In 1974, James Michener had Centennial published. In typical Michener fashion, the novel about a small patch of northeast Colorado begins at the formation of the Rocky Mountains and gradually moves forward through prehistory, Native American experiences, early settlers, and so on through the present day. This is why Michener novels are strictly monitored at libraries; they often disappear from the premises and are found weeks later in alleys or open lots housing a family of four.
Centennial was made into an NBC miniseries in 1978-79. It was loaded with stars from the time (Richard Chamberlain! Robert Conrad! Lynn Redgrave! Robert Vaughn!). Yes, it was nominated for several awards and was referred to in the press as "the white man's Roots," which was rather missing the point about Roots' themes and high quality. Despite all its hype and star power, you couldn't watch all 26.5 hours of Centennial even if you underwent the Ludovico Technique from A Clockwork Orange.
Watching the Red Sox move through the 2007 postseason relentlessly must give their opponents the sensation of fighting against Nature itself, much like Michener's protagonists. Their pitchers erode your confidence while their hitters chip away at your pride. Yes, the Indians were able to find safe ground and even make an honest living for a stretch, but time (and "Sweet Caroline") eventually wore them away as well.
The destruction of Josh Fogg in the third inning last night bore all the hallmarks. No home runs; no triples. Double, single, double, walk, single, single, walk, single, double. With that, Josh Fogg went back to the dugout for likely the final time this season with the score 6-0. Boston's traveling secretaries must have started thumbing through local listings for liquor stores that sell champagne in bulk.
The Rockies fought back against the dying of the light, but even runs in the sixth and seventh to bring the score to 6-5 didn't bring any sense of equality with the fight against entropy. Instead, the viewer could only feel pity, like that for the child that builds her sand castle a little too close to the ocean during low tide. Sure enough, high tide came in the form of another succession of pounding waves in the eighth: walk, single, double, double and there were three more runs and quite a few inconsolable children in Coors Field.
Joe Buck breathlessly told the nation that last night's contest was the longest nine-inning game in World Series history, as if his employers' commercial ambitions weren't as oppressive or as constant as the Red Sox's march through the 2007 postseason. Still, Michener readers can relate to a novel that goes on far too long with an ending that is already known; those that love Michener's efforts can only hope the characters and the soap opera twists intrigue the reader.
With the series set at 3-0, talk of reverse miracles and "Cowboying Up" (a claim much stronger in Colorado than in Massachusetts) can be attributed to Fox whisper campaigns and a desperate attempt by the mayor of Denver to avoid paying off his gambling debts to the mayor of Boston. Therefore, casual baseball fans outside the greater Boston area or the Rockies are excused with Major League Baseball's thanks for your hard work during this painfully dull 2007 postseason. Dane Cook will disconnect you from the machines and remove the hooks from your eyelids now.
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