HOW WE SEE IT: Mighty Razorbacks Strike Out

— With apologies to Ernest Lawrence Thayer (and quite possibly, to poetry and the English language):

The outlook was truly brilliant for the Fayetteville nine that day:

Their record stood 2-0 with but three (or four) ballgames left to play.

But when SC won on Thursday, it fi lled our hearts with dread

And a sickly silence fell upon the patrons wearing red.

They thought if only fortune would smileupon our Hogs,

We’d win that final series and buy National Title togs.

Our boys got started fast and jumped out to a 2-0 lead

And we all hoped that the fi nal innings would fl yby with lightning speed.

The ump, however, had diff erent plans and our pitchers he did squeeze,

Making Hog fans across the country pound their fists into their knees.

The Gamecocks tied the score at 2, as Van Horn, his jaws did clench,

But his players fought back with all their might, to avoid an SC cinch.

Yet Tanner’s boys fought hard too; the bases they did load,

And the memories of a tight strike zone, ill times did they forbode.

Our pitcher, Astin, knew the score, and knew what he must do,

But instead of a strike, the umpire said, that pitch was just “Ball Two.”

“Fraud” cried the maddened Razorbacks, and echo answered fraud,

Even ESPN’s announcers were by that call’s wrongness awed.

Another ball, the count was full, and tension filled the air

Surely fate would smile again upon our heroes struggling there.

And now the pitcher holds the ball and now he lets it fl y

And with no swing the umpire’s right hand held the gaze of every eye.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright.

The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.

For Hog fans, that day will come, but sadly not this time.

We didn’t get the call, so no champions’ bells will chime.

We do thank our heroes for the fun times we did glean

And know we’ll have good times again in two thousand and thirteen.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 06/26/2012

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