Here we go again — I hope

For those who have read my column more than once, you probably already know that I am a San Francisco Giants fan. Like fans of almost any team with the exception of the Yankees, I have endured far too many seasons of disappointment.

It seemed that disappointment was never going to end until the 2010 season when the Giants put together a miraculous run and won their first World Series title in more than 50 years. Last year the Giants didn’t make the playoffs, but they have already clinched the National League West title and are poised for another run.

The Giants have been a surprise this year, especially in the last month. After their arguably best player, Melkey Cabrera, was suspended for 50 games for using banned drugs, and the Dodgers went out and spent as much as it cost to buy a million Dodger Dogs to get some really top-notched players, the unthinkable occurred. The Giants took off and the Dodgers fell flap on their collective, yet expensive, faces.

Baseball is a fun sport but I have a much harder time watching my favorite team play than I do watching my favorite football team. There is just something about watching baseball, especially when the Giants are in the outfield, that makes me nervous. My wife and daughter get a big kick out of me because I either change the channel or leave the room when the Giants are in the outfield. Of course, I constantly sneak a peak to see how they are doing.

Now football, I can watch an entire game. It doesn’t matter who is on offense or who is on defense. A good friend of mine, who just happened to be the circulation manager here a few years ago, had to really suffer Monday night. Paul Kerrigan is a die-hard, and I do mean die-hard, Green Bay Packers fan, cheesehead and all. He had to be so upset with the play calling of officials in the Packs game against Seattle when the refs handed the game to the Seahawks on a silver platter. Those kind of losses stick with you. I can recall plays and calls that cost my high school team a victory, plus several that cost the SF 49ers a win or two.
I, along with millions of other football fans, hope the NFL settles it difference with its regular officials and they return to the playing field. I am not sure fans can endure another week of the replacement refs.

Sports is definitely a nice distraction from the rigors of life and for guys, almost any time sports a good source of conversation. All my best friends are sports fans, most following the same teams I do, but not all, but I tolerate Paul and his Packers but we both tread lightly when the Packers are playing the Niners.

For now, with the Giants in the playoffs, baseball season continues for me. Another World Series title will be nice. I just hope my nerves hold out.

Rick Elkins is editor of the Porterville Recorder. He can be reached at 784-5000, ext. 1040, or by e-mail at relkins@portervillerecorder.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.