Sports Bars

Poetry by Julián Martinez & Mike Andrelczyk

— inspired by the song “Dennehy” by Serengeti

two chocolate donuts, large coffee, what’s next

bank drive-thru, deposit three separate wrinkled checks

dumb commute, why’re you in the left lane going fifty

park the Honda on time, check engine light starts blinking

meet DeMar DeRozan, I do security at the local mall

“no photos,” week earlier, got a few with Lamelo Ball

fumble the dog at lunch, spicy mustard on the work shirt

back home, fresh tee, Frank Thomas, “Big Hurt”

Elmo Pio Moscato, Mega Millions scratch lotto

twenty on pump two, Menthol Light, hits like Miguel Cotto

six-pack light beer, Dutchmaster, Vermeer

check-out lady with the earrings of Bambi, oh dear

stopped by First, scooped up my cousin’s old Wii

NBA2k10, Durant, twelve boards and a three

left on Western, construction, traffic stop and go

place a bet, Pistons better drop twenty-eight in a fuckin’ row

rerun SportsCenter third time, Jeopardy, Seinfeld

channel surf, Endless Summer, Star Trek, mindmeld

up late night like Fallon, White Claws in each talon

drink cold water by the gallon, green spans like Alan

tell my wife I’m the Detroit Pistons of pissing in the dark

no response from the bedroom, hear her hit her vape cart

quit smokin’ reefer ‘cause last time, I was seeing ghosts

Honus Wagner and my father sipping beers on a fencepost

fuck it, off the wagon, fourth relapse since World Series

coughing hard, dream I’m a kid, staring at an Oldsmobile ceiling

ten years old, listening to Ill Communication

met Phillies great Lenny Dykstra at the Amtrak station

same year, brand new pair of white Nike Airs

fresh and clean then got dip spit on ‘em from goddamn Matt Stairs

fuck him, skip school with Eddie the Meat Grinder

one time he threw his little brother into a meat grinder

nice guy, cargo shorts, a scar from his heel to his thigh

I don’t ask why, says his dad cooks a mean rib-eye

again, didn’t ask, baseball cards in his bookbag

shortcut path to my place, cards under my nightstand

trading Donruss, Upper Deck, Topps, Fleers

way before we start drinking six-packs of beers

Julián Martinez(he/him) is the son of Mexican and Cuban immigrants and is from Waukegan, IL. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in HAD, Hooligan Mag, Maudlin House, The Sonora Review and elsewhere. He's not a sports guy but he loves sports guys. Find him online @martinezfjulian or www.martinezfjulian.com, or IRL in Chicago.

Mike Andrelczyk(he/him) is the author of “!!!” (Ghost City Press) and “Tennis Leg” coming out with Gob Pile Press in late 2024.