“Now I say Governor in my recollection, fallible as it may
be...Gunga Din” was played by Sam Jaffe.
“Althou I respectfully submit your Victor McClagan... identifying with “Din
Din Din”.... scrounging for water bottles behind the front lines.
II
“But what else is new Gunga Din?
The “Five Graves to Cairo” “Tale of 2 Cities” Tyrone Power in “the Suez Canal” playing out
the Egyptian revolution,
“Not asking the Jews as slaves to rebuild the pyramids.....”.
III
“I know I know” cried a voice from Cairo’s Liberation Square....
“And what is that?” responded a rebel, aghast at the status quo scrambling:
the Pharaohs ....Joseph and his brothers.... the 10 commandments... Moses.....
IV
“Andy Pettite, the Yankee southpaw from Texas. Retiring after 16 years
in pim stripes A big mucho grande sixteen Gunga“Din”.
His numer 46 not yet retired.
“What’s so special about sixteen?”
“He had a charisma.... a flare as a lefty. An e.r.a 3.83.....5 World Series rings.. His pick off move to first....his cap.. shielding his dagger like eyes on the move to first, his left foot
still on the rubber, Gunga Din
He had it all with the great Bronx immortals and Mister Steinbrenner.
Memorial Park...... lights ut.... the smell and scents....realizing his dream as a
little leaguer...a sandlot urchin.
The flags flowing in the winds.... .the larger than life videos....the scorecard the hot dogs and mustard..
.”Mo”in the bullpen.
What stamina...to walk away from the money the dinero...... the hero worshiping fans nto a
non clutch struggle with his wife Laura and four kids.. at 38.....
The likes of the Babe, the Iron Man, Dimag, Micky Mantle Roger
Maris the bleacher rats.......
’The Chairman of the Board “Noo York Noo York”
“Bigger than this caper?. The revolution?”
“No comparison..Bernie Williams, O’Neil. Joie Torres.....Chuck Knoblack
Scott Brosius Jorge Posada Mariano Rivera
”Mel Stottlelmyre into his rhythmic trance to the mound when Andy
lost his control: walking batters... a wild pitch...not nipping the outside corner.
...the blind as a bat ump calling balls&strikes.
“Yer outa here.”
Jorge Posada behind the plate.... playing out the deception..
V
“Don Zimmer Mariano Rivera watching and waiting in the bulpen, Don Nelson
Mike Messina Tito Masrtinez and Don Mattingly at first, waiting for the pick off move.....Willie Randolph Daryl Strawberry former catcher and manager Joe Girardi Dave Cone David Wells El Duque from Castro’s island...
“Rger Clemens, his Cy Young Hall of Fame numbers tarnished.
“Yogi Berra “scooter” Rizzuto Rodriquez@the hot corner..those double plays ...
Jeter high flying toss to second and Robinson Cano ‘s fluid dance and flowing
motion......his throw to first.
VI
Susan Waldman’s post game interviews with his masked killer instinct were
Star of the game,,”a cut above the rest.....a turning point of the game”....dynamic bonding of Waldman’s empathy with the Lefty’s soul....
A summing up that captured the Pettite need to win...what more could he prove?.
His own father figure... Gunga Din?
VII
Verbal facility may not be the “Dude’s”’ strong suit, his “y’ know ’ twangy “God” “the Lord” and his stomach and heart after the defeat in the playoff at Texas Stadium..
“I knew I was done”.
“The greatest Lefty in the game,”said Ron Guidry, a Cy Young bull penner...
Lefty Gomez’s some seven decades earlier, playing with Dimaggio, Tommy Henrich,George Selkirk, Bill Dickey Red Rolfe, Red Ruffing, Spud Chandler Joe Gordon. Charlie Keller
VIII
“The Rob Roy overture playing out...the Andy Pettite requiem,”Thanks Sisan
at a close... the expectations of a twenty year old rookie emerging from the womb
of anonymity..
Who’s counting Gunga Din.?...a southpaw scouted by a pinstripe scout..
Therefore whether or not his legacy is diminished by taking the performance
enhancing steroids, reigning every5th day in the rotation....persevering
thru the doubts and trappings....acclimating himself to Ovid’s metamorphosis....
IX
“I dismissed the fear of failure” said the hero for millions of fans.” Emotions aside,”
gulping down a Gunga Din salvaged bottled water from the front lines. .
“Thanks Susan”
Life’s 9th inning allegory and metaphor into eternity .....
Begun on a napkin mailed to George Steinbrenner many moons ago from North
Hollywood, California.
The new Yankee Stadium, the Bronx, February 5, 2011..
