Sydney's First Game

Dear Baseball,

I've missed you a lot. You see, when I was a kid, I was a baseball freak-a-zoid. Baseball cards, Strat-o-matic, more Baseball cards, Little League, Micr-league Baseball, Yankees Opening Day, Don Mattingly, Ron Guidry, hating the Red Sox, Mets and Pete Rose and loving Reggie Jackson.

I played a lot of baseball, against the back wall of any and all houses I could find, in leagues, in high school and even adult baseball when I was 25. I even worked for the Atlanta Braves in 1993 (and cried just a bit on my last day).

But then I lost interest. Totally not interested in Bill James, WHIPs, Fantasy Baseball or Jose Canseco. I was lost.

But things are different baseball, between you and me. You see, I have 2 kids who need to be properly introduced to you. They need to live off you for a while, breathe you in and let you light up their imagination with possibilities.

I'm breeding some Yankees fans - and my house is again filled with the sounds of baseball - Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Grand Slams and explanations of infield fly rules rule the day. None of us could contain ourselves the other night.. A-Rod went yard THREE times in one night!

I haven't been so excited about baseball in years (no thanks to you Bud, you jerk).

I'm coaching both my kids teams and loving it - loving being on a field, picking up ground balls, and soft tossing to kids who can do nothing but imagine life in the bigs.

Baseball, I'm back... and glad to be home.

With Love,

Marc

P.S. - Why'd you have to go and ruin things by letting the BoSox win one? Sheesh.