Champions at Last

KeithAllisonPhoto.com
Astros at Orioles 8/21/16

Baseball’s boring? The 2017 World Series will certain contest that statement. Tension at its highest, fans a nervous wreck, home run after home run, temperatures over 100 degrees, players getting married, a controversial suspension, and then finally the two best words in sports: “Game 7.” All of this built to the Houston Astros’ first World Series Championship in franchise history.   

In game 3, Astros’ first baseman Yuli Gurriel made a racist gesture directed towards Dodgers’ pitcher Yu Darvish. That resulted in a five-game suspension from the league to begin in the 2018 season. Why wasn’t he suspended from any games throughout the World Series many wondered?

     In a similar situation, Draymond Green was suspended one game after his actions in Game 4 of the 2016 NBA finals. Why was Yuli Gurriel not suspended for a game in the World Series, but instead granted the opportunity to play out the World Series and serve his suspension next year, people asked. People argued both sides of the situation, which added to the already roller coaster type of series.

    Many people will say that baseball is boring because of its slow pace and lack of action. Game 5 of the World Series certainly proves that point wrong. Seven home runs, six lead changes, extra innings, and ending in walk-off fashion. Still sounds boring?

Then comes Game 7. The most intense game of the year. Win, you’re a champion; lose, you go home. The Houston Astros silenced the LA crowd in their 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers to become the 2017 Champions.

    Suitably, the win came just a couple months after devastating Hurricane Harvey struck the city of Houston. After it seemed all of the unexpected change in events were over, Carlos Correa, Astros’ star shortstop proposed to his girlfriend Daniella Rodriguez. So it turns out the Astros players weren’t the only ones walking out of Game 7 with new rings.