Catcher In the Wry

If you don't know where you're going you'll end up someplace else.

Yogi Berra
(Thank you Jim)
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Hello Bechar, Algeria. The Vagabond wishes you great prosperity.
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Some people are always ready to laugh at Yogi Berra as if he was a clown. because of some of the funny things he says, such as, "It's like deja-vu, all over again."

But Yogi Berra was catcher for the New York Yankees for many years. He was an excellent ball player and when I lived in New York and was a Yankee fan he was a hero of mine, as he was for many New Yorkers.

Yogi was a good catcher, one of the best. A catcher has to deal with every pitcher on the team and every player that comes to bat. He has to know their strengths and weaknesses. It's not a job for a clown.

He was also a good hitter. The story goes that when he tried out for the Yankees he stepped up to bat and the pitcher threw a ball that went wide of the batter's box. Berra didn't bother to let it pass. He stepped across the plate and smacked it into the outfield anyway.

He said "I never blame myself when I'm not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn't my fault that I'm not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?"

Here are some of his other observation about baseball.

"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."

"If people don't want to come out to the ball park, nobody's gonna stop 'em."

"I think Little League is wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house."

Yogi Berra was also an astute social commentator.

"It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much."

"I just want to thank everyone who made this day necessary."

"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

"There are some people who, if they don't already know, you can't tell 'em."

His understanding of himself was clear and candid.

"I never said most of the things I said."

"If you ask me anything I don't know, I'm not going to answer."

His general advice to the world at large was just as clear and wise, if you consider the real meaning behind the unusual verbiage.

"You can observe a lot by just watching."

"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."

And, of course, the famous "It ain't over till it's over."

But of all the Yogisms my favorite is this one of undisputable clear headed logic and wisdom:

"The future ain't what it used to be."

Thank you Yogi.
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DB - The Vagabond
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SPRING QUESTION
(This is not a contest)

NASA has planned to send a two man mission on an 18 month trip to the planet Mars. It would take 6 months for the astronauts to get there and after 6 months of exploration another 6 months to return.

Should they do it and why, and if not, why not?

dbdacoba@aol.com

4 answers so far

I eagerly await your answer.

DB
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