The off day was spent in St. Louis not watching Law & Order but the laptop.
Yep, Canada was playing Team USA for gold at the Pan-Am Games in Mexico.
I turned it on in the second inning and watched Andrew Albers, trailing 1-0 mow down Team USA hitters.
Then, in the top of the fourth the coverage switched to soccer or volleyball involving the host country.
So, I watched the final six innings on a poor man’s version of ESPN game cast.
123 456 789
Team USA 100 00
Canada 000 00
Then Canada scored on Jimmy Van Ostrand’s double, Scott Richmond took over with two on, two out in the seventh, recording a strike out.
Richmond set down the next six in order and Canada had a 2-1 win and its first gold medal at the senior level. The other gold was when John Haar coached Canada to victory at the 1991 World Juniors.
So, excited I went to the front desk which only served Diet Pepsi at the front desk, to ask where I could buy a Diet Coke.
(Ramble: I may be addicted to Diet Coke).
The desk clerk said half a block and nodded his head to the left.
I walked outside into the cold, turned left began phoning people just as excited as I was about the win.
About four blocks later realized I was in an industrial centre with zero lights or a convenience store to be found.
Back I went, walking a little quicker.
When I reached the final stop light before the hotel I looked to my right and half a block away was a BP gas station.
Armed with Diet Coke I proceeded to make a few phone calls south of the border …
Who are these guys with a gold and a bronze medal
Mike Johnson went last so he could say thanks first
CHRIS TOMAN: Greg Hamilton, the man behind the curtain
Categories: Baseball