Monday, April 11, 2016

PUT ME IN COACH


There are all kinds of seasons. Some bring us dread like hurricane or tornado season while others bring us joy like Spring.  Spring for me is more than rebirth of Nature, gardening and warmer days. It is the start of baseball season. Ahhh.

The boys of summer make my year and the Marlins are my boys. Luckily, I can watch a game and not be totally bummed if we lose. I say luckily for we have have had some rough years.

So far this year we have only won one game out of 3.  As  long as they scrap, play hard and no one gets hurt, I am content. Besides, there are still 159 games to be played. Yes it is a long season.




Centerfield by John Fogerty is one of my all time favorite songs. I listen, smile and yes, I feel certain in my 20 year old mind that I could play center field.  "Put me in coach."

When I was a kid, my Mom and I use to spend a lot of summer days glued to the radio hanging on the announcers words. It was a real mother/daughter bonding time.  Our team was the Cleveland Indians and in 1948 they won the world series.  There were no more devoted fans. I can tell you today who made up that team. I miss you Mom.

My Marlins have won two world series since I have started following them when they were born in 1993.  One year it was against my former love the Indians. That year I was OK with who ever won.  The last time we won was in 2003 against the Yankees so it has been a dry spell for the post season. But as I said before, winning is not my main concern.

One rather wonderful thing has happened in the sport.  I wrote a post in 2010 about the propensity of baseball players to turn off a lot of female fans with their chewing, spitting and crotch grabbing.  Now I am sure my little post didn't make a change but honestly, everything I complained about has mostly stopped. Amen.

Now till October, for me life is good.  Do you have a sport, activity or maybe a TV show that makes you ridiculously happy when that season starts?

45 comments :

  1. I am not a sports fan myself, but I sure know plenty of them. My sister loves golf and watches it all. I sure wish there were a TV series that grabbed me, but basically I watch a few without much enthusiasm. The "Call the Midwife" series on PBS and of course Downton Abbey were favorites. I see the Midwife is starting a new series and I will watch that. Nothing makes me happier than a good book to read. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Djan,
      Me too on a good book. Sometimes I get that same feeling when a favorite author publishes a new book.

      Delete
  2. Patti, you lost me on this one. I know absolutely nothing, and I do mean nothing, about sports of any kind. Since I almost never turn on the TV and don't read the sports section of the paper I am blissfully ignorant except for those darn alerts that pop up on my electronic devices. I always expect those to be news of some kind but alas, just reporting the victors of sports.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda,
      You are certainly not alone. They aren't for everyone. Maybe an election year does it for you.

      Delete
  3. I used to be able to name the starting lineup of all 8 American League teams. Now I could not name more then 4 players on the Yankees...and I'm a lifelong Yankee fan. Too many teams, too much player movement from team to team to follow like the old days. It is still a great game though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. joeh,
      Wow, knowing them all was very impressive. All sports are more business these days. Sad but won't make me turn away. The only good thing about the moving players is there is always some team with one of my former Marlins on it.

      Delete
  4. I'm not a sports fan at all, but my family was totally in sports when I was young. Every season had its games: baseball, football, basketball. My brothers still follow basketball fanatically, and my mom even keeps up with her favorite team. I just know the family is happy when some team they love wins.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. robin,
      You managed to escape the mania even when surrounded. Winning does make one feel good but I am odd in that losing isn't that big a deal. Most would say--I'm not a true sportsperson.

      Delete
  5. I see nothing wrong with the chewing, spitt'n and crotch grabbing, Oh you mean on the field!
    Dad is an avid SF Giants fan as was his mother (my granny).
    I would rather be reading, there is a lot less pc stuff...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brighid,
      Ha ha, you have a point. This is probably the year of the Giants--again. They win the series every even year.

      Delete
  6. Am I confusing you with someone else or didn't your late husband used to own a baseball team?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fran,
      I wish. That would be Manzanita from the "Wanna Buy a Duck" blog.

      Delete
  7. When I was a kid we made up a baseball game with our bubblegum cards and dice. I always wanted to be the Brooklyn Dodgers which was fine because everyone else fought to be the Yankees.

    I watched the Yankees with my dad and we would bet on how soon Casey Stengel would walk out to the pitcher's mound to scream. Oh, and remember Billy Martin?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carolyn,
      You had to give it to the Yankees. They had the most colorful managers in baseball.

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. shortybear,
      Till Florida got the Marlins, the Braves were our team. I still have a soft spot as long as we aren't playing them.

      Delete
  9. I like "The Black List" and "Game of Thrones" and look forward to their return.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephen,
      The Black List is becoming a favorite of mine also. Wouldn't mind having a "Red" in my family.

