Tony LaRussa to Retire from St. Louis Cardinals

Tony LaRussa will certainly be remembered in baseball history as one of the great managers. A detail guy, a control guy, a winning guy.

After three World Series Championships, including 2011, the 67-year-old maestro decided it was time to retire.

I just LOVE it when a star player or coach leaves the game at a time of his own choosing, and at the top of his career. That's Tony LaRussa. Who knows, he may be around major league baseball for many years in one administrative capacity or another, but he won't be in the dugout or on the field.

I always liked his style, even though I was not a St. Louis Cardinal fan. I enjoyed watching him manage the big games as well as the regular season.

St. Louis Cardinals Take Game 7 and World Series

Series MVP Freese

The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series by beating the Texas Rangers, 6-2, in a series that went to all seven games.

After winning Game 6 on a walk-off home run in the 11th inning, the Cardinals made sure Game 7 never got that far by taking the lead in the third inning and extending it in the fifth and seventh innings.

The Rangers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, but those would prove to be the only runs they would score Friday night.

The championship is the Cardinals' 11th, the most of any National League franchise and second overall in the majors behind the New York Yankees, who have won 27.

The Rangers lost their second straight World Series despite winning three of the first five games.

The Cardinals were the National League's wild-card entry in the baseball postseason, winning that distinction on the final day of the regular season.

Cardinal's third baseman David Freese was named MVP.  He batted .348, with seven RBI, hit three doubles and one huge home run in game 6.

It was a well-fought battle and Major League Baseball benefited by the excitement and large television audience.

Eleventh Inning Walk-off Home Run Saves Cards in Game 6

I don't think anything in sports is quite so exciting as the "walk-off" home run.  It is a sudden death victory for the home team. 

The St. Louis Cardinals won Game Six in the bottom of the eleventh inning, 10-9, on a David Freese walk-off home run.  In what is being described as one of the most exciting games in baseball history, the Cardinals came back to win after being down to their final out TWICE!  Freese was the hero twice as well, having tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with a two-run triple.  

Game Seven will be played Friday night, October 28, at St. Louis.

I look for a pitching duel but I have no predictions.  I has been an exciting Series.  The television audience has been big, and deservedly so.

Derek Holland Evens Series 2-2

Derek Holland

Texas Ranger pitcher Derek Holland dominated the St. Louis Cardinals and shut them out 4-0 to even the World Series at two games apiece...

Holland, the 25-year-old lefty, threw 8 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits...

Dophins now 0-6. Dan Carpenter Shines

Dan Carpenter

The Miami Dolphins' 2011 season is in shambles after yet another home loss leaves them 0-6, with the bad taste of Tim Tebow at the back of their throats. With the Dolphins leading 15-0 with just 5:23 to play, Tebow turned HIS game around and the Broncos to an unexpected win in overtime, 18-15...

Dan Wheldon Dies in Tragic Crash

Dan Wheldon

Dan Wheldon was a popular and successful IndyCar driver who won the 2005 and 2011 Indy 500.  He was killed on Sunday October 16, 2011, in a 15-car pileup at the Las Vegas Speedway.

After my favorite race driver, Mark Donohue, was killed during a practice run in 1975 I quit watching auto racing events, all of them.  I was still in my twenties and decided that racing cars was not a sport that I could support, if it is a sport at all.  Mark's death, like Dan Wheldon's, seems so pointless. As I outgrew the blood sport thrill of watching a race to see if there would be a crash, I came to feel that auto racing was a race against time, a roll of the dice against death and mayhem. People are going to get killed. It seems to me that the crowds at auto racing events are bloodthirsty for crashes, yet act shocked when someone gets killed.

I feel really bad for his family.  If his death drives fans away from the racetracks, that would be good.  I hope his kids don't grow up to be fans.

Which season is it anyway?

I know I should have something to say about the NLCS and ALCS, but I no longer have any preference about who gets into the World Series.  I will watch, but mostly the highlights and final scores.  I still think baseball season is too long.  They should wrap up the World Series by the end of September.

Football season is in full swing, from the NFL to College ball to our local high schools.  Those Friday Night Lights are on here every week as we have three high schools that share the same stadium.  Our University of Montana Grizzlies dominate the local sports news during football season and everything else has to fight for a share of media coverage, especially local high school sports like soccer and volleyball and cross country.  I'm never sure what sports are being played at what time of year any more.

I do notice that there are professional golf tournaments seemingly all year long.  Here in Montana our sports are  more seasonal than many other places, just because of the weather.  We had snow on the hills behind my house yesterday, although it melted off.  Morning temperatures in the low 30s makes it really difficult to get out and jog or practice much of anything.

I guess I still would like the Detroit Tigers to make it to the World Series, if only because I bought a Detroit ball cap.