Lisa will be on the links with other celebrities from sports and entertainment August 2nd and 3rd to support Pacific University’s athletic programs. The event will take place at the acclaimed Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club and is hosted by KISS lead guitarist, Tommy Thayer. Lisa and her husband, World Series Champion, Scott Erickson, will be joined by John Daly, Bret Saberhagen, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Eric Karros, Chili Davis, Jaret Wright, Chuck Finley, Geoff Bodine and many others. Contact Pacific University for details.
See Lisa’s Mosaic Art On Exhibition!
Lisa will attend the opening night reception of “Wide Open”, a national juried exhibition that has accepted Lisa’s mosaic, “Malibu Mermaid” into competition on Thursday, July 30th. The gallery is at Sebastopol Center for the Arts in Sonoma County, California. This is Lisa’s first submission since becoming a mosaicist this year. Besides “Malibu Mermaid”, a 36″x24″ mixed media piece, she has created kitchen backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and even a pizza oven using glass, smalti and ceramic mosaic technique. If you live in the Sebastopol area, come meet Lisa at the reception on the 30th. The exhibition runs through September 6th. Call (707) 829-4797 for details. More news to follow on Lisa’s mosaics….
A Wise-Ass Latina Woman
“I would hope that a wise-ass Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion than an old, out of touch, racist, dumb-ass white man.” (Lou Dobbs, Rush Limbaugh, Lindsey Graham, Tom Coburn, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Jeff Sessions, Chuck Grassley, Newt Gingrich, Oren Hatch, Pat Buchanan, Dubya and Dick, etc.)
Okay, so those aren’t the EXACT words of Sonia Sotomayor, but a girl can dream…
Maybe the thought of a Latina succeeding where he had miserably failed was enough to drive Jeff Sessions plumb loco. After all, he crashed and burned in his own attempt at conformation years ago primarily because he was exposed as a bigot. Clearly he’s the perfect choice to lead the charge against a HISPANIC WOMAN. Imagine his fury at seeing Judge Sotomayor answering his preposterous questions regarding a quote taken out of context with composure, intelligence and something akin to the patience that a special needs teacher uses to explain a simple concept to an eight year old with Down Syndrome.
At this point you can lump me into that other stereotype regarding hispanic women, “Fiery Latina”. Throw down “Passionate” too. And “Spicy” while you’re at it.
Frankly, after watching those cranky ol’ (white) men grilling Judge Sotomayor primarily on a line from a speech rather than her DECADES of judicial decisions that clearly show her to be a moderate rather than an “activist” judge, I admit to being pissed off.
Republicans will have some “splainin’ to do” of their own to the Latin community if they don’t want to continue their death march towards extinction. Adios, muchachos.
Watch Lisa on Fox News w/Geraldo Rivera July 25
Lisa will be discussing the issues involved with being a woman in sportscasting. The show airs at 7:00pm PST.
Lisa on Headline News “Issues w/Jane Velez Mitchell” July 23
Lisa will be on Headline News at 4:30 PST to discuss being a women in the sports world with Jane Velez Mitchell.
Lisa’s on Inside Edition July 22 and 23
Catch Lisa on Inside Edition on Wednesday, July 22nd and 23rd (check local listings). She’s being interviewed about what it’s like to be a women in the male dominated world of sports.
A chat with Jim McMahon and John Daly
This Blue State reporter traveled into Red State territory over the last several days and learned a few key things:
- People really do drink moonshine in Kentucky.
- Country music when performed live is really quite enjoyable.
- Folks love Sarah Palin in Tennessee. They really, really love her. Really.
- One can consume more calories in a single meal in the South than in one week of meals in SoCal. I highly recommend the fried chicken, pulled pork with vinegar-based barbeque sauce, mac and cheese, corn bread, fried green tomatoes and sweet tea. This is followed by a warm pecan pie topped with ice cream and a shot of moonshine swallowed directly from a mason jar. Delicious.
I was told that the batch of moonshine broken out for my enjoyment is called “Gramma’s Apple Pie,” and is so strong that if you dip a spoon into the stuff and light a match underneath it, the spoon will melt.
Naturally, I had a shot.
It looked a little like a urine test and smelled like cinnamon. The other local “good stuff” is cherry flavored and looks like Tang.
My journey to the Campbell Chevrolet Celebrity Golf Classic hosted by John Daly and (country music artist) Steve Azar included a stop in Nashville with a show at the Grand Ole Opry.
