31
“ Well, Norm, what can you say?”
“About a season like that, Bernie? I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“Why not start with the Series?”
“Unbelievable. In case you’ve been on some other planet, folks, this team-”
“-dead last on the Fourth of July-”
“-has just swept the World Series in four games, with last night’s-”
“-this morning’s-”
“-right, the bags under my eyes have bags-this morning’s four-to-three ten-inning classic out on the coast.”
“And Bobby Rayburn-”
“-two-run double in the eighth ties it, solo home run in the tenth brings that long-sought championship home. And that catch he made in the bottom of the tenth, highway rob-”
“Whoa, Norm. What I was trying to bring up was Rayburn’s bombshell announcement in the winning locker room.”
“The retirement thing? Do you believe that?”
“He seemed pretty serious.”
“After a season like that? I’m from Missouri.”
“We’re trying to get some comment from him, of course. He’s said to be traveling right now and unreachable.”
“But I’m sure our own Jewel Stern will have the inside dope.”
“When she gets back from her brief vacation.”
“Brief vacation?”
“Didn’t Fred tell you? She called in late last night, early this morning, whatever. But, hey-don’t you think she’s earned it?”
“If anyone has. Whew. Don’t need that espresso to get the blood going today, Bernie. The phone lines are lit up like Christmas trees. How about we take some calls? Here’s Sal on the car phone. What’s shakin’, Sal?”
