The Jinx of the Jukebox

Sunday evening I watched about a half hour of the World Series game, bringing my grand total of baseball-game-watching time this season to . . . about a half hour.
We aren’t big TV Sports fans around here, though we’re all fond of participating in various sports. George grew up playing baseball. He and his three brothers played on Little League teams every year. He pitched for his high school. Of all the team sports, I suppose baseball is his favorite. But he doesn’t tune in to watch the games much until the post season, and then only sporadically.
I know almost nothing about current baseball buzz and only slightly more about the game’s history. I’ve heard of some famous players and seen a few movies, but you can feed me almost any line on the subject, and I’m likely to believe you. Almost any line.
Yes, folks, it’s time for another exciting episode of George and Jeanne Pillow Talk. (No need to send the kiddies out of the room. I promise.)
After we crawled into bed Sunday night, I asked George if the Red Sox had a winning history. He told me about The Curse of the Bambino and how, after trading Babe Ruth, many decades passed before they won another World Series. He also pointed out that long-standing teams like Boston and Chicago often have more at stake with fans than newer franchises like the Rockies. So much legend rides on their shoulders.
Since he mentioned Chicago, I asked if they also carried the weight of a “curse.”
“Yeah,” he says. “The Jinx of the Jukebox.”
I bust out laughing. “George, if you want to string me along, you have to at least make your lies somewhat believable at the beginning.”
“No, it’s true! Haven’t you heard of Shoeless Joe Jackson and the seven players who threw the series?”
“Well, yeah. Sort of.” Suppressing laughter, wondering where he’s going with this. “I mean, I saw ‘Field of Dreams.’ But what does that have to do with The Jinx of the Jukebox?”
“Everything. That’s what happened. They thought the noise of the jukebox would drown out their dealings.”
Laughing harder. “That doesn’t even mean anything. You’re ridiculous.”
“Yes it does. You just don’t understand baseball.”
The Jinx of the Jukebox. Oh, man. He may not be a good liar (no complaints on that account), but I’m all over those double Js and Xs. That’s hot.
Hmmm. Maybe he’s a strategic player after all.