As I look out the window, I feel the cool breeze and see the sunny blue skies and somewhere, I smell the grass and the coming of spring. With spring comes the beginning of my favorite season -- baseball season.
There is just something about picking up one's glove and bat and going to the backyard, the local sandpit or a field to play baseball. Baseball, to me, is truly one of the greatest joys of life.
Where else would you find legends like Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle -- men who never seemed to lose the true spirit of baseball. In fact, DiMaggio was so graceful, it seemed he never had to dive for a ball -- he just always was there.
There is a music to baseball. Not just the memories of Harry Carey singing, "Take me out to the ballgame."
The real music is the fans, the crack of a wooden bat, the muted shuffle of his uniform as the runner slides safely home and the roar of the umpire when he shouts "yerout."
I'll never forget playing my first game of baseball in Covington, Tenn. -- and my first major league game watching the Baltimore Orioles play at Camden Yards.
Baseball stadiums bring together America and the character of baseball fans is different than many other sports fans. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Statistics in 1998 conducted a very unique survey.
The USBS (and no, I do not believe the US Government has caught this pun yet) surveyed 510 Waste Disposal Personnel at stadiums all across the United States. Seventy percent of baseball fans were less likely to leave trash than football or basketball fans. Also 56 percent fewer robberies and crimes are committed at baseball games than football or basketball.
Read into these results what you will. I know there are problems with baseball. In the long run, baseball is a good thing. It fosters teamwork, it fosters friendship and most of all, it's truly an American sport.
The opening day for University of Memphis baseball is on Valentine's Day.
A day centered around love seems appropriate to begin something that I and so many Americans love -- baseball.
So come on out and let's give our support to the U of M baseball team.
On Feb. 14 at 2 p.m., make a date and come support and cheer for the baseball team. This is a romantic spot guys and gals. After all, it's already got a diamond!
