Baseball, Derek Lee, and Life
Once, a while back (I'm guessing 6 or 7 years ago) at the height of my depression I called my parents virtually inconsolable. I was panicking, suicidal, convinced my life was just about gone. It may have been over a guy, money, grades, any of a multitude of things, I really don't recall...it was a period in my life where it really didn't need to be anything, I could have been set off by a speck of dirt.
My dad found the magic elixir that I will never forget. Grasping at straws he told me a Cubs game was on, and that I should watch it, and lose myself in my favorite team, who wound up winning a close one (I'm convinced the universe works this way, they win when I need them to). At first I thought he was crazy, but willing to try absolutely anything at that point, I acquiesced. His logic was that sports matter to us because of their capacity to make us feel a part of something else, outside of us. To get emotionally invested in something other than our bills, boyfriends, work, car trouble, etc.
My father is very wise. As usual, he was right.
Although I've always loved sports, that day I got a lot of insight into why I love sports and what they do for me. What I get out of sports isn't just some sort of distraction, it's very much a reminder that there are things that are just good.
The Cubs beating the first-place Cardinals on a Nefi Perez grand slam last night was just good.
The Utah Utes being in the Final Four my Sophomore year of university at the U was just good.
And, Derek Lee's triple crown (winning the batting, home run, and RBI leader titles at the end of the season) chase is just good. No, strike that, it's freaking great. It's one of those amazing things that only happens every generation or so. The last legitimate triple crown chase was by Gary Sheffield in 1992, the last triple crown winner was Carl Yastremzki (The Yaz) in 1967.
It's something good, to look at and remember when, oh, I don't know, the bank loses your paycheck. *GRRRR* Or work is killing you and you just really need a vacation. Or when you have to have a plumber come in because your pipes are old...or...well, you get the drift.
It's nice to remember some things are just good. Kittens purring in your lap. New friends. My brother calling me to chat for an hour at midnight, just because. My cousin having a darling son.
And now, you all have more insight as to why I hold the Cubbies so dear to my heart.
My dad found the magic elixir that I will never forget. Grasping at straws he told me a Cubs game was on, and that I should watch it, and lose myself in my favorite team, who wound up winning a close one (I'm convinced the universe works this way, they win when I need them to). At first I thought he was crazy, but willing to try absolutely anything at that point, I acquiesced. His logic was that sports matter to us because of their capacity to make us feel a part of something else, outside of us. To get emotionally invested in something other than our bills, boyfriends, work, car trouble, etc.
My father is very wise. As usual, he was right.
Although I've always loved sports, that day I got a lot of insight into why I love sports and what they do for me. What I get out of sports isn't just some sort of distraction, it's very much a reminder that there are things that are just good.
The Cubs beating the first-place Cardinals on a Nefi Perez grand slam last night was just good.
The Utah Utes being in the Final Four my Sophomore year of university at the U was just good.
And, Derek Lee's triple crown (winning the batting, home run, and RBI leader titles at the end of the season) chase is just good. No, strike that, it's freaking great. It's one of those amazing things that only happens every generation or so. The last legitimate triple crown chase was by Gary Sheffield in 1992, the last triple crown winner was Carl Yastremzki (The Yaz) in 1967.
It's something good, to look at and remember when, oh, I don't know, the bank loses your paycheck. *GRRRR* Or work is killing you and you just really need a vacation. Or when you have to have a plumber come in because your pipes are old...or...well, you get the drift.
It's nice to remember some things are just good. Kittens purring in your lap. New friends. My brother calling me to chat for an hour at midnight, just because. My cousin having a darling son.
And now, you all have more insight as to why I hold the Cubbies so dear to my heart.