World Series on TV wets the appetite<

Like millions of other baseball fans, I watched the 2004 World Series (Red Sox vs. Cardinals) with its color, tradition and dazzling display of diamond-dexterity.

But, aside from the great pitching, hitting, double plays, etc., there was one visual element that caught my attention and was, I thought, truly astonishing, utterly fascinating and worthy of note.

I refer, of course, to the endless and apparently random TV shots of Red Sox manager Terry Francona masticating a cud of some unknown substance, approximately the size of a tennis ball, and the resultant spitting.

And what spitting! This guy was caught about every five minutes by the cameras for a random 5-second shot, during which he spit at least once and sometimes twice.

Think about it. During maybe 36 appearances on TV, in a 3-hour game, we catch him spitting 72 times. But that's just what we see. He must be spitting also when not on camera. Do the math: 2 spits every 5 seconds equals 24 spits per minute or 1,440 per hour and 4,320 per 3-hour game! This is truly heroic stuff!

If an MVP award was ever to be given for "Expectorational Excellence", Francona would win it hands (or glands) down! I hesitate to speculate what the dugout floor must be like. Some things are better left to the imagination.

Walt Mars

St. Charles