Game 7 of the World Series – Cubs defeat the Indians 8-7 in extra innings. They are calling it the best game in baseball history. I watched it on the couch with Jack. We stayed up all the way through the last out at 1:05 AM (on a school night).
And from here…I’m going to make an apology. I know you signed up for a blog about baseball and fatherhood, but this election has consumed me. And I think I need to write my way through it. You’re an innocent bystander and I’m sorry. There will be curse words; it will be raw and poorly written; it will be highly partisan.
See, Shani and I don’t talk anymore. We sit and look at our phones, scrolling through Facebook and calling out newscast to each other.
“Did you see the Louis CK video?”
“The KKK is endorsing him. Perfect.”
“More evidence of voter suppression — it’s disgusting.”
I check FiveThirtyEight.com maniacally. I check it when I wake up. I check it when I drive. I check it when my kids are talking to me. I watch Hillary’s declining lead like it’s my supply of oxygen and I’m praying I’ve got enough to make it until Tuesday.
I find myself praying a lot, mostly when I’m driving. I pray for this to end. The idea of that person actually being our president — God, the embarrassment. How can this be even close to real?
I’m not dealing with this in a healthy way. A lot of the time my stomach feels like a towel being wrung out. I felt vaguely nauseous on my way to work this morning. I try to look at the fall colors (which are gorgeous right now) but my consciousness slides back to a poisoned sense of dread. I listen to political podcasts and hear interviews with undecided voters who “are not sure they can vote for Hillary given all the latest news on her emails.” I find myself wanting to grab these people by the shoulders, shake the shit out of them and shriek in their face: “Are you seriously that fucking stupid?!?!”
Last night the Cubs won the World Series after a 108-year drought. And they won it in game 7 –- a phenomenal game in a phenomenal series. God, what a game. A historic game. A game that years from now people will reminisce about where they were when they watched it.
I watched it on the couch and I watched it with my son. My son who loves baseball so deeply and fully and purely that I honestly can’t even comprehend it. He’s like a math genius thinking about equations that are so far above my head it’s not even real. I just watch him and marvel.
But at the same time, there a part of that love for baseball that I do understand. I feel it so powerfully that I sometimes feel like I’m drowning in it.
This is Wayne Williams.
Wayne’s father died in 1980. But they made a pact that when the Cubs finally won the World Series, they would listen to the game together. Wayne drove from North Carolina to Indiana and he listened to the game at his father’s grave.
That I understand.
Dear God, thank you for this game and thank you for letting me share it with my son. Help me make it through this offseason. Help me get through to election day — and please make sure that Donald Trump is never, ever our president.
[Note to readers: more tortured and gibberish posts may follow in the next few days. I apologize in advance.]
NuckolBall 
you are not alone in your anguish. When the head of the FBI gets involved in elections, my head nearly explodes. It will soon be over and Trump will take his place as a Hugh joke in American History.
And congrats to Chicago–well deserved!
I just love you even more
Sent from my iPhone
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You could not have explained where I am today or was on Wednesday night or have been during this campaign more perfectly. Baseball has been my tonic, my salve, my massage. I’m afraid in the next five days I’ll have to turn to chocolate.
Bob said it, “You are not alone in your anguish.” Keep praying.
Add one more anguished. I cannot even turn on the news without feeling sick. And last night I found out that my step-sister, a lifelong and committed Democrat, voted for Trump because she despises Hillary. This really struck fear in my heart. I don’t know how I’ll get through the next four years if he is elected.
Was waiting for the Nuckolball response to the historic win…. Beautiful, as always.
Breath held til Tuesday too…Looking forward to walking into the voting station with Siobhan and casting the ballot for Hillary together. Can’t even let myself think about a Trump win.
As an American, it is your right to vote every 4 years for the leader of this great country. You also have the right not to vote. To exercise you right to say neither of you are worthy. Something you said at the Budzik’s this past summer still rings true to me. “This is the most winnable election for the Republicans and they came up with Trump as their candidate”. It says volumes about both candidates.
Good luck in the next 5 days.
You poor people…you're getting the same fb feed I am. I don't think Donald has a chance, but it is maddening! Do you think Wayne danced all over his dad's grave??Keep up the wonderful writing, and dad-ing!!NancySent from my Veriz