Sunday, September 22, 2002
Cinergy's perfect ending?
Fans write similar scripts
By Dustin Dow ddow@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
In a perfect world, the Cincinnati Reds would exit Cinergy Field in October with a World Series-clinching win. The playoff berth would come today, in Cinergy's regular-season finale. Ken Griffey Jr. would end it in the ninth with his 500th career home run.
In the real world, however, the Reds became a playoff no-show weeks ago. And Mr. Griffey stands 32 homers short of 500 thanks to an injury-filled season that began at 460. It will take a little imagination to come up with the necessary drama now.
That's where you came in.
The Enquirer solicited suggestions through Cincinnati.Com to find the perfect ending for today's final Reds game at the 32-year-old stadium formerly known as Riverfront.
Many of you found the perfect protagonist in 37-year-old pitcher Jose Rijo. The 1990 World Series' Most Valuable Player will start today's game after being relegated to one of the last spots on the pitching staff for much of the season.
“The perfect ending would be Jose Rijo pitching a shutout while Barry Larkin hits for the cycle,” wrote former Cincinnatian Randy Robertson of Queens, N.Y. “Rijo and Larkin are the last links to past Reds' glory in the stadium, before economics tilted the playing field against the Cincinnati nine.”
Mr. Larkin, the 38-year-old shortstop, and Mr. Rijo are the only current Reds who played on the 1990 team that went wire to wire in first place before upsetting the Oakland A's in the World Series. Mr. Larkin, the 1995 National League MVP, has spent his entire 17-year career with the Reds, the most of any active player with his original team.
That makes him another sentimental choice for the perfect ending.
“Easy,” wrote Nashville's David Braam, a Cincinnati native. “Tie game and Barry Larkin hits a walk-off home run. The ultimate Cincinnati Red for the last quarter of the 20th century helps say goodbye to Riverfront Stadium and hello to the 21st-century Reds.”
You had many variations of the pair leading the Reds to victory today - Mr. Rijo recording everything from a victory to a no-hitter to a perfect game, Mr. Larkin providing a key defensive play or hit or home run for the win. Some saw this as the perfect ending not only to baseball at Cinergy, but to the heroes'careers.
“Jose Rijo fires a complete game. Barry Larkin hits the game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth,” wrote Andrew Wright of Fort Drum, N.Y., via Eaton, Ohio. “After the game, Larkin thanks the city of Cincinnati for its support and announces his retirement effective at the end of the season.”
Mr. Rijo and Mr. Larkin have said they do not plan to retire yet. That Mr. Rijo is even pitching is noteworthy, considering a series of elbow surgeries kept him out of baseball from the 1996 through 2000 seasons. Mr. Larkin, like fellow Moeller alum Mr. Griffey, has been fighting injury problems.
And like Mr. Larkin, Mr. Griffey received a heavy amount of support from you to be part of the perfect conclusion to today's game.
“Bases loaded, bottom of the ninth, two outs, and the Reds are down three,” wrote former Cincinnatian Adam Ellis of Chicago. “Griffey hits a (grand slam) and wins the game. As he comes around third base, he looks up the line at his father and son cheering.”
The natural ending came from Doug Brown of Tewksbury, N.J., another transplant, who must have been thinking along the lines of The Natural when he suggested: “A walk-off home run by Junior that strikes an exposed electrical box in the stands, causing all the lights in the stadium to go off.”
Some of you were yearning for a tie-in to the Big Red Machine glory days and saw the potential for symmetry in Cinergy. Your perfect game-ending play?
“Adam Dunn bowling over the opposing catcher to score the winning run in extra innings (a la Pete Rose and Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star Game at then-Riverfront),” wrote Marty Strohofer of Monfort Heights.
Speaking of Mr. Rose and the Big Red Machine, what kind a tribute to the stadium would be complete without mentioning the team that won two World Series and four National League titles in the '70s. Many of you included the all-time Hit King and his teammates in your fanciful finales.
“The perfect ending would be for Pete Rose to be there, but because he can't, I think it would be awesome for 4,192 red balloons with the No. 14 to be launched from the stadium after the game,” wrote Lynda Grissinger of Cincinnati.
Mr. Rose cannot be part of the proceedings because of Major League Baseball's ban for gambling-related misconduct. But that didn't deter your perfect endings for the man whose 4,192nd hit Sept. 11, 1985, broke Ty Cobb's record.
In fact, many of you wrote it in as part of your fondest farewell.
“To have (baseball commissioner) Bud Selig announce that Pete Rose would be eligible for the Hall of Fame,” wrote former Cincinnatian Mike Grayson of Anaconda, Mont., “and to win having Jose Rijo pitch a shutout.”
Mr. Rose is not eligible for the Hall of Fame as long as he is on Major League Baseball's lifetime banished list.
“The perfect ending for the final game would be Jose Rijo pitching nine innings of no-hit ball and the score being 0-0,” wrote Mike Ooten of West Chester. “In the middle of the ninth, it's announced over the loudspeaker that baseball has lifted the ban on Pete Rose just before Barry Larkin leads off with a game-winning home run.”
Some of you don't care about spectacular plays or even if the Reds win. You just want to see Cinergy Field honored today by fans and players, past and present. After 32 years, you are the ones who will be sad to see Cinergy go because of the memories constructed there.
And some of you want to be part of the perfect ending. How?
“A standing ovation for the last two innings that reminds us all of how magical this place could be,” wrote Jason King of Yorktown, Ind., “and if the Reds should win, a roar from the crowd that can be heard all over the city.”
Reds Stories
Ohio State 23, UC 19
UC-Ohio State statistics
DAUGHERTY: UC needed a hero
Maligned 'D' strong for UC
UC Notebook: Special teams hurt
UC's no-huddle befuddles Buckeyes
Bengals see chance to shed 'Bungles' image
Bengals not so bad on big stage
Keys to the Game
Who's got the Edge?
Armour et al: Put a lick on Vick
Levi Jones' Rookie Journal
Mark Curnutte's NFL picks
Miami 27, Kent State 20
Kentucky 44, Middle Tennessee 22
Mt. Saint Joseph 51, Hiram 0
Thomas More 26, Shenandoah 7
College Update: World's game comes to Tristate
Enquirer Power Rankings
Five Questions with David West
Football scores & game reports
How Enquirer poll teams fared
Elder 45, Cleveland St. Ignatius 35
St. Xavier 35, Moeller 21
Chaminade-Julienne 45, Badin 25
Northwood 35, CCD 14
Highlands 27, Beechwood 6
Ryle 27, Covington Catholic 22
Holy Cross 21, Bethlehem 13
St. X, Turpin set pace for state
Prep Insider: Turpin stopped one game from record
Ky. Insider: NewCath grad strikes it big
Prep Spotlight on Jay Sutton
Boys cross country results
Boys golf results
Boys soccer results
Girls cross country results
Girls soccer results
Girls tennis results
Girls volleyball results
• Return to Reds front page...
Cinergy's perfect ending? Fans write similar scripts