      Delete
  10. Well---I do love baseball (Astros)--but don't follow them much anymore since I left Texas. My favorite 'sports' season is FALL --since I love love love college football--and the Vols are my team!!!!

    BUT--I also love spring--for all of the other reasons (nature/flowers/new growth, etc.).... SO SPECIAL.

    Enjoy your Marlins.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Betsy,
      Too bad for the Astros are really doing well these days. I'm with you on college football since Ar has no pro team and little coverage. Go Hogs.

      Delete
  11. Love that song.

    Hubby and I both played softball into our forties. Those days have long passed. In fact, we met playing ball but he never watches the games.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I played softball on a co-ed team also till I was about 42 when the thrill of victory and agony of defeat became a blur so I became a spectator.

      Delete
  12. I love spring for the weather and the promise of summer to follow. I'm not a huge baseball fan but enjoy both football and curling. The last curling event (Men's World Championship) was held on Sunday...I'm sure I'll go through withdrawal. Thankfully the hockey playoff are starting so I can watch something other than reality shows.

    Our Saskatchewan Roughriders (football) are much like your Marlins. We've won 3 Grey Cups in the past 60-70 years but I'm still a huge fan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have watched Canadian football before and it is fun. Never seen curling except briefly during the Olympics. Maybe I should pay more attention.

      Delete
  13. Our baseball Mariners are already disappointing. We don't really follow baseball, but as you know, we love soccer, and our Seahawks football team ain't so bad either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda R,
      I saw part of the Sounders game and thought of you. I know they are your first love.

      Delete
  14. Tell me bout it, I have been a Cubs fan forever. I too love that song.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Inger,
      Is there a better baseball song? Hey, your Cubbies look really good again this year. Maybe???

      Delete
  15. Only member of my family who is NOT a sports fan. I lose at the Trivia Crack game online because I miss almost all of the sports questions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annie,
      Wow, how did you manage to dodge that? Way to go being an individual though.

      Delete
  16. Ours is not a sports household, thank heaven. My husband is not one of those men made pale by hours in front of TV football or hockey. But once baseball season begins we're hooked by the latest drama from our team, the Red Sox. This year is especially dramatic for me because it's the long farewell of one my very favorites, David Ortiz, aka Big Papi.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marty,
      I love farewell tours. It gives everyone on the other teams a chance to say "great job fella" to the superstar who is leaving. Ortiz is a super star.

      Delete
  17. I used to be a big sports fan and had favorite players, but not so much anymore since I don't watch much tv. Altho, my son has gotten me into watching reruns of Black List on Netflix and I'm slowly working my way thru all those shows. Still have a ways to go before I'm caught up. My favorite all-season activity is reading. Have a nice week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheryl,
      Football has done that with me. It has just faded away except for a little college ball.
      Reading is a year round favorite for me also.

      Delete
  18. I vividly remember both of those Marlin's victories. I am a baseball enthusiast (Cincinnati Reds fan). Good times :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keith,
      Don't know if you get the games in Germany but the Reds are at 500 in a tough division. Not bad at all. Good luck this year.

      Delete
  19. I do like razorback football, and always have loved hockey. My husband watches cycling all the time so I have started watching with him. Tour de France is the one I like Good memories of your mom!

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    Replies
    1. Terri,
      I use to watch bicycling but Armstrong, who was the reason I watched, broke my heart. Wish they could get drugs out of all sports. Seems impossible.

      Delete
  20. I can remember us listening to the World Series with the Yankees and the Dodgers when I was a kid. I played softball in school and loved it then. Now though the only sport I really enjoy watching is OU, OSU and the Razorbacks play football. Hugs sweet Patti, enjoy your ball games.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maggie,
      That was when they were the Brooklyn Dodgers. Kind of miss those days. Go Hogs.

      Delete
  21. Patti, You reminded me of my mother who was an avid Phillies fan. The summer she died there was a baseball strike so she didn't get to watch the games. She kept hoping they'd settle, but they were out for the count (at least her count). I don't follow any pro teams, but I enjoy the start of summer because we can hike and bike. Winter (long here) brings skiing - I'm always anxious for the snow to start and ready for it to end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barb,
      I am so sorry that had to be her last season. It broke a lot of hearts. Looks like you are in for another monster snow. Hope it is your last so you can get going with Spring.

      Delete
  22. You are a well rounded female, I need help in that dept. Sports have always left me cold and, as a consequence, I am left out of many get togethers. After all, who wants a lady sitting reading a book when everyone else is at the TV cheering ????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ginnie,
      Well you could always serve the refreshments. That would make you highly sought after at those get togethers:))

      Delete
  23. I'm also not a sports person unlike the rest of my family. I did enjoy Calico Joe, especially since I lived in Chicago for so long and it was about the Cubbies.

    ReplyDelete

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