What's Wrong With "Baseballitis?"

Dear Abbie,

I like baseball. I'm not afraid to admit it. But is that a crime? I didn't think so until I read one of my good friend's blogs yesterday, in which she wrote to you about this obsession that she coined baseballitis. I'm a little concerned now. I, for one, would like to think that in a world of so many distractions (and un-wholesome ones, at that), that one might find it refreshing to see two young women trapsing across the country to reach a worthwhile goal. Sure, not everyone appreciates baseball. I've probably heard all the reasons - it is boring, there isn't any action, games are long, actual playing time is about 10 minutes for a 3 hour game, it is hot during the summer, the players are overpaid, the fans are annoying, the tickets and food are expensive, blah, blah, blah.

I certainly don't think, much less expect, that everyone will have the same likes and dislikes that I do (heaven only knows the world would be a very boring place if that were true), but honestly, when I walk into a new baseball stadium, its like I revert back to being a giddy little girl on Christmas morning. It is all very exciting - to me. I wouldn't dream of imposing that on anyone unwillingly, but amazingly enough, I have found many friends in my life who share the same love of the game that I do. And for that I am grateful. And I'm pretty sure they are too :)

What better way to travel around the country than by visiting baseball parks? Thanks to this goal, I have been to cities I wouldn't have ever visited otherwise. And, we've made it a point to not only see a game in every city, but also to do something "native" to the city as well. Like go to a cheese chalet in Wisconsin, visit the Mall of America in Minneapolis, eat Chicago pizza, visited the Arch in St. Louis, check out South Beach in Miami, and the list goes on. Actually, going to baseball games in a city tells you a great deal about the population there - you get an idea of what people are really like. Wisconsin is not known for its beautiful people. While Miami thinks they are, everyone there had boob jobs. Cincinnati rallied around their team and filled the stadium even when they don't even have a good team (perhaps because there's not much else to do on a beautiful spring evening, but still). Boston fans are loyal - and not just in Boston. I could have mistaken San Diego for Boston when we were at a game there and 85% of the stadium was wearing Red Sox paraphernalia. I could go on, but rest assured that the adventures I've had have been amazing, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Its a pretty good feeling to sit and watch SportsCenter or Baseball Tonight and see baseball highlights of the day's games and think "oh yeah when I was at that ballpark..." and reminisce about the people, the places, and the memories that I've created over the last few years. But then again, I guess if you don't watch SportsCenter you wouldn't appreciate that anyway.

I think I'll go pick up my Toronto Blue Jays embroidered team logo baseball (to put in my display case) from the Post Office now. Obsessed?! Hardly. I like to call it "anxiously engaged." ha ha

- Proud To Be Plagued By Baseballlitis in the 'Other' Washington