R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Sometimes I think people don't have any idea what this word means, and if they know what it means, they just choose not to practice it.

I know I said in my last blog that I was not giong to write about baseball every time, and that is true, but today's blog will contain a reference to a baseball game. My topic here will be respect, spurred by the events of a baseball game. Let me set the stage.

March 30th was opening day for baseball season. The Washington Nationals were also opening their brand new stadium and the team they were playing was the Braves. This game was the ESPN Sunday Night Game of the Week. Throwing out the opening pitch was President George Bush.

As President Bush came out from the Nationals dugout, he was greeted with applause. Then through the clapping, I began to hear some booing. Now, I am in no way assuming that everyone should like or approve of all that George Bush is doing or has done. What I am saying is, he is our President and as such deserves respect. I do not believe booing our President at a baseball game makes a statement, other than one of complete irreverence.

Prior to the game, President Bush spent some time in both the Braves locker room and the Nationals locker room. While in the Braves locker room he spoke with back-up catcher Bryan Pena and short-stop Yunel Escobar. Both defected to the United States from Cuba. Pena is in the final stages of receiving his citizenship. Each of these young men spoke of the great honor it was to get to meet President Bush. Pena commented that he did not know all there was to know about being a Republican or a Democrat, but that he was grateful to America and thankful for his freedom.

As I read the above mentioned article regarding Pena and Escobar, I couldn't help but wonder what the players were thinking as they were lined up along the third base line. What was going through their minds as they stood with the rest of the Braves, watching President Bush throw out the first pitch? Were they as embarrassed as I was to hear the boos overshadowing the cheers from the crowd?

My Favorite Day

Today is Sunday, March 30th and it's my favorite day of the year. Not because of the actual date, but because of what is happening today. It's the official start of baseball season. I know the Red Sox played Oakland in Japan this past week - but that was in Japan, so I'm not really counting that as the OFFICIAL start of baseball season. Today's the day.

From the time the World Series ends in October, this is what I look forward to. Well, actually I begin counting down the time until pitchers report to Spring Training, until the remainder of the team reports, and until Spring Training games actually begin. Then I count down until the beginning of the season.

I've been a die-hard Braves fan from the early 80's. I've pulled for them through their worst days (and there were many) and celebrated as they began their reign atop the National League East from 1991 to 2005!

This season brings with it mixed emotions for me. Tonight when the Braves take the field, they will be without their longtime, outstanding centerfielder, Andruw Jones. While over the past few years he has not contributed much offensively to the team - no one can argue with his defensive skills. Jones spent twelve seasons with the Braves and after the first two years, proceeded to win ten straight Gold Glove Awards. He never fails to amaze in centerfield! I think tonight's lineup will seem odd being Andruwless.


As sad as I am to be losing Andruw, Atlanta is gaining back one of my longtime favorites: Tom Glavine. He pitched in Atlanta from 1987 until the end of the 2002 season when he signed with, of all teams, the New York Mets - ugh! This season, he is back home, in an Atlanta uniform, where I believe he belongs and will retire.


Regardless - most of you are not huge baseball fans and I promise not to write about baseball every day. This blog was started for my writing class in Divinity school and I had to begin with something - so this was it. Baseball is a huge passion of mine and I have high expectations for this season and hope to be writing about a Braves World Series in October!