This is one of my favourite times of the year. Winter is finally ending and spring is coming in. The warmer temperatures mean getting rid of those heavy winter parkas and it just seems to uplift everyone’s spirits. The thought of not having to clear out the driveway after getting a foot of snow (even if you have a snow blower) is a giant relief. I hope I am not jinxing myself as a late March or early April snowstorm is always a possibility. Optimism springs eternal with the weather and so it is with sporting events. For me, this is one of the best times to be a sports fan.
There are two things in the sporting world that are magical for me. Mach Madness and Major League Baseball starting a new season If you did not know, March Madness is the NCAA men’s basketball tournament that picks the national college champion., you have 20-year-olds pouring out their heart and soul on a national stage. Ninety-five percent of these kids are not going to make the pros. They are doing what they truly love. It is that passion that is truly refreshing. They are kids; they are amateurs and mistakes are made. You cannot expect these young men to play like robots. It is the imperfections that are part of the appeal.
Sincerity is missing in many facets of society, but March Madness is full of sincerity. You cannot fake this. You can see the difference watching an NBA game compared to a college game. Yes, the pros will make a specific play more consistently than the college kids, but it just seems the pros are going through the motions. The pros have made their million-dollar contracts; the kids are trying to get there. It is a classic case where the journey is more important than the destination. The NBA is a money-making venture. They milk the playoffs by having a best four out of seven series. Not, March Madness. It is one and done. Every game is a game seven which adds to the mystique.
The start of the baseball season has its own mystique as well. Deep down if you know your favourite team will be lucky to play .400 ball, on opening day, your team is tied with the perennial favourites. It is a long season. There are 162 games and this is game number one. The baseball season is a marathon; it is not a sprint. Opening day is like watching the start of the Boston Marathon. This is the first step. They still have 26 miles 385 yards to go. Nonetheless, the possibilities are endless. You can play what-if scenarios ad infinitum. What is always interesting is what rags to riches story will surface this year. Who will become the next elite pitcher or home run hitter? Will someone challenge Joe Dimagio’s 56-game hit streak? What team will make the playoffs after a 20-year drought? Let the games begin.
There are those will complain about major league baseball players salaries. They will say that no one is worth $20 million a year. In terms of a social justice, they are right. These guys are not finding a cure for cancer nor solving world hunger, but it is just envy on their part. I tell them if you had the God given talent to throw a baseball 100mph and some owner offered you that money, what would do? Would they say that they are not worth it? No way. If they say that, then they are a liar or a saint.
Whether it is March Madness or Major League Baseball starting its season, it brings me back to my youth of playing sports and doing what I loved. It rekindles a fantasy that is always near and dear to my heart. It is a distraction from everyday life and stirs up a passion like no other. Many are called and few are a chosen. I was called but not chosen. This is truly an enjoyable time for me. I hope you can find your joy and passion in whatever field it may be.