For the Love of the Game Part 1

Growing up in rural Kentucky, there wasn't much for young kid to do, well, outside of school that is. But when I was younger, Major League Baseball, and basketball, (professional and collegiate), where the kings of the sports world, in my opinion. Ill touch on the other sports in another blog.

Lets start with the Cincinnati Reds. Kentucky doesn't have a professional team, in any sport. So most people in Kentucky cheered for a Cincinnati team. So of course, naturally, I cheered for the Reds too. My uncle's and grandfather were avid Reds fans and thats where it all started.

That was back when baseball was still considered the national pastime. Man, were those days great! I can remember sitting in front of the TV waiting for the Reds game to come on. I wouldnt miss it either. That was one thing I was allowed to watch, that my parents were ok with. My mom would actually cheer with me, as the "Big Red Machine" took the field.

Eric Davis, Barry Larkin, Chris Sabo, Paul O'Neill, Billy Hatcher......to many of you, those names don't mean a thing. But to and old Reds fan, those names are synonymous with the 1990 World Series.

Barry Larkin was my favorite, right in front of Eric Davis, just by a hair. Barry had a thing where every time he got an on base hit, a local organization would donate a certain amount of money to his charity, and trust me, he got lots of hits.

I guess the real point of this blog is to tell people in my opinion how great sports were back in those days. I mean, I really looked forward to watching a WHOLE baseball game on TV, and I didn't care who we were plaing, as long as I was glued to the TV. Now these days, its just like sports have lost all their glory. I mean they are fun still, and exciting to watch, but where has all the lore gone? I miss the days of sitting in front of the old stove, watching Jose Rio strike out, batter after batter. In game 4 of the 1990 World Series, Jose shut down 20 consecutive batters!!!! He was pulled in the 9th inning, shortly before the Reds completed the sweep!

Yes I know this was all before the baseball strike, and we all knew it would be different, but c'mon, what happend to good old fashioned, well coached, well pitched, and well "batted" baseball? Yes I'm aware of the fact that I just made up those words, but really? Where did it go?

I think I have found it again.

Fast forward 20 years, to, Atlanta.....seems like the good ole days of basball have been here, hiding all along! I didnt realize how much I missed baseball, until my wife took me to "The Ted", to watch a braves game. What happend next was just shy of amazing. That little spark I had inside of me as a child, was suddenly brought back. It wasn't brought back by, umpteen million dollar contracts, or flashy athletes, or fancy managers or mascots. It was brought back to my by simplicity. Like my wife says "they are getting paid to play a children's game. When I say simplicity, I mean old school coaching, last year, I got to witness the legendary Bobby Cox coach the Braves to an amazing season, and playoff birth. Fundamental baseball is being played here in Atlanta. There are no flashy superstars on the team. The two biggest names would be Chipper Jones (HOF soon to be), and Jason Heyward. But everybody on the team played as a team, and well coached team and they played with fundamentals. Great hitting, great defense, and it wouldn't be Atlanta without great pitching. I will admit, i'm a newly converted Braves fan, but the Braves brought the fun of the game back to me. I look forward to going to more this year, and a Braves world series championship.