Cougars: Cougars Ranked!

What are your favorite things? Have you ever sat down and tried to rank them? Seriously. Sure, it may not be normal but neither is writing a blog about recreational softball.

Most people go through life liking things but not putting much thought into developing a hierarchy.

I like lists. It creates order and it helps to know where things stand.

Let’s use my list of favorite fruits as an example.

Peach
Pineapple
Watermelon
Banana
Strawberry
Cantaloupe
Blueberry
Orange
Raspberry
Apple

Oh, you want more? How about local thoroughfares? Here are my top two.

Dan Ryan Expressway | Northbound

As you enter your racing lane on the Dan Ryan, you better have a heavy foot and your pedal to the metal because there is no way you are driving the speed limit in this speedy road course. The Red Line trains are like your own personal mechanical rabbits in a greyhound race. Be sure to keep one eye on the road and the other on the rear view mirror. Stop off at 35th Street for great food and lousy baseball.

Lake Shore Drive | Northbound

Be sure to start this one on South Shore drive and take it all the way to the North Shore. The view after the McCormick underpass is spectacular as the city rises from the street. The world-famous views continue past Lake Michigan, Buckingham Fountain, the Museum Campus, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park, Montrose Beach, and eventually lead to Sheridan Road for the homestretch.

Five favorite baseball players? Here you go.

Pete Rose
George Brett
Reggie Jackson
Chet Lemon
Rickey Henderson

Favorite baseball plays - note how they all involve the catcher. I was a catcher my whole youth and adult baseball life.

Play at the Plate

The drama, the tag, the risk — it's the most intense moment in baseball.

Strike 'Em Out, Throw 'Em Out Double Play

Pitcher and catcher in sync, shortstop or second baseman nails the tag. Beautiful coordination.

Catcher Throws Out Runner at 2B

Classic. Clean pop, strong throw, tag on the money. A thing of beauty.

Catcher Fielding a Bunt

Quick feet, clean grab, fast decision. Underrated difficulty.

Catcher's High Pop-Up in Foul Territory

The mask flies, the ball hangs, the moment teeters — it’s a test of balance, bravery, and instinct.

Okay, one last ranking…breezes. Wait, what?! You are going to rank breezes?

Why, yes, of course. A breeze is a gift from above, and the last breeze you felt is always the new number one breeze.

On a beautiful Tuesday night, UBAA didn’t just beat the Cougars, they breezed right through us like a fresh spring wind. You could smell our rank wafting all across Wilmette in a 21-6 loss.

Howard Park was drenched in lilac perfume but the Cougars brought their own cologne: Eau de Defeat.

It wasn’t all foul — somewhere in the funk, the Cougars managed a few fantastic flashes.

Our musty defense had a few plays that met the smell test of excellence.

CharleyRads snagged two lined lasers at 3B. He also made a sweet play by stopping a hard bouncer behind 3B and smoothly fired it all the way across the diamond to Li’l Rads.
Big Ball Jimmy raced in from center field to make a running catch with his fingertips.
Pekar caught a bullet at SS and also fielded a grounder and quickly shuffled it backhanded to 3B for a force.

Our offense was odoriferous, but there were a few scoring plays everyone should nose.

Pekar punched a single up the middle and Big Ball Jimmy followed with a poke through the infield for a RBI.
Spinner popped a perfectly placed ball to CF for a RBI.
Bobi crushed a hit to left center and Li’l Rads drove the ball down the third base line for a RBI.
CharleyRads hit a double to right and Big Ball Jimmy hit it the same way for a RBI.
Gieselman rocked a single down the third base line, Rads singled up the middle and CharleyRads plated two runs with a worm burner up the middle.

After the game, we walked to the postgame, where we did a little ranking of our own with what we had in front of us — beers.