America's Pastime

Ahhhh, spring is in the air, and a young man's fancy turns to...baseball (sorry ladies)!

There are many things that I love in life, but close to the top of that list is baseball. Specifically, opening weekend. Every team is undefeated on the first day of the season, and every team thinks they can win it all. Much later in the season, the winning teams have separated themselves from the has-been, also-rans, and playoff fever starts - but that's another blog in and of itself. When the grass starts to turn green, and the sun's rays begin to beat down warmer, that's when my heart begins to beat a little bit faster - the sound of a fastball hitting the catcher's mitt, the whack of the bat as it connects with a baseball on it's sweet spot, watching the shortstop grab one in the hole and crisply turn a double-play.

I have many baseball memories, but a few stand out above the rest - when I was 10 years old listening to a Milwaukee Brewers game on the radio with my great-uncle Don; listening to a Twins game in 1984 with my Dad while we painted our garage; and realizing at the ripe old age of 13 that baseball was passing me by, as I was too busy ducking out of the way of an Erick Nelson curveball as it crossed the plate for strike three - who knew how hard it was going to be to hit one of those darn things!

Baseball season is just aroud the corner, so grab your favorite cold beverage (or your favorite Louisiville Slugger); pick out a comfortable chair (or make yourself comfortable in the batter's box); and watch the cleanup hitter go deep (and take a swing at the cheap seats for me)!

"This is a simple game - you throw the ball...you hit the ball...and you catch the ball!"

- Durham Bulls' Manager, Bull Durham