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CHICAGO -- Fred Washington has been surrounded by numbers and cities for decades. Seasons full of ones and twos and zeroes. Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Milwaukee, too.When his beloved Chicago Cubs scored three in the first, Washington put the crooked number in the right spot. When the Cardinals jumped all over the Pirates, Washington told the story, column by column on the hand-operated scoreboard at Wrigley Field.Springs turned into summers and mostly empty Octobers, and Washingtons most important numbers changed. And he realized its time to go home.I think as you get older your body speaks to you and tells you the things that youre able to do, he said. Also, theres certain things around here that you cant do, and one of those is, you spend an awful lot of time here and at 66, I think I want to spend some time with my family because I dont have very much time to spend with my family here.So when the Cubs play their last home game of the year, thatll be it for Washington, too. Hell climb down the ladder at the bottom of the classic green scoreboard and stroll off to retirement.No one will notice, probably. There likely wont be any fuss. The Cubs honored Washington before a September game, and that was more than enough for the easygoing Chicago native.It was all a gift, anyway. More than Washington ever expected.You never realize that youre going to meet so many good people, Washington said, so many people that had such a bearing on your life. Its very rewarding.Washington had jobs with the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and in railroads before he was hired by the Cubs in 1984 for a security position.He moved to the grounds crew two years later, and then joined the scoreboard crew in 1990.This particular job, its kind of next man up, he said. People retire, they move on, and somebody has to replace them, and you cant just walk up like youve lived here all your life. Its like anything else. Its a learning process.Washingtons home away from home these past 26 years was built in 1937. There are three levels in the scoreboard, and as many as four people fill in the numbers for a full slate of games in the summer.Washington and his partner work on the first floor for the Cubs linescore and National and American League games on the bottom level. Darryl Wilson , another longtime scoreboard operator, takes care of the second and third floors along with another colleague. Wilson calls down updates that he gets from a computer.We spend an awful lot of time together, and the camaraderie is such that, were almost related, Washington said. I mean we get along, we get along very well. Its kind of like were brothers up here.Its a lot of laughter. Its a lot of joy up here, he continued, except when the Cubs lose.Washington also has a rapport with the fans who sit in Wrigleys famed bleachers. He sees it all from his perch above the stands, and he hears it from the crowd if someone feels there is a miscue with the scoreboard.Theres a human element up here, Washington said, sitting in a chair in the scoreboard while the Cubs were in Los Angeles this week for the NL Championship Series. I mean nobodys perfect, and theyll scream up here and try to point out something to me if they believe its a mistake.Wrigley also is where Washington met his wife, Darla. She was friends with one of Washingtons co-workers. They got married in 1989, and the couples daughter, Alisha, 21, goes to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. While Darla likes the Cubs because of Washingtons job, he said she isnt a baseball fan.To her, its like how can I come home tired from watching a ballgame, he said. But shes under the impression that like when I come to work I just walk up in the scoreboard and sit down and everythings cool until I get off. But I have other chores.Alisha visited Wrigley for the first time when her father was recognized last month.A 21-year-olds mind, you dont hear things like `Im proud of you because their mind just dont work like that, Washington said. But when a 21-year-old tells you that theyre proud of you, its something to pay attention to and it kind of made my heart kind of skip a beat.Washington has seen a lot of bad teams over the years. But his final season has been a lot of fun.The Cubs rolled to a major league-best 103 wins and the NL Central title this year. Game 6 against the Dodgers is Saturday night at Wrigley.It has been 71 years since Chicagos last NL pennant, and 108 years since the franchise last won the World Series in 1908. A title would be quite a send-off for the soft-spoken Washington, who sounds as if he is coaching himself for whatever way it comes to an end.For them to be in the position that theyre in now, I really never thought that they would get this far, he said. 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Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron expects nerves, but is adamant his young side wont be unnerved when they seek to secure a spot in the AFL grand final.There are a handful of issues that will decide Saturdays preliminary final between GWS and Western Bulldogs at Spotless Stadium.How will the Giants fare without Steve Johnson and can the Bulldogs cover Matt Suckling?Will GWS be impacted negatively by the fact theyve played one game in almost a month?But in terms of the mettle of GWSs inexperienced charges, most of which are in the midst of their maiden finals campaign, Cameron feels theyve already given an answer.The Giants could hardly have handled the clubs finals debut better, comfortably accounting for Sydney in a qualifying final.Cameron is confident his team wont be overawed by the carrot of a grand final berth as the leagues latest rivalry heats up.When they go to bed tonight there will be a few nerves, Cameron said on Friday.Theyll wake up tomorrow morning and no doubt there will be some nerves. Theyve just got to understand they cant play the game in their heads three or four times before they get to the ground.Were confident they showed that two weeks ago against the Swans in their first final.Theyre confident kids. Sorry, I shouldnt say kids because theyve grown up now.The Giants have showed many times throughout their fifth season in the competition they wont be pushed around.There have been numerous club firsts and coming-of-age wins this year but the Giants crave the premiership thhat will show theyve truly arrived.ddddddddddddWe know were a young club in its infant stage, were starting to grow up, Cameron said.This is really what you want ... were really confident. Theyre really confident, so its going to be a great spectacle.Cameron, GWS co-captain Callan Ward and midfielder Ryan Griffen all started their careers at Whitten Oval, making for a clear narrative any time the sides clashed.But the burgeoning rivalry has come to life this week. They are two youthful teams in a hurry and it wouldnt surprise if they regularly meet during September in the next few years.Well butt heads tomorrow. Both sides will crack in, run really hard and play an exciting brand of footy when the opposition allows them to, Cameron said.Theyve got a really good list in terms of depth, so have we. We won the NEAFL grand final. The Bulldogs reserves are in the grand final.Theres some good history, good rivalry building between these two young sides. It looks like its going to be around for the next five or 10 years.Rhys Palmer comes into the side following Johnsons one-game ban, with Cameron calling on all 22 players to supply the spark usually provided by the former Geelong star. Hes obviously a very, very good player. You cant replace like for like, Cameron said.Collectively we expect to lose nothing. We dont need any one person to stand up and say I have to be exceptional. ' ' '