My Dad Is Optimistic About The Chargers

My Dad sent me the above, depressing photo yesterday in the aftermath of the Bolts' horrendous loss to the Rams, but his accompanying message rang optimistic:

I don't know Bo, but for some reason 2 & 4 doesn't bother me.

I'm choosing patience.

We still have Richwoods and Boise State.

Dad

With age - sometimes - comes wisdom. I'll give my Dad the benefit of the doubt here and join in his patient outlook on the Bolts' season. After all, the Raiders, Broncos, and Chiefs also crashed and burned yesterday.

The Bolts are only one game back in the division!

p.s. No, I don't know why my Dad likes Boise St. We have no connection to that university, or the state of Idaho, or any player or coach connected to the team, as far as I know. I think he just likes their team colors of blue and orange.

"Dadgummitt"

My Dad is one of the world's longest-tenured Padres fans. He moved to San Diego to join the Navy in 1969, the first year of the Padres Major League existence, and lived in the city throughout the franchise's lean years in the 1970s. He was at the game where Ray Kroc apologized to fans over the public address microphone for the team's poor play. He swore he could play a better shortstop than Enzo Hernandez. He had hope when the Padres drafted Dave Winfield.

I'll never forget my Dad's line when, in 1984, Alan Wiggins stepped on second base for the force out that sent the Padres to the World Series. In our living room, quietly, he said, "I can't believe it. The Padres are in the World Series."

Another thing about my Dad: he studies the Civil War, and, in particular, admires the work of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, one of the Union heroes at Gettysburg. He and I have stood on the spot where Joshua made his bayonet charge down Little Round Top, over uneven ground and in the face of Confederate rifle fire.

So I wasn't surprised when last night, in the aftermath of the Padres 7th straight loss, I received the following e-mail from my Dad. The e-mail had the subject line "Dadgummitt" and attached the photo of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain you see above.

Bo

That's just about enough...tonight's 7th straight loss requires stern measures.

I'm just gonna relax and think about what Joshua did on Little Round Top.

We need to start playing like the '20th Maine'.

Day off Thursday...I suggest the lads go out and get blotto drunk.

Dad

I don't know if any of the Padres players or coaches read this blog, but that seems like pretty good advice to me.

A Padres Game I Attended: Mets at Padres, April 22, 2006

This game didn't go too well.

It was a chilly Saturday night in the Diego. My Dad and I had choice seats along the third base line. I drank quite a few beers and remember saying over and over again on our way out of the stadium, "Three hits? All we got was three hits?"

I'm sure that didn't annoy anyone.

In fact, I don't even remember Xavier Nady's home run. That probably upset me at the time. Why? Because he was on the Mets. The only Padres run was a second inning bomb by Mike Piazza off Pedro Martinez.

When I tell my grandkids I saw Mike Piazza hit a home run off Pedro Martinez, I'm going to tell them it happened in 2000, not 2006.

My Dad's Birthday

In honor of my Dad's birthday you see above a photo of the USS Chevalier, one of the ships my Dad sailed on during his time in the US Navy.

According to the website where I found this photo, it was taken circa 1969 near Point Loma in San Diego. It's possible my Dad was on board when this photo was taken.

We celebrate my Pops around here because it was he that moved to San Diego to join the Navy in the late 1960s, thus solidifiying a love for the San Diego Chargers that had started while, from his sofa in frigid Central Illinois, he watched Lance Alworth and the rest of the Bolts play in sunny Balboa Stadium and dominate the AFL with their high-powered passing attack.

A love for the Padres followed as he witnessed first hand their struggle as a fledgling franchise throughout the 1970s.

In 1978, facing economic pressures, he moved his family from San Diego back to his hometown of Peoria, IL.

The moral of the story is this: if my Dad doesn't spend those years in San Diego and become a passionate fan of the Padres and Chargers, I probably grow up as a Cubs and Bears fan.

Oh my.

Happy birthday, Dad.

E-mails To My Advisors Subsequent To The Bolts Loss To Denver

Tuesday morning, in the aftermath of the disappointing Bolts loss to the Broncos on Monday Night Football, I wrote the following e-mails to my advisors Tatt Mareeco, Father D.P. McGillicutty, Geleaux and Tam O'Flannell:

First, at 10:44 AM EST:

F football

Then, at 11:01 AM EST:

That game was stupid. I'm sure McDaniels would have gone for it on fourth down and still got the TD, but under no possible view of the Stokley catch was that a touchdown.

Then, later in the morning, at 11:16 AM EST, I wrote this to my Dad, Mr. Bevormo:

That was a very disappointing second half.

And finally, at 11:37 AM, I wrote this to my friend, The Div:

That jblew.

And that's all I have to say on the matter for the time being.