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October 17, 2005
The Dilemna Of An Astros Fan & Political Junkie
Who knew?
Houtopia has worked behind the scenes on two citywide Council races over the last several months, laboring along with that small but colorful band of folks who live and breathe this stuff -- the "politically wretched", as described by one Chronicle writer.
The various city campaigns toiled through the spring and summer, knowing no-one was yet paying any attention to their races, but in anticipation that, after Labor Day, Houstonians would come around and catch fall election fever. Fat chance.
It didn't help that, to all our benefit, the city is in the more than capable hands of Mayor Bill White, who by showing remarkable leadership before and after two major hurricanes, deservedly faces no serious opposition. But with a couple of hot Council races and a controversial state constitutional amendment on the ballot, surely folks would wake up politically, right?
Enter the Astros. Now, we are huge fans, but after a 15-30 start, Houtopia admits to writing the hometown nine's post-season prospects off for 2005. We were hardly unique in doing so. But the 'Stros doggedly fought back, compiling the best record in baseball after their miserable start, made the post-season and kept on winning. There is already much joy in H-town, with the possibility of much, much more.
So we root (this is being written from a wi-fi friendly local watering hole shortly before Game 5's first pitch), but we also keep campaigning. Endorsements come in, signs are put up (and often torn down), yet only the wretched seem to care.
Here we sit, we political junkies and baseball fans, one week before Early Vote begins, hoping for Houston's first ever World Series, while realizing we root for our own public obsolescence this fall.
It's a strange time to be a Houston baseball fan in our business. We keep working, rooting and waiting. What else can we do?
Posted by houtopia at October 17, 2005 06:50 PM