Growing up in Florida before the era of the Marlins and Tampa Devil Rays, today simply named the Tampa Rays, baseball was not a big influence on my early life. Pop Warner was not very extensive where I lived and there was no home team to root for. I had never been to the states or cities for that matter, that any of the major league teams called home. So, I just never really had much need for baseball.



It was not that I disliked the game or anything. It just was never there. As an eight year old I knew more about soccer than I did about baseball. I had a better idea of who Pele was than I did Babe Ruth.

By the time Florida got its first baseball team, the Florida Marlins, I thought baseball was simply boring and a waist of time. To me it was just boring and a real hassle to get through the crowds and deal with the drunk jerk sitting behind you. So, why go, why bother.

I felt this way about America's most beloved game until I was well into my thirties. And then one day a friend convinced me to go to a game with her. Now, I must say we had pretty good seats. We were third or fourth row from the bottom. As we wqatched the game we talked and laughed and just had a great time.

That night I realized two things. Baseball as a spectator sport is only as boring s you make it. If you go to the games with good friends and allow yourself to have a good time, then you will have a good time. At a baseball game the drunk jerk sitting behind you is not the one ruining the game for you, you are the one ruining the game for you. Second, I realized that when you are watching a baseball game you are supposed to be relaxing. Just taking time out from your day to talk to a friend or be with your wife, son or daughter. If you go to a game with the perspective of lets get this over and declare a winner then you are really missing the point. It is not just about the game, it is about connecting with that life that you constantly allow to pass you buy.

Once you realize why baseball is so popular, you will actually truly enjoy watching the game. My daughter was just recently born and I can't wait to take her to her first baseball game. At a baseball game you can spend quality time with someone with a great number of other things going on around you.

You can talk, laugh and generally have a fun time. And during those awkward moments when there is nothing to say, the baseball game comes back in to fill in those gaps. So, if you do not understand why baseball is Americas favorite past time, go with a friend, site in good seats, eat some hot dogs, have a few beers and relax. If you don't have a good time, that is ok, at least you tried. Just remember it is all about relaxing, letting go, and being with your friends and not really about the game. Well, for some people it is about the game. But, for me it is about being with friends and relaxing