Cal.E's Korner

Risin' up, back on the street

Did my time, took my chances

Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet

Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast

You trade your passion for glory

Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past

You must fight just to keep them alive

It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight

Risin' up to the challenge of our rival

And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night

And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger

Face to face, out on the heat

Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry

They stack the odds still we take to the street

For the kill, with the skill to survive

It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight

Risin' up to the challenge of our rival

And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night

And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger

Risin' up, straight to the top

Had the guts, got the glory

Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop

Just a man and his will to survive

It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight

Risin' up to the challenge of our rival

And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night

And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger

The eye of the tiger

The eye of the tiger

The eye of the tiger

The eye of the tiger

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Frank Sullivan / Jim Peterik

Eye of the Tiger lyrics © Wb Music Corp., Sony/atv Melody, Easy Action Music, Beijing Zi Tiao Wang Luo Ji Shu Ltd.

C.:  d.c., why did you run The Hoston Chronicle’s picture of a tombstone as the introduction to today’s blog? The Astros are only about ten percent of the way through the season. I’m sure they’ll do well, because this team is an historically slow starting one, and Ronnel Blanco is pitching tonight. He has a 0.00 ERA and has only one hit off him in two games. The Astros will be fine, I’m sure.

d.: I’m sure that the Astros will do well, but I want them to go to and win the World Series. I told you the story behind the tombstone the last time I ran it, didn’t I?

C.: You did, but I’ve forgotten most of it.

d.; Well, in 2005, the Astros weren’t winning many games. In fact, they were in last place in the NL Central. That’s when the editor of the local paper decided to do something drastic, so he ran the picture at the beginning of the blog.  That was on May 31. If memory serves me correctly, the Astros then promptly lost the next game before reeling off six straight wins. That woke the Astros up enough to win the NL wildcard that year. They then played well in the playoffs, earning their first trip to the World Series. Even though they lost in four games, it helped to earn them a distinction that will probably never be equaled by another MLB team.

C.: What distinction is that, d.c.?

d.: When the Astros switched leagues in 2013, it gave them an opportunity to do something no other team has ever done before or since. And, when I ran a picture of a tombstone in our blog after the Astros lost the first game of the 2022 World Series, they won four of the next five games, earning the Astros their second World Series title.

C.: What’s that?

d.: When they went to the World Series in 2017, they became the first (and probably only) MLB team to ever represent both the National and American League in the World Series. They beat the Dodgers in game seven of the World Series at Dodger Stadium that year to earn their first World Series title.

Okay, enough about baseball. Let’s get to the main event.

C.: I’m ready when you are.

d. the announcer: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND NONBINARY INDIVIDUALS, CATS, DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS OF ALL SPECIES, WELCOME TO THE BACKYARD BRAWL HEAVEYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TAG TEAM CATFIGHT. THIS IS COMING TO YOU (LITERALLY) FROM MY BACK YARD.

IN THE BLACK CORNER, WEIGHING IN AT 19.9998 SVELT POUNDS, THE HOLDER OF CHAMPIONSHIP BELTS IN FIVE DIFFERENT HEAVY WEIGHT CAT FIGHTING CATEGORIES, TUCKER TUCKER TWO, A.K.A. THE CAT FIGHTER FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE TUXEDO (WHO REALLY NEEDS A SHORTER NICKNAME) NOW SIMPLY KNOWN AS T BECAUSE TRIPLE T WAS ALREADY TAKEN; AND HIS PARTNER AND WIFE FOR LIFE, WEIGHING IN AT SEVEN AND ONE-HALF POUNDS, CALCULATING EINSTEIN (CAL.E) KAT!!!

AND, IN THE WHITE CORNER,THE CHALLENGERS ON THEIR HOME TURF:  WEIGHING IN AT ELEVEN AND THREE- QUARTER POUNDS, SLAMMING SHON DECLAW!!

SHON’S PARTNER AND HOUSEMATE, WEIGHING IT AT FORTY-TWO AND ONE-HALF POUNDS, THE BASHER, BIG BOY BARNES!!!

C.: Okay, T, if you want me to go first, I will….

Tux,: Nah, I’m good.

Shon: I’ll go first big boy.

BB: Are you usure? My weight is more than T’s, so maybe I should go first, since he’s jumping into the ring, over both ropes, almost landing on the roof, and moving his front paws so quickly that it’s hard to even see them.

S.: Nah, I’m good.

d.c., the referee: Okay, y’all you know the rules. That is, there are no rules in cat fighting. Now, bump paws and come out ready to catfight.

DING

POW!

C.: (I’m sure glad the T is in such good shape. Now that he’s won the cat fight with one punch again. I can go watch the Astros’ game with d.c. and his son. I’m sure T wants to take some time to cool down and take an ice bath at Wayne Manor

Then put his feet up to rest his inured ankle, so he won’t be joining us).

d.c. the referee: nine, ten.

d.c. the announcer LADIES, GENTLEMEN, NONBINARY INDIVIDUALS AND ANIMALS OF ALL GENDERS AND SPEICES; WINNER AND STILL CHAMPION OF HEAVY WEIGHT CAT FIGHINTG IN FIVE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, TUCKER TUCKER TWO, A.K.A. THE CAT FIGHTER FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE TUXEDO (WHO REALLY NEEDS A SHORTER NICKNAME) NOW SIMPLY KNOWN AS T BECAUSE TRIPLE T WAS ALREADY TAKEN; AND HIS PARTNER AND WIFE FOR LIFE, WEIGHING IN AT SEVEN AND ONE-HALF POUNDS, CALCULATING EINSTEIN (CAL.E) KAT!!!

d.: Okay, let’s go catch the Astros’ game, Cal.E.

C.:  Yes, Let’s. I’m glad the T did his usual so that we can even watch the pregame show.

d.: The pregame show is about to start, so I guess that’s all the time we have for today, folks. Please join us tomorrow for another episode of Cal.E.’s Korner.