Thursday, February 17, 2005

Boys of Summer

There are a few things in life that make me ridiculously happy – getting a great haircut, 800 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, the Jay-Z Unplugged cd and baseball. So it is with happy fingers that I’m typing this today because pitchers and catchers reported for duty.

There is something really fantastic about Spring Training. It’s like when you were a kid and you would see your parents get the Christmas decorations out the day after Thanksgiving – you knew the good stuff was coming. And then you had that blissful period of anticipation and excitement from that day to Christmas morning. Spring Training is my day after Thanksgiving. I know that I can look forward to a summer of warm night games and dinners of hot dogs and beers followed up by drinks on the roof of one of the many bars in LoDo. I know that soon I will be getting my friends together for a Saturday afternoon in the Rock Pile - sweltering in the sun, passing around sunscreen and hunting down the guy who sells frozen lemonades. I’m giddy at the thought of smelling the green grass of the field, seeing the fresh chalk baselines, and singing “Take me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch. I dare to wonder if the Cubbies will ever end their own curse. I can’t wait to see how Edgar Renteria will fit into the line-up for the Red Sox. I wonder how much the Rockies will stink up the National League. I pray that the Yankees stink up the American League. I contemplate how I will visit at least 2 new ballparks this season. So much to think about…

I also love Spring Training because it signals the beginning of spring (clearly) which signals the beginning of summer – which I just love.

No comments: