On The Fly

It’s back. Baseball—yes, baseball ! If you’re someone who finds themselves inexplicably drawn to this peculiar ritual, let’s be honest with each other: it’s a bit odd, right? I mean, 162 games. That’s a lot of hot dogs, a lot of standing around, and a lot of grown men in oddly tailored trousers spitting with remarkable precision. And yet, here we are, poised on the precipice of another season. Thursday, March 26, 2026, to be precise—Opening Day. It’s a curious thing, this Opening Day. You walk into a stadium, or turn on the TV, and suddenly, everyone is infected with a highly contagious strain of . . . Optimism . It’s a spectacular form of collective amnesia. All of last year’s fumbles, the endless losing streaks, the existential dread of watching your bullpen implode in the eighth inning—poof. Gone. It’s entirely replaced by a wide-eyed, childlike belief that this year, finally, the baseball gods will smile upon us. The Cycle of Hope and Despair As a Cubs fan, I know this cycle intim...

In this episode, The 162-Game Exhale — and the Birth of a Cubs Legend There’s a hush in the baseball world on Game 162 — a collective breath drawn in and slowly released. Scoreboards stop flipping. Dugouts empty. For six months, the game has been our steady heartbeat, pulsing from the cherry blossoms of Tokyo in March to the crisp, playoff-charged winds of late September. And now, as the regular season exhales, baseball fans everywhere pause to absorb the story we’ve just lived. For me, that story has been deeply personal. This season unfolded in the rhythms of my daily life. It was the summer soundtrack echoing beneath the constant turmoil of politics and sensational headlines. It was a handful of carefully chosen ballpark pilgrimages stitched together with countless nights in front of MLB.TV. And at the center of it all, for a lifelong Cubs fan like me, it revolved around one name — a young center fielder who turned hope into history: Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 2025 season didn’t begin...

Here we are; it’s Saturday. A day of leisure and the gentle art of doing nothing. Yet, it’s the season openers I'm attempting to follow in baseball, a sport resembling slow performance art with men crouching in the batter's box, their faces masked in concentration as they coax a tiny white sphere to glory. It’s early in the season, and everyone is trying to find their rhythm with those first few hits while swinging for the fences. I'm tracking two games: the Angels and the Cubs. It feels like herding cats while solving a Rubik's Cube blindfolded! Early in the season, the rosters showcase a mix of new faces. Players eagerly pursue their first hit and a home run–the thrilling moment they circle the bases, signifying the actual start of the season. Outside, the wind whips the trees restlessly. The sun plays peek-a-boo, offering brief glimpses before hiding behind grumpy clouds. Like me, it's a day that can't decide its mood. Inside the house is a study in quiet d...

In this episode,  Opening Day Magic & the Promise of 162 . . . It’s back, baseball–yes, baseball! If you’re like me, someone who finds themselves inexplicably drawn to this peculiar ritual, let’s be honest- it’s a bit odd, right? I mean, 162 games. One hundred and sixty-two. That’s a lot. There’s a lot of hot dogs, a lot of standing around, and a lot of men in oddly tailored trousers spitting. And yet, here we are, poised on the precipice of another season, Thursday, March 27, 2025, to be precise– Opening Day . It’s a curious thing, this Opening Day. You walk into a stadium, and suddenly, everyone is filled with . . . O ptimism . You know, it’s a form of collective amnesia. All the previous year’s fumbles and foibles, the endless losing streaks, the existential dread of watching your team implode – all of it disappears. Replaced by a sort of wide-eyed, childlike belief that this year, finally, this year will be different. As a Cubs fan, I know it well, this cycle of hope and d...

In this episode – Baseball is Back . . .   I must confess I'm a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs. Who else but a true fan would willingly watch a Spring Training baseball broadcast on The Marquee Sports Network, especially when it's one of their first broadcasts? Casual baseball fans would say, “It's a waste of time; these games don't mean a thing.” I disagree. It's an opportunity to sit back, enjoy the rhythm and sounds of the game, and reminisce.  Living in Southern California, we have several baseball teams to choose from, including the San Diego Padres, the Angels of Anaheim, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and, with a road trip, the San Francisco Giants. People ask me, why the Cubs? The answer is simple: My Dad was a Cubs fan (everyone called him Doc) , and baseball was a big part of my childhood. The sounds of baseball were everywhere - on the barbershop radio – while playing baseball with the Heller boys and at the local ball diamond where I watched my Dad play. So thi...

