America through Baseball
I have spent countless hours watching catchers crouch, batters swing, fielders dive, runners circle a dirt infield with determined purpose and fans show distain for an umpire’s decision. I am fascinated by the game.
It doesn’t matter where the game is played. My grandparents took me to watch the Chicago White Sox as a boy. I coached youngsters from ages 6 to 15 while my boys developed their love for the game. A baseball field and the surrounding stands have served as a captivating place for competition, strategy and socialization.
From sandlots to the “House that Ruth Built” life is lived both inside and outside of the foul lines. Both parts of the baseball experience have provided many a lifetime of memories. A few are captured here. PLAY BALL!
The Beauty of a Baseball Park
I was at Dodger Stadium one summer evening with a good friend, my middle son and his best friend. My son was about to become a high school freshman and was deeply engaged in a text conversation with a girl he and his friend had recently met at a graduation party. At one point, they were consumed with the smartphone and confused, trying to decide what to ask her next.
“Can she cook?” I asked them
“Why does that matter?” My son inquired.
“Do you like stomachaches?” was my reply.
The four of us lost all track of the next several batters expanding on that humorous topic. I imagine thousands of people were stuck in Southern California traffic listening intently to Vin Scully describing the nuances of what was happening on the field. We were close enough for the players to hear us and could not care less what they were doing. Read More
The Superstar’s Dad
My theory of coaching a baseball team of kids is that they have a lifetime to love baseball as long as you don’t make them hate it. In a world of video games and communication through text characters, I considered it an achievement for a kid to stand center stage in front of a bunch of adults and perform, at any level.
I like the kids who need to compete, but I also like the ones that don’t. We could always find ways to make each other laugh and have fun. I didn’t always have the same experience with the parents. Read More
Friendly Wager
I have a great friend named QT who was born in Vietnam, relocated to Oklahoma as a boy and retains a distinctive Okie accent that causes double takes regularly. He worked for me on several occasions and always did a great job. As much as I respect him, it did not preclude me from having some fun at his expense from time to time.
One evening after work, we took our auditors out for an evening at Dodger Stadium. Several beers into the evening, the four of us took to making friendly wagers on events on the field. Read More
