Today, BBRT features a guest post in our “Why I Love Baseball” category from Bill Ivie, freelance writer, veteran baseball blogger, founder of i70baseball.com (dedicated to daily coverage of baseball in general and the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals in particular) and contributor to Bleacher Report. Why I Love Baseball
by Bill Ivie
Baseball was a foundation of my life from a very young age. My father used it to teach me life lessons disguised as sports practice. He taught me a love of the game that is far beyond any connection I have felt with anything else (short of my wife and kids, obviously).
I spent countless hours taking ground balls in the back yard and on practice fields. I was not allowed to take batting practice until I had satisfied whatever metric was my goal for the day defensively. The ground balls were hit harder as we went along and the goal became harder to achieve. But through hard work, perseverance and determination, I got there. My reward was to enjoy hitting for a bit.
Sounds familiar now. I work hard in my life. Obstacles come, goals are set and sometimes it all seems insurmountable. At the end of the day, if I put in the work and determination, I get the satisfaction of a goal reached. Then I get to kick back and relax with the game.
During the offseason, it is baseball movies and documentaries. During the season, it is the joy of the game. Of course, there is nothing better than sitting at the park.
It is an assault on your senses. It is the smell of the grass, roasted peanuts and hot dogs. It is the glaring sun and the ball flying through the air. The sound of the crowd as they discuss the game and anything else that is on their mind. It is the crack of the bat and the sound of the ball smacking the leather of a glove.
The game of baseball, when viewed live, is America’s dinner table. People discuss their days, talk business, talk about popular topics in the world and marvel at the drama unfolding in front of them. The game is heartbreak and jubilation. It is a massive let down and the overcoming of odds. Indeed it does provide the opportunity to see something happen that has never occurred before each and every time you watch.
You see, baseball is a lot of things to a lot of people. It is so easy to love and so hard to walk away from.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
For more “Why I Love Baseball,” click the YILBB hot link at the top of the home page. BBRT welcomes your guest post on this topic. Just use the “Contact” link and type your thoughts into the comments section and I’ll format them for posting.
