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Play Ball •-• And Beyond

I

t was almost four weeks ago — a
Saturday night, the Detroit Tigers were
playing the New York Yankees. I was
among a group of friends watching the
game at the home one of our good friends.
Not just watching — we were intensely
watching. All discussion was focused on
the Tigers and their quest to
get to the World Series.
It was 4-0 in the sixth to
eighth innings, and the dis-
cussion focused on whether
manager Jim Leyland would
go to pitcher Jose Valverde
to close. I have to tell you
— there was debate and
unpleasantries uttered when
the name "Valverde" was even
mentioned. Some of us said,
"He's our closer." Others said,
"Please, [they did not really
say please] don't put him in:"
I'd venture to say that other than one
or two people, everyone in the room was
north of 50. If you were an observer of the
discussion, you'd wonder to yourself, "Why
are these people so adamant and hostile on
this issue?"

Then came the ninth inning — a Yankee
homerun and it is 4-2. Yelling, screaming
and swearing ensued and the volume was
loud. The scene ranged from amusement
and anxiety to anger and fear. A couple
of moments later, another homerun. The
game was now tied, 4-4. Insanity followed.
Almost everyone in the room got
up and said, "We're leaving" and
then walked out, hardly thanking
our kind hosts or saying goodbye
to their friends. Adults, who have
watched baseball for years and
years, had totally lost it.
Two weeks and a day later, the
Tigers had lost the World Series
in four straight games, and every-
one moved on. The focus shifted
to the victims of Hurricane Sandy
as well as the election. The anger
toward Valverde and Leyland and
disappointment over losing the series was
gone the day after the series ended. In fact,
the overall census was to thank the Tigers
for a fun season and great effort.
Surprising? Not really. This is how we
are. We are passionate and sometimes
stressed about the moment, but after ifs

done, we move on. I find this
often occurs when people are in
the midst of financial distress
as well.
At that moment, it is all-
consuming and the stress, anger
and guilt seem overwhelming.
The same is true in any crisis.
Once it is resolved — either by
taking action or the passage of
time — we move on and get
beyond our anger and sense of
urgency. Cooler heads then pre-
vail, and we reflect on what transpired and
focus in on the real issues.
This is a good thing. For many of us, it
would be even a better thing if we could
keep things in perspective in the moment
and not lose our cool and blow our fuses
over so many issues — whether they are
domestic, spouses and children, business
or financial.
I know this is easy to say and difficult
to do. I'm one that gets involved in the
moment — sometimes too involved. And
I know that I should keep a perspective.
After all, baseball is simply a game. It is not
life and death. It is not sickness and health.

Prince Fielder out at home

World Series.

It is not even a financial problem. It is just
a game.
Now that we've covered this, I have only
one question. Can you believe third base
coach Gene Lamont sent Prince Fielder
home to be thrown out in game three of
the series with no one out?
Grarrrrarrrarrrr!!

❑

Ken Gross is an attorney with Thav Gross and

host of The Financial Crisis Talk Center radio
program at 8:30 a.m. Saturdays on WDFN 1130

AM, "The Fan." His new book, Dump Your Debt,
is available at Amazon.com .

Ccicbrating 90 Years!

Join us
for our annual
Customer Appreciation Night

Thursday, November 15, 2012
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Festivities for the evening include complimentary passed hors d'oeuvres from Fox Grill, refreshments from
Churchill's Bistro & Cigar Bar, live entertainment and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit Eton Academy.

Valet parking will be provided by Golling Fiat.

Voted Metro Detroit's
BEST Custom Jeweler

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248.540.4622 100 South Old Woodward, Birmingham, MI 48009 wachlerjewelers.com

1795890

November 8 2012

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