by Maureen
I'm thinking perhaps, just maybe, that Spring will arrive in my lifetime! What gives me that thought? It certainly isn't attributed to our weather, but to baseball and Spring Training!! The annual event gives me hope. It reassures me that winter can't last forever. Opening day in Cleveland is in early April each year. And yes, we have had snow delays in the past, but baseball really does signify spring!
It brings back memories of sitting in the stadium and cheering and booing and doing the wave. Eating the best hot dogs in the universe and drinking the most expensive Diet Pepsi ever! And hearing the crunch of stepping on peanut shells. And tennis shoes sticking to the beer that has spilled all over the ground. Focusing my binoculars on some of the tightest and best asses in tight white pants! Sitting next to strangers and talking and chatting and doing high 5's...and commiserating with each other at the strike out, dropped ball or opposing team home runs. Baseball is a universal language and great equalizer.
I remember going to an Indians vs. White Sox game a couple of years ago. The people in front of us were from Chicago. When we scored, they turned around and congratulated us. When they scored we patted them on the back. Yes, our teams were rivals, but we were equals...FANS. And good sports. And to make it even better, we won :)~
I forgot how much I enjoy baseball. Actually, I have forgotten how much I enjoyed a lot of things. But today I choose to remember those things. I don't know if I will be able to attend any games this year, but if I can't, I can still replay the games I was lucky enough to see in the past.
I am lucky to be able to remember seeing games in Dodger Stadium (and Tommy LaSorda talked to me!), games in the old Cleveland Stadium and games in the brand new Jacob's Field (now Progressive Field) and games in Lakeland, FL during a Spring Training trip I was able to make.
I will watch games on TV this year and maybe even have a hot dog or two and an entire case of Diet Pepsi for the price of one at the stadium!
And I will thank my lucky stars that I had the chance to see games live and in person...not everyone is that lucky.
Batter up!
69 comments:
Here Here!! LOVE me some baseball!! And the players bulges....oh la la!
oops! .....BAMM!!
I used to love baseball. Now though, it's something else. A game takes all day (or night). I don't like being tied to anything for that long.
The ego of some of the players. What piles of shit. Who looks like a fat slob that doesn't know what a comb is, on purpose? And what's with being hurt all the time? SUCK IT UP!
Sorry guys, but American athletes have become soft. They consider themselves royalty and expect to be treated as such. No beer or hot dog in the world is enough to get me to support these overgrown babies with my hard-earned cash.
LOL@bon's rant! I tend toward Dee Dee's side when it comes to appreciating the physical attributes of baseball players. Many of them are just so... hunky!
For example... I'd have an affair with Roger Clemens in a flash!
DeeDee..perfect pic and a beauty you are today too..!
Mo: I have so many happy memories of baseball..both with my kids and seeing games. I do enjoy seeing the live events. I even got to go to a Cincinnati Reds game. I won tickets. Unfortunately, we didn't make it until the end and it was in a suite and everything... But, what I got to see was great..I love going to a game! :)
Hi Bonachichi: Yes, the egos are silly..but I go to see the Louisville Bats a lot and they don't have the big egos
they exude masculinity!! ...and chewing tobacco...lol
I know a former baseball player who made his fortune in fireworks and other accouterments of patriotism...
He got tired of waiting to be picked up by a major...he was hot...still is....
He also has a huge bat and very nice balls....everybody wanted a bite of that hot dog...at any price...even their self respect....but I got it back....you know...my self respect.
excuse me...where did I put my fan?
Whabby...what can you come up with to the tune of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame?"
Hi Beverly dahling....
love to chat but my zorch is on fire right now....headed for the Toto!!
Hi Whabby! :) I agree with the hunkidoriness of baseball players..hockey players..yum.
Happy day after the final rose.
All I can say is I am surprised that the Bachelor chose Emily and her daughter. I really thought he was a little afraid of her daughter. I liked both Chantel and Emily, but watching the show after the final rose made me wonder how long this relationship will last. It sounded to like Emily was having doubts.
