The Advance of Autumn
“I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh lord,” remember that delayed first line that comes after a musical interlude and drum series in that Phil Collins song “In The Air Tonight” that was featured in 80s famed drama series Miami Vice. The original show starred two dreamy subjects (at least back then), Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas. Anyway the next line is, “And I’ve been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord.”
Well that’s how I felt this weekend when that first bit of crisp air crept in during the wee morning hours. Fall is my favorite season as you all may or may not know. Don’t care for extremes, cold or heat. I like most things “just right” like Goldilocks and that includes the season that officially begins next Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Many of you like Fall too, for other obvious reasons that also came this past weekend amongst much doubt it would—college and professional football! Many stadiums were lacking fans but I am sure most fans did not mind one bit just as long as there was football.
Me, I didn’t watch an entire game all weekend as I was focusing my athletic attention on tennis at the U.S. Open in New York City. It was championship weekend on center court in Arthur Ashe Arena which too was empty of fans. Under normal circumstances, like barring a pandemic, the major tennis season would be over in August with this very tournament. However because of the pandemic, two of the majors (U.S. Open & French Open) were postponed until later in the Fall with Wimbledon all together scrapped for this year.
The Big Apple tournament was without many of the sport’s more prolific athletes due to constraints of international travel amongst the pandemic and some athletes just not willing to take the gamble with their health. I was still pleased to see many of my favorites take the court and compete in fabulous fashion, figuratively and literally.
Both men’s and women’s semifinals and finals matches were worth the wait since the first major of the year was played in January. It showed that many of the athletes had utilized their quarantined time efficiently.
The singles winners— Naomi Osaka and Dominic Thiem (both 3 mil richer), scored impressive come from behind victories to earn the titles. Once labeled up-and-comers, I think they both have arrived, Osaka with her third major and Thiem with his first.
However some of the old guard (Halep, Williams, Federer, Nadal) will still have their say with the French Open slated to begin in less than two weeks. Needless to say, I can’t wait. It’s probably my favorite open because Nadal is my fav player and he owns that clay court with 12 titles and counting. All I will need is some slightly cooler temperatures, which I think I may get after Hurricane Sally passes through, to enjoy some warm apple cider.
On a sports note closer to home, the varsity football Hurricanes will debut their new long-awaited stadium this Friday by hosting area rival Putnam County with social distancing rules applying, of course.
The varsity Canes have played at Rose Bowl Field for all of my life span and I know well before that so this will be big. The Class of 2020 held graduation there this summer but this will be the first varsity sporting event.
To that end, my prayers go out to the Jackson family as they lost their matriarch Marjorie Jackson on Monday. She was a true Hurricane at heart.
As a trusted transportation employee for decades, she could be counted on for a safe journey to-and-fro anywhere. I know because I was on many a bus she navigated and I knew when I stepped on that bus platform to Miss Marjorie’s smiling face, my school mates and I were in good hands. Rest in Peace.