A bunch of folks I’d never heard of sang up a storm for two hours. My favorite was Heidi Newfield, a pretty blonde who kinda looks like the cheerleader from the TV series “Heroes” and has a hit song called, “Johnny and June.” Apparently, female country stars no longer sport sequins, cleavage, blue eye shadow or big hair, which was disappointing, but the dudes mostly still wear cowboy hats, which is good to know. I have no idea why, but it comforts me.
After a couple of days in Music City, the party heads north to Bowling Green, Ky. and The Club at Olde Stone, home of the 2008 Junior Ryder Cup and one of Golf Week’s “Best New Courses” of 2007. The money raised during the Campbell Chevrolet Celebrity Golf Classic was to benefit the fight against autism.
Among the celebrities were lots of country music friends of John Daly’s, including Colt Ford, Julie Roberts, Larry Stewart, Ira Dean and Ray Scott.
They (and a dozen others) played concerts both Monday and Tuesday night and sang lots of songs I’ve never heard of, but enjoyed immensely. My new fave is a little ditty called, “Trash In My Trailer.”
I so enjoyed the music, and was so caught up in the spirit (and frankly, hung over) from my introduction to “Gramma’s Apple Pie”) that I sat down and penned my own country song. It’s called “The Comeback,” and it’s about an aging pitcher who still wants to play (three guesses who I wrote that song about).
Keith Burns of Trick Pony liked it and is going to “lay down a track” for me. Apparently, this means he’s putting it to music. If I get nominated for a Country Music Award I promise you that I’ll show up wearing sequins, cleavage, blue eye shadow and big hair.
Some athletes were in attendance as well, including Super Bowl quarterback Jim McMahon, two-time Olympic gold medalist Steve Lundquist, recent Ryder Cup champion Kenny Perry and five-time Pro Bowl tight end Wesley Walls.
In between rounds of golf and rounds of beer, I sat down with Daly and McMahon and
asked them my “Seven Standard Questions.”
Lisa G: What was the most memorable moment of your career?
Daly: There are three: Winning the PGA outta nowhere, winning the British Open and then, after a nine-year drought, winning in Torrey Pines in San Diego in 2004.
McMahon: Everybody talks about the Super Bowl, but that wasn’t the highlight of my career. Bad memories for me. I was just happy to get out of New Orleans alive after what happened to me that week. The highlight of my career wasn’t the games, it was hanging out with the guys in the locker room.
Lisa G: What is your proudest personal accomplishment?
Daly: I haven’t had it yet.
McMahon: My four great kids, two boys and two girls. I’ve never had a problem with them (he laughs). They weren’t like me.
Lisa G: If you could be great at a different sport, what would it be?
McMahon: I always wanted to be a baseball player. If my scholarship (to BYU) would’ve been in baseball, I would’ve kept playing. I was an outfielder.
Daly: I’d be a field-goal kicker in the NFL. God knows they need good ones right now.
Lisa G: What’s the biggest misconception about you?
Daly: Pretty much everything. They don’t know me. People that wanna criticize and ridicule me just don’t know me. In the media, the perception of me is not good, but the reality of me is great, and to me, that’s all that matters.
(My observation of Daly over the last couple days is that, as far as I could see, he posed for every photo and signed each autograph request, often balancing a Marlboro and a drink in the other hand.)
McMahon: I really have no idea what people think of me. People tell me all the time that I’m nothing like they thought I’d be. They read too much crap in the newspapers. I like to have a good time -– that’s it.
Lisa G: What are you paying the most attention to right now: The baseball playoffs, the NFL season or the election?
McMahon: The baseball playoffs. I live in Chicago, so both my teams, the Cubs and the White Sox, are out, but I’m happy to see what Tampa Bay did. I’d like to see them win it.
Daly: As far as the election, it doesn’t matter who wins, our country’s screwed. I like Pat Burrell, he’s a good buddy of mine, so I hope Philly wins, but my girlfriend’s from Tampa, so don’t tell her I said that.
Lisa G: In your spare time, you’re most likely doing what?
Daly: Hanging around at home in Arkansas playin’ golf at my club and playin’ music. (Daly jammed with the band on Monday night playing guitar and singing a pretty good version of “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.”).
McMahon: I lay around on my bed, watching TV mostly.
Lisa G: Last question: Beer, wine or moonshine?
