Results tagged ‘ Valentine’s Day ’
Valentine’s Day: A single guy’s perspective
Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, a day to show affection for those you love. It’s something I’ve never understood and probably never will. I’ve heard all of the points and counterpoints to it. They tell me it’s because I’m single and I just don’t understand. Maybe it’s because that I’m single that I actually do understand.
For those who quickly say that single people don’t like Valentine’s Day because we have no one to spend it with, that’s just simply not true. Sure, it’s not exactly exciting to see people talking about and buying gifts for their boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands and wives. I’m sure there’s plenty of people who will dread tomorrow because they’ll be constantly reminded that they either don’t have someone to love, but that’s not the part that frustrates me.
First of all, let me start by saying I have no problem with someone going out of there way to show that they care about someone. However, if you have to be told to do it (which let’s face it, you have to for Valentine’s Day), doesn’t that take away all of its meaning? To me, it seems like you’re more just following orders than actually being romantic or sweet.
Where’s the spontaneity or creativity? Maybe it’s the romantic in me, or that I’ve grown accustomed to my dad buying my mom flowers ‘just because’, but I feel like too many people take for granted the people in their lives, especially their significant others. When’s the last time you did something nice for no reason (you’re not excluded from this ladies, it works both ways)? If you truly care about someone, you should be doing these sort of things all year round, not just one day a year.
When you talk to guys buying their last minute gifts, you learn that they do it more as an obligation than anything else. Where’s the meaning behind that? Truthfully, there’s probably little to none. I guess in a perfect world, people would do things to show their appreciation for those they love. Unfortunately, that doesn’t usually seem to be the case.
So if you’re lucky enough to spend Valentine’s Day with someone you love and care about, put a little extra thought into what you’re doing for them.
Why do I love baseball?
Why do I love baseball? How much time do you have to listen?
Baseball, it’s America’s national pastime. It’s the roar of the crowd, the smell of hot dogs and honey roasted almonds. There’s something about sitting in the stands at a baseball game that is hard to describe. For a moment in time, nothing else really matters. From the guy sitting near you that has had one beer too many, the hot dog vendors trying to make a sale, or seeing a sold out stadium giving a standing ovation…not much else compares.
I love the mental part of the game. As a pitcher, you try to out think the hitter who has spent hours analyzing your pitching sequences in certain situations. There’s nothing like watching a pitcher stare down a runner who is leading off on first base, almost daring him to steal. There’s the high and inside fastball, serving a purpose without violent intent. It’s also the little things, like sacrificing a runner to second in the bottom of the 9th inning to put the winning run in scoring position.
A very underrated aspect of baseball is the camaraderie of teammates. If you’ve ever played baseball, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Through the course of a season, teammates become like extended members of the family. You may not always get along off the field, but on the field you’ll do anything you can to support them (much like the scene in Major League where Dorn confronts Vaughn on the mound after he found out Ricky had slept with his wife, only to give him encouragement to strike the next guy out).
The history of the game is something that will always remain important to baseball, because much like other things, the past will always help shape the future. It creates such fun conversations as ‘Who would you rather have on your team, Babe Ruth or Miguel Cabrera?’ The characters and historical events in the past have made baseball what it is today. It’s moments like Lou Gehrig addressing Yankee stadium to thank fans and claiming to be the luckiest man on the face of the Earth that transcends baseball from being so much more than a game.
However, the reason I love baseball the most, is the reason why I fell in love with it in the first place. Baseball (more specifically Detroit baseball) was always a mean of family bonding in my house growing up. My dad, brother, great uncle and myself would attend numerous games when I was a kid (including opening day for many years). How many parents would allow their child to get out of school early to go to a baseball game? I don’t know, but the answer should be a lot higher than it probably is. Even to this day, we still have parties where aunts, uncles and grandparents come over to watch the Tigers, and for a couple hours we scream, laugh, cry and celebrate together.
So on Valentine’s Day, when I ask myself why do I love baseball so much, it really comes down to a simple math equation. Baseball equals family, and family equals love. Vote for me to be on the MLB Fan Cave, and I’d be honored to share that love of baseball with you.
Fans can vote til February 22nd at http://www.mlbfancave.com
Brad Jeffers
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