First Love

·        Baseball was my first true love. From the time I was a kid imaging all my favorite players. I would try and bat exactly whoever it was. I even had a mean Julio Franco approach. The game changed for me over the years from little league, to college as a player, and then as a coach for over a decade. The game of baseball has taught me more life lessons than anything else. It has taught me how to deal with failure number one because it is a game of failure. How many other sports could you fail 70% of the time but be considered an all star? Baseball has taught me to never be satisfied with anything in life especially one’s self. You can always improve always work on something. But the one question what do I love about the game the most?? I love arriving to a field before everyone. I love the smell of the fresh cut grass. The silence of the moment but you can still feel the energy that will arrive. The sounds of the sprinkler system spraying. I love seeing a player showing up before everyone to take swings and the sound of the crack of the bat in an empty stadium. I love the family aspect of the game. The smile or joy you can see on a child’s face and notice is the same smile that you can see on a senior citizens face. I love going to games with my son but I cannot wait until the day I get to do the same with my grandson. Looking into the stands and seeing a grandfather and grandson together watching discussing the game has brought smiles and even tears to my face. It is the one sport and part of life, that why everything is evolving around us it remains the same. The game teaches us so much, character, competition, acceptance, humility, confidence, respect, loyalty, brotherhood,   friendship, kindness. The game has brought more people of color, race, or Religion than anything in this world. So why do I love baseball or my one time moment that made me fall for the game? Well I guess I do not have one because I have so many. A memory is made every time a ball is in someone’s hand.  Baseball has been an escape from reality and turned into a reality all at the same time. Being at the ball field is my sanctuary, home, enemy, and best friend. Honestly sitting on field before a game and smelling all the pregame smells of grass, sunflower seeds, hotdogs and the echoes of what about to come is my serenity, my sanctuary, my peace. And peace is what we all are looking for. It's another thing that makes America great its unity it's the only thing that can bring us all together.