I like baseball. Of the major professional sports, baseball is the game I will watch if I have nothing to do or.just want to relax for a few minutes. I do not like to watch professional basketball. To me it is over rated and the players are paid too much money for a game that should be played in some one's backyard with a peach basket tack up over the garage door.
Professional football can be exciting to watch as long as no one gets hurt. A sport where over-sized, grown men, put on padding and protective equipment so they can run into each other doesn't speak a great deal to smartness and intelligence, but then, it's for the 'entertainment' of it. (What's this about this Hernandez fellow? Do they carry guns too?)
Over the years I have grown to 'appreciate' and 'love' the Red Sox. Many have written about the team's storied history, the famous and not so famous players, the famous and not so famous plays, the ... “it's all the manager's fault" comments...
Even the ballpark, Fenway, has a legend of its own, just passing its 100th anniversary year. In most other major 'sports fanatic' cities, that stadium would have been torn down and replaced at least three times within that hundred year period. But then, we are talking about Boston, a city that respects and honors history and tradition.
In an interview with players from the opposing team during the 100 year celebration some were quoted to have said they didn't like coming to Fenway. It was too old, to outdated and the lockers were too small. To small for what... a place to stuff the rookie bat boy?
But each year with a few minor changes, like additional seating and some fresh coats of paint on the Green Monster, the stadium continues to be a model that represents 'tradition', just like the game itself.
So the question begging to be asked is...”What makes a sports' team great?” Is it the players or the coaches. It has to be the size and endless seating in the stadium or ballpark. It must be the result of the the wise and thoughtful planning by the team owners. Perhaps it is the quality of the hot dogs and beverages that are sold at the concession stands. (I was told there was nothing like a Fenway frank. It was... OK. I hope the mustard doesn't stain my shirt.)
If given the choice of being outside on a bright sunny day or sitting in front of a television, I generally will choose to be outside. But there are times I will turn on the game, especially the night games. Come on! How many times can one watch the reruns of CSI or SVU.
Over the years it has been as entertaining to watch the people in the stands as much as the action on the field. Who can not smile when the young girl or boy catches a foul ball or even better, catches a home run hit by 'Big Papi'.And those 'walk off' home runs this year. It's been exciting.
I know it has been at least the last three years or it may be longer, but has anyone else noticed, as the television camera focuses on each batter at the plate, night after night, game after game, the same gentleman sitting right behind home plate. Most of the time he wears a blue sport coat with a shirt and tie and in the last year or two he also dons a yellow headset. (At first I thought they were earmuffs.)
To have a seat behind home plate each game, he must be either part of the 'Red Sox organization' or perhaps he is just a very lucky fan who loves seeing the Red Sox play ball, win or lose.
The team is traveling to the west coast for a rather lengthy road trip this week. Those 10 pm starts are a bit late for me, but thanks to the DVR, I can watch game in the morning before the news. OK! I'll just fast forward to the good spots. But there will be many who stay awake until well after I do and go bleary-eyed into work the next day.
And there is the answer to the question...”What makes a great sports team?” Its not the size of the stadium or the new uniforms. Its not the so-so hot dogs and beer. Its the fans, because without the fans, there would be no game.
For my friends and family in NYC.....Go Sox! (This just may be the year, again!)
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