Monday, March 31, 2008

Baseball is so beautiful I could just cry...

Last night the Braves and Nationals opening game was on ESPN. While I was watching the game, a sense of calm trickled through my body. I was suddenly at peace. Yes baseball is back. There are no wars. There is no recession. There are no more Hollywood lollipops in rehab. All is now good again. Right with the world.

Innocence. Purity. Utopian.

The pace of baseball relaxes me. I could smell the green grass through the television set. And I could taste the hot dogs and peanuts. It was as if I have a scratch and sniff TV these feelings are so vivid in my mind.

Yes, I know, the players are obscenely over paid. Also, they probably all take illegal or borderline illegal pituitary Flintstone-like vitamins. But my love affair with baseball is still aflame and has yet to flicker.

My New York Yankees open up this afternoon at Yankee Stadium. The best arena mankind has ever known since the Roman Coliseum. Only with better concessions. I am salivating.

The planets are aligned. The Dow is up. And my beer stein has been filled. Play ball.

- The Mountain Cat

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen, brother Cat. (raising my coffee mug) - here's to a Subway World Series sendoff to the ol' stadiums.

Unknown said...

I'm down with that. Play ball.

Doc said...

I got an e-mail from Willie Randolph this morning... Let's Go Mets!

The Mountain Cat said...

Jesus is throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium today.

Anonymous said...

Booooo, Doc! Are you really a Mets fan??? That's disappointing...

LeapO'Faith

Dana said...

I prefer minor league ball - it more about what baseball should be! To hell with the (pitiful)Cubs and White Sox!

Doc said...

Oh you hush Leap O'.... The Mets are a great team... Plus it's my grandfather's fault. He refused to park his car in the Bronx when I was a kid so Shea was where we went.

Oh yeah and Vin. I think the last time we saw the Yankees they were spraying bugs off of Chamberlin. I hope he doesn't suffer flashbacks like Glenallin Hill did...

Lu' said...

Nicely written. I could give to shits about Baseball, "ouch did you just throw peanuts at me?" I'm a non-sporto. If I were flipping channels, I'd probably pause at a tennis game...

The Mountain Cat said...

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out to the Bronx.
Buy me some peanuts and al-co-hol.
I don't care if I ever sober up.
So it's root, root, root for the Yankees,
If they don't win it's a fix!
For it's one. Two. Three beers you're drunk at the old ball gaaaaammmmmeeeee!"

Anonymous said...

LET"SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS PLAY BALLLLLLLLLLL!!! no really It does not even phase me. It is Volley Ball season that is creeping up on me! LOVE That!!! Watch Me On ESPN!! I got a mad serve! :X


Single

Jay said...

Yeah, and my Cardinals should be eliminated from contention by next week. God are they gonna suck this season. Hell, the Cubs are pointing and laughing at the what has happened to the Cardinals' organization.

Ken said...

I can tell that you really, really, really like baseball!

I was a Yankee in Little League, now I'm a Yankee in Tennessee!

The Mountain Cat said...

Rain delay at the Boogie Down Bronx.... :(
Oh well at least I am not sitting there getting sick as a dog in this weather.

As American as Apple Pie said...

TMC--I am sooo with you on the relaxing baseball thing. Where did you get that scratch and sniff TV? I could really use one, especially for the chocolate commercials!

Doc--really, the Mets? I'm not even going to say who my favs are.

Dana--I agree, I love to watch the hometeam play here.

Anonymous said...

LMAO, Doc! I think that's the funniest story I ever heard about why or how somebody became a fan of a particular sports team! Ha!!!

When it comes down to it, they are a NY team...but my heart belongs to the Yankees!!

LeapO'Faith

Doc said...

Apple... I assume you are a Brewers fan.

Karen said...

Football is my sport of choice, but there is a certain something about baseball season. I am Mets fan. And I love to talk smack about those SKANKEES from the Bronx.

It is going to be a fun year. :)

Karen said...

By the way Mt. Cat, for Easter I got a tshirt that says "Jesus Hates The Yankees". I doubt he'll be at opening day.

As American as Apple Pie said...

Doc-Ick!!! Absolutely not! Just cause I'm from WI doesn't mean I root for all their teams. Try again.

The Mountain Cat said...

Sorry Karen. Yankee Stadium is a Cathedral. And a pope did mass there. If there is heaven on earth it is located at E 161st St & River Ave, Bronx, NY 10451. But is Catherdral is now obsolete so they are building a new Bascilica across the street.

Doc, tell everyone about the time I took you to your first Yankee game in 2003.....

Ginormous Boobs said...

There's nothing like a baseball game. Or a hotdog at a baseball game.

Doc said...

Apple... I have no idea

Vin - Yeah I went to my first game at Yankee stadium the day AFTER Roger Clemens won his 300th game. It was a Yankee win complete with a home runs by Pujols and Matsui, a fight in the stands, a rain delay, and following the keg man through the crowd under the stands. BEEEEEEER COMING THROUGH !!!!

As American as Apple Pie said...

Twins

Doc said...

Apple... Thank you to the Twins for giving my Mets the best pitcher in baseball!

The Mountain Cat said...

Rain out. whaaaa!!!!!

As American as Apple Pie said...

No shit!

Doc said...

Welcome to our blog Ginormous !!

Anonymous said...

The pope might've done mass at Yankmee Stadium, but the Beatles played at Shea!

DirkStar said...

Felicia and I have season tickets to the minor league team in Dayton, Ohio(Dragons)and I couldn't agree with you more.

Baseball in the spring is a good thing.

Anonymous said...

Vin,
You Know if You cant get in touch with Jesus for tomorrows game I have a connection....Shes glad the Mets Ruled today..she watched the game with her Jesus action figure..{you gave her}
Good Luck Yankees Lets Have A Great Season.......

Phfrankie Bondo said...

...a quite well-written tribute to The Finest Game, as Tom Brokaw might say......