Mistakes 10/10/04

I tried to watch Saturday Night Live last night and just couldn’t stay awake after a tough baseball game (no, not the Braves-Astros, but my high school guys!) and a delightful post-game debriefing with friends. It appears there was a wonderfully insightful parody of the second presidential debate that included that now famous “three mistakes” last question. What it brought to light was the amazing opportunity Gibson offered to Kerry, and Kerry’s failure to seize the chance to simply answer with three of Bush’s mistakes, say thank you and sit down. While Kerry’s debate performance was otherwise strong and the world got a clear view of FURIOUS GEORGE, it’s too bad Kerry missed a delicious chance to end the debate with a knock out punch (Mistake: Kerry). A word to Kerry, Edwards, Bush and Cheney: Pick three mistakes now because this question isn’t going away. When George Stephanopoulos asked Edwards the question on “This Week” this morning, Edwards only had two mistakes at the ready, although he very graciously said he was sure there were plenty more if he had a little time to think (Mistake: Edwards). Well, guys, I hate to have to tell you this, but you’ve all had time to think about this question, and although, as politicians, it goes completely against your nature to admit your mistakes, this time around you are going to be expected to do so. Cokie Roberts (also on “This Week”) suggested this inability to acknowledge one’s mistakes might be a gender issue, not limited to these four men running for office. It’s a tantalizing thought, and Kerry’s insistence on living consciously, evaluating decisions as he goes and making corrections when appropriate, rather than charging ahead blind repeating mistakes like the guy who’s too stubborn to ask for directions when he’s lost, has to have helped his position with at least one segment of the electorate: women. This woman is thinking not just about politics this weekend, but also about baseball. My little baseball team is in the middle of a two game weekend. We were short players last night and lost in a close game played without our catchers, and now face this evening’s games against a better opponent, having spent our best pitchers in last night’s loss (Mistake: Sophmom). In a time honored baseball tradition, I’m praying for rain. I have a long-time youth baseball friend who is fond of saying, “Baseball is a cruel mistress.” Whether they are his words or a quote of some famous baseball pundit, I don’t know, but it’s the truth. Well, that cruel mistress is never more evident than in the fall, when the season pares down to fewer and fewer teams (I’m talking about the big boys now, the pros), and one by one, the rest are eliminated and must pack their cleats and go home for the long winter without baseball (or to the Dominican Republic). Today the white-hot Houston Astros have a chance to send the Atlanta Braves home for the winter. It’s something the Astros have never done. As a long-time Braves fan, the pre-game nervousness of wishing for just one win on the road in the post season, to bring the contest home to do or die, is a very familiar one. It’s hard not to like the Astros, but today what I want is just one more game before the season is over. Go Braves!