July 27, 2004
humble baseball greatness
these days I'm somewhat of a closet baseball fan. I grew up liking the yankees (back when they werent so good) since all my family lives just across the river, but I have since outgrown that affliction. the marlins came into being while I was in highschool in south florida, so I was into them until I came to college, where I promptly stopped caring about sports. a byproduct of no TV, I suppose.
but we've had a TV for a while now, and I discovered mlb.com too (the gamecasts are one of the coolest internet inventions in a long time). plus some of the guys at work are passionate about either the cubs or the cards. and then my old team started grabbing headlines, and I was hooked (groan) once more. and go figure, they won the series! michelle's even got nicknames for some of the fish now. crazy.
but something in me thinks I shouldnt care about baseball. it's just a game. and it's played by overlarge millionare children that I would otherwise care nothing about. plus there are so many other worthy pursuits. yet I can get into the games. rooting for my guys. and the pace and culture is quite relaxing, with thrilling punctuating moments (much like my own life I suppose). any other good reasons that I shouldnt feel guilty about watching baseball?
all that to lead into a refreshingly humble and Christ-centered speech by Paul Molitor, the newest member of baseball's hall of fame.
so anyway, go marlins, and go lookouts.
Posted by bobw at July 27, 2004 09:42 AM
Yes, there are some bad apples in baseball, but not everyone involved is an "overlarge millionaire child". You and I haven't the slightest inkling as to what sort of sacrifices the players needed to make just to get to "the show".
In regards to feeling guilty about watching baseball, I've said this before and I'll say it again: Baseball, as a model, represents all the ideals America should strive for as a nation.
Baseball is all about fair play, fierce competition, and a "never-say-die" attitude. What better example of hope and optimism is there than a two out, bottom-of-the-ninth, down by one run baseball team sending out a lone representative to help them turn the tide of victory in their favor?
If more Americans had a "never-say-die" attitude, this would be a much better place.
For many people, baseball represents the sort of father-son relationship that we all long for. There is an uninterrupted connection between old and young. The rules are always constant, the game is always played the same, with the love for the game never dying.
If something as simple as striking a ball with a piece of finely sanded lumber can bring a sparkle into the eye of a child, how can that be such a bad thing?
Incidentally, I still haven't forgiven Conine for the "ball under the wall" debacle.
conine can beat any 9 phils with at least one hand and two legs tied behind his back (see last sept).
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