McMahon: Beer.
Daly: All of the above.
– Lisa Guerrero
Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, the NBA Finals and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier” and “The George Lopez Show” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive-produced.
Top photo: John Daly hits a tee shot during the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas on Oct. 16, 2008. Credit: Isaac Brekken / Associated Press
Insert photo: Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon waves to Wrigley Field crowd before throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies game in August. Credit: Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press
It seemed like a good idea at the time
The coffee I was sipping while perusing latimes.com this morning almost came out of my nose when I got a load of Last Call and the horrible/fabulous “Ram It” video. Not for the obvious reason that it is possibly the most embarrassing music video ever made, but because I am personally responsible for it.
Let me explain -– and apologize.
From 1983-87 I was a Los Angeles Rams cheerleader. We were known as “The Embraceable Ewes,” the “Los Angeles Rams Cheerleading Entertainers” (that was the official nickname) and the “Less Hot Professional Cheerleaders of Los Angeles” (that was the unofficial nickname).
The Raiderettes were hotter than we were due to their bigger pom-poms.
At that time, besides cheering, I was modeling and beginning an acting career. On a plane home to Los Angeles after shooting a commercial in Atlanta, I sat next to a gentleman who was a video producer. We got talking about what a huge deal the “Super Bowl Shuffle” was for the Bears the year before (1985) and I said wouldn’t it be great if the Rams did a video too?
A couple weeks later, we were at Anaheim Stadium shooting “Ram It.”
Unfortunately, I’m in it. Fortunately, I’m unrecognizable. About 2:45 into the video, I’m the tall skinny blond (!) in the back row, second to the left. By way of explanation, I was a bleached blond with acrylic nails and about 10 pairs of white pumps. It was the ’80s and what can I say? I also loved the Go-Go’s, so sue me.
As I recall, the only starting player of note who refused to participate was Jim Everett, making him look like a genius in retrospect. As bad as “Ram It” truly is, you simply cannot deny the genius musical stylings of Eric Dickerson (4:15 into the video). Spectacular.
On a separate note, who knew that the Rams organization would become a virtual breeding ground for embattled “Monday Night Football” sideline reporters?
The release of the video was met with a lukewarm response, which makes it even more curious that they also released a “Making of ‘Ram It’ -– Behind The Scenes” video. Believe it or not, that’s floating around somewhere too, and it’s even more brutal than the original — and, like, 30 minutes long!
Needless to say, “Ram It” was no “Super Bowl Shuffle.” And, as has been pointed out before, if the players had concentrated more on football than choreography, they might have actually won a Super Bowl themselves. Maybe not.
On a sad note, while watching this video (which I haven’t seen in 15 years) I noticed linebacker Carl Ekern on his motorcycle about the 3:50 mark. In 1990, two years after he retired, he died in an accident near Ridgecrest. He was 36 years old.
I hope “Carl-E” is up there somewhere smiling and rapping in that big football field in the sky.
– Lisa Guerrero
Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, the NBA Finals and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier” and “The George Lopez Show” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive-produced.
Photo at left: Lisa Guerrero interviewing then-Jets Coach Herm Edwards on “Monday Night Football.” Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Guerrero
Photo at right: Eric Dickerson, as part of a 2001 publicity shot for “Monday Night Football.”
A gift for your daughters
It’s that time of year so I’ve been counting my blessings. One of them certainly has been writing this blog at the Fabulous Forum. It’s given me a voice to express my views, but also an opportunity to hear from you … whether you agree with me on a given topic or not.
A lot of you have left your comments here on this board, but even more of you have contacted me on my website to share your feelings in greater depth.
One recent message really touched me and I thought I’d share it with you.
After reading my Oct. 3 “Father’s Day” blog about Joe Biden, I received a message from a father in Seattle. His wife had died of breast cancer last March, leaving him to raise his 7-year-old daughter alone.
He, too, was moved by Biden’s performance during the vice presidential debate. After reading that I had been raised by a single dad, he wrote to ask me for advice on helping him to communicate with his daughter.
I recommended a couple of great books: “Reviving Ophelia“ by Mary Pipher and “Motherless Daughters“ by Hope Edelman.
He wrote back a couple of days ago to ask about Christmas gift ideas for his daughter. After much thought, I came up with a gift list for those of you with young daughters who may have expressed an interest in sports.
