Griff: Who Says You Can’t Go Home Again?

Home is where the heart is, home is so remote.  Home is just emotion, sticking in my throat.  Let’s go to your place.  -Lene Lovich

Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go!  Thomas Wolfe might have said you can’t go home again, but the Seattle Mariners ain’t.  According to ESPN, the Mariners have stepped up the pace in negotiations that could bring Ken Griffey Jr. back to the Emerald City.  There’s no place like home.  There’s no place like home.  Griffey played eleven years in Seattle.  Eleven wonderful, awe-inspiring years.    

I remember it like it was yesterday.  Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away.  Throughout the ’90s Griff was a beast.  The high priest.  The best from West to East.  Junior was arguably the best player of the decade.  Elected to the All Century Team.  Voted one of the top twenty-five players of the 20th century.   Junior could it do it all. 

He produced runs.  He hit for average.  He hit over .300 in seven years of the ’90s.  Light tower power.  He smashed 422 bombs during the decade.  He was the best center fielder of the decade.  Gold Gloves from 1990 to 1999.  Great range.  Sick range.  Home, home on the range.  Where the deer and the antelope play.  Diving plays.  Spectacular plays.  Freddie Lynn plays. 

From 1990 to 1999 he was chosen as the American League’s All-Star centerfielder.  In 1992 he was named the All-Star game’s MVP.  Wheaties boxes.  Knock you off your sockses.  Bagels and loxes.  He was the man.  He won games with his legs.  Saving baseball in Seattle with his legs. You remember. 

You remember Game Five.  Game Five versus the Bombers.  Series even at two apiece.  Bottom of the 11th against the Bombers.  Junior on first.  Edgar with the hit.  Hit it just a little bit.  Hit it lickety split.  There goes Griff.  He…could…go…all…the…way.  He does!  He does!  He scores from first base!  Mariners win!  Mariners win! 

I hope he goes back.  I hope he goes home again.

Public Spectacle:

 
Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

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