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Sports References Fans of Seinfeld Can Look For

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Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

While Seinfeld is known for being a show about nothing, it continues to stay relatable decade after decade. What has often been overlooked, however, is the passion for sports Jerry Seinfeld and much of the entire cast shared.

This goes well beyond George Costanza (Jason Alexander) spending much of the series working for the New York Yankees. Don’t forget George is a monster on the soft-ball field. Jerry is lightning fast. Kramer’s passion for baseball and golf has been well documented, especially with the final scene of the marine biologist episode.

George coaches Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams
“The Abstinence,” Season 8, Episode 9, Originally aired on November 21, 1996

The episode features George turning into a genius after stumbling upon the practice of abstinence. After the transformation, George offers hitting tips to Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter:

“Guys, hitting is not about muscle. It’s simple physics. Calculate the velocity, v, in relation to the trajectory, t, in which g, gravity, of course remains a constant. It’s not complicated.”

As World Series winners, Jeter and Williams say that they don’t need help from an assistant traveling secretary, especially who put them up in a Ramada in Milwaukee. George reminds them that while they won it at the end, it did take them six games to defeat the Atlanta Braves.

Again, the timing of these episodes are perfect. The episode aired on the 21st of November, approximately 3 weeks after the real-life Yankees had won the World Series (October 26, 1996). The Yankees beat the National League champion Atlanta Braves four games to two, winning four consecutive games to overcome a 0-2 deficit. It was their first World Series title since 1978. Bernie Williams led the team that year in HRs (29), and Jeter in hits (183).

George runs over Bette Midler
“The Understudy,” Season 6, Episode 24, Originally aired on May 18, 1995

Whenever I reminisce on this episode, I imagine Midler singing ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ as Costanza barrels over her to score the winning run in the softball game. Although that’s not exactly how it happened, it’s pretty darn close.

The improv softball squad is set to face the cast from the musical “Rochelle Rochelle,” whose star, Midler, is playing catcher. Although George and Midler’s collision is the peak of the episode, the lead-up to that moment is so perfectly scripted.
George ends up getting some beautiful contact on the ball, and looks to finish with an inside-the-park homerun. Jerry is his third-base coach signals him to keep going as he approaches third. Boom! George runs right over Midler (who, remember, is playing catcher) to score the go-ahead run; she, on the other hand, is practically knocked out. Luckily for her, Kramer is there to take care of her by singing ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’.Whether we’re playing a game leisurely or competitively, [almost] everyone wants to win. That’s why we trash talk to even our friends, anything goes on the pitch (or the court, or field, or wherever your sport is played). George and Bette do this all game as they try to get in each other’s heads. When George goes up to bat, Midler yells to her fielders, “Move in everybody! Get your shrimp here! Shrimp on special today!”What most don’t know is that this entire scene was a reference of the 1970 MLB All-Star Game, with George being Pete Rose and Midler being Ray Fosse. Rose plowed into Fosse to score the winning run in the 12th inning of the 1970 All-Star Game.

As Fosse reached for the ball, Rose knocked him into a strange realm of everlasting fame. The collision did more than allow Rose to score, giving the National League a dramatic 5-4 victory. The collision also permanently rearranged Fosse’s left shoulder. Even now, nearly 29 years later, the shoulder aches from arthritis. He tries to lift his left arm during an interview and the pain stops him.” via SF Gate

Puddy and the New Jersey Devils
“The Face-Painter,” Season 6, Episode 23, May 11, 1995

Unless you’re a regular Seinfeld viewer, you might not even know the David Puddy (actor: Patrick Warburton) character. He makes occasional appearances as Elaine’s on-and-off boyfriend. In this specific episode, however, the show does a remarkable job at pointing out that a fan is just short for a fanatic.

When Jerry gets his tickets from his friend Alec Burg, he picks up Elaine and Puddy before the game. Puddy comes out to the living room wearing red and green face paint, letting everybody know who he’ll be rooting for (the NJ Devils).

He even yells “You’re dead, Messier!” later in the scene.

After the game, Puddy nearly gets hit by a car with a priest in it. Puddy makes sure to let him know, “Don’t mess with the Devils, buddy. We’re No. 1, we beat anybody. We’re the Devils! The Devils! Haaaa!”

The timing of the episode is brilliant. It aired in May 1995, and in June of the same year, the Devils won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Detroit Red Wings 4-0 in the finals. Much of the regular season had been cancelled due to a lockout, but enough was saved in time to ensure there would be a post-season. Hockey still had a future in this country at the time, and Seinfeld does its job trying to keep the sport alive in pop culture.

The Devils won it in 1995, the Colorado Avalanche in 1996, then the Red Wings in 1997 and 1998. They won later in 2000 and 2003 as well.

Rohit Ghosh is a Senior Writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RohitGhosh. “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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