So, the other day, I found myself wondering, are the Guardians in the playoffs? Just popped into my head. I’m not even what you’d call a super fan, you know, paint-my-face kind of guy, but these questions, they just lodge themselves in there sometimes.
My first instinct, like everyone else’s these days, was to grab my phone. Thought I’d just punch it into the search bar, get a quick yes or no, and move on with my life. But of course, that’s when the internet decided to act like it was 1998 all over again. Pages loading at a snail’s pace. You know how it is – the one time you need something simple, technology just throws its hands up and says, “Nah, not today, pal.”
I sat there for a bit, tapping my fingers. I remembered my dad, he’d have the sports pages spread out on the kitchen table, knew all the standings. We don’t do that anymore, do we? It’s all supposed to be instant. Supposed to be.
Anyway, with the internet being a pain, I decided to try a sports app I’ve got buried somewhere on my phone. Opened it up. First thing? “Updating…” Of course. More waiting. It’s funny, I wasn’t even in a rush, but that little spinning wheel, it just winds you up. I even thought about calling my mate Steve – he lives and breathes baseball, probably recites batting averages in his sleep. But then I’d be on the phone for an hour, getting the full rundown of every team from the East Coast to the West. Sometimes you just want the fact, not the whole blooming lecture series.
I started to think, why am I even bothering? It’s not like it’s going to change my day much. Then I remembered, my neighbor, Mr. “My Team’s The Best,” was yapping the other day about his team making it. Maybe I just wanted some ammo, a little something to casually drop into conversation. Petty, I know, but hey, small victories.
So, the app finally finished its update. I poked around. You know these apps, they try to be so slick, all fancy graphics and menus, but sometimes finding a simple bit of information is like a treasure hunt. Went to the MLB section, then I think it was standings, then I had to find the playoff picture. Clicked here, swiped there. Finally, I got to the American League bit, then the Central Division. Scanned down the list.
And there it was. Or, well, in this case, for the season I was checking, I saw them listed. Clinched a spot, or right there in the hunt, clear as day. Took me a good ten, fifteen minutes, all said and done. For one simple question.
It’s a strange thing, isn’t it? These little rabbit holes we go down. Like that time I spent a whole afternoon trying to remember the name of some obscure actor from a movie I saw as a kid. Scoured the internet, drove myself mad. Finally got it, and then what? Just a little flicker of “aha!” and then it’s gone. This whole Guardians playoff thing felt a bit like that. A mini-quest on an otherwise uneventful Tuesday.
I guess it’s not always about the earth-shattering news. Sometimes it’s just about satisfying that little itch of curiosity. And yeah, now I can just casually mention to Mr. “My Team’s The Best” that the Guardians are looking good too. That’ll be fun. You gotta find your entertainment where you can, right?
