As a lifelong sports fan, I’ve learned so much about life. From the first backyard football game I caught a pass in, to the first baseball game my parents took me to and on up until this very moment, I’ve learned and continue to learn so much about the world and my life. The ups and downs of a long season. The energy, effort and, ultimately, the talent that is required to make it to the ‘show’. The agony and the ecstasy that may occur all within one game. But the upmost truth that I’ve learned is the inevitable and that is that more often than not… my team will not be the champion. Even fans of Alabama football don’t celebrate a national title every year. Losing is an everyday part of our existence.

I’ve been lucky. I’ve seen my teams in every major North American sport, win multiple championships. I’m also blessed with a terrific memory that reminds me often of these moments of achievement. However, as I get older, the wins become less thrilling and the loses hurt so much more. And for me, no loss hurts more than the 2017 Dodgers.

Losing is a part of life and how we handle ourselves and recover from the losses of life, define us. When you learn to skate, the first thing they tell you is to ‘fall down’ on the ice. That way, your first lesson is learning how to get up. The 2017 Dodgers were a great team. Not good, great. My dad and I watched every game, mostly together and it is a life-long memory I will always cherish. The 2017 Houston Astros were a great team and when the Astros beat my beloved Dodgers in the World Series, it hurt but that’s life. And then the rumors of cheating began to swirl and then the admittance, by the Astros players, that cheating occurred. It tainted everything.

When teams such as that Astros team and the Dodgers team (and Yankees in ALCS) are that close and the games are that close, any amount of chicanery, tomfoolery or malfeasance, is the difference. A run here, a hit there is all it takes to separate two close identities. Look at the New England Patriots. For a generation, they’ve been the standard but to some degree there will always be a whiff of impropriety when it comes to the Patriots defeat of the Rams in ’01 Super Bowl. Now, I’m not saying that the Dodgers should have received or should receive the 2017 title. They didn’t win it and they don’t deserve it. It should be vacated, and Major League Baseball (Commissioner Manfred in particular) screwed the pooch.

It’s now in the past. Yes, the Astros have maintained excellence and yes, they have been great. No one has ever doubted their ability and talent. And any success, post 2017, has no bearings on the taint of 2017 and vice versa. Each year is new and different. They could win every year for a decade; it does not remove the stain of 2017. It also doesn’t damn the 2022 Astros to purgatory.

Dusty Baker is a remarkable story. He was in the on-deck circle when Hank Aaron hit his 715th Home Run to pass the Babe. He was the Manager of Barry Bonds when Barry passed Hank. He was the Cubs Manager for the Steve Bartman game. Dusty Baker was my favorite Dodger before Fernando. He is and has been a great manager. I do not resent that he has finally won a World Series as a manager. He deserves it.

Okay, all right, well damn. It happened. The Astros won another World Series. And in that fact, perhaps a catharsis is due. I salute the greatness of that team and embrace them as a champion. That’s growth and in that, sports has taught me another lesson. It is okay to let go of the bitterness and anger and move on. I’m still trying. I still think they should vacate 2017 and if the Dodgers sign Carlos Correa SO HELP ME….. I guess I have some growing still to do.