Catching a cold is bad. Catching playoff fever is good!
When I think of all the money attached to pro sports, I cringe. It’s everything–player salaries, ticket costs, parking costs, costs inside the park and of course the cost of shirts and all the other fun things to buy. Plus, too many athletes just do idiot things. It’s crazy and sometimes I wonder why I’m such a fan. I don’t have a good answer; I just know I am.
Mostly, I’m a football fan, but it’s hard not get swept up in the excitement as we head toward October baseball. I’m not originally from Milwaukee, but it’s feeling more and more like home. And right now, the Brewers are giving me and the city of Milwaukee a lot to cheer about. Never mind how much of a lead they had (and let slip away). Never mind the last series. Never mind my pet peeves about the money and bad behavior. It doesn’t matter now. What matters now is that magic number. It’s going to be a nail-biter moving forward!
Not long ago, I was lucky enough to make it to Miller Park and see the Brewers win a very tight game. It’s hard to explain the energy of a big game (and they are all big games now) but it’s unmistakable. The air just feels different. Every pitch, every at bat, every play in the field is that much more important. It’s really something special to experience.
I suppose that explains why, despite a fair amount of negatives, I am a sports fan. For a short time, we will come together at homes, bars, restaurants, tailgates, and of course the ball park. We will wear our fan gear and display our bobble heads proudly. We will watch the Cards almost as closely as our own team. There is a kind of unity at times like this and it’s something to enjoy while it’s here.
