The Good Guys had a quiet, reflective, and painful winter, following their setback in the World Series. While the Series loss was not one of their most heartbreaking, the loss itself was combined with the knowledge that Mitch was advancing on in years, and would not be around forever. One of these fine Octobers, series setback or not, he would have to say "Uncle", and end his baseball career. Those words were not to be spoken in the upcoming year, however, as Mitch decided to return to the team. Naomi, for her part, could well have retired herself, taken a movie, and taken their marriage in different directions. The beautiful Australian, with all her boldness and stubbornness, could not bring herself, to retire, or end her marriage to Mitch. Anytime Mitch testily asked her if she wanted "out" or "Goodbye", Naomi fired back : "I dont want that". It was almost like the couple were two people, jockeying for position, trying to hang on to some sembalance of a life from long ago. Whatever their reasons, right after January 1st of the new year, the couple marched into the team offices, signed their contracts, and prepared their workouts for spring training. They had a goal that year, win it all, for so many reasons, as they might have this one last lap around the track, and would never pass this way again.
The couple was struggling to make progress in their personal lives throughout that winter. They attended counesling, and slept together, making love occasionally. However, there were many unhappy periods, and not much consistency or good times. Neither one was ready to make any move to venture outside the marriage. They seemed to both have the mindset "We've been together almost a quarter century, how can we end our marriage, and if we do, where are we going, and who, and where, are we going to?" This was a curious stance, considering their powerful personalities, and standing in the baseball, acting, and social communities, in general.
With all these unresolved thoughts, another baseball season was upon the couple, and the Good Guys. The season opened on a beautiful, windy, 75 degree Monday, against the Mets. Kate Hudson was on the mound, and was fired up, firing a four hit shutout, a complete game, with nine strikeouts, in a 3-0 win. Gil Bellows pitched on opening day two, the following afternoon. He allowed one run in six innings, as the Good Guys got only two, but made it stand up, as Hayden put out the fire, for a 2-1 victory. Charlize Theron had the ball on Wednesday afternoon. She gave up three runs in five innings, and took the loss, as the team could not score enough, in a 3-2 defeat.
Thursday was an off day. That morning, Mitch and Naomi attended a light team workout, and counesling, and then went to the casino to gamble with the team, and for lunch, dinner, and a swim. The couple was trying to chill out, and focus their minds on their baseball work.
Friday was the first night game of the season, with the Good Guys hosting the Atlanta Braves. Neve Campbell pitched. She gave up three runs in six innings, as the Good Guys broke a 3-3 tie, with two runs in the seventh, for a 5-3 win. Rachel Leigh Cook got shut out, 2-0 on Saturday night. Kate Hudson opposed John Smoltz, on a sunny, windy, 82 degree Sunday, in front of a sellout. Both pitchers were dominant that day, as Kate punched out thirteen Braves, and Smoltz fanned eleven Good Guys. The two starting pitchers were gone in the tenth, when, with a scoreless tie, a base hit off Braves reliever Mike Gonzalez, won it for Paradise, by a 1-0 score.
Houston came to town on Monday, for the homestand's final series. Gil Bellows pitched on Monday night, and threw well, but lost, 4-3. Charlize Theron had the assignment on Tuesday night. She allowed only one run in six innings, as Paradise broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth, with three runs, for a
4-1 win. Neve Campbell took the mound on a sunny dry, 82 degree Paradise day, in front of a sellout. Neve gave up two runs in seven innings, as Paradise rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the seventh, for five runs, to come away with a 5-2 victory, that completed a fine opening six and three homestand. On field, things were looking good, but off field, situations were shaky.
In the meantime, the team held its Saturday tickle party. The featured lee would be Mitch, who needed some respite, from his ongoing troubles with Naomi. He was tied hands and feet to the bed, in the middle of the fetish club. Neve Campbell began the tickle on Mitch's neck with fingers, as his head shifted, and the laughter began:HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! Working down, Charlize Theron was next, tickling Mitch on his underarms, sides, ribs, and belly with fingers, as he thrashed:HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAAA! Moving down, Rachel Leigh Cook was the next ler, attacking Mitch on his hips, inner thighs, and knees with fingers, as her legs bucked:HHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! Finally, Hayden positioned herself at Mitch's feet, and tickled them with fingers, electric toothbrushes, and feathers, over his feet and toes. Mitch went beserk, wiggling his toes every which way, and howling with laughter: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHA! OMG PLEASE NO MORE! I GIVE UP! NOOOOO! HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHHAA! Finally, the tickle ended, and Mitch was untied.