Podcast  – The Barber Shoppe . . . No man is rich enough to buy back the past.” – Oscar Wilde. With baseball still on hold, that quote certainly rings true, however, vivid memories at unexpected times can flood the present. Driving home from an errand the other night, I happened to turn the car radio to AM 570 and heard this, “Its time for Dodger baseball.” That iconic start to a game on the radio from announcer Vin Scully. “How is this possible,” I thought? There are no baseball games right now. And Vin Scully is retired! That familiar voice on the radio however immediately took me back . . . Cuba, Il., the early 1960s, Main Street Barber Shop. You see, as a young boy, my first memory of Major League Baseball was not a game on television or a visit to a Major League park. The “game” was always background noise, from an old Zenith  AM radio, on a green shelf, in our local barbershop, tuned to 720 WGN Chicago. Monthly, my father would take my brothers and me for our hai...

There’s a special tie to Baseball history that continues to thrill fans of the game, especially in October. This year I’m torn. Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, or Astros? If you’ve been watching the 2017 MLB playoffs it’s been a treat so far. Readers of this blog know by now I’m a dedicated Cubs fan, however . . .  First of all, there’s Jose Altuve, the Astros 5′ 6″, 165 lb. sensation, what a joy to watch. He plays the game with reckless abandonment. Will he hit a home run, steal a base to manufacture a run, or simply fly around the bases from first to score the winning run? He’s currently batting .466 in the playoffs and has captured the hearts of baseball fans everywhere. Don’t believe me, just tune into any ALCS game this season and listen to the broadcasters revel in his accomplishments. In complete contrast is the Yankee Rookie sensation Aaron Judge, 6′ 7″, 282 lbs., built for power and speed. With an unassuming smile, and calm demeanor he goes about his business professi...

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Catchers are squatting, and pitchers reporting - you be of good cheer.  “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Hah, you thought it was Andy Williams singing about Christmas. Nope, for millions of baseball fans Spring Training rings in The National Pastime. A time of renewed hope and fresh starts. The season (for me) officially kicks off Monday, April 3, 2017, 1:15 pm (PST) with the Los Angeles Dodgers battling the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. With 162 games to play, 30 teams step confidently into opening day with renewed hope. Yes, I’m still ecstatic about the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs! Go Cubs go! Ok, I’m a California resident but a die hard Cubs fan at heart. However, the Dodgers have always held a special place in my baseball loyalties. I’ll admit my spring ritual is to begin each season listening to a game on the radio with play-by-play announcer Vince (Vin) Scully broadcasting. This year however, ...

The Chicago Cubs are World Series Champions! Honestly, did you ever think that was something you could say in your lifetime? Admittedly last night when the Cubs took game seven with an 8-7 Win over the Cleveland Indians my first thought, “Well Dad, they did it - finally the Cubs win the World Series. Wish you were here to see it.” But it was much more than that . . .  The names and faces of every Cubs fan I’ve known since boyhood exploded into my mind; Cocky Lyons , my fathers barber, The Heller boys, our neighbors where I played baseball as a small boy, Ole’ Tom, who ran the town pool hall, and so many more. The Cubs, back then, were a team we could only listen to on Super Station WGN Chicago. That was over 50 years ago. But every season we listened, and prayed that someday the Cubs would be victorious. For those who follow this blog you’ve read many of my baseball ramblings as a fan of this great game. And yes, this historic game seven was a most exciting game. L...

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Catchers are squatting, and pitchers reporting - you be of good cheer.   “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Hah, you thought it was Andy Williams singing about Christmas.    Nope, for millions of baseball fans Spring Training rings in The National Pastime. A time of renewed hope and fresh starts. The season (for me) officially kicks off Monday, April 4, 2016, 7:05 pm (PST) with the Los Angeles Dodgers battling the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. With 162 games to play, 30 teams step confidently into opening day with renewed hope. Is this year "Next Year" for the Cubs? Ok, I’m a die hard Cubs fan at heart. Did anyone catch Bill Murray playing the 2016 Pebble Beach ProAm wearing Cubs golf slacks? John Daly would have been proud. Yes, every baseball fan has their special team. In California alone we have five teams to choose from: The Los Angeles Dodgers, Angels of Anaheim, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, an...