I’m not a sports writer, which is a good thing, because there are very few team sports I really understand. Football is far too complicated and soccer seems silly.
But I do like baseball, probably because I saw my son play from a little tot in T-ball, to All-Stars as a freshman in high school. Although the thick rule book confounded me, I had the basic gist down, and rooted heartily for his team.
Growing up in Alaska, where there is no major league team of any kind, I really didn’t have anyone to root for in big-time professional sports. We had a great hockey team at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and a minor league baseball team that was pretty good.
Now that I live in Seattle, this is the first time I’ve lived where I actually have a team I can root for!
So, I have decided to devote my sports fandom to the Seattle Mariners because I like baseball, I like Safeco Field and I love the energy of being at a live baseball game. It thrills me. I don’t go all the time as it’s not in my budget, but when I do go to a game, win or lose, I’m in awe of how very good they all are. If a ball was coming at me at 90 mph, I’d duck!
So I get really upset about all the bad-mouthing about the Mariners. Come on people, whatever happened to root, root, root for the home team?
Support here is imperative. There are some fine players on our home team. This just in: “The Seattle Mariners have two of the top starting pitchers in the MLB this season, and they’ll both be able to showcase their talents at the All-Star Game at the New York Mets’ Citi Field July 16.
Mariners ace Felix Hernandez was named to his fourth American League All-Star team on Saturday, and fellow right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma was selected as an All-Star for the first time.”
And how about Monday night’s game against the Red Sox! The Mariner’s crushed them 11-4, and I was whooping in my living room wishing I was there. Raul Ibanez rocks.
Not too shabby.
The last live game I was at was a good one. In the eighth inning the other team (I forgot who they were – I’m focused on OUR guys!) tied it up at 3-3. I overheard some guys behind me moaning about how they may as well go home. I turned around and told them to think positive! The game went into extra innings (11) and by golly, we won, 4-3! See? Those same guys then high-fived me!
So don’t give up on the Mariners. They’re our team. And I’ll just bet most of you reading this would also duck if a ball was coming at you at 90 mph.
Staff writer Linda Ball can be reached at 425-391-0363, ext. 5052.
