So I went back to the auxiliary press box and relayed the message to Ford, who dismissed the comments. "Jack has been wrong before," he said. Then the Phils hit two homers, at which point Ford alternated between cursing and rewriting. Good times all the way around.
One thing I won't miss about L.A.: Dodgers fans. Anyone who bashes Philly fans ought to spend some time with these people. It'll sweeten you on Philadelphians right quick.
From: Sheridan, Phil
To: Ford, Bob; Gonzalez, John
Subject: LA Confidential
I hope it's clear that Ford (and the rest of us for that matter) curses in that situation because everything we've written during the previous two hours becomes virtual landfill the moment Matt Stairs' home run leaves the park.
I was at Dodger Stadium 20 years ago to the day when Kirk Gibson's legendary World Series homer went out to roughly the same part of the ballpark. This was similar. You scramble to rewrite and make deadline and it is only later that you can really enjoy what you saw.
For me, the most vivid memories of the Stairs homer will be the highlights I saw later, which showed the faces of his teammates in the dugout. There was a joy there that was just infectious. The Phillies looked like a team that actually could win this thing.
My other signature moment will be that double play Chase Utley turned. He was crawling toward second base from one side while Rafael Furcal dove in from the other. It was just a determination play, pure and simple.
I won't miss anything about L.A., because I'm going to gorgeous and friendly Philadelphia on the first flight out of this arid tangle of concrete.
From: Gonzalez, John
To: Ford, Bob; Sheridan, Phil
Subject: LA Confidential
Yes, yes, that's what I meant. Wasn't throwing Ford under the bus (this time). Every writer here cursed, me included. I was thrilled that the Phils pulled it out, but it made writing on deadline pretty difficult.
