Why I Live for this.

Why I Live for this.

You might say that I was born with the Old English D on my onesie. But I don’t just root for the home team. (Though I do root for the home team – Even though I do!). As my first blog, I just want to explain why baseball is my passion. First of all, I am from a baseball family. Not as in my dad was a ballplayer, but my dad was watching the game every night, and I was right by his side, since before I can remember. It was heaven. We followed the Tigers from back then until well, I follow them still today. It has become my passion, as well as my goal (To work in baseball one day). It’s more than a game to me. It’s my life. It’s the one thing I look forward to every day, as well as that one thing that makes me CRAZY. It is a huge part of who I am. It is a big part of who my dad was, and what my memories of him still continue to be to me. You see.....It’s unexplainable, it’s the adrenaline, the rush, the heartbreak, the ohmigosh can you believe that...That post-season slogan "I live for this".....it should be tattooed on my forehead. Either you get it or you don't.
As for my loyalty to the home team...its true I love my Tigers. I love Detroit. I love Comerica Park. I love driving down Trumble, I love listening to Ernie Harwell broadcasts....I LOOVE it. But I don’t think you can trust a franchise...I learned the hard way. Saying we were elated when the Tigers signed Pudge Rodriguez was an understatement. It was like a holiday in my house. He was, and is (And will always be) BASEBALL to me. The talent and the passion he put into every swing, every catch and every argument with the umpire(s) was the absolute manifestation of everything I loved about the game.  I remember like it was yesterday my dad called me and said "Lisa are you driving?" I said no "Are you sitting down" I said no...."I need your undivided attention Lisa". I said "What’s wrong dad...who died"....he said "Lisa sit down...I gotta tell you something"  I said "alright dad I’m sitting" he said "Guess who the Tigers are signing".....d...e...a...d.........s...i...l...e..n..c..e... "PUDGE". I was on my way somewhere with friends, and I turned around and went home so we (My dad and I) could scream and celebrate together. It’s typical Lisa behavior, really. (I came home at 8pm from my prom because an Oscar De La Hoya fight was on).  So he was not surprised to see me 10 minutes later.
Pudge is the Renaissance man. He brought the Tigs back to life, and I think he is doing much of the same thing in regards to leadership and passion for the Nationals right now. The Pudge Rodriguez era in Detroit was the best time of my life. It was me, dad, Rod, Mario, Pudge, Poli, Maggz, Carlos, JV...Curtis....night in and night out. Man that magic 2006 Championship run is the most exciting thing I have ever experienced in my life. That last game vs. Oakland and Magglio's heroic Homerun...I will Never forget Mario Impemba (or was it Dan Dickerson...I think it was Dickerson...i said I remember the words, not the announcer)'s words: "Swing and a fly ball, it’s deep....It’s way back...THE TIGERS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES....3 run walk-off Homerun....OH man". The thought still gives me goose bumps.
Needless to say 3 years ago Brian Cashman stole my heart for Kyle Farnsworth (the guy could find a cure for cancer, and I still will never like him....childish I know). And then he went from there to Houston, to the Rangers, and now is a Washington National...so like I said...the Tigers broke my heart....and though I still love them...I follow the players whose passion, and talent and performance makes baseball the greatest thing in the world to me: Pudge, Polanco, Suzuki, Jeter, Beltran, Guillen, Swisher, Guerrero,Valverde, Pujols,Ordonez, Papelbon...and that’s a small, small fraction of the players I love. Ozzie Smith was my favorite player growing up. I loved Cecil Fielder, Loved Tram. LOVE CLEMENTE, (I’ve read so much about him, I have really fallen in love with his legacy and who he was). So sorry if this is a bit scattered, I just a little excited. So join me as I write about the greatest love of my life: Baseball. Not just the Tigers, not just Pudge....a little bit of everything. See you at the ballpark. May this be the greatest season ever.