The things I like about springtime
are the signs of new life -- apple blossoms, blue
birds, butterflies and
baseball. When I was a
boy
I began spring training
like
the big stars. No
matter
how deep the snow
All my workouts took place
I used a small sponge ball to work on picking up short hops by bouncing it off the wall. I would work on arm strength and accuracy by throwing the ball into a big soft pillow. I did the best I could and that was all DiMaggio, Williams, Feller and others could do.
From junior high school through college I was fortunate enough to letter in five different sports at least once. It seems like I lived to play and played to live. I could miss a meal much easier than an inning of baseball or a quarter of basketball.
One of the finest new books on the market is titled Metamorpha by Kyle Strobel and published by Baker Books. It is a great read that can actually help change your life. The title comes from an ancient Greek work for “transformation.” Reading this book can be that emotional and spiritual spring tonic that so many of us need.
Baseball is a wakeup call for me. It is time to go to spring training and get ready for a long summer. There are two or three things I must admit up front. I am a bona fide down-deep-forever fan of the New York Yankees. I was introduced to them as a child and have remained loyal in both the good times and the bad times.
You cannot imagine how pleased I would be if Roger Clemens has a 20-0 pitching record, Andy Pettitte wins at least 25 games and Mariano Rivera saves every game he enters. I would also want Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon to get on base at least 50 percent of the time and Giambi, A-Rod, Posada, Matsui, Abreu and Cano all hit at least one home run every game.
Yes, I realize that is ridiculous dreaming. In my twisted baseball thinking the World Series Champions are supposed to be the Yankees. Other teams also have fans with equally lopsided views.
There are other players, more than teams, that I root for. I wish Barry Bonds would hit at least 1,000 career home runs and then A-Rod would top that. I also pull for Griffey, Atlanta’s Jones boys, Berkman, Pujols, Sosa, Soriano, Maddux, Glavine, Mussina, Smoltz and many others.
I like to see people succeed. But nobody can win all the time. There is only one ultimate and final winner in any sport. Only one can win the race. We do not always win, not even my favorite golfer, "Tiger" Woods.
My primary regret about baseball and other sports is that too many players waste and throw away great careers and fortunes. It is very disappointing to read that a player was drunk, in a brawl, took illegal drugs or was sexually involved with a woman who was not his wife. It spells trouble and defeat.
Concerning the one really big contest, a man named of Paul, penned words of wisdom about how life should be lived when he wrote: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV).
The players and teams we cheer for are not all that important. It is how they and we live that really makes the difference.
Publisher's Note: Bill Ellis, Award Winning
Syndicated Columnist, P.O. Box 345, Scott Depot, WV 25560.
Phone:304-757-6089
www.BillEllis.Net.
