I always figured that baseball was one of the most simple things a person could ever learn. I mean, I was a four year old child, sitting on the third baseline at Camden Yards, doing a play-by-play of the on field activities. Baseball was encrypted into my DNA it seemed and the thought of someone not knowing the sport simply didn't make sense to me.
Then I got to highschool where not even the boys liked the sport. Baseball was the only sport I'd ever known--up until that point--how could these people not know it? Not love it?
It was ridiculously un-American.
By the time I hit fifteen, I realized not everybody shared my passion for the sport. It was heartbreaking to hear the taunts, 'You only like baseball because so and so is hot.'
That's all good and fine, I'm not going to deny that baseball has bestowed upon us some great eye-candy...but if one more drunk frat guy calls me a baseball groupie one more time, I will turn around and slug him.
The fact of the matter is, and I'm going to be insanely cocky here, I probably know more about baseball than your average Joe Blow. You write me off as a baseball whore and I will make you look like an idiot in front of your friends and your girlfriend. I love *my* sport. I know the stats, my fantasy team can kick your fantasy team's ass and yes, I can tell you what the infield fly rule is.
Right now, I'm thinking my dream man can explain that to a five year old.
I've yet to meet one that knows it in specific terms.
Hell...most guys I meet can't even tell me if that's an actual rule or not.
I love my sport: the long ball is alright, but there is nothing like a breaking ball right down the middle that makes you go weak in the knees. Sure, there's the spectacular play that lands your shortstop in the stands...but give me a catcher that can catch your leadoff guy stealing and I'm good to go.
I love my sport, it comes almost as easily to me as breathing does.
Then I met Bia with her, 'This is the most difficult sport in the world,' comment.
Here I thought that sport was Cricket.
Goes to show what I know.
Bia is my kindred spirit. The peanut butter to my jelly and one thing we cannot see eye to eye on is baseball.
I love her dearly but I almost felt the need to scream when she told me, 'But I thought Derek Jeter was dead. Or retired. You mean, he still plays?'
She lives in Manhattan. New fucking York.
I was amazed. Absolutely stunned.
She's half-French and half-American: I suppose I should forgive her, it would be the kind thing to do.
But then she asked me what a Louisville Slugger was and I knew it was a lost cause.
I spent an hour plus trying to go over the basic rules of baseball and found myself with a migraine at the end of it.
And I still don't think she could tell me what the difference between a curve ball and a fastball are.
She's one of the most brilliant people I've ever met. Educated, well written, sports oriented to the core.
So I've come to this final conclusion: Europeans+baseball=disaster.
Take my advice, don't even bother trying.
Baseball cannot be forced, it has to come naturally.
And it's the most difficult sport in the world to explain to Europeans.
Then I got to highschool where not even the boys liked the sport. Baseball was the only sport I'd ever known--up until that point--how could these people not know it? Not love it?
It was ridiculously un-American.
By the time I hit fifteen, I realized not everybody shared my passion for the sport. It was heartbreaking to hear the taunts, 'You only like baseball because so and so is hot.'
That's all good and fine, I'm not going to deny that baseball has bestowed upon us some great eye-candy...but if one more drunk frat guy calls me a baseball groupie one more time, I will turn around and slug him.
The fact of the matter is, and I'm going to be insanely cocky here, I probably know more about baseball than your average Joe Blow. You write me off as a baseball whore and I will make you look like an idiot in front of your friends and your girlfriend. I love *my* sport. I know the stats, my fantasy team can kick your fantasy team's ass and yes, I can tell you what the infield fly rule is.
Right now, I'm thinking my dream man can explain that to a five year old.
I've yet to meet one that knows it in specific terms.
Hell...most guys I meet can't even tell me if that's an actual rule or not.
I love my sport: the long ball is alright, but there is nothing like a breaking ball right down the middle that makes you go weak in the knees. Sure, there's the spectacular play that lands your shortstop in the stands...but give me a catcher that can catch your leadoff guy stealing and I'm good to go.
I love my sport, it comes almost as easily to me as breathing does.
Then I met Bia with her, 'This is the most difficult sport in the world,' comment.
Here I thought that sport was Cricket.
Goes to show what I know.
Bia is my kindred spirit. The peanut butter to my jelly and one thing we cannot see eye to eye on is baseball.
I love her dearly but I almost felt the need to scream when she told me, 'But I thought Derek Jeter was dead. Or retired. You mean, he still plays?'
She lives in Manhattan. New fucking York.
I was amazed. Absolutely stunned.
She's half-French and half-American: I suppose I should forgive her, it would be the kind thing to do.
But then she asked me what a Louisville Slugger was and I knew it was a lost cause.
I spent an hour plus trying to go over the basic rules of baseball and found myself with a migraine at the end of it.
And I still don't think she could tell me what the difference between a curve ball and a fastball are.
She's one of the most brilliant people I've ever met. Educated, well written, sports oriented to the core.
So I've come to this final conclusion: Europeans+baseball=disaster.
Take my advice, don't even bother trying.
Baseball cannot be forced, it has to come naturally.
And it's the most difficult sport in the world to explain to Europeans.