A good deal of research shows that girls who get involved in sports at an early age are less likely to try drugs, cigarettes and alcohol. Athletes also have a greater chance of finishing high school and are more likely to avoid teen pregnancy (a subject that “Reviving Ophelia“ explores at length).
If your daughter loves movies (and who doesn’t), why not give her a collection of “girl power” DVDs to help develop her growing interest in sports?
Try these (for teens):
Gracie (2007, PG-13) – It’s about a young girl who wants to compete with the boys on the soccer field, and is loosely based on actress Elisabeth Shue (who played on several boys’ soccer teams in New Jersey).
The Longshots (2008, PG) – The true story of a girl who became the first female to play in a Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history.
Ice Castles (1978), PG) — A teenage figure skater overcomes adversity to realize her dreams.
A League of Their Own (1992, PG) – Madonna and Geena Davis play in a professional women’s baseball league during World War II.
The Next Karate Kid (1994, PG-13) – Stars Hilary Swank as a troubled teenager who, through karate, copes with the loss of her parents.
For younger girls:
Quarterback Princess (1983, not rated) – A girl quarterback, played by Helen Hunt, wins over her team and the entire town.
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005, PG) – Dakota Fanning plays a girl who saves an injured race horse.
National Velvet (1945) — The classic about a boy (Mickey Rooney) and a girl (Elizabeth Taylor) and a horse.
Moondance Alexander (2008, G) — Yet another movie about a girl and a horse -– this one features an appearance by figure skater Sasha Cohen.
The Longshots (2008, PG) – The true story about a girl who became the first female to play in a Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history.
These lists got me thinking about compiling a list of my Top 10 Chick Sports Flicks (for grown-up girls). Feel free to send us your ideas if I’ve left your favorite out.
Sports films about women are few and far between, unfortunately, so I’ve reached back quite a few decades to round out my list.
10. Bring It On (2000) –- I’m a sucker for cheer competitions, being a former rah-rah myself.
9. The Other Side of the Mountain (1975) –- The true story of ski champ Jill Kinmont. This cannot be viewed without a box of Kleenex. I’m warning you.
8. The Cutting Edge (1992) — Two words for ya: Toe. Pick.
7. Wilma (1977) –- The true story of Olympic track star Wilma Rudolph. Also marks the film debut of 23-year-old Denzel Washington.
6. National Velvet (1945) -– This film won two Oscars and stars and 11-year-old Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney. Classic.
5. Bend It Like Beckham (2002) -– The reason little American girls became aware of David Beckham (and big American boys became aware of Keira Knightley).
4. Heart Like a Wheel (1983) –- Starring an amazing Bonnie Bedelia as Shirley Muldowney, the first female top-fuel drag racing champion.
3. A League of Their Own (1992) –- This classic airs this weekend on guess which network:
A. ESPN
B. Fox Sports Net
C. Oxygen
The answer is C. Duh.
2. Girlfight (2000) –- Michelle Rodriguez is slightly more intimidating in her boxing picture than I am in mine. She wins.
1. Million Dollar Baby (2004) –- One of the best sports films ever, regardless of gender. Won four Academy Awards, including best picture. Scoreboard, Clint Eastwood. And Morgan Freeman. And Hilary Swank…
– Lisa Guerrero
Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, the NBA Finals and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier” and “The George Lopez Show” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive-produced.
Photo, left: Michelle Rodriguez in “Girlfight.” Credit: Andrea Morini / Screen Gems/Sony Pictures.
Photo, right: Lisa Guerrero
Comeback or come back home
Tuesday, a pitcher who once signed a Major League Baseball contract for $32 million signed a $6,500 deal with Aguilas de Mexicali and was happy to do so.
That, of course, was after he was asked to try out. So he woke up at 5 a.m. on Tuesday and drove six hours to Calexico to prove he can still throw a baseball.
The man who tossed the first no-hitter in the Metrodome threw 40 pitches off the mound at El Nido Stadium to earn the privilege of starting his first game in more than three years. It will be this weekend against the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, and he’ll take an eight-hour bus ride to get there.
The last time he earned a paycheck as a professional baseball player was in 2006. He was a New York Yankee.
For the last 24 months, he has been working his way back to the place where he can compete again as a starting pitcher, something he hasn’t done since a frustrating and injury-plagued season in 2005 as a Dodger.
In the past, the goal was to get to the World Series. In fact, in 1991, he won one.
