My oblivious heart broke today. The boys in blue are now out of the World Series run. Growing up as an LA sports fan has it's ups and downs.
I have cheered for the Raiders and the Rams. Now that both teams are gone USC Trojans are my football team.
Being a Kings fan has been rough. I got my heart broken in the 90s and then suffered through some rough seasons. I fully admit that when they won the cup in 2012 I cried tears of joy.
I can remember watching the Lakers on our sony tv with the wood panelling. I was raised in the era of Showtine Lakers. Magic, Kareem, Big game James, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper. They were THE team. I have stuck by them though the highs and the lows (Cedric Ceballos, that was rough. Eddie Jones, you will always be one of my favorite Lakers). RIP to Chick Hearn. I miss him every season. He is still forever the voice of Laker basketball to me.l
But the Boys in Blue. They have caused me the most heartache. Pops doesn't really like baseball, but because they are the LA team, we watched them. Vin Scully is the soundtrack of summer baseball. I was only 1 when the Dodgers won in 1981, but I still remember 1988. I remember kneeling in front of that tv with wood paneling and seeing Kirk Gibson's homer. Our townhouse shook. I heard all my neighbors cheering. It was sports happiness in its perfect form.
As a child I didn't get to go to Dodger games, but I've made up for it since. Pops would get discounted or free tickets from his work and I would always take advantage of it. Every time we drive into Chavez Ravine it feels like coming home. Sitting in Dodgers stadium for a game is special. In 2009 I went to a couple of playoff games. They broke my heart then. Afterwards we had to deal with the McCourt drama. This year, this year felt special.
Koufax passed the torch to Kershaw. It felt like magic was in the air and in the stands! (Yes I went there!) Even Vin seemed to get misty at what he was witnessing.
But then today happened and the boys in blue did it again. They broke my heart. I am so sad, but also thankful for an amazing season. This team was last in June and then they turned it around to make it to the NLCS.
My oblivious heart hurts, but it still bleeds blue. Forever Blue. Go blue. Dodgers.