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Why do you love baseball?

The Rick O'Dell link that Al posted in today's thread got me to thinking, why do I love baseball so much?  It also made me curious to hear why other people love the national past time and are as passionate about it as those on this site are.

Star-divide

It is hard to articulate why I love baseball so much.  I love baseball because to me, baseball is a feeling, its an emotion more than anything. To me, baseball is an experience.  Unlike football and many other sports, baseball is comforting.  It's not violent or dominated by trash talk and people trying to "show others up."   Understanding, analyzing, and thinking about the game as it proceeds makes it more enjoyable to watch and experience.

Watching baseball, thinking about baseball, talking about baseball makes me happy (despite the feelings I get whenever the Cubs lose).  Baseball means that spring and warmer weather are around the corner.  Most of all, baseball means being able to go to Wrigley Field and watch the Cubs play with thousands of other people equally as passionate about the sport.  Being a Cubs fan makes a difference because people love this team, they don't leave the stadium even though the Cubs are down three going into the bottom of the ninth.  There is a sense of camaraderie surrounding this team.  Hearing 40,000+ people all standing on their feet cheering and chanting "Fu-ku-do-me" gave me goosebumps as well and reminded me how much I love this game. 

Why do you love baseball?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Almost three years ago...

... I posted something similar to this, asking people to talk about their love for the Cubs and the game. It's permanently on the right sidebar, titled Why Are We Here?

You can add your thoughts to that post, too.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Apr 2, 2008 10:03 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

If I had time I could run this all down

All I really know is that I love it. Compare it to lets say your parents, you know love despite all their faults.

When its not baseball season I am a little lost, my summer is so structures, set the tivo for the game, watch the game, watch the highlights on 3 different stations etc etc.

I LOVE IT

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Apr 2, 2008 10:19 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I also have trouble putting it into words...

As a child I played baseball and that was fine. I loved hockey which was my main sport. My father, has always been passionate about baseball and when I was younger, I'd have to assume I was a bit of a disappointment (in many ways probably but this one was up there). I truly believe that it is the Cubs, the Cubbie experience, and the feeling when you are at Wrigley among "family" that has brought my love for baseball to the level of obsession (as my wife likes to refer to it).

It is funny, perhaps it is aging that has done this to me but I used to think baseball was slow and often got bored of it. Now, I wish there were 13 innings in each game and they would play 262 games a year (I know not possible, I am in mid dream here).

In some ways, baseball, and more specifically the Cubs, are my daily vacation from everything else. A time when I can live vicariously through other talented individuals who get to live their dreams each day they go to work. It is a place where I can dream too. Like watching late innings of a close game, and imagining what it is like to be that pitcher, or that hitter, and feel my heart racing...only to realize, it isn't me for a reason...but what a great moment that is while it lasts.

In short (or perhaps long), baseball is a place where we can dream, we can celebrate, we can commiserate, we can escape, and we can win, together. A place where we find friends, family, and we can all share something incredible (the Cubs of course).

Wow, that got a little wierd, but it's still the truth.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Apr 2, 2008 10:26 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Baseball is also great when after an amazing win

Everyone at the stadium becomes friends---dont how many times Ive hugged random people.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Apr 2, 2008 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

one additional note...

for anyone who has ever been on Dead tour (Grateful Dead), the environment is similar IMO, where most people are accepted for who they are becasue they are sharing in a love of something that everyone views as greater than themselves. Of course if someone walked into a Dead show with a Sox or Cards jersey, they probably wouldn't be messed with but hey, I didn't say it was exactly like Dead tour.

Less drugs too.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Apr 2, 2008 10:44 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It's because I grew up with it I think

My dad and grand dad talking about the Cubs all the time. Even as a little kid I can remember my great grand dad talking about getting on the street car and going down to the ballyard.

When I finally made my little league team (in the day when there were actual try-outs) I think I began my transition to a baseball fanatic.

Growing up with your childhood heros was big. From Ernie to Ronnie and everyone alongside, it was part of me. And it will always be part of me.

Now as a parent, it's my turn to turn my kids onto Cubbie blue. My older daughter plays in 12U and may end up being a real player. She sure is learning to hit; ripping on BP cage pitches just last night at Players Choice Academy. But with so many acctivities like chess, band, swimming and gymnastics, who knows how her future will turn. All I know is I will expose them to the Cubs history like my dad, grand dad and great grand dad did.

by blackhawk24 on Apr 2, 2008 10:46 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Im not really sure

But theres just something about springtime and summer. And maybe it just has to do with the slow, relaxed (in comparison) pace of the game.

All I know is that I'm pumped about baseball today. I just got out of class (student at Iowa) and on the walk home, had about a half hour talk with one of the homeless guys about the Cubbies. Baseball has the ability to put a smile on anyones face.

Aramis Ramirez- NL MVP
Kosuke Fukudome- NL ROY
Carlos Marmol- Rolaids Relief Man

by sheamcmurray on Apr 2, 2008 10:56 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

My take

I wasn't going to post as like a lot of you have said, it's really hard to put in words. But I thought about it for a minute and the first thing that came to mind was Robert Redford in The Natural.

Sitting in the hospital bed, as he's speaking with Glenn Close about how his life didn't necessarily turn out the way he wanted, he just kind of loses track of everything, stops and says, "God I love baseball".

To me, that's really all there is to it. That's exactly how I feel.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. -- Lee Constantine Elia, 1983.

by krummy12 on Apr 2, 2008 11:20 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

LSA

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Apr 2, 2008 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Baseball offers the best naps

You can fall asleep in the second inning, wake up in the fifth and 80% of the time you haven't missed much :D

by Arbusto on Apr 2, 2008 11:32 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It's in my blood...

everyone in my family loves the game itself, have played it for most of my life, and to me or IMO there is no other game like it.

You ARE freaking out MAN!

by crw89 on Apr 2, 2008 11:57 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Baseball

To me without sounding lame, baseball is eternal summer, a time to still feel like a little kid, its your moment in the sun. It's like the famous quote, "Grown men playing a kid's game." it represents everything that's good and pure in the world.

60 Percent Of The Time It Works Every Time

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 2, 2008 2:04 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I love Baseball for so many reasons...

first it connects me with my past-especially my childhood-so many of my happiest childhood memories revolve around baseball...following the Cubs...collecting the cards...our annual family trip to Wrigley Field was like Christmas to my brothers and I.
As an adult, it also offers me a break from the harsher realities of life. I can get through a bad day at work a little bit easier knowing that, in the evening, there's a baseball game on tv; maybe only a temporary distraction but an important distraction nonetheless.

by bluekoolaide on Apr 2, 2008 2:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Baseball is unique...

...amongst many sports. You can play at a high level regardless of size or stature. It is also a deeply psychological game, in which you see many with an abundance of physical skills, get outplayed by others that are not as naturally gifted. It also requires you rely on sport specific instincts, like few other sports and there is a whole lot that goes on (regarding strategy) that people who have been around the sport, have a deep appreciation for.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Apr 2, 2008 3:48 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It's partly genetic

My Mom was a true die-hard Cubs fan, even after she left Chicago.

The other part? When I was young, it was the one sport in which I was better than all of the boys in the neighborhood, even the older ones.

Now, I think I'm just terminally crazy.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Apr 2, 2008 7:56 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Cubs

Bleeding Cubbie Blue since 1985.

by Bricks and Ivy on Apr 2, 2008 7:57 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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