My father was a schvitzer. Schvitz is a Yiddish word for sweat. His mother was a schvitzer too (but only on one side of her face, it was the strangest thing). I remember calling the old man during the summer months. “How you doin’, Pop?”
“Wet,” he’ say, or “Damp,” or “Moist.” Sometimes he’d just say, in his best Zero Mostel: “HOT.”
I thought of the great family schvitzer last night watching Alfredo Aceves on TV. I have never seen a baseball player sweat like that. The bill of his cap was water-logged after a few batters, thick drops of perspiration falling in his face. Aceves was in trouble in the sixth inning, but then Brett Gardner froze at third on a passed ball, Derek Jeter to hit into a double play. Aceves didn’t stop sweating but he saved the rest of the bullpen and finished the game.
Hey Aceves, this schvitz’s for you.
[Photo Credit: Weegee]
That wasn't sweat dripping from Aceves's cap. He was dunking it in / saturating it with water to keep cool. I was amazed that none of the 3 in the booth could figure that out.
2) Ah ha, now that makes sense. Good looking. Still, my old man schvitzed like Aceves dripped water.
who's not puttin' on the schvitz in this schwamp?
I'll take this over a dark cold day every single time though.
yeah, we used the word "schvitz" at home!