On Thursday night, Mitch was packed to head on the team trip to New York. Mitch and Naomi were in the deep freeze since the start of the season, so she said "Take a cab, I'm not taking you" Mitch pulled out his cell phone, and called one. "I'll see you next week, hopefully things will be better then" Mitch said, as he headed out the door to the cab to take him to the airport.
So, it had been a first homestand of good play on field, and tension off field. Now came the first ten day trip. What would happen next? That answer to come in the continuing story of the Tickle Team From Paradise Island.
The End
The couple was struggling to make progress in their personal lives throughout that winter. They attended counesling, and slept together, making love occasionally. However, there were many unhappy periods, and not much consistency or good times. Neither one was ready to make any move to venture outside the marriage. They seemed to both have the mindset "We've been together almost a quarter century, how can we end our marriage, and if we do, where are we going, and who, and where, are we going to?" This was a curious stance, considering their powerful personalities, and standing in the baseball, acting, and social communities, in general.
With all these unresolved thoughts, another baseball season was upon the couple, and the Good Guys. The season opened on a beautiful, windy, 75 degree Monday, against the Mets. Kate Hudson was on the mound, and was fired up, firing a four hit shutout, a complete game, with nine strikeouts, in a 3-0 win. Gil Bellows pitched on opening day two, the following afternoon. He allowed one run in six innings, as the Good Guys got only two, but made it stand up, as Hayden put out the fire, for a 2-1 victory. Charlize Theron had the ball on Wednesday afternoon. She gave up three runs in five innings, and took the loss, as the team could not score enough, in a 3-2 defeat.
Thursday was an off day. That morning, Mitch and Naomi attended a light team workout, and counesling, and then went to the casino to gamble with the team, and for lunch, dinner, and a swim. The couple was trying to chill out, and focus their minds on their baseball work.
Friday was the first night game of the season, with the Good Guys hosting the Atlanta Braves. Neve Campbell pitched. She gave up three runs in six innings, as the Good Guys broke a 3-3 tie, with two runs in the seventh, for a 5-3 win. Rachel Leigh Cook got shut out, 2-0 on Saturday night. Kate Hudson opposed John Smoltz, on a sunny, windy, 82 degree Sunday, in front of a sellout. Both pitchers were dominant that day, as Kate punched out thirteen Braves, and Smoltz fanned eleven Good Guys. The two starting pitchers were gone in the tenth, when, with a scoreless tie, a base hit off Braves reliever Mike Gonzalez, won it for Paradise, by a 1-0 score.
Houston came to town on Monday, for the homestand's final series. Gil Bellows pitched on Monday night, and threw well, but lost, 4-3. Charlize Theron had the assignment on Tuesday night. She allowed only one run in six innings, as Paradise broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth, with three runs, for a
4-1 win. Neve Campbell took the mound on a sunny dry, 82 degree Paradise day, in front of a sellout. Neve gave up two runs in seven innings, as Paradise rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the seventh, for five runs, to come away with a 5-2 victory, that completed a fine opening six and three homestand. On field, things were looking good, but off field, situations were shaky.
In the meantime, the team held its Saturday tickle party. The featured lee would be Mitch, who needed some respite, from his ongoing troubles with Naomi. He was tied hands and feet to the bed, in the middle of the fetish club. Neve Campbell began the tickle on Mitch's neck with fingers, as his head shifted, and the laughter began:HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! Working down, Charlize Theron was next, tickling Mitch on his underarms, sides, ribs, and belly with fingers, as he thrashed:HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAAA! Moving down, Rachel Leigh Cook was the next ler, attacking Mitch on his hips, inner thighs, and knees with fingers, as her legs bucked:HHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! Finally, Hayden positioned herself at Mitch's feet, and tickled them with fingers, electric toothbrushes, and feathers, over his feet and toes. Mitch went beserk, wiggling his toes every which way, and howling with laughter: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHA! OMG PLEASE NO MORE! I GIVE UP! NOOOOO! HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHHAA! Finally, the tickle ended, and Mitch was untied.
On Thursday night, Mitch was packed to head on the team trip to New York. Mitch and Naomi were in the deep freeze since the start of the season, so she said "Take a cab, I'm not taking you" Mitch pulled out his cell phone, and called one. "I'll see you next week, hopefully things will be better then" Mitch said, as he headed out the door to the cab to take him to the airport.
So, it had been a first homestand of good play on field, and tension off field. Now came the first ten day trip. What would happen next? That answer to come in the continuing story of the Tickle Team From Paradise Island.
The End
