You know its bad when...

...Its December and I'm scouring the internet for anything new about my Texas Rangers! Their second place finish is a little more than two months behind us and I'm already looking forward to Spring Training. Speaking of Spring Training, I really, really want to go during Spring Break. I know that fiscal responsibility will put the big Squash on that plan, but I can dream can't I?

Growing up I played baseball, football and basketball. I was an okay baseball player, but didn't hit the best and my control was non-existent. Football? Are you serious? I loved to play, but I was too skinny(yeah, I know that's hard to imagine!) and too slow. To be really honest, I didn't like getting hit either. Basketball was my game. I was tall, hard working and got more pleasure from good defense, rebounding, and making the pass than I did scoring. I enjoyed playing, but my love has always been baseball.

I remember going to see the Dallas-Ft. Worth Spurs play when I was a kid. Back then there was a chain link fence down the foul lines after the stands ended. I remember when the Washington Senators were moving to Arlington. I had seen the Houston Astros play in the Astrodome, but I really never connected to them, but the Rangers...they immediately became my team. Dick Bosman, Rico Carty, Joe Lovitto, Horatio Pina and the overwhelming presence of Frank Howard. Man, I had a great time. My dad would take me and some buddies to the game every now and then and I think he always planned it on a giveaway night. I think I ended up with 3 or 4 bats from bat night, a plastic helmet, a baseball, etc...it didn't matter as long as it said Rangers. I loved going to games. My freshman year in college at UTA I think I went to 9 of the first 12 home games. I paid my $2 for an outfield bleacher seat, jump the rail in right field and go sit by the bullpen. I'd talk to the players, go get them a hot dog and just soak up the atmosphere. Man, it was greatness. I've got some great memories from those games...Joe Lovitto flipping over that chain link fence as he made a catch, Horatio Pina and his submarine pitch, Bump Wills and his many errors, Richie Zisk and his two homers on Ranger Sock Night, Nolan Ryan winning a pitchers duel with Roger Clemens in a 2 to 1 ballgame, Julio Franco and his wiggling bat, Mike Hargrove the human rain delay, Oddibe McDowell hitting for the cycle...The list goes on and on.

I'll tell you what has been really cool is sharing that love for the game with my boys. All of my boys love going to Ranger games. I remember sharing those moments with my dad and I love sharing the game with my boys. I hope that Ranger Baseball is something that they will share with their kids too.