When I write, I listen to music.
I’m not precious about it. If I have to write on deadline in a loud, packed basketball arena while a game I’m not covering is played in front of me, I can tune it all out and bang out a solid story. But when I sit down to write a long feature, with interviews all transcribed and notes spread in front of me, music has to be in the background. The same goes for when I sit down to write a column. In those moments, my SiriusXM subscription pays for itself.
Many of us have our go-to favorites. For me, two bands typically turn on my word spigot and get my fingers punching the keyboard. Pearl Jam, and the Tragically Hip, two bands who were along for my ride from teenager to adult. Pearl Jam is still going strong, and I have tickets to see them when the tour that was supposed to kick off in March 2020 finally goes off. Unfortunately, we won’t get new music from the Tragically Hip. We lost lead singer Gord Downie to brain cancer in 2017. If you haven’t heard of the band, watch the documentary “Long Time Running,” a chronicle of the Hip’s goodbye tour in 2016 and a look at the impact they had on their native Canada.
When there wasn’t sports for so long last year, there was always music. Over the last year or so, the songs of Pearl Jam and the Hip were the soundtrack that helped pull me back from all the negative that was constantly in our faces. It’s not hyperbole to say their music kept me sane.
I’ve written this annual sports haiku collection for years now. I’m not an accomplished poet and I’ve never aspired to be. I figure, if writing these goofy little things entertain me, maybe they’ll entertain you. If they’re not your thing, I’ll be back to my usual foolishness next week. Thanks for indulging me.
The Tragically Hip song “Daredevil” is playing as I write this. So here we go, plunging over the falls.
Mother’s Day No. 1
Right arm in pieces
Pain dope, am I still in cleats?
Her face, Pain subsides
Another No Hitter
Wade Miley? That guy?
Mediocre to a T
Hit homers or zilch
Taylor Hall
Krejci’s elixir
Rejuvenate two careers
In one line pairing
Mac Jones
Tide rolls the future
Precision, football IQ
Dad bod, but slings it
Boston Celtics
Selling illusions
One day you’re great, the next, meh
Good? Bad? Pick a lane
Jeremy Swayman
Black Bear, a Bruin
A wall, Orono design
Somewhere, Red smiles
CFL
Black Bears in first round
Season away, Blue Bombers
Grey Cup still all yours
Kentucky Derby
Baffert wins again
Medina Spirit, two more
Midnight Bourbon dry
Maine High School Football
Flags replace tackles
Normal sniffs around the world
Football waits, crickets
Red Sox Hitters
Franchy, Dalbec whiff
Xander sets pace, JD back
If all get hot, wow!
Red Sox Pitchers
Strong, steady ERod
Question marks everywhere
Tanner Houck, why not?
High School Sports
Masks off. Ah, smiles!
Cold spring games no match, spirit
wins time and again
Mother’s Day No. 2
A lead blown, head shakes
Text: “Sox giving it away.”
She knows. Always has.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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