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Relax, don’t fret, Giants begin 2011 as world champs

Open field

 

It’s not only what I’m reading in newspapers and magazines, watching on TV, or listening to on the radio, but why are so many fans worried about their San Francisco Giants during the recent spring training in Arizona leading up to this Thursday’s, March 31, 2011 season-opener against the Dodgers in Los Angeles?

Since the Giants won San Francisco’s first World Series championship on Nov. 1, 2010, I’ve had a most pleasant feeling of serenety, which, with much personal relief, has taken the place of the immense anxiety of entering another season wondering and worrying if the Giants were ever going to win a World Series.

Like I’ve stated so many times before, I’ve been an original San Francisco Giants fan since 1958, when I was 8-years-old and they arrived from New York with my favorite player, and the best all-around player of all-time, Willie Mays.

So I’ve anxiously seen many seasons start, and then, unfortunately, end, without baseball’s ultimate prize being part of San Francisco’s history.

Well, the Giants won the World Series and I’ll always be ecstatic and not have to fret any more.

Sure I want the Giants to defend their National League and World Series titles.

But, just like the elation and relief I felt in basketball when the San Francisco/Oakland/Golden State Warriors won the 1975 NBA championship, and when the San Francisco 49ers claimed their first Super Bowl crown – then spoiled us with four more titles – I finally have true contentment in my sports life, thanks to the Giants winning the World Series.

This has been the most peaceful of spring trainings for me, not worrying about the aches, pains, injuries and mindsets of San Francisco’s baseball champions, because it is only spring training, with a long season ahead and the positive prospects of another wild, fun-filled ride.

The San Francisco Giants still have that near-perfect combination of a dedicated, trust-worthy ownership; a beautiful and still state-of-the-art ballpark on the Bay supported by an enthusiastic and all-out supporting fan-base; and, most important, a knowledgeable and right-decision-making general manager and field manager, dedicated coaches and, of course, talented impact-players.

So stop the fretting and confidently follow Tim Lincecum, Brian Wilson, Buster Posey, Matt Cain, Aubrey Huff, Freddy Sanchez, Andres Torres, Pablo Sandoval, Cody Ross, Jonathan Sanchez, Madison Bumgarner, Pat Burrell and their Giant teammates attempt to produce a successful encore.

Ciao!