This time around he wants to reach the Caribbean World Series and earn an invitation to spring training.
As a sports fan, I understand how difficult this will be for a 40-year-old with a couple of surgeries under his belt and who had been bouncing around the league at the end of his career.
As his wife, I couldn’t be prouder.
Right now, you may be sitting at your computer, rolling your eyes and grumbling about how these “old” athletes simply can’t let go. Why don’t they just retire, play golf and collect a pension? Do they need the money, the attention, the adrenaline rush?
Probably a lot of a little of all of the above.
Scott Erickson just loves to play baseball.
Truth is, if you could ditch your job, that suit and that computer for a chance to lace up your spikes, pull on your glove and play a game for a living, you’d do it so fast there would be a skid mark next to your desk.
Since 2006, Scott’s been preparing for this last shot. He’s been in the gym 2 1/2 hours a day, six days a week. He hasn’t eaten cheese or butter, nor has he touched a French fry.
He has a MetRx shake every morning for breakfast and skips dessert at night. He’s in better shape now than he was at 35, and has added another pitch to his arsenal.
Once a sinker/slider guy with a mid-90s fastball, Scott never had a changeup … didn’t need it. In the last year, while working out with the Pepperdine and UC Santa Barbara baseball teams, he developed one, spending the last six months getting comfortable with his new grip.
His fastball has been gaining velocity recently, and by adding the changeup, he’s hoping to fool batters better than he did in the past. We’ll see.
His new teammates include former Angel Benji Gil, several young American players and vetran pitcher Juan Acevedo. Scott, at 40, will be the oldest player on the roster.
He is thrilled.
So, Mexicali it is. I’ll join him next week, and we’ll be there until after the holidays. If we’re lucky, we’ll be there through the Caribbean World Series in January.
His 17-year career may end this month, once and for all, in an Aguilas uniform just south of the border.
Or it could be the first step on the long road north to a comeback.
– Lisa Guerrero
Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, the NBA Finals and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier” and “The George Lopez Show” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive-produced.
Photo (top): Scott Erickson. Credit: Mark Duncan / Associated Press
photo (inset): Lisa Guerrero. Credit: Lisa Guerrero
He’s just not that into you
I have a girlfriend who will believe anything.
At 35 and old enough to know better, she’ll date the wrong guys, put up with rude and selfish behavior, then believe their pathetic excuses when they inevitably let her down.
She once caught a guy cheating on her and later forgave him, buying his excuse that was just being “young and stupid.”
Sound familiar?
The recent “revelation” that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and his admission/confession/forgiveness-gravel on ESPN reminded me of every unfaithful dude who has to say “I’m sorry” but only because he was caught.
I finally got sick of hearing about these jerks who broke my friend’s heart, so a couple of years ago I bought her the book, “He’s Just Not That Into You.” It was recently developed into the film with the same title.
Basically it’s supposed to help desperate women read the signals from men who are clearly not interested (or are toxic) instead of constantly making excuses for them and expecting these guys to be Prince Charming instead of the frog that they quite obviously are.
One seemingly obvious bit of advice is, “He’s Just Not That Into You … If He’s Cheating On You.”
Which brings me to you, sports fans.
Alex Rodriguez didn’t just cheat on baseball, or the record books, or the Yankees, or his teammates or opponents. He cheated on you.
You are the one who pays his salary (one way or the other) but more important, you are the one who pays him the attention he desperately craves.
With ticket prices at the new Yankee Stadium ranging from $500 to $2,500 behind home plate and $75 to $100 in the front part of the outfield, his team is probably willing to forgive and forget in order to get fans to fork out and sell out.
Just like the woman who makes ridiculous excuses for her jerk of a man, how much longer are sports fans going to overlook the boorish behavior of the athletes they adore?
As I told my girlfriend, “Kick ‘em to the curb.”
– Lisa Guerrero
Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, the NBA Finals and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier” and “The George Lopez Show” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive-produced.
