Flying W Things

Ok, yeah, I should be working. But I've been trolling around online for World Series stories. Here are a couple good ones I came across - I think they show how much class both managers showed in this series:

Here's a Mike Scioscia story -

Can one image summarize the experience? Try this:

Before Game 5 in San Francisco, Angels manager Mike Scioscia walked along the left field line, making the trek from the interview room to his first base dugout. The booing started as soon as he appeared, and it grew louder with each step. Four or five steps down the line, one guy in full Giants regalia held out his hand. Scioscia shifted the fungo bat from his right hand to his left and shook the man's hand. Pretty soon all the hands were out. Like a politician working the rope line, Scioscia shook their hands as they booed -- they booed right into his smiling round face.

But if you looked closely you saw they were smiling too -- booing and smiling and shaking hands. Enemies and friends both. As metaphors go, it was pretty close to perfect.

(Tim Keown, ESPN Magazine)

And a Dusty Baker story -

The phone rang in Mike Scioscia's office after Game 7. It was Giant Manager Dusty Baker, his former Dodger mentor when Scioscia was a rookie, calling to tell him:

"If we didn't win it this year, I wanted you to win it. You guys are awesome. Don't let your guys forget you're champions. Hold your heads high."

(Ross Newhan, L.A. Times)

Ok, I'll quit writing about baseball now. At least for a few months.