While reading some of Tom's blogs tonight, the subject of baseball came up. Although hockey is now the sport that consumes my life, baseball is the sport that gave me my start in athletics.
When I was a kid, I felt like I was born to play the game of baseball. I loved everything about the game; the fresh cut grass, the warm summer sun, and the feeling of connecting with a fastball and sending it over the outfielders head. I made more memories playing baseball than I can even remember.
As I got older, politics started to define the teams I was on. Suddenly, it seemed that talent level was no longer a criteria for playing time because someone else knew someone to keep them in the starting lineup. Anyway my baseball playing career ending very bitterly and because of that I really stayed away from the game for a long time.
Sometime last year I watched the movie Moneyball. I thought it was great. It reminded me about everything I love about the game. From the thrill of winning in extra innings to the heartache of losing a one run game, baseball has taught me so many lessons about myself and about life.
Since then, I have been fully back into watching every game of the Bucs and watching baseball all the time just like I used to. Tonight I went to the game with my dad and it was the best memory I have from this summer. We saw an unbelievable game and it was great to spend time with him.
When I look back now, all I see are the great memories and friends the game has given to me. There is an old saying that asks "Ain't baseball great." My answer is that it truly is.
