As a child, my greatest memories are of my father and I watching baseball. We watched every team, and never really followed anyone specifically. As I remember it was just the sport I first fell in love with. When we heard that Tampa was getting a team, I fell in love all over again; I finally had a team! I was enamored with the prospect of attending a World Series that “Our Team” was playing in. The icing on the cake was Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff were in our starting lineup, was I dreaming? In 1998 we only won
63 games but it was only our first season, and I’m a Bucs fan so “rebuilding year” has been in my vocabulary since I uttered mama and dada. The Trop to me is filled with childhood memories that never included a rain delay, or a nasty sunburn. At a time when baseball is tainted with steroid use and overpaid players, I am taking the time to enjoy a 17-6 start to the season. To all of you who are complaining about T.V. schedules, concerts, parking and the future of our team, remember 2008 when we were just happy to be winning. Sit back, relax and enjoy a cold beer and hot dog. I miss baseball as it was where players had a sense of pride, and team unity. The Rays and Joe Maddon have given it all back to me, and I find myself falling in love with the team and the sport of baseball all over again.
