Yogi Fully Insured by Hearts Across America

Yogi Berra
Image/Fimho.com

“Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too.”

Thinking of one of the many contradictory head scratching statements we all loved him for, we fondly remember the great Yogi Berra, perhaps the greatest New York Yankee and a true American Classic, who died yesterday at 90.

An All Star catcher with his beloved Yankees, it was Yogi Berra who won more championship rings than any other, and also won as a manager as well, even with a stint with the crosstown New York Mets.

Berra was a Yankee legend to be sure, but with his famous Yogi-isms and wonderful smile, he was beloved by not only the baseball community, but all across America. Berra quit playing the year before I was born, so I never got to see him play.

But I sure knew him from following America's past time from a very early age.  He made me laugh, and sincerely making people laugh is a wonderful trait for anyone to have.

Perhaps his greatest quip was, "It ain't over 'till it's over", is repeated frequently as recently as yesterday in a ball park somewhere.  However, he gave me the greatest enjoyment during his commercial for AFLAC Insurance, which friends and I continuously quote from.

 

God Bless You Yogi!  It ain't over 'till it's over.

#TakeTheCrown

Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

For the first time since winning the 1985 fall classic, the Kansas City Royals are about to take the field in the The World Series, hosting the San Francisco Giants in the first of the best of seven series.

The run to get to this point has been awesome, and in attending my first home Royals game since 1978 back in September, I lay claim to bringing them good luck. But really, this collection of players and coaches exemplify everything you want in a sports team.

While I wish the best for Florida State's own Buster Posey of the Giants, it is 'Husker Alex Gordon I hope will lead the Royals to the world championship.

Husker Cheer, Alex Gordon, Darin Erstad and Herbie Husker

Good Luck to the Royals, a class organization built from within, with a great group of young players representing them. George Brett and I will be cheering them on.

#BE ROYAL, #TAKETHECROWN

Give Them All The Credit

The Kansas City Royals are World Series bound for the first time since 1985, the last time the Royals made the postseason. The 29 year drought is over, and the celebration in the Power & Light District is just beginning.

Kansas City swept the AL East champion Baltimore Orioles 4-0, becoming the first team in history to win eight consecutive playoff games to start the postseason. Outfielder Lorenzo Cain won the MVP trophy.

But during this unimaginable run, it has really been a total team effort.  One moment it is Mike Moustakis blasting a home run, or Jarrod Dyson stealing a base, or Alex Gordon making a highlight reel catch, the next it is lumbering Billy Butler stealing a base, or fleet of foot power hitting Cain bunting to move the runners. Then there is the all around play of emerging superstar Eric Hosmer.

Apparent to anyone watching, this team feeds off one another and is enjoying every minute of it. The team is an excellent example of how a cohesive locker room of people who individually make up a great team.

With the Royals baseball home located at the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex, it is surely appropriate to quote President Truman, who once said "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."

Cain may have appropriately won the MVP, but give them all the credit.  They deserve it.

‪#‎TakeTheCrown, #BeRoyal

Be ROYAL

#Be ROYAL!


Eric Hosmer

For the first time since 1985, behind Eric Hosmer and former 'Husker Alex Gordon, the Kansas City Royals are playoff bound!  Along with George Brett, I celebrate.  #TakeTheCrown

Playing Ball

Derek Jeter

Without question, sports has always been deeply embedded in the fabric of our nation.  Lessons that are learned on the diamond, in the gym and on the gridiron assist participants in all aspects of their life. Discipline, responsibility, teamwork, perseverance, passion, work ethic and sportsmanship are among the many attributes on display.

Last evening at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter played his last home game in Yankee pinstripes in front of an adoring crowd.  Jeter, who had previously announced he would be retiring at seasons end, had been on a farewell tour which ended for the home crowd on this evening threatened by rain.

You see, this was special.  Jeter will not be considered the best Yankee of all time, as there are legends of the first order for this storied franchise, but Jeter is no doubt among the best.  However, it is worth noting that Jeter is representative of all the aforementioned attributes you can find in a player.

With the media focusing on so many stories about players in various sports who  are having difficulties like the rest of society, fans and parents can point to Jeter to see an example of doing it right.  Jeter, an instant Hall of Famer when eligible, is a class act, and what went on last night was story book.

Jeter hit a walk off single to score a run and give the Yankees a victory of AL East Champion Baltimore.  The Orioles players and staff did not seem to mind, as they were taken in by the events of the evening that put a smile on sports fans everywhere.  Jeter thanked and congratulated the Orioles.

For those who embrace the romance of the game, and those who appreciate the example Jeter set in the world of professional sports, we can all tip out hat to one of the best, Derek Jeter.


The Yankees are not my favorite baseball team, but I do like them and have great appreciation for their storied history.  My favorite team is the Kansas City Royals, with whom the Yankees had legendary battles with in the late seventies and early eighties.

It has been quite a long time since Kansas City was relevant in the game, owning the longest post-season drought in MLB, or any major sport for that matter.  But, behind Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer, the long drought appears on the brink of ending.

The Hunt for Blue October. My family and I really enjoyed attending a Kansas City Royals game a couple of weeks ago as they attempt to make the postseason for the first time since 1985. Alex Gordon hit a two run homer to knock of the Texas Rangers.

Optimism is high, and with another victory or two, the Royals will be in postseason.  I hop they can make it. #Be Royal #KCR

Kauffman Stadium at The Harry S. Truman Sports Complex, Kansas City MO

The Right Decision

Many young men are coming face to face with the decision of a lifetime, one which will no doubt play a very significant role in their future. Although I don't usually like the decision, more often than not, the young men are making the right call.

Although I am a casual Major League Baseball fan, college football is my sport, a sport losing several potential All America type players to the hardball. In fact, it seems my teams, Florida State and Nebraska, were sent on a MLB caused coordinated slide.

It appears it all began when Nebraska signed a player from Houston Jefferson Davis to a national letter of intent, who was a first round MLB selection. Carl Crawford is now among the top players in Major League Baseball, moving this past year from the Tampa Bay Rays over to the Boston Red Sox. Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke, signed by Florida State out of Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, MN, spent six years with the Toronto Blue Jays before returning to Florida State and winning the national championship and playing half a decade in the NFL. The Seminoles were stung again when three sport superstar Joe Mauer, remarkably out the same high school as Weinke, never enrolled at FSU, rather becoming the top player on the MLB diamond as a catcher with the hometown Minnesota Twins. While Weinke was never close to achieving the success of Crawford or Mauer on the diamond or in terms of financial compensation, he earned a nice financial foundation playing minor league ball, and post FSU in the NFL.

This year, another decision had to be made. Enter Bubba Starling, a top rated signal caller, who signed with Nebraska although he was certain to be a top draft pick in baseball. Starling was highlighted in a piece by Sports Illustrated earlier this spring. Take a look:



Like Mauer, Starling was selected by his hometown team, the Kansas City Royals, as the fifth pick in the draft. Football at the University of Nebraska or a big paycheck and a chance to play for years with the Royals, significantly lessening the chance of a career ending injury.

As you may suspect, although I think Starling really wanted to play pigskin with the Big Red, he signed on with the Kansas City Royals, reportedly signing a deal worth a guaranteed $7.5 million. Starling made the right decision no doubt. Most 'Huskers are also Royals fans, myself included, and the Royals future is bright as they have a fine young team that will no doubt be enhanced by the skills Starling possess. Starling will be joining Alex Gordon, the NCAA National Player of the Year as a senior baseballer at Nebraska in the Royals outfield.

I join Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini and Cornhuskers nationwide in wishing Bubba Starling all the best. Say Hi to George and Go Big Red!