Mac's gone, bring on the playoffs

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Bryan Rosenbaum

That's what most people are thinking, but not me.

The first day after the regular season, I kicked back, relax, open a cold one and enjoy a Sports Center that's highlight-free of the Expos, Royals, White Sox and every other crappy baseball team. All 20 of 'em.

I realized my dream a little over a week ago, actually getting on Sports Center because my two roommates and I decided to paint our entire upper-bodies for the UA-Iowa football game. The camera caught us and ESPN put us on the show during highlights of the game. What is even more spectacular is that we managed to fit into a program that, for the summer months, was devoted almost entirely to Mark McGwire.

Don't get me wrong, I like watching Mark McGwire launch a home run as much as the next person, but I was getting tired of all the attention. And I'll be the first to publicly admit it.

Every single day, the Cardinals were on television. And did they ever win? Not that often. I liked ESPN cutting away to his at-bats during coverage of the 1985 World's Strongest Man competition, but the rest of a meaningless Cards-Expos thriller on Fox Sports is the last thing I want to see. Weren't those teams out of contention by mid-April?

McGwire this, McGwire that.

Even this section of the paper raved and ranted about what a great guy he was, with "What would you do if you caught No. 62?" "McGwire's my hero" and so on. A day didn't go by that I wasn't inundated with "Chasing History."

What about Sammy Sosa? His team was actually in contention, making it more exciting and intense than a boring game in St. Louis. I never understood why that Chicago station, WGN, was on everywhere. I guess it was so every person could watch the latest episode of "Adventures in Wrigleyville."

All you have to do to see exciting baseball is tune in for the ninth inning of a Cubs game. The Cubs, helped along by the ghost of the late Harry Carey, found a way to blow almost every opportunity they had to clinch the wild-card. Barry Bonds nearly jacked a grand slam to tie it in the ninth Monday night.

Watching the Cubs win despite a line-drive going off Rod Beck's leg, Sammy hitting No. 62 in a comeback victory and Brant Brown dropping a routine fly ball as the Brewers won on their final out - now that's excitement!

I doubt the Cubs have enough left as they begin their series with Atlanta today, but I give them a lot of credit for being there.

Oh, and if I had caught No. 62, I would have thrown it back. I'd be legendary!

Bryan Rosenbaum is a sophomore majoring in journalism, and can be reached at Bryan.Rosenbaum@wildcat.arizona.edu.