We are currently living in a world without sports.
Opening Day was set to happen in less than a week, and yet, Spring Training isn’t even happening anymore. Frankly, it stinks. It had to be done, and everyone’s safety and health is the most important, but man does this world without baseball stink.
What stinks even more? Not knowing when it’s coming back, or if it will even be coming back this year. I have already seen some on #MetsTwitter preparing themselves for that possibility. To that I say, let’s just take this day by day and remember, “Ya Gotta Believe!” Tug McGraw‘s rally cry rings especially true right now, for all aspects of our lives.
But, I am going to be an optimistic Mets fan (oxymoron? your call) and believe that we will have baseball this season. We will be able to go to Citi Field and root for our Mets. We will be able to jump up and down in our seats when Pete Alonso breaks some other record (or just hits his first home run of the season). That’s the reality I want to live in right now, and I want you to join me in it.
When baseball starts again though, let’s not take it for granted.
Let’s be real: as baseball fans, and especially as Mets fans, we take even having the sport for granted. This isn’t a bad thing, it’s just something most of us do. Think about it.
Did we ever even think there would be an extended period of time like this without baseball? No. The last time there was no baseball at all was after September 11, and that was towards the end of the season and was only a pause (again, for good and the right reasons).
But we don’t know when baseball is coming back. We didn’t even have a month of Spring Training to enjoy before baseball went away. And I know we are all missing it, yearning for it even, and want it back.
That’s why when it comes back, we should cherish it. We should all come together as baseball fans and just enjoy watching our favorite teams, together.
Be nicer to each other, even if you are sitting next to someone at the ballpark rooting for the opposing team, because the person next to you at the ballpark has missed their team to. Think twice before pouring your overpriced beer on the person getting on your nerves sitting in front of you. Be nicer to those working at Citi Field, whether it be the bartenders, the ushers, the security, or the person serving you your food. They were out of work for a while and you know they took a financial hit.
If you have the means, tip them more than you usually would. Be nicer to the team, too. We all know how easy it is to boo someone who steps up to the plate while they’re in a slump. Remember, they probably missed the game more than all of us did.
When baseball comes back, let’s enjoy it, together. I am not saying to not get into a friendly disagreement, just think twice before you take it to the next level of physical fighting or screaming swears. Think twice before going off on a bartender or food server who is not getting to you fast enough. Think twice before speaking back to that usher or security guard that is just doing their job. And think twice before you boo the Mets bullpen for blowing the game (a hard one, I know).
Let’s remember this period of no baseball and learn something from it. Baseball means a lot to all of us. It is more than a game, for all of us, no matter what team you’re rooting for. And right now, we’re all in the same boat.
When baseball returns, let’s not take it for granted.
