William the Conqueror and Puff the Magic Dragon

In 1066 a visitation by Halley's Comet was seen as a bad omen for Hardrada,a Viking seen as a contestant for the crown of England. But Hardrada pressed onward regardless of this omen. Harold, the present king knew he was about to attacked from two fronts--Hardrada the Norwiegan and from the north and William the Duke of Normandy from the South. Harold cleverly engaged Hardrada after the battle of Fulton when the Vikings were tired and separated from their resources awaiting truce discussions. Harold surprised these Vikings who fought "berserker" style--like men possesed --and finally killed Hardrada and sent the Vikings packing and out of the playoffs. William chatted up the Pope to get Papal blessing based on the argument that Harold was a bit trecherous and had given up the high road in his endeavors. The Pope went along and William armed with Papal blessing turned his invasion into a crusade rather than what it really was which was a beef with Harold and a shot at the King Gig. But William was smart enough to bring the best players he could find and figured the better team might win the finals.

As it went in the Battle of Hastings, so it went yesterday in the Arizona desert storm of the semi -finals in the 55 and over American League showdown between the Pallidins and your LI Athletics.

With a promising start, the A's had runners on first and second after a base hit and a walk but a ground ball to the third baseman resulted in a force out at third and throw to first for a double play. This was the first bad omen was observed by the LI A's nation. As the Pallidins began their half of the inning, a quick out was registered on the second pitch as a change up was lofted easily to center field for out number one. But the next pitch was grounded routinely to shortstop but mishandled. Your faithful correspondent checked the sky for Haley's Comet but finding nothing, still felt a prevading sense of unease. The unease was accurate and more difficulties ensued and the A's were fortunate to get out of it down only 2-0.
The second inning for the A's started well with a leadoff walk but the second double play by the Pallidins erased this chance. In the Pallidins second the start was more ominous than rolling dark clouds and the sound of thunder as an easy flare to second base fell unconested as the second baseman asserted the excuse of not seeing the ball come off the bat. Buoyed by this the Pallidins scatched out another run on similar miscues and led 3-0 after 2.

However, it was third inning that sealed the fate of the A's to parallel that of Hardrata's. A leadoff single was followed by a bloop single. Then a fly to left that posed a difficulty scored two and the rout was on. Hardrata did not leave the battlefield with his head intact and your LI A's did not finish the 3rd with the game as contest. It seems less meaningful to detail more and I will summarize to report the final score was 14-7 but not really that close.

So now it becomes time to deal with defeat and dispointment and moving ahead.
(unlike Hadrata and Ted Williams at least we have our heads). We know about the story of Puff the Magic Dragon and how a dragon lives forever but not so little boys
and painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys. Well, we will put away our spikes and gloves today and muse about the final game and what could have been.
But when you consider eveything, on balance the baseball gods actually administered appropriate justice. The Pallidins happened to be a better team and the BG's ruled in their favor today.

So now comes the healing and the preparation to be better. Like the remants of Hardrata's shattered army who sailed back to Norway, your LI A's will fly east to lick their wounds both physical and emotional and use the winter to repair.
At this point your faithful correspondent wishes to thank A's Nation for all their support and good wishes. I wish we could have brought you back the ring but as Teddy Roosevelt would have approved at least we were in there taking our shot. And with baseball there's always next year...