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Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Movie quote for Real Toads


Isadora Gruye, whom many of us call Izy, has a wonderful imagination when it comes to challenging the members of the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.
This month, she has asked us to take a favourite movie quotation and use it to write a poem having nothing to do with the movie or the character who spoke the words.
A movie quotation came to mind last night, and it is one of my favourites, if not my most favourite favourite.

No Crying

Mariano Rivera
pitching for New York

Wikipedia photo
“there’s no crying in baseball”
especially at an All Star Game,
which is all about having fun,
but there were tears in many eyes
as Mariano came out last night...
came onto the field
all by himself,
teammates on the sidelines cheering,
crowd in an uproar,
even the Mets fans
applauded...
yes, they did...
“there’s no crying in baseball”
but hankies
and tissues
came out,
there’s no doubt.


For readers who are not from North America, an explanation is perhaps in order. Major League Baseball has just finished its "all-star break" and last night was the All Star Game, with players from the American League (including one Canadian team, the Toronto Blue Jays) and players from the National League competing against one another.

Wikipedia photo
Everyone in attendance at Citi Field, the home park of the New York Mets, and everyone watching on TV, knew Mariano Rivera, the rival New York Yankees' closer intends to retire at the end of this season. We also knew he'd be playing at least one inning in this, his thirteenth and final All Star Game.

Usually, the team comes out onto the field, followed by the pitcher, but last night Mariano came out by himself as his American League teammates stayed behind, watching and applauding the man who has proven to be the greatest closer in the history of baseball.

Wikipedia
Mariano has long been my favourite baseball player outside of the Toronto Blue Jays, and I was thrilled to see him work when we attended the opening of the new Yankee Stadium a few years ago. To me, it's no wonder the first movie quote to come to mind was from a baseball movie, A League of Their Own, in which Tom Hanks' character said it to an all-women's 1943 professional baseball team.


12 comments:

Peggy said...

What a moving scene. I am thankful you gave the explanation though as I know little about baseball -- even though I live in California and have been around baseball all my life. When I first read the poem I thought maybe he came back from cancer or something. (I guess bodies breaking down is where my old mind is going these days. LOL)

Susie Clevenger said...

Nothing like seeing someone playing you know will soon be hanging up his glove. Great piece about your love for the boys of summer.

Unknown said...

ha great post I'm a little embarrassed to say I know little or nothing about baseball - hockey is antother story...

Fireblossom said...

That was really something, wasn't it?

Isadora Gruye said...

Ha ha...yes, I love that line from a League of Their Own. I use it with my team members all the time, "There's no crying in Mortgage, now get back to the customer!" And yes, tis the height of the baseball season, summer and baseball, and beer and peanuts! I admire your playful tone here, thanks as always for posting.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this, Kay. I rarely watch the All-Star game because what's the point? But yes, Rivera's retirement is something HUGE. I remember the mid-80s Mets, their closers like Roger MacDowell and others. One of my favorite key players is that guy who can come out in the clutch and make it work. Of course, my real crushes were always catchers, because you have to be a little nuts to do that gig... and Mookie Wilson, because he could outrun a routine out at first! Thanks for taking me back to my baseball days... And that line, the way Hanks delivers it... OMG, too funny! Amy

kaykuala said...

I'm missing all the fun as I'm not into baseball. Seen on TV but not familiar with names. Seemed very technical apparently! Nicely Kay!

Hank

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
Gotta admit, not a baseball fan - cricket, now... Fully get the senitment though, as when Steve Waugh retired as Australia's captain, I was feeling lost for a long time! YAM xx

Lolamouse said...

Nicely written. I remember that line from the movie, and you've incorporated it perfectly!

Maude Lynn said...

I so sentimental; this kind of stuff gets me every time!

I almost used that same movie line!

Kerry O'Connor said...

Such a moment would have me in tears too!

Ella said...

So much sentiment in your poem! It is touching and I love how you shared this line! Well Done Kay (((hugs)))