Robert Siegel

Well, Mona, we've developed a tradition in this conversation.

It's been a short live conversation, but we already have a tradition, and that is that we should end every conversation that we have on an upbeat note by asking what each of us has experienced in the way of joy recently, something that's not political or military or whatever.

Joy, something joyful you can describe in life?

And thank you.

Amen.

And for me, it was... I should have known it was coming.

The return of baseball simply brings joy to my life.

And I got hooked by the World Baseball Classic.

Ah, yes.

And I... The Italian team in particular, which only had three guys from Italy on it, I think.

But it reminded me of these names from my childhood, DiMaggio, Rizzuto, and Berra.

And the Venezuelans...

I would have liked to see the Americans win the final game, but so be it.

They had their victory.

And I just found the whole thing wonderful.

And I'm even looking forward to Major League Baseball with a machine that overrides umpires when they call balls and strikes wrong.

to learn to scream at a computer.

Mona and EJ, EJ and Mona, thanks to both of you.

It's great.

This is The Opinions, a show that brings you a mix of voices from New York Times opinion.