Notes from Chad...

4th of April 2000

McKeathan Stadium, University of Florida

Baseball:

Here's some irony.  Two months ago, I knew little about baseball and thought it to be one of the most boring sports around.  Imagine, what could be better than sitting and watching pitch by pitch for three hours while feeling the grey grow into your hair!  Yes, I had the impression that it was certainly the most boring of all sports to watch.

Then I went to a Gator Baseball Home Game (given I live right across the street from the stadium), and sat near an older gentleman and his son who were unmercifully heckling the poor third baseman of the oposing team.  First, I found this quite amusing since they were saying many funny things.  Then, through repeated visits to listening to them heckle, I began talking with them more and understanding the game more.  Also, I began heckling a great deal myself (which was amazing given my somewhat introverted nature).  I found it fun to try to interact with the opposing players while trying anything and everything to distrat them.  To my amazement, heckling was remarkably successful in manipulating each game.

In the span of a month, I had learned why people go to baseball games and why they enjoy it as much as they do.  Now, I feel like a life-long fan.  I find myself spitting out slugging percentages and E8 or E4 like any other true baseball fan.

What did I learn? First, to my amazement, many people enjoy the down time associated with baseball. It allows for good conversation of topics ranging from politics to sports.  During the action, people like myself and my friends at the games can enjoy giving opponents a hard time and likely infuencing on-the-field results.  All this and only three hours of time.  Perhaps I've been blessed by this sudden interest in Baseball.  Whatever the case, I'm glad America's Past time is in my blood.

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