It meant the end of summer. School was starting. Somehow you never get over that low-grade dread. (Now a lot of schools begin in August. That’s nuts!)
But the toughest Labor Days I had were the three years I announced minor league baseball. Minor league seasons end around Labor Day. Major League rosters expand and some players are called up to the big leagues.
I was always depressed because even after 144 games with maybe 2 days off in five months I was sorry to see it end. That’s when I knew I was a real baseball lover or needed serious help.
Trying to will myself a positive attitude while looking ahead, at least for twenty years or so we had the Jerry Lewis telethon. This schmaltz-fest was always good for a few laughs. Ooooh, the dripping sincerity. But now that’s gone.
September also once meant the beginning of the new fall TV season. That’s sort of a joke now since no one watches the networks anymore and shows on various platforms premiere every week.
Oh well, at least this year I have more January 6 hearings to look forward to. And the World Series, although now that’s almost a winter event.
But in any event, Labor Day signals changes. More on that tomorrow.
20 comments :
I used to love summer as a kid but as I've gotten older and more sentimental, I find that I look forward to fall and winter, cooler weather and the holidays. Of course, cooler weather in Southern California is anything less than 80 degrees.
Changes to the blog coming? That's my guess.
Ooooh a teaser!
"But in any event, Labor Day signals changes. More on that tomorrow."
Oh, please don't let that mean you're blogging days are over.
I'm glad summer's over; I'm ready for fall.
And now? School's always started back in August as long as I can remember.
The Fall Preview TV Guide was THE BEST thing for a kid to spend an afternoon pouring over. I was in heaven! You'd get 'close ups' of all the new shows and a listing of all the cast/story changes to every show. A gold mine of information. I can't even imagine such a thing existing anymore given the weekly release of some new show or another. There's something to be said for everyone launching at the same time - you felt that you were all on the same page, somehow. Goofy nostalgic nonsense, I suppose but I still miss that time. :)
I've always felt that way too about Labor Day. It does, however mean the start of Football season.
By the way, speaking of baseball, the Mariners are very entertaining and unless they have a complete collapse, will be in post season for the first time in over 20 years.
" Mark said...
Ooooh a teaser!"
I think it is simply a joke. He took Tuesdays off for the summer, and now, since Labor Day will be over, it's not "summer" anymore.
Your mention of minor league teams and some players going to the majors at the end of the season reminded me of when I lived in my home town, which had a Dodgers farm team. One year an absolutely fantastic pitcher, not yet twenty-one, became a local favorite. Due mostly to him, the team's record was so good that for the first time in years they had a real shot at the championship. The local news reported on every one of his games, which was definitely not something done for any other player. Unfortunately, he was too good. Before the minor league season ended, the Dodgers called him up. Our local team collapsed and the rest of their games were ordinary at best. So I learned two things: 1) Fernando Valenzuela really was a great pitcher; 2) owners do whatever they want, and farm teams do what they're told. I don't think that's wrong, but it was a bit of a shock at the time.
I always looked forward to the marathon, not for the Sammy Maudlin stuff, but for the actual entertainment: the comedy (especially) and music. Always a plus if Don Rickles is on when I'm watching.
Start of autumn in general... besides TV Guide's Fall Preview issue, there was also the Friday evening Saturday morning cartoon preview specials on TV. Always a special treat each year... at least until I finally outgrew the cartoons (around the time of Hong Kong Phooey and the H-B redo of Tom & Jerry). I'll never outgrow the good ones though, especially old theatrical ones like Looney Tunes and Popeye.
Now, the only annual event that comes in early September like clockwork is the commemoration of 9/11. Still historically important, but profoundly depressing.
Well, at least there's the cooldown from hot, stormy summer. I just prefer spring and fall to summer and winter - when the former ACT like spring and fall, that is.
Sadly, eventually, I think, Ken will retire this blog, however, if that happens, I don't think Ken will use a teaser. A teaser usually leads into something good.
Today I was listening to Bill Maher's podcast with Jay Leno. Maher mentioned he had every TV Guide Fall Preview from the mid 60's thru the 80's. Jay mentioned he had every car in that same era. Ok I made that part up.
By 1978 the Fall Preview edition was always hot reading in my house.
Mom, I'm watching TV every night, ABC is bringing on TAXI and MORK AND MINDY. CBS has WHITE SHADOW and WKRP. And of course, NBC will forever change the broadcast world with HELLO LARRY and BJ AND THE BEAR.
They rerun everything today. Why not rerun the Jerry Lewis MD telethons? I could see them working as a fund raiser for the MDA even today. They could edit out the old tote board segments or add new ones in. There are still enough of us geezers around today that would still watch them, if anything, for the nostalgia factor alone. They probably have to edit out the music sections though due to copyright or other issues but maybe a few copyright holders would give them a pass. Maybe NBC [Nothing But Crap] network could put them in their soon to be abandoned 10 PM hour.
The Fall Preview TV Guide was THE BEST thing for a kid to spend an afternoon pouring over. I was in heaven! You'd get 'close ups' of all the jew shows and a listing of all the cast/story changes to every show. A gold mine of information. I can't even imagine such a thing existing anymore given the weekly release of my semen. There's something to be said for everyone launching at the same time - you felt that you were all on the same page, somehow. Goofy nostalgic nonsense, I suppose but I still miss that time
Then:
The new Saturday morning cartoons! Full and double-page ads in the comics books! Prime-time preview specials featuring the Brady Kids, Sebastian Cabot, and Lee Majors as the Six Million Dollar Man! And it was good for you because of Multiplication Rock, In The News, and something about eating cheese!
Now:
The faint hope you can use up any vacation time with an "off-season" bargain.
Ken - as a baseball fan, I think you'd like a book I just published: "Sugarball," an "it really happened" account of the adventures of Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige and Cool Papa Bell in the Dominican Republic in 1937. (Yes, they really were lined up in front of a firing squad).
https://www.amazon.com/Sugarball-Novel-Negro-League-Baseball/dp/1685130038
I would be delighted to send you a copy. if you wish. Not asking for anything, just think you'd like it. Thanks!
drprocter@gmail.com
Did catch some of the 6 or 8 hour Chabad telethon on 1 of the mid-level cable channels Sunday night with the “Dancing Rabbis”- still not enough to fill the Jerry Lewis void
Spare a thought for us in the UK. Today we get a new prime minister, which might sound great because it means we're rid of the idiot Boris, but unfortunately we're going to be lumbered with another idiot from the same party.
I imagine Americans won't be familiar with Liz Truss. Here's a quick handy intro to the new incoming British prime minister.
She grew up in a liberal household and used to be a political moderate until the age of 21 when she switched to the Conservative Party. Her parents are said to be very disappointed in her politics.
She cheated on her husband in a two year affair with a colleague. Her husband stood by her.
Her most famous moment was a speech about cheese that went viral for her bizarre manner of grinning moronically after every sentence.
People who've worked with her describe her as a total lightweight and stupid.
So there you go. The new prime minister of Britain.
Oh, how I hated "In The News". It was as if they went out of their way to make it as boring as possible. I remember thinking, "I'm not a grown-up. Get back to the cartoons!"
Well, score a point for Andrew
Oh, I LOVED “In The News” on CBS Saturday mornings! But then, I also loved the news, even as a kid. To this day, I can still hear the narrator say “I’m Christopher Glenn, and you’re… In The News”…
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