Iran has gone online with a nuclear reactor. Palestinians may ask the United Nations to unilaterally recognize their independent state. Jews continue to assimilate, and the bad economy has further weakened local Jewish institutions.
But the Giants are in the World Series, so for now, let’s party.
This is not to make light of the serious issues confronting the Jewish community here and abroad. Rather, we just want to take a moment to savor, along with much of Northern California, the joy of having one of our home teams in the Fall Classic.
There’s really nothing like it for a mega-dose of civic pride. The Super Bowl, even if your team is playing in it, usually takes place in some far-away city, and it’s over in the blitz of an eye. The NBA championships would be nice, but come on: the Warriors?
And as for the Stanley Cup, go Sharks and all that, but no sporting event unites a city with universal happiness and goodwill like the World Series.
Especially a team like the 2010 Giants. The whole “collection of misfits and outcasts” theme may have been overworked, but it has a rascally appeal. It suits San Francisco’s ingrained counterculture and storied history of welcoming the stranger.
We love throwaways like Cody Ross, who rose to the occasion to become the MVP of the series against the Phillies. We adore iconoclasts like Tim Lincecum and big lugs like Pablo Sandoval. We’re right there, deep in the crazy with Brian Wilson and his fabulous painted beard.
If they weren’t playing baseball, some of these guys might be mistaken for Mission District panhandlers.
Sure, it could be over quickly. Sure, the glory will fade fast like the echo of a summer fireworks display.
But the beauty of sport is that it reminds us — forces us — to live in the moment, to enjoy the now. And when a city’s pride is at stake, it’s all the more momentous. A Giants win will give this community a lovely boost and a Market Street parade we’ll never forget.
As the poet said, “The time you won your town the race, We chaired you through the market-place, Man and boy stood cheering by, And home we brought you shoulder high.”
The World Series will not solve the world’s problems. We still have a key election coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 2, though we don’t need to remind Jews to vote. That comes as natural to us as swinging at a low inside fastball does to Cody Ross.
After the election, we can analyze the meaning and get back to hand-wringing over the state of the world.
That’s for later. Right now, we can only say: Go Giants!