Mo, As you probably know, I lived in a household filled with testosterone and sports. I learned early on that if I wanted to be involved in their lives, I needed to learn about sports too. I found that baseball was my favorite, probably because the season was longer and the kids played more baseball than any other sport. In addition to all the Little League games, we also made regular day trips to Oakland and San Francisco to watch the Big Leagues. I even still have a loyal fan button that we got in SF because we attended a double header where the second game lasted 22 innings. We were there from 1pm to past midnight. Most of the 'fans' left long before, but I couldn't get those boys to leave before the last out.
DeeDee, It looks like your avatar is having a problem with his ummm zorch equivalent. BAMM!
Bonachichi, You're right about the games taking a long time, but we had lots of fun together. I think it was more about watching games together than the actual game.
Bear, Yessss, there are a lot of hunky baseball players.
DeeDee You look so pretty with your cheeks all flushed and rosey. I know you love the hard wood but maybe you could stop straddling that bat now.
Bebbi, Here in Sac we have the Rivercats, which is the farm League for the AOakland A's, and they don't have the big egos either...yet.
Hi J/L. It looks like we were typing at the same time. LOL @ Dee straddling that bat!
MO What a great blog! It reminded me so much of summer days in southern California when I was a kid, watching the cute boys play in the Little League games. My 5th grade boyfriend was the catcher and my current "friend" was the pitcher. He was a pitcher in the minor leagues for a while and he still has a cute butt. LOL
Hi, Barb! We have dark clouds overhead. I think there is more rain on the way.
J/L, It rained here yesterday and more is expected today.
Bonach You are right that some of those athletes are egotistical jerks, but not all. They've glamourized in our press, unlike in the old days. At our local coffee shop, I often talk with an old-timer, Dante, who's in his early 90's who used to be the catcher and then scout for the San Francisco Seals, which was the team before there was a San Francisco Giants. In those days, players had to have regular jobs in order to afford to play ball. He used to play ball in the streets with the DiMaggio brothers in the old Italian neighborhood of North Beach. What great stories he has to tell!
Bear Gives new meaning to the term, "Batter up!" LOL
Bebbi LOL @ hunkidoriness! :)
Wow, that WAS a rant earlier, wasn't it??
I do like American sports. I miss the way they used to be. Sure, not all of them are twonks, but so many are.
These are professionals. They're paid to be the best at what they do. A .333 batting average is considered great. In what other job can you fail 2/3 of the time and be considered great??
And the average cost of a game for a family of four?? $200+. It's just not worth it for me.
Bonach I agree that they've made it nearly impossible for families to afford to attend professional games. So sad. It used to be for the kids and the ball players would gladly sign autographs. Now they have to get paid. The Great American Pastime became big business. :(
Mo, What a great blog! Your writing had me right up in the stands!
My Sons were in Little league and played until they graduated. My Grandson received a full baseball scholarship. We go to a professional baseball & football game at least once a year. We go as a group on a bus and have a ball!! (pun intended)
PLAY BALL!!
Good Afternoon!
MO: I loved baseball when I was younger..it was my favorite sport. I think I had more patience then. Now it seems to move just a little too slow for me. It's not the sport's fault..it's just me..I'm turning into an old fadoo I guess. Plus..we have the Diamondbacks..need I say more? ;)
When I was in my 20's, I loved going to Spring Training games..we were lucky enough to have a lot of teams come here and it was so fun to watch them play. I've only been to one game at the stadium downtown. We had free tickets and were waaaaaay up in the nosebleed section, under the air conditioners. It's a gorgeous stadium and they had the roof open..it was a really pretty night..but I was so afraid of how high up we were..and of falling..I don't remember much about the game!! I told Mr Z if we ever go again I don't want to be more than 20 steps up..lol..
There's still aspects of the game I adore..
1st base is really nice..
2nd base a little nicer..
3rd base is GREAT..
and dang I LOVE a good Home Run!! :D
Great blog MO..I can almost hear the sound of that bat..the crowd singing 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' and the cheers.. :)
DEEDEE: Sounds like you ARE the fan.. ;)
BEAR: My all time fave was Kirk Gibson..and now he's the coach for the Diamondbacks..that'll get me to watch more games!
