While the Dodgers did right when they honored Jack Roosevelt Robinson of Sunday, the affair was typical Los Angles Dodger fare. Or should I say Los Angeles Dodger fanfare. When the pre-game festivities started, the Dodger faithful had hundreds if not thousands of seats yet to fill. I lived in LA for 10 years and while I was an unrepentant and steadfast detractor of Dodger Blue, I loved Dodger Stadium. It was always curious, though, that the sellouts occurred sometime early in the third inning after everyone arrived and diminished in the seventh when a good number started to leave.

Neither score nor opponent affected this phenomenon. I remember a game against the Mets that went 12 innings. No more than 10,000 could have remained, most wearing hats the Orange and Blue of the Metropolitans Baseball Club.

So when music and Rachel Robinson and other festivities made the event baseball’s most important game of Sunday, not all the ticket holders were there.

No big deal but somehow I thought Dodger fans would pack the place for once before the game started.

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Don’t look now but the Grand Island Islander baseball team (representing three high schools) is undefeated and looking tougher than the Thursday special at bad diner. Does the term pitching rich mean anything? The Islanders have four very good arms, including Husker recruit Kash Kalkowski, submarine specialist Matt Hilligas, long and very tough lefty Eric Schwieger, and experienced senior Ross Helleberg. Combined with some power and speed, the guys with the Cleveland Indian I’s on their hats can go a long way in short tournament. Like … say … a state tournament.

So do yourself a favor baseball fans. Go have a look.

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Speaking of which, the best track meet of the year is next Monday at GISH. Oh, yeah, the newspaper sponsors it, but the Central Nebraska Track Championships pit all classes in our coverage area against each other. David vs. Goliath and slew of other storylines will be settling into the blocks at 3 p.m. on the 23rd. If you go to one meet a year, this should be it.