Sunday Night Thoughts....

• No trick-or-treaters at our house tonight. One of the advantages of an "Over 55" community. Guess we will now have to eat all that candy we bought ourselves.
• Steelers on NBC tonight. World Series Game 4 on Fox. A night made for the remote control.
• I am figuring that the Saints will be hyped up for a national TV game tonight and will be looking to overcome the embarrassment of last week's loss to Cleveland. I'm gonna predict a Saints win tonight.
• Of course, with the way my predictions have gone of late, that could be good news for the Steelers.
• I have not watched any football today, but I was delighted to hear that the Packers defeated the New York RexRyans today. 9-0??? That must have been a scintillating contest.
• I guess the RexRyans will have to now settle for going 14-2.
• Spent that afternoon at the movie theater seeing the movie "Secretariat." Terrific movie. A week or so ago I posted a YouTube clip of the '73 Belmont that Secretariat won by 31 lengths. I didn't think a movie could ever do justice to such a performance, but I really think that the folks at Disney nailed it. See the movie.
• If you are of a certain age and can remember Secretariat's Triple Crown of 1973, you might also remember this remarkable picture (I think it was on the cover of Sports Illustrated):

Enjoy the game tonight and Happy Halloween!!!

Book Reviews: Catching Up with a Couple of Classics

We all know that there are books which are considered "classics" and which are included on almost every standard reading list for American Literature. Somehow, however, there are two classic American novels that somehow eluded me during my Central Catholic and Robert Morris College (now University) careers: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain and "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.

Inspired by Mrs. Grandstander, who chose "To Kill a Mockingbird" when it was her turn to choose for the Stonebrook Village Book Club, I decided to take a crack at this classic, but first, I was going to read Twain's masterpiece.

To Brother Gregorian, Ron Borsch, Dr. Agnes Vardy, and any other of my esteemed literature teachers in my formative years, whose names don't come to me right now, I have to say, "I'm sorry" because I just didn't get Huck Finn. I waded through about a third of the book, but I wasn't seeing what everyone else has seen over the 120+ years since the publication of Huck Finn. I wasn't grasping the life lessons, nor was I seeing a lot of humor for which Twain is famous. It's gotta be me, I realize, but I have to put this one back on the shelf. Perhaps some of my great-nephews and -nieces who are now in or approaching high school can give me some pointers that will make me revisit this work someday, but for now, it is on the Kindle shelf.

On the other hand, I am glad to say that this was most emphatically not the case with "To Kill a Mockingbird." What a terrific book! As everyone no doubt knows, the story takes place in Alabama in the 1930's and is told from the point of view of Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, who goes from age 6 to age 8 in the book, and she is wise way beyond her years. She is the daughter of lawyer Atticus Finch, and in telling about her and her older brother's upbringing she weaves a mesmerizing depiction of that time and place. The story hinges on the trial of a black man accused of the rape of a white woman, and Atticus Finch is appointed to defend the man in this highly segregated and prejudiced town. How everyone acts and reacts to these events is the crux of the story.

At first, I thought the story moved slowly, but after about 60 pages or so, you are drawn into the lives of these people as Scout tells the story. The writing is terrific. There were passages that I found I just had to stop and read aloud. One of the critical blubs on the jacket of the book that we had said that as soon as you finish the book, you want to go back to page one and start all over. I agree. This is a book that I see my self rereading every other year or so, and I really regret that it has taken me 50 years to discover "To Kill a Mockingbird." This truly is a book that everyone should read.

Now, the next task is to see the 1962 movie version of "To Kill a Mockingbird" wherein Gregory Peck won an Oscar portraying Atticus Finch. As I have missed this classic book, I have also missed seeing this classic movie. That error will be rectified within the next week.

To Absent Friends: Book 'em, Danno!

October has not been kind to the, dare I say it, "iconic" TV stars of a bygone era. Earlier this month, we said good-bye to Barbara Billingsley of "Leave It To Beaver" fame, and, just a few days later, "Happy Days'"Tom Bosley. Today I open the obit page in the PG and see that the Grim Reaper has now claimed James MacArthur who played second banana Danny Williams to Jack Lord's Steve McGarrett on "Hawaii Five-O."