BEBBI: I always loved the Reds..especially Johnny Bench!
Hmmm..I'm seeing a pattern here..lol..
BARB: I never had a problem watching games in person..no matter how long they took..it's just on TV that it seems to drag for me. I still love watching the highlights though!! :D
J/LIN: Mr Z went to Dodgers game when he was a kid and got autographs from all of the players. He went back to get one player to sign his glove..dang my memory, I can't remember who that was..and this guy was chatting up some girl. Randy stood there quietly holding his baseball mitt..this player turned, quickly signed the glove and then said "Now go away kid..can't you see I'm trying to work here?" LOL!! I'll have to ask him who that player was when he wakes up.
MARY: Going with a big group of friends sounds like a lot of fun!
BONACHI: So..do you like football? :D
From 51..
DIANNE: We are sticking to our plans..but no pool..too cold..it's more of a hindrance than a help.. ;D
JODI: I LOVE camping..especially putting up the tent..I'm getting pretty good at it! ;D
Evening Glories!
Mo great blog! I have been to baseball games, football games (professional) my absolute favorite to go to is Hockey! Who knew can't stand watching any of them on TV but there is something about being with the crowd eating the stadium food and over paying for a beer that makes it all the more fun!
Dee you look mahvahlous!
Good evening baseball fans!!
Thanks for all your great comments today.
I am somewhat appalled at the price of tickets and the need to take a 2nd mortgage to be able to go. In the old days, bleacher seats were CHEAP...now not so much. The areas that have minor league teams have a great opportunity. The tickets are WAY cheaper and the games are even better, as the players are hungry. They want the move to the big leagues and play to win. And sometimes you can even see a big league superstar if he is there to recover from the DL.
ZONA...I got lots of autographs when I went to Spring Training. ANd every seat is a good one!
DEE DEE...excuse me while I stare at your avatar for a while...bbl!
What the hell??? I SAID in area 51 that today was suppose to be SHIRLEY day and that you all had to say my name in EVERY comment! What the hell is wrong with you people? It's almost time for me to go to bed and I haven't seen my name once!!
**folds her pouts, angrily crosses her arms, stamps her feet, stomps over to the sofa and throws herself down on the cushions**
Your blog was very nice Maureen. Not a huge baseball fan. I do watch a little on TV, but when it gets down to the playoffs they aren't shown on a station that I get (which pisses me off). If it was golf it would be on half a dozen stations! Anyway, glad you had and are still having good baseball memories!
how do ya "fold" a pout?
I just fluffed those cushions....
well ALLRIGHT! I told Fluffer to do it...but it was my idea!!
Shirley
Shirley
Shirley
**stamps feet**
DeeDee stop pulling at your crotch and say my name damnit!!!!
Finally someone that listens! Thank you Bonachi! Now I can go to bed!
Nighty night owls!
Do I like football? Yes, I do. I like all sports, really. I think I have memories of the way it used to be. Especially the Lakers of the '80's and '90's with rivals Jordan and Bird. I was glued to my seat during the '87 World Series. Quite upset that the earthquake mucked it up. And football was always a good time. Raiders and Vikings.
They have league football in Italy. American style. Except most of them play for love of the game. It's very humble, most of the guys have day jobs. They're playing because it's their passion. I love to see passion.
Shirley
This is really a lot more complicated than it seems. I spent a day recently writing The End on all my correspondence. Half the time I forgot and the other half succeeded in pissing people off. But for Shirley, I'll try.
Shirley
Shirley bo birley...fanana fana fo furly....fe fi fo girlie... SHIRLEY!!
SHIRLEY
SHIRLEY
SHIRLEY
SHIRLEY
SHIRLEY
MO: Except the ones on the grass..when your my age and your knee has a mind of it's own, that is.. ;)
BONACHI: GO RAIDERS!!
I felt the same way during both the 1977 and the 1978 World Series..didn't miss a minute..
Revised weather forecast..92 on Thursday..yikes!
SHIRLEY
WHABBY...I will have to google Roger Clemens! Can never look at too many hotties!
