San Francisco 'They Might Be' Giants

Ray Durham's apparently first-ever walk-off homer yesterday brought a thrilling win for my boys. Being on the East Coast, I had been following the game on Yahoo.com. But, oh me of little faith. After the Jints failed to score with runners on first and third, with the team down 7-5 in the 8th, I pretty much gave up and went to walk the dog. (Nice walk. Magic light. Put the game out of mind.)

What a shocker to come back and discover the Giants had snagged a big W!

I've been a fan since 1955.

How's that for timing? (They had just won the 1954 World Series and I asked my older brother Richard who his favorite baseball team was.)

Someday maybe I'll get hypnotized to relive those moments that I probably witnessed as a 5-year-old in front of a black and white TV with a screen the size of a postage stamp, cigarette smoke of adults swirling around us.

They'll never get closer.

Not in my lifetime.

Six outs away in 2002.

Sadly, I agree with Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle (www.sfgate.com) that the team's living in the past when it comes to Mr. Bonds. And I agree with the estimable Henry Shulman that this is unfortunately just a .500 team.

Trade Bonds now. Get someone in return for him.

Let's begin the New Era (not an endorsement to the cap company).

By the way, I stuck with the Giants when they moved from New York to San Francisco for two reasons:

Willie

and

Mays.