Baseball Junkie

Back in February, I wrote about my latest addiction at the time - Madden '07. Needless to say, that craving lasted for a good three months before I was able to fight those damn pigskin demons and kick the habit. Of course, going winless in that first season as the hapless Cleveland Browns helped demoralize me to the point of swearing never to play that cursed game ever again.

Next it was poker, which I also wrote about. Now back in January when I wrote that piece I was merely a casual player, throwing my chips in once or twice a week just for a change of pace in the routine of my life. In June however, I went into freak mode, spending every available minute online trying to make the big time and be the next big poker star. Hell, I even went so far as to start a blog about my playing experiences - which for nothing else, has a kickass banner made by the wonderful wife. This obsession probably was a major cause in my lack of posting here, as I was just to damn busy trying to win some major cash to fiddle around with some silly old blog.

By the way, the amount I had when I posted in January? $22.55
My balance when I realized I wasn't going to get rich playing poker? $37.85

Oddly, just as quickly as that fixation overtook me - it stopped. Maybe it was burnout or maybe it was the sudden realization that I am just not that good, but either way - the bug went away.

I do not know if it is my utter disdain at Barry B*nds breaking Hank Aaron's career home run record or I am simply pleased that my Cleveland Indians are playing semi-decent baseball, but recently I have been taking great pleasure in reading up on the national pastime. I have found some fantastic websites, such as baseball-reference.com, baseballlibrary.com and baseball-almanac.com to fill my head with statistics that only the manliest men would know.

I may not remember our wedding anniversary, but ask me who won the Cy Young Award in the National League in 1977 - I am your man.

I have always loved baseball, both playing and watching. I blame my slight limp from many years of crouching behind the plate as a catcher growing up - not the best position for the knees. I also love the history behind the game and reading the stories when people depended on their paychecks to survive and playing because they genuinely loved the game. Nowadays players get paid more money in one season than most people will ever make in thier lifetime.

What steroids have done to the game sickens me. It tarnishes the game I love. A story deserving of a post of its own someday.

Is baseball my newest obsession? In a way, yes. But instead of spending every waking moment watching Baseball Tonight on television watching the athletes of today, I am much more inclined to read about the how the stars of years gone by played the game and how baseball was more than just a paycheck.

It was an addiction.