Farewell to a Cougar

As most Cougar fans already know, last night we toasted everyone's favorite Cougar, JOx, and his most loyal fans, Heather, Annie, and Lucy.  This family made an indelible impression in our lives and in our hearts.  Heck, they even added a new word to our lexicon.  Some of you probably remember the definition for Oxerize, given in a previous blog, but here's a review taken directly from the newest edition of Webster's. 

Oxerize (v) ahx-er-ahyz

1. to make larger or more powerful; especially by adding details to

2. to increase in size, extent, effect, sometimes through decadence and extravagance

3. to make Cougars giddy

A simple blog entry to say farewell to our retiring and relocating Cougar catcher would certainly not be enough to send him off.  How can one Oxerize this farewell blog?

By giving our dear departing Cougar his own blog.  Enjoy!

In the early spring of 2008, a softball team was formed.  The main goal of this team was to get a night out, be relatively competitive and quaff a few cold ones after the game.  Yes, this is a story that has been told, but let's walk down memory lane, or rather Spencer Avenue.

When assembling the team, I thought it would be neighborly to ask the new guy across the street to  join the team.  I rang the bell and answering the door was one wife, two kids, two grandparents and one dog but no Jeremy; he was still on his way home from work.  

I introduced myself and said that I came to inquire if the man of the house would like to play softball with my new team.  In unison, their responses of “Jeremy???” were filling my ears with quizzical sing-songy voices. I later found out that Jeremy had never played baseball or softball of any kind. After I offered tissues to wipe their shared tears of laughter, it was Heather that said, “Yes, he will play softball.”  

Just then, Jeremy walked to the front door. The dog was barking, the kids were jumping, the grandparents were talking, the wife was beaming, and the new player found the situation frightening.

Who knew that we had quite a catch on our hands?  Finding Jeremy for the Cougars is like going to the depths of Latin America to find that one ballplayer than you can sign for a low salary but will bring the best out of the whole team.  His only contract demands were a few adult beverages after the game, and, well, he really did not want to play that often.

It's impressive that in a few short years this cat, who had never played the game in his life, now leaves as an all-star.

Let's take a pictorial trip through the stunning and dazzling career of JOx.  

 Although Jeremy didn't often make the 8:00 a.m. Cougar practices, you can see he still managed to transform himself into a slugger.

On the bases he was surprisingly swift.  Fielders could not stop him.

Jeremy was a superstar on the green grass and the green felt.  JOx became one of Wilmette's finest poker players. 

 Oxer hosted us in his garage so we could play poker "South Side Style."

Flynner, JOx and I organized McKenzie's inaugural poker party.

We played poker at Jeremy's until 3am on a summer Friday...

...and we played poker at 3:00pm on a winter snow day.

Oxer also gave us plenty of sartorial satire and merry material.

This is how JOx showed up to play softball when the weather was not so kind.   
Rain Coat.  Check.  Boots.  Check.  Umbrella.  Check. 

Don't confuse Oxerize with exercise.  And don't think this was recent.  Carbon emissions will go down in Wilmette once Jeremy moves.  He would even drive to my house.

In this pic, Oxer practices for Florida weather at the beach.


 

And here, Jeremy shows us how one should appropriately dress in a snowstorm to deliver coffee to a neighbor in need.

How Oxer cools off on a hot day.

 Jeremy giving us the famous eyebrow that says, "really?".






Here is Jeremy showing off his new sweatsuit that will help him fit in with the Florida crowd.

How could we host a proper send-off for this local legend?  We weren't sure we were up for the challenge, but this is the agenda we set for June 7, 2011, Oxer's last game:

1. Order up a lovely summer night without a rain cloud in sight.
2. Tell JOx to go 3-for-3 and score every time at bat. 
3. Make sure Jeremy provides his infamous chatter behind the plate. 
4. Win quickly so we can start the party. 
5. Have ample Chicken Shack delivered to feed the Cougars, the Springers, the Shack, the Tappers, and all Oxer well-wishers. 
6. Recruit Diddy to whip up two pans of his addictive buffalo chicken dip.
7. Have a keg delivered, although this will probably be too much beer for a Tuesday night. (Note that not only was the keg drained, we even had to break out bottled beer.)
8. Get a Deerfield's cake large enough to feed the entire state of Florida.  
9. Hire a cheap photographer, such as my father-in-law, Steve Ots, to capture the festivities.
10. Have Heather give me an almost life-sized poster of JOx finishing his marathon, so that we can still take Ox to the post-games with us.
11. Present Oxer with a Cougar-signed Clincher.  During my speech, joke that I'd throw the ball to him, but he might not catch it.  Throw it to him, have him catch it one-handed with a beer in the other hand. Crowd will go wild. 
12. Relive a perfect night through photos.   (Click this link to view)

It's amazing when things work out exactly as planned.  Thanks to all who were able to come out last night and celebrate Jeremy, Heather, Annie, and Lucy.   

As the Oxer family prepares to move, we will miss them at Howard Park and on Spencer Avenue, but we know that they will bring as much sunshine to Florida as they brought to Wilmette.  Best wishes always, Oxers!