AMERIQUE:


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: It is the unspoken statistic, but it is as real as anything to do with the lingering U.S. war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the military, 1,800 American servicemen have killed themselves since the initial invasion of Baghdad. That is in addition to the more than 4,000 who died in battle. This week, families of the soldiers who committed suicide asked President Barack Obama to change the government policy of not forwarding letters of appreciation to mothers and fathers of these servicemen. By week's end, the White House had reversed the policy and agreed that such letters are needed, as well... - Eduardo Paz-Martinez, Editor of The Tribune

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Dreams Of Harlingen:...Can The Local Ballclub Pull-off A Miracle?...

By MELITON BROWN
Tribune Sports Editor

HARLINGEN, Texas - In small, cash-strapped towns across America, sometimes it is the local minor league baseball club that gives a community a sense of belonging to something bigger, something with the promise of some victory. Here, such hopes head for the ballpark tonight.

There, inside the confines of humble Harlingen Field (see photo above), it'll be nine baseball players shouldering the idea that Harlingen, Harlingen!, can win the Big One. It is a certain time in town, a time rich in political strife and economic blows. Winning the title in the United Baseball League (yes, even that!) would go a long way toward bringing this struggling community of 74,000 souls one of those rare wins it has not seen in years in every aspect of Life.

The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings, their season as much a roller-coaster ride as its hometown's disarray, carry a mediocre 47-45 record into a 3-game series against the powerful Amarillo Dillas, the league's No. 1-seeded club. Somewhere else, the Edinburg Roadrunners battle the Laredo Broncos in the other semi-final series. Winners of each series will then play for the title.

The games begin tonight at 7 p.m.

There is no word from low-key Mayor Chris Boswell about any plans for a championship parade...

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[EDITOR'S NOTE:...With this, his initial report for The Tribune, new Sports Editor Meliton Brown enters the Rio Grande Valley of Texas sportsworld. He will be covering a variety of athletic events in the region. Meliton is a graduate of the University of Texas - El Paso, where he earned a degree in Journalism. He also holds a Masters Degree in his field from The Sorbonne in France...]

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Meliton, you don't think Chris Boswell is going to sponsor a parade for a group of minor league players. Besides, you are right, Harlingen, loves both high schools and supports them.
I plan to be at the game, but a parade??, I know people from Harlingen follow like blind sheep, but I don't think they will do that this time.

Patrick Alcatraz said...

ANON:...Well, if you're going to promote this as something special, why not go all the way? The Tribune would wholeheartedly endorse a parade for the Wingsters. Why not? Harlingen is due for a Good Time... - Editor

Anonymous said...

The Wingterss collapsed like the walls of Rome, Eddie Dennis is a joke, I am saving my money, no more wings for me.

Anonymous said...

They lost again, they won on flukes, I know Jerry Deal does not believe me, the wings are toast. The Dillas did them in. Thank God, no more silly baseball.

Anonymous said...

The Wings couldn't hold themselves down, unless they are at Medussa's Lounge.
The outfielders were horrible, they missed easy outs, and the batters stink.
It is old senile people like Jerry Springer, I mean Jerry Deal who thinks they are great.
I know a lot of people who are happy the season is finished. I am one of them.