Top photo: Alex Rodriguez stretches on the practice field during spring training today. Credit: Mary Altaffer / Associated Press
From the bottom of my heart
The Fabulous Forum went up last Wednesday, and in that short amount of time I have insulted, offended or ticked off the following:
- T.J. Simers
- Sarah Palin
- Moose hunters
- Hugh Millen
- Tony Romo
- People who like to breed a lot
- John Mayer
- Patrons of Taco Bell
- Snowmobilers
- People who enjoy instant replay
- John McCain
- Al Davis
- The Patriots (early ’90s version)
- The Raiders (current version)
- Dennis Rodman
- Writers who disapprove that I was once in Playboy
- Readers who disapprove that I was once in Playboy
- Dick MacPherson
- Hockey moms
- Jobless people who live in their parents’ basement, furiously sending missives because I’m a meanie who called them out for being fair-weather-cheering, chowder-soup-slurping, whining fans (Note to you –- please re-read the title of that column.)
- Fat sportswriters
- Republicans
- All of New England
In other words, it’s been a very good week. If I have failed to offend you yet, I apologize. I’m sure to do so in the weeks to come.
My Monday was spent on the 10th tee at Saticoy Country Club soaking up the rays, smiling for photos and sipping mojitos. (Anyone notice that I mention alcohol a lot in my columns? Also add prohibitionists to the above list.)
It was the Lisa Guerrero Golf Classic to benefit the Salvation Army’s Medical and Dental Clinic of Oxnard/Port Hueneme. The patients are primarily the uninsured and underinsured Latino community of Ventura County.
The event was as enormous success. Tens of thousands of dollars were raised, 100% of which goes to the Salvation Army. Pretty amazing in today’s economy.
Thanks to all of the golfers, sponsors, volunteers and, primarily, Cherie Roberts, Eric and Cheryl Lo, and special guests Tommy Thayer of KISS, Major League pitchers Bret Saberhagen, Jaret Wright, Brian Lawrence and Scott Erickson (yes, I made him attend … great course, great cause, I didn’t have to twist his arm).
Mark your calendars for the next one -– Oct. 19, 2009.
Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, NBA championships and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier,” “The George Lopez Show,” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the family film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive produced.
Father’s Day
From the moment little boys first lace up their cleats, break in their gloves and head off to practice they are taught to play hard, listen to their coaches and, above all else, don’t cry.
When they strike out swinging, drop the ball in center field or scrape their knee sliding into third, they are warned not to shed a tear.
Crying is for girls. Or for sissies.
Boys hear stuff like, “Big boys don’t cry” or “Take it like a man” or “There’s no crying in baseball.” Americans, especially, don’t like our athletes displaying much emotion –certainly not tears.
In fact, Latin ballplayers, particularly pitchers, are often derided for being too emotional on the mound. And how about those crazy European soccer players? They flop around like drama queens and even go so far as to weep on the pitch after a win or loss.
Of course, this makes sense. An athlete who can control his emotions and focus solely on the task at hand can concentrate on getting rid of the ball calmly during a blitz or getting the next batter out after having given up a home run. After all, these guys can’t break down after a sack or a missed jump shot. Suck it up, move on.
Because sports is such an important part of our identity as a nation, its lessons and culture bleed over into other parts of American life as well.
Like politics.
Last night’s vice presidential debate was anticipated like a heavyweight prize fight. Pundits discussed “the matchup,” who would deliver the most significant “blows” and would there be a “knockout?” Scores are kept, playbooks prepared and, eventually, one candidate would be deemed “the winner.”
It was a great surprise then when the most significant moment of the night came not when the woman showed up and talked tough, but when the man showed emotion and choked up. It was an honest, unscripted and heart-wrenching display that hardly ever happens in politics, much less on live TV.
Joe Biden defended his paternal love by saying that “just because I am a man” he wouldn’t understand the devastation of possibly losing a child in a life-threatening situation. He was referring to the tragic car accident that killed his wife and daughter and left both of his sons seriously injured.
In 1972, a similar display of emotion ended Edmund Muskie’s presidential campaign. Voters didn’t respond well to his perceived lack of strength while defending his wife from political attacks.
But interestingly in last night’s debate, quite the opposite was true for Biden. The undecided voters in both the CNN and CBS polls scored that moment incredibly high for the senator from Delaware. That moment was particularly moving for fathers and those of us that were raised by single dads.
My mom died of cancer when she was 29 years old and left my father a young widower faced with raising my little brother and I alone. We were 8 and 6. When I get done writing this, I’m going to call my dad to ask if that was as moving for him as it was for me.
It’s unfair to assume that women have the monopoly on parental love or concern or even emotion.
I hope that while America’s sons enjoyed watching the Boys in Blue potentially seal the deal for the series, they were able to flip the channel and see a man whose brief emotional moment may have sealed the deal for the election.
Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, NBA championships and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier,” “The George Lopez Show,” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the family film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive produced.
Top photo: Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) is overcome by emotion during the vice presidential debate Thursday night. Credit: David McNew / Getty Images
Time to end this monkey business?
All in all it’s been a rough few days for the monkeys.
On Friday night, the Angels’ Rally Monkey let down the home crowd in Anaheim. Although the team triumphed Sunday night in Boston, you can’t credit the monkey unless he sneaked into Jared Weaver’s suitcase.
On Saturday, John McCain’s rally monkey, Sarah Palin, popped up in Carson. Fresh off of her victory over herself at the debate, her campaign let Palin out of the cage to rev up the fan base.
Only problem was that, according to an Associated Press analysis, the lady maverick made some “racially tinged” remarks about Barack Obama. Someone might want to inform Sarah that although comments like that may play well in Wasilla, here in Southern California we celebrate diversity along with divisional championships.
Now back to the other primate.
It pains me to write this because I’m a fan of the Angels. Having grown up in San Diego, then Huntington Beach, and finally settling in Los Angeles, I root for every SoCal team. I also love the Rally Monkey.
Through the years I have purchased several of them. The current one smells like stale beer, has cotton candy stuck in his fur and lives in my closet standing vigil over my shoe rack.
But it may be time to put the Rally Monkey out to pasture. (Or Rain forest? Zoo? Jungle Cruise at Disneyland?) He’s just not performing well in the postseason anymore. Since 2000 he’s done an admirable job overall and has a higher approval rating during this same span than that other monkey in the White House.
There’s no denying that he was once a part of some historic, come-from-behind-victories at the Big A (yes, I still call it that and the Angels will always be the California Angels to me).
Last month, my husband and I had dinner in New York with Johnny Damon and his wife, Michelle. The subject of the Rally Monkey came up –- don’t ask me why –- and he said that the Yankees “fear him.”
Derek Jeter told Johnny that while in the dugout during the 2002 ALCS, several members of the team were watching the scoreboard in Anaheim during a Rally Monkey video. Derek stepped in front of them and warned his teammates to avert their eyes. “Don’t look at the monkey, whatever you do, don’t look at the monkey.” They laughed him off, watched the video anyway and the Angels defeated the Yankees three games to one and the rest was history.
Johnny told us that he believes in the power of the primate.
But has Rally lost his monkey mojo? And why? Is it his age (what’s 8 in monkey years?)? Could it be a woman? A lack of focus? Global warming? I guess for ol’ times sake, if the Halos can pull off another stunner in Beantown, we should give Rally one more chance. So, for now, I’ll get off the monkey’s back and if we’re lucky, he’ll get off Vlad’s.
Lisa Guerrero has covered Super Bowls, NBA championships and the World Series, along with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. As an actress, she has appeared on “Frasier,” “The George Lopez Show,” and as Billy Baldwin’s long-suffering wife in the family film “A Plumm Summer,” which she executive produced.
Photos: Top: Rally Monkeys were on hand during an April 16 game at Angel Stadium. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Associated Press. Insert: Lisa Guerrero.
Lisa On E!
Check out Lisa on True Hollywood Stories; Baseball Wives July 10th.
Lisa will be featured in this E! network special first airing on Friday July 10th at 10 pm E.S.T. She is joined by other baseball wives including Laura Posada and Jenny Finch. Should be interesting….
Hosting “Artistic License”
Lisa, an animal lover, emcees the Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA fundraiser.
Held on June 27th, this art auction to benefit homeless and abandoned animals was a huge success! Lisa was the host of the event held at the Hoecker estate in Pasadena that featured dozens of artists and raised thousands of dollars for the Pasadena Animal League.
Although Lisa prefaced her remarks by saying “I really love my husband”, she went on to joke about the difference between dogs and husbands to the delight of the crowd of 400 animal lovers. Some of her examples;
“My dogs don’t mind my morning breath…I can’t say the same about my husband,
My dogs don’t mind my credit card bills…I can’t say the same about my husband,
My dogs love my cooking…I can’t say the same about my husband,
My dogs will watch The Real Wives Of New Jersey with me….I can’t say the same about my husband,
My dogs will sit, stay and fetch for me….I can’t say the same about my husband.”
A great time was had by everyone attending this wonderful event!