MacArther was the last surviving major cast member of the original Five-O troop, and I had read that the producers of the new version of the series wanted very badly to get him to do a cameo role of some kind on the show. Alas, that won't happen now.

While I am sure it wasn't intended to happen this way, the terse line of Steve McGarrett at the end of each show, "Book 'em, Danno", become a national catch phrase that stayed in the lexicon long after the show went off the air in 1980. Hey, it is one on Mike Lange's many famous catch phrases when a Penguin scores a goal. In trying to forge a new identity for the new show, the current producers struggled with whether or not Alex O'Laughlin's McGarrett should tell Scott Caan's Williams to "book 'em, Danno." In the end, they knew that they just HAD to have McGarrett utter these lines in the new series, but they are doing with a bit of a comic twist that I rather enjoy when watching the new Five-O.

It is also fairly well know, and it was noted in the obit, that MacArthur comes from famous adoptive parents: playwright Charles MacArthur and the legendary Helen Hayes. What the obit did not note was that James MacArthur was also married (not sure if the marriage was still in tact) to an actress from a short-lived but rather legendary sitcom of the 1960's. anyone care to tell the reading audience who that was and what role she played?

So, Rest in Peace, James McArthur, and always remember to Book 'em, Danno!

A Dud of a Match-Up

Wow, that Cy Young match-up between Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum last night sure fizzled out. Not exactly Jack Morris vs. John Smoltz, was it? But Cheers for ex-Bucco Freddy Sanchez who shone brightly under the World Series spotlight.

Bring on Game 2 tonight!!

The Fall Classic

Not everyone still views baseball's World Series as America's pre-eminent sporting event anymore, but there are still a few of us around who look forward to the Fall Classic each year, despite two layers of Playoffs leading up to it. Some extra excitement has been added in 2010 due to the fact that two totally unexpected teams, the Giants and Rangers, are facing each other in baseball's showcase event.

I have for the most part usually rooted for the National League entry in the Series each year, but his time, I find myself pulling for the Texas Rangers. There was something about seeing a team and a franchise doing something that they have never done before that makes you pull for them a bit. Plus, they are a good looking ball club. A strong eight man line-up and good starting pitching would make them appear to me to be the favorite to win the Series.

The Giants also bring strong pitching to the table, but I do not believe that they can match-up to the Rangers from top to bottom. Of course, they couldn't match up to the Phillies either, and you saw what happened there.

My pick: the Rangers strong line-up prevails and wins the first World Series in their franchise history. Giants pitching makes it a close Series, but Hamilton-Cruz-Kinsler-Young make the difference over Ross-Posey-Sanchez-Burrell and Company.

Here's what I REALLY wish for, though - a World Series that goes seven games. There hasn't been one since 2002, and, tell me, is there anything better in sports than a Seventh Game in a World Series? Recent years have seen Series' that have been anti-climactic, with five of the last seven Series lasting four or five games. Both the 2010 Rangers and Giants might turn out to be one hit wonders, but that doesn't mean that they can't produce a World Series for the Ages. Let's hope for close games and Game Seven.

Watch but don't bet - The Rangers to take it all.

NBA Tips Off Tonight

Yes, sports fans, the National Basketball Association tips off its 2010-11 season tonight, and The Grandstander is ready to offer his prediction.

After digesting reams of scouting reports, watching all the pre-season games I can, scouring the Internet for information, I predict that the NBA will crown the LOS ANGELES LAKERS as champion come next June.

So, how do you like that for a bold, out-on-a-limb prediction?

I also predict that the team that the Lakers defeat on the NBA Finals will not be the Miami Heat. I couldn't tell you who the Eastern Conference representative will be because I actually haven't digested reams of scouting reports, watched any pre-season games, or scoured the Internet for information. However, since you have asked for a prediction (haven't you?), I will go out on a limb and say that the Lakers will defeat the Chicago Bulls in the Finals.

Check back with me next June.

Tomorrow: I make my call on the World Series.

A Mysterious New Follower

I noted this morning that the Grandstander has a new Follower, and he/she identifies him/herself only as The Legend.

Who is The Legend? I do not know. Can he reveal a hint or two so that The Grandstander can know who this part of his audience is?

Many thanks.