, tearing, booming nineteenth century!
(Speech in New York City, April 5, 1889, MT Speaking)
Reminder, Mr. Twain was talking about baseball in the 19th century. But what did he speak of St. Louis?
Saint Louis, Missouri
1868 There is something in my deep hatred of St. Louis that will hardly let me appear cheery even at my mother’s own fireside. Nobody knows what a ghastly infliction it is on me to visit St. Louis. I am afraid I do not always disguise it, either.
(Letter to Mary Fairbanks, September 24, 1868)
I guess book sales and literary reviews were not good in the St. Louis city. Hopefully, Twain would put aside his disgust of St. Louis and become a “homer” as a Missourian.
So what would have Twain reported if he had been the sports writer for a newspaper? I think it would go something like this.
The venerable St. Louis Cardinals won a series that shall be remembered. Tossed aside as a contender in August, these boys of the Mississippi River did what the charlatons in Washington are unable to do. They believed in each other and pushed a common goal guided by a wise old sage, Tony La Russa. Mistakes? Tell me about it. But, the World Series should not be illustrated by silly errors on the field and communication failure between the dugout and the bullpen.
It was pushed by young men who were optimists who believed they could win. I believe optimism more than physical endurance is what separates a young successful athlete from the near-do-wells. From David Freese to Allen Craig, these youngsters transferred the gleam in their eyes to the entire Midwest.
This should be a lesson to our current citizen. Washington will never show you this style of brilliance nor perseverance. Plow your fields from fence row to fence row. Physician, truly heal the sick. Turn a new style of fashion young designer. This will be your path that no one can do but you. It’s the story of optimism and perseverance applied to a strong body and a sound mind.
BigOMac
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