Long Shots

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN ERIC CLARK
There’s nothing more painful for me after basketball season than turning on ESPN and seeing a baseball game.

Slow and lathargic is probably my best assessment of Major League Baseball.

I’ve never been a huge baseball fan, but I have watched my fair-share of World Series and playoff games.

But the regular season-you have to be kidding me.

I’ve enjoyed watching the local baseball and softball teams at Hillsboro, Marion and Tabor. I’ve even admitted finding the games interesting, despite anticipating the fall season coming soon.

About this time every year, I seem to go into hybernation mode though, when it comes to sports. I’m in a temperary state of withdrawl, between my two favorite sports, basketball and football.

I’ve attempted to deal with these ailments with varying degrees of success.

Last year, I went to a Wichita Stealth Arena Football game, which only proved to increase my salivation for the upcoming football season.

This year, I’m trying something new. I’ve decided to go to a few Wichita State Shocker games to try to develop a “better appreciation” of baseball. We’ll see what happens.

I’m even thinking about making the trek to Kansas City for a Royals game. I must be desperate.

Seeing a baseball game in person is usually much more fun than staring at a game on the tube. The only thing better at home is the food, and that’s because you don’t have to pay $2 for a hot dog.

Later this month, the KU seniors will be coming to Hillsboro for an exhibition game that will certainly keep me loving the game of basketball. Perhaps, that taste of b-ball in the spring will help satisfy the void created by baseball.

The NBA playoffs are coming up shortly, too. It may not be college basketball, but if it has an orange ball and a net, I’ll be watching.

What has happened to “America’s pastime?”

I guess I was turned off to baseball sometime after I realized that guys were playing a game in dirt and grass for more money than the country’s best doctors make.

I occassionally hear the rumble that Major League Baseball games aren’t pulling the advertising revenue they need to stay on the air, but every year they manage to find a way onto the TV. If they weren’t there, I wouldn’t miss them.

I’m sure I’ll be fine. I haven’t heard of anyone dying from sports withdrawl, but you never really know.

I can hear it now: “No more sleepless nights. No more cravings. With ‘Realia-Sports,’ the answer to sports withdrawl is here. May contain harmful side effects such as abdominal cramps, cold sweats, loss of sight and hearing.”

No, there may never be a wonder drug for the absence of baskeball and football, but I guess I’ll continue to hope that someday baseball will fill the emptiness created by the absence of basketball and football.

More from article archives
EDITORIALS: Change is possible
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN The next time you’re tempted to think some dismal situations...
Read More