College Sports

Today is our nation’s birthday. We’re 232 years old today, and maybe we’re showing our age a little bit. But today is the day to celebrate that age and all our accomplishments. We spend today with family and friends, cooking out, on the water, playing games, whatever.

There are a lot of sports traditions that go along with the fourth. When I was a kid, my family spent virtually every fourth at an Atlanta Braves game. We’d get to the old Atlanta-Fulton County stadium, grab some hot dogs and head to our seats. After the game, we’d stay for the fireworks.

My favorite year was 1985, when a game with the Mets went into extra innings and didn’t end until after 4 a.m…. and the Atlanta brass shot the fireworks off anyway! I wasn’t at the game, but was watching it at home. When I saw that they were shooting off the boomers anyway, I just started laughing. The stadium was located in the middle of a neighborhood, hard by I-75. Can you imagine waking up to that noise? The Braves lost the game in 19 innings, a game marked by a pitcher (Rick Camp) having to hit for himself and tying the game up (again) in the 17th inning. I’ll never forget the dirty look he got from the ump as he crossed home plate.

Anyway, I digress. We all have our traditions on this day, and a great many of our traditions, and memories, involve sports in one way or another. And these memories can evoke powerful emotions. Not long after my husband and I first met, I took him to Atlanta for a game on the 4th. When the fireworks started, I couldn’t believe it… I got emotional. I remembered my dad taking me to the games, teaching me how to keep score. The July 4, 1985 games was one of his last to see before he died. He didn’t live to meet my hubby, but his love of baseball, and sports in general, now is being passed down to my little girl, through me.

So today, I think about the traditions of sport. There is a lot of bad in sport, but at the end of the day it unites us in a unique bond that transcends generations.

What’s the old ad? “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet!” Amen!

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