Civility transcends the game
World-class respect
Regarding “Not to be” (Front page, Oct. 31): I had the incredible privilege to attend Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday. As a 15-year Washington Nationals season-ticket holder, I made a last-minute decision to jump on a plane from Virginia, don my Nats hat and sweatshirt and wade into what I assumed would be hostile territory. I was shocked to find a level of hospitality and sportsmanship I have never experienced before.
For hours, Astros fans kept shaking my hand, patting me on the shoulder, and greeting me with a sincere “Welcome to Texas.” There was zero trash talk during the game. After the Nationals won, every Astros fan who passed me said congratulations. When I told one fan how remarkable I found all this, he shrugged and said, “That’s just the Texas style.”
To the Astros, congratulations on an outstanding season. To all Astros fans, thank you for demonstrating that civility transcends competition. It was an honor to be a guest in Houston. Craig Fifer, Alexandria, Va.
Team spirit
Congratulations to the 2019 World Series Champions Washington Nationals and their fans! They were a great group that always showed up when it counted and was never afraid to show a little joy: dancing in the dugout, laughing, believing and always sticking together. They were a true team with a spirit that would do us all well. Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Twists and turns
Regarding “Giving it all away” (Sports, Oct. 31): Congratulations to the Washington Nationals, aka World Series champions for 2019. If the baseball gods were indeed scripting this event, they did so with an interesting twist.
For the entirety of the 2019 season, the Nats’ bullpen betrayed the team by giving up leads and causing losses. In Game 7, with the Nationals on the road, in the World Series, it was the Astros’ bullpen that imploded while the Nats’ bullpen held the line. Mike Ganis, Houston