Oh, man! How far away is March?

Call me slow, but it's only just sunk in that baseball is over! I was so excited that Boston won the World Series that I didn't even think about the fact that baseball is over!

Now, don't get the idea that I'm some idealist viewing the sporting world through rose-colored glasses. Professional baseball has done itself major damage over the past couple of decades, what with strikes, angry players, angry managers, steroids, etc. I have no illusions about the sport or the atheletes. You won't catch me saying "Say it ain't so, Joe!" because, sadly, I'm just not that surprised by anything that atheletes do or say. They've typically been over paid and under-disciplined most of their lives.

But.

I love baseball. I LOVE baseball. I love the way the gloves smell when you put neet oil on them in the fall. I love going to the stadium on a warm summer night, sipping a beer and watching a game. I love watching 6-year-olds play with the grass instead of fielding the ball when they play right field. I love it when the 8 year olds you've been coaching for months finally, FINALLY get their glove on the ground, scoop up the ball, and without thinking throw to first for the out. I love the way the bat (wooden or aluminium) sounds on a good hit. And I miss it when it's gone.

For the record, my baseball year goes something like this:

February/March -- start throwing with my kids, getting ready for their rec-league seasons
March -- Rec League baseball starts; I coach my daughter's team and watch my son's. The college season has started, too, so I get to watch Carolina when I can.
April -- fantasize about taking my son to Fenway for Opening Day as a combined birthday present one year.
May -- Rec League is winding down, as is the college game. Final UNC games, ACC Tournament, NCAAs, all leading to:
June -- the College World Series! One of the greatest sports events of all time. Another fantasy is to take a month off of work, drive my kids to Omaha, watch as many games as we can, then drive back.
July -- Catch some farm league games (with above-mentioned beer) or USA baseball. Cheap tickets, great seats, and the players love to sign autographs.
August -- the Little League World Series! Another of the greatest sports events of all times, and another fantasy-destination. 11 and 12 year old boys playing baseball with all the passion and intensity that kids that age can muster (which is a lot). And with a heck of a lot of skill, too!

And then I kind of go on hiatus, until the playoffs. It's not that I don't like pro baseball, but it's significantly more complicated than the Rec League, Little League or college game. There are personalities, salaries and scandals to deal with. I like it....but still.

Plus, in August school starts, football starts, and life gets busier. Baseball is definitely a lazy, summertime sport.

Then October rolls around, and the World Series, and I pick back up, for a few-weeks-long last gasp. And now it's over, and I'll have to wait around till March.

Good thing basketball season is coming up and the Heels are a pre-season favorite!