Tough Loss, No Such Thing as Home Field Advantage, and Successful Last Run

Bitter pill for this Astros fan having see his team losing in the World Series as all four losses came at home. Astros/Nationals series made history as the road team won in the entire 7 game series. It proved there's no such thing as home field advantage anywhere. The road team outscored home team 49-14. Nationals can only muster total of 3 runs in their three World Series home games. Astros offensive power was shut down in their final two home games despite many chances to score more runs.

Big "what if" is what if Astros put Gerit Cole on the mound in relief instead Will Harris. Will Astros hold on to the 2-0 lead? Cole testing free agent market and who knows if Astros drop money on him. Justin Verlander still couldn't win World Series game. This was Astros best starting pitching core along with happy homer hitters and got no ring out of it. I said the same for Dodgers when I felt that was one of best roster they had in and couldn't come up big as well.

Washington Nationals surprised everyone beating two of top MLB teams of the season in the playoffs on their way to title. Many wrote them off after Bryce Harper left for Phillies claiming their title run is over. The bullpen known to be very shaky at times. Instead they made playoff run getting the wildcard spot and having beat the Brewers to get in NLDS. They eliminated heavily favorite Dodgers in five games and swept Cardinals in NLCS before taking on another heavily favorite Astros to the distance and winning it. Stephen Strasburg was unstoppable on the mound. Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon provided offensive spark. Howie Kendrick two homeruns in postseason were game winning clutches. Max Scherzer bounced from shaky game 1 despite a victory and being scratched from game 5 for back troubles showed up for game 7 ready to win it. Starter Patrick Corbin came off the bullpen to help keep the team in the game. Manager Dave Martinez emptied the tank entire run to the World Series. At the end Washington Nationals came on top just when many thought team's title run is over. With Rendon being a free agent and question loom over Strasburg opting out the Nationals able squeeze one last playoff run for World Series title.

The one player who won't be getting Nationals World Series ring is Bryce Harper. He might be counting his big money but really missed out on that ring big time.

The Quake From 30 Years Ago

This 1990 Score baseball card immortalized event that took place 30 years on this date. I still remember it so vividly watching entire thing unfold on TV. I was 8 at the time getting ready to watch game 3 of World Series between Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants. Dubbed the Bay Bridge Series both cities separated by 5 mile bridge across the bay. A's took first two games at home and it across the bridge to Candlestick for games 3 and 4. Just as festivities about to start disaster struck as major earthquake shook the area including the stadium. TV feed was lost only to be restored minutes later. Outside the stadium it was carnage as buildings and highways collapsed and fires from ruptured gas lines raged. The game no longer mattered as TV crews focused of damages and loss of life in front of the viewers. I was glued on the screen as live helicopter shots showed section of upper part of Bay Bridge collapse down to lower level. With TV stations focused around San Francisco and Bay Bridge I didn't know about collapse of Cypress Freeway in Oakland. I found out about it watching a documentary of the earthquake (which I forgotten the name) I saw 10-15 years later on a movie channel. Another importance I have relatives living in Oakland (and still do to this day). I remember being scared for them. After hours passed my dad got a hold of my great aunt and great uncle revealing they along everyone else is okay leaving entire the family relieved. They were at home when the quake happened. That moment was re-lived 5 years ago with ESPN 30 for 30 documentary called "The Day The Series Stopped."

The World Series would resume on October 27 with A's taking 2 games at Candlestick in sweeping the Giants. At the time it was longest end date to World Series. It was only World Series victory for A's in their three straight appearances from 88-90 which included stacked lineup of Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Rickey Henderson, Dave Henderson, Terry Steinbach, Dave Stewart, and Dennis Eckersley. I still remember game 3 for being homerun fest. Not much of celebration at the end due to the earthquake and causalities around of surrounding Bay Area. It was one of the memories etched in my mind while growing up.

Some things changed or stayed the same during those 30 years. Bash Brothers were no more, potential A's dynasty never materialized and despite many attempts for new one, A's still play in that shit stadium that been renamed many times that I'll just call it Oakland-Alameda. Giants landed Barry Bonds from Pittsburgh and bashed many homeruns. They left Candlestick for ATT Park located just few miles south of 80. Giants would have small dynasty with 3 World Series championships starting 2010. Both my great aunt and great uncle still living at the same house in Oakland along uncle who never launched out unlike three others.

EDIT: Another blogger point of view of Loma Prieta earthquake as he was living there when it hit head to Fuji's post at The Chronicles of Fuji.