BEBBI...the excitement in the stands makes the game all the better! Especially when there is someone doing something stupid!
SACBARB...I wasn't surprised that Brad picked Emily. She was my guess all along. But after I watched the After The Rose show, I wished he picked Chantal!
CHI CHI...weather forecasters are only right about 25% of the time and they make a boat load of money!! OMG...the Lakers of yester-year...LOVED them. I was never lucky enough to see them live, but I would actually stay home to watch games on TV. I loved Magic, and Vladie, and Kurt!!
JUST LIN...I bet that cute butt looks even cuter in chaps!!!! IJS!
MARY...I have only been to one pro football game, LA Raiders. And never to a pro basketball game. I did go to every high school basketball game...both home and away!
ZONA...I am not a fan of the nosebleed seats either. I once had tickets in the top row...in August...and when the sun went down it was freezing!! I loved the Spring training games I saw in Lakeland. I saw 3 in our stadium and 1 at the Tigers stadium. The only one that was a problem was the game in the bleachers...I couldn't handle the hot Florida sun! And you're not a fadoo!
LYNN...I have not gotten into hockey for some reason. When I was in high school our hockey team were the champs, but I never went to a game. Maybe I was afraid of getting hit in the eye with a tooth!
DEE DEE...is your Zorch cooled off yet?
SHIRLEY...I watched about 20 minutes of the golf tourney in AZ a couple of weeks ago...but only looking to see if MEK was there! I am sooooo not into golf.
TINA...what is your favorite sport? BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
SHIRLEY
ZONA...we are forecasted for 60* on Thursday. I'll take 10 of your degrees!
Hi--really fun blog to read MONTH. As u all know my heart is with football. We have the Rockies here and I pay attention to them but don't watch the games. Baseball just seems slow to me. BARB, that was a lot of hours to stay for a game U were a great sport.
SHIRLEY
I still remember the day Magic announced he was HIV positive. I was in my office with the radio on. I heard the news and high-tailed it to the main part of the store and the TV department. The whole store, including customers, was glued in front of the TV's. I was in such shock. I saw him recently on some show and he looks so healthy. Bless him and Cookie and the kids. He is an amazing man.
DIANNE...I love when you call me MONTH!!
Ooops...
SHIRLEY
Shirley You've got it all wrong. DeeDee isn't pulling at anyone's crotch. That's the Fluffer's job. LOL
MO Yep. Real cute. :)
LynnD At first, I thought you wrote, "eating the stadium floor"! LOL
Zona I used to root for the Dodgers when I lived in SoCal. Now, I'm more into football. I'm glad Randy got his autograph. My brother collects baseball autographs and has tons of them at this point. If he doesn't get them in person, he sends out self-addressed envolopes. Retired players seem especially likely to respond even in person, at their homes. My brother has been invited into homes of some old-timers who love to have someone interested in hearing about the years when they were playing.
Shirley
ZONA--good thing ur anniversary is soon as u have fooling around on ur mind. And boo Raiders
Dianne LOL @ Boo Raiders. I second that!
Thank you all for your comments today.
Hope you all have sweet dreams and may tomorrow be full of sunshine and lollipops!!
MO - Love your blog!! I really don't enjoy watching baseball on TV, but we had a chance to go to a Brewer's game last summer. Cheap nosebleed seats....but we had a blast!! We tailgated before the game...grilled out, beer, games....FUN!!
SHIRLEY, SHIRLEY, SHIRLEY!!! *ala Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!!!*
I hope everyone has a great day....DEE DEE hoping you were able to get to sleep. How's your zorch doing?
J/LIN: I actually remembered to ask Mr Z..can you believe it? He said it was Rod Carew..the Angels were playing the Dodgers..
MO: Sunshine and lollipops sound wonderful to me! :)
Good Morning JODI..I hope you have a great day too! :)
DIANNE: Go RAIDERS!!!
SHIRLEY!!
DIANNE: You're right about our anniversary.. :D
Good night everyone!
Zona: Loved Johnny Bench and Pete Rose..got to see them play when I was about 7
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