A few thoughts on a rainy Memorial Day weekend along with a tribute to heroes of the past:
During a conversation with a few friends last week the subject of Major League Baseball arose regarding travel and accommodations for road games. To say making “The Show” has its benefits in addition to a lucrative salary schedule is almost an understatement! Here are a few perks of which you might not be aware:
—MLB teams travel an average of 40,000 miles per season on chartered commercial airliners, the Reds flying on a Delta 757 throughout the campaign. Only two teams, according to my research, own their planes. The Tigers and National Hockey League Red Wings share a plane as they are owned by the same family. Likewise, the Astros and NBA Rockets utilize the same aircraft.
—All teams stay at first-class hotels while on the road. Each player is given an individual room with access to 24-hour room service and up to $117 per day in meal money, with all expenses paid by the teams.
—All MLB clubhouses feature full-time chefs and assistants who provide both pre- and postgame meals that are approved by nutrition experts and dietitians.
—Each player receives a designated number of complimentary tickets for family and friends to every single game.
These are just a few examples of the lifestyle afforded the “best of the best”. When you consider the odds of making it to the big leagues it makes you appreciate the skill level of those who put on a major league uniform!
Good luck to area athletes who qualified for regional competition in track and field after district meets were held this past week. For a list of those who moved on consult the OHSAA website. Meanwhile softball advances to the regional or “Sweet Sixteen” level in each of the seven divisions. Locally, Troy and Northmont move on in D-II; Greenville and Tipp meet Wednesday at Pleasant Hill Newton in D-III; Arcanum and Miami East advance in D-IV; defending state champion Tri-Village takes on Fayetteville-Perry in D-VI; and Covington seeks a return to the Final Four in D-VII.
Area schools advancing in district play in baseball include Troy in D-I; Tipp and Greenville in D-III with the Wave facing number-one seed Butler Wednesday;
Arcanum and Versailles in D-V; Ansonia in D-VI; and Newton, Russia, and MIssissinawa Valley in D-VII. Again check the OHSAA site for times and places.
A few quick hitters:
—The tragic death of NASCAR star Kyle Busch at age 41 has been tentatively attributed
to severe pneumonia which developed into systemic sepsis. A two-time NASCAR Cup
Series champion he’s a sure Hall of Fame nominee. An unfortunate and untimely demise
of a talented driver.
—The Indianapolis 500 was being held after this column was submitted, an event which, at least for me, marks the beginning of the summer sports season. Here are two trivia questions for you—Jim Nabor, television’s beloved Gomer Pyle, was also the legendary singer of the unofficial anthem of the 500, “Back Home Again in Indiana” from 1972 to 2014. His replacement, since 2017, is Jim Cornelison, accompanied as always by members of the Purdue University All-American Marching Band. Nabors was a graduate of what university and Cornelison is also known as the “singing voice” of what professional sports franchise?
—Everyone knows of Greenville Lady Wave softball coach Jerrod Newland and the highly successful program he oversees. But you should know that his freshman son Drew is a talent to watch as the young pitcher has gained confidence with each outing over the course of the baseball season. His latest outing was a complete game two-hit gem with ten strikeouts in a 2-1 victory over Dayton Carroll in the opening game of the district tournament. Keep your eye on Drew over the next few years, he could be a good one!
—If you get the chance, check out the latest “Talk of the Town” episode on MyCountyLInk. It’s a program about EcoSox, a new small manufacturing business located in Greenville where they produce over 120,000 pairs of socks yearly. I think you’ll find it interesting!
The late Jim Nabors was an alumni of the University of Alabama while Jim Cornelison has sung the National Anthem and “O Canada” at Chicago Blackhawks games since 2007.
Finally, these excerpts from a Memorial Day tribute written by my brother, Colonel Kirk G. Warner, USAR, Retired:
“250 years ago, America officially declared its independence. The American Revolution spanned eight years, 104 blood-drenched months to be exact. Conservative estimates placed American deaths at over 30,000, meaning approximately one of every sixteen of military age died while bearing arms.
This is a special year to provide a tribute to these Revolutionary War heroes as they lay in humble graves from the hills of Massachusetts to the swamps of Georgia. This Memorial Day is their day. It is a day to recognize and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. “Valor rests with them”.”
As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend in many ways, let’s not forget the true meaning of the holiday and the sacrifices of the many over the years. Have a safe and memorable weekend.