I Went to WWE Event and My Sign Became Viral

WWE tour stopped in Odessa on Saturday for house show. I got good floor seats for event as well floating bunch of sign ideas. Why bring signs to house show? It's the interaction the wrestlers have with the fans. It makes you part of the show as they get away with lot of stuff on tour shows than televised shows. In 2004 I had JBL point at my sign as he made his way to the ring that read "JBL For President." In 2006 I had Sharmell pointing at my sign with her mouth happily wide open that read "Booker T = Batista Killer" based on locker room fight they had. Booker even made mention of the fight in his pre-match promo without mention Batista's name. I thought of potential sign ideas weeks before the event. I already settle on "Father of Maria Kanellis Baby" with arrows pointing at me. It took day of the show to come up with sign ideas. This isn't a brand show it was Supershow with wrestlers combined from both RAW and Smackdown roster. They can advertise who's coming but things change. Braun Strowman was advertised for the show but didn't appear.

On day of the show I got there early hanging around the back and getting a picture taken with referee Charles Robinson. Slowly few wrestlers drove up such as Rowan, Baron Corbin, and Viking Raiders. Knowing Viking Raiders going be appearing I immediately created a sign that read, "West TX is War!!! Viking Raiders" with the name original names of Ray "Death" Rowe (now Erik) and Hanson (now Ivar).  War part is a nod to their original name War Raiders and previously in the indies War Machine. Then there was third sign which became a whole different story and will mention later on.

The host went, "Really? Are you sure?" when I held up "Father of Maria Kanellis Baby" sign before it started. Show started with Viking Raiders taking on Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. Viking Raiders pointed at my sign as I held it up high. They went on to defeat The O.C. Shinsuke Nakamura with Sami Zayn successfully defended U.S. title from Ali. Zayn gave Ali the helluva kick after the match. The New Day and The Revival battled for tag team titles. The New Day got the crowd behind them as they threw out pancakes to the crowd while The Revival get booed out just for hugging each other. The Revival eek out the win successfully defending tag team titles. Roman Reigns duke it out with Erick Rowan which included interference from Luke Harper. Reigns finish Rowan off with third Superman punch, The show head to intermission afterwards.

After the intermission King Baron Corbin demands the ref make him the winner after he attacked out Chad Gable earlier tonight. Gable came out and wants to fight. Remember I mention about fan interaction between the wrestler and the fans at house show? Corbin yelled at me for chanting "GABLE!" during the match which is pretty awesome. Gable picked up the victory over Corbin.

Here's the story of the third sign I had that end up being viral. Next match featured newly crowned Smackdown women champion Bayley who won the belt against Charlotte. She showed up with a changed look, popped the inflatables (and making a kid cry), and went full blown heel telling the fans to screw ourselves. After the show ended I knew I got to make anti-Bayley sign but what should I put? After few thoughts include lame ones like "Bayley Hates Me" I decide call back to her post match promo. Since she told the fans to screw ourselves I hit back with "Screw You Too Bayley" sign. Meaning was since you don't like us then we don't like you too type. Little did I know is how impromptu and interactive the verbal exchange between me and her. She debut to new music as she walked down to the ring when she said saw the sign and yelled, "Why screw me?" I responded back with you told us to screw ourselves and making kids cry. She got the security take my sign, handed it to her and ripped in half. I got fist pumps from fans around me for the sign and interaction. During the match Bayley yelled at me and gave me death stares. I will get back to this later on how it became viral.

Bayley took on Charlotte in a good match til Tamina came in and attacked Charlotte causing a DQ finish. Becky Lynch hit the ring and made it a tag team match between Becky/Charlotte and Bayley/Tamina. Becky and Charlotte got the victory after making both of them tap out.

The main event as Seth Rollins took on Bray Wyatt. The match was short with Rollins winning via DQ after Wyatt put mandible claw on the ref. Rollins continues his onslaught on curb stomp only to get subdue when Wyatt put the mandible claw on him. The show ends and I felt this match should have been suited before the intermission. Put Roman and Rowan match on last to send the fans home happy.

I enjoyed the show and had fun as I cheered and jeered wrestlers, waved signs, and got up and personal with certain ones. I will end this on viral part of my sign.

Once I got back home from the show pictures of Bayley and my "Screw You Too Bayley" sign surfaced on reddit and twitter. Even Bayley media twitter page made mention of it including video of her tearing the sign. I didn't expect to it blow up around wrestling circles. If it gives power of heel Bayley I'm glad to help in that part as a fan.

Here are the reddit links to the sign:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/dh4zk0/pic_of_bayley_at_a_house_show_tonight/
https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/dh5igf/bayley_ripped_the_sign_at_the_house_show

Twitter video of her ripping the sign:
https://twitter.com/BayleyPamBayley/status/1183338841018486784