[Eugene Church]

Yesterday in the IPA (Reprinted from 2058 Playoffs)

Yours truly, EC, has mixed emotions about this year's Pro Cup.

Valmara is one of my favorite teams in the IPA... I was a Russian Language Specialist in the USAF many, many, many eons ago... so I like Slavic names, the Russian language and like the Russian people, too... the people are not the government... my teachers at the Army Language School, most of them native Russians, were really nice people and filled with a joy for life... this surprised me at that time... Hollywood gave you a much different view of Russians back in those bleak, cold war days... sad, morose, melancholy.

My wife and I took the trip of a lifetime about a year ago... a 13-day riverboat tour of Russia... started in Moscow and ended up in St. Petersburg... an absolutely wonderful trip... on Viking Tours... highly recommend Viking... I am very hard-to-please... and they really, really pleased me.

The Russians were really nice people... on the ship... and in the towns and cities... I was pleased that they could understand my Russian after all those years... and yes, I did a lot of study and relearning it before I went... had to brush up on the grammar and get down the basic vocabulary again... they complimented my Russian... said I spoke very clearly... and my accent was OK.

So I have always kind of pulled for the Vipers each year... they won their fourth Pro Cup in 2050 and I have wanted them to get a fifth one and take the lead in Pro Cup trophies... some of my most favored players in the 59 years I've been covering the Islandian Pro Alliance have played for Valmara… manager/outfielder HOF Jet Kazmarek, .354 career average, best in IPA history... only .400 hitter ever... .424 in 2002... HOF shortstop Ken Jensen (.300 BA), the Szymanski family: outfielder Jan Szymanski (.253 BA/98 HR/385 RBI)… he only played 4 years with the team... his son, outfielder Teddy Szymanski (.301 BA/188 HR), and grandson, current second baseman Vladimir Szymanski (.298 BA, catcher Karol Koska (.253 BA/235 HR)… and pitchers HOF Vanya Vasylenko (304-261/3.45 ERA) (also successful manager), Primo Sirak (272-147/2.80 ERA), Darus Grajek (197-122/2.76 ERA) and Teddy Twardzik (195-155/3.11 ERA).

Now the Ginza Ninjas leap into the picture... they have been run-of-the-mill also-rans for decades... and this year they captured my heart... though I thought they would fade in the second half of the season... the Karate Kids won their first pennant since 1931.

Then nobody thought they would beat Oxford in round one... and not too many thought they would whip High Mesa in the TU title series... but, lo and behold, they did it!

And we're now in the Pro Cup Series and the Karate Kids are there!... playing for the whole shebang... the Holy Grail of the Islands... the IPA Pro Cup trophy.

Through the years I've been a fan of the Ginza's 34-year-old shortstop Kuzuki Tamura... he is a 4-time All-Star and Gold Glover... and sadly never got into the playoffs.

So this year, I will pull for Tamura, Gideon Tracy, Kurt Brophy, Sparky Dane and Abram Worth... but I think the Valmara Vipers will win in 6 games... they just hit the ball too well.

Come on, Mr. Miyagi… work your magic just one more series.

1. “It’s ok to lose to opponent. It’s never okay to lose to fear" - Mr. Miyagi