It was my dad’s birthday when I started writing this. He’s influenced a lot of my hobbies and interests as I’ve grown up, sometimes unknowingly. He’s the reason I enjoy biking and video games, and look for opportunities to learn martial arts. He’s the reason I didn’t doubt that I would make it as an engineer, and he assured me that it was always the right choice, even when I didn’t believe him. My dad is one of the funnest people to hang out with, and every time I spend time with him, I try to extract more and more lore from his life. The deep-cut stories and stuff.
We regularly(ish) go grab drinks together and yap about anything. In one of these conversations, he told me about his short-lived baseball career as a kid. He enjoyed watching the sport with his dad, and tried it for a bit as a kid. Learning this was a little surprising! I don’t know much about my grandfather, so this felt like a two-in-one tidbit of background.
Since then, I told him it’d be fun to try baseball. I scoffed when the players on the bar TV didn’t run fast enough to make it on to first base, where my dad was quick to note that I wouldn’t even make it halfway at the speeds that the pros were throwing the ball. So began my (admittedly surface-level) baseball education. As a bonus, my mom would also get into it, and I learned that where I’m from, baseball is actually kind of a big deal. Who would’ve thought that a square in the dirt, a stick, and a ball could now connect me to not only members of my family I wish I knew more, but a national identity.
Nothing much happened for a couple of months. Until now. The Toronto Blue Jays locked in, and make it to Postseason baseball. For those that don’t follow the sport closely (and if you do, don’t be mean when you’re correcting me), Postseason baseball is a climb to the top of your respective league, which is based on your location. The best from each league (or each coast technically), battle for Best at Baseball bragging rights at the “World” Series. It’s barely international, but we know how Americans are.
I will fully admit that I am a bandwagon fan. So what? People that shit on bandwagon fans are like people that test you on Nirvana’s repertoire if you wear a Nirvana t-shirt. Let me enjoy my thing when I learn and find out about it. Shaming bandwagoning just results in gatekeeping, and then things die out because no one cares. Let people enjoy things!! Especially in sports. When it truly unites people from all walks of life, it’s a beautiful thing.
Anyway, the Toronto Blue Jays haven’t been to the World Series since 1993. And from what I know, they’ve had a pretty bad run up until the last couple of years. Watching them in Postseason has been a treat. You can tell they are friends, and it’s a friend group you want to be a part of but also not at the same time because the vibe as they already have it is so good.
They became North America’s underdog team, especially when going up against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Side note again: Jays VS Dodgers is almost directly transferrable to Regina George VS Cady Heron. Regina (Dodgers) are an established entity, defending champions of the World Series Title, and baseball it girl. Cady and the Jays really only share the underdog trait, but you can really tell that they’re a team of friends, you can see the love they have for the game. So despite the heartbreaking loss they faced, it was one hell of a series. My family, after a while of not really being into sports, is cancelling plans to watch Game 7 at home with a tub of popcorn and a couple of beers. It was intense, emotional, and a great memory.
Being as easily influenced as we are, my dad, uncle, cousin, and I go to the batting cages. I moved my schedule around to be able to go on a Tuesday early afternoon, meaning it was empty except for us. I don’t know how different the experience would’ve been if it was packed with people who knew what they were doing, so I was grateful to not have to worry about public perception (looking back, who cares if I’m bad!)
Now, I’ve never really swung a bat. Like any sport or physical activity, you don’t realize how weird the stance feels until you’re waiting for the cannon to shoot the ball. You’re really aware of your shoulders, and constantly moving your elbow till it feels less incorrect in its position. You’re shifty on your feet because you aren’t totally sure how you should twist when you swing. Before you know it, the ball is speeding down at you, you twist, giving the bat your all, and hear the ball hit the net behind you. That’s how it went for the first ten or so swings, until on one of them, the satisfying BANG of making contact with the ball. After checking how fast the ball is, it was about 50 miles under what the pros hit, giving you a greater appreciation for the game. But hey, I hit it!
My family and I swung for about two hours, improving and learning after each swing. It was exciting, and something I’ve always loved is feeling my body be engaged and being aware of how it’s moving and getting better. We left hungry and happy, making for a great evening of birthday cake.
Sports had always felt like something you’re either REALLY into, or not at all. But over the years, I’ve come to appreciate and accept that my surface level knowledge of multiple games, and my average performance in trying them, is great! I don’t need to know the entire rosters name in every sport to enjoy a good time with some friends at a bar, or with my family at home. I feel like there’s a certain attitude that following sports means you have to know the ins and outs of what every statistic means, the profile of every player, or the lore behind the game. It results in it becoming a really intimidating thing to get into. My message today is that it doesn’t have to be. If you’re interested in it, you don’t have to study up before a game. Watch parties with loved ones (or strangers!) are exciting and memorable, giving a sense of unity and community that is hard to find in many hobbies. Trying sports should also not be intimidating. They are games, first and foremost. And the adrenaline rush you get from competition, the exercise from running around or using your body in a way you’re not used to are wins in of themselves, no matter if you win or lose. If you’re looking for a small way to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, try a new sport. Solo or team. It doesn’t have to be classes or anything either! Do it for the fun of it. You’ll feel young again and your body will thank you.
+1 to my Physical Power stats
+1 to Community Building
+1 to Familial Bonding
Time for the next skill points
Character Development 