Let us all stand and recite together......

It’s that glorious time of year again, peeps.  That time when “the boys of summer” take to the fields even though it is not quite Spring and the NCAA (read that ACC) is still paying basketball.  That time when the young guns can strut their stuff ( did you see that homer by S-Rod yesterday?) and the old guys can find out if they still have what it takes.  It’s that time when the proven stars get to sit it out a lot and only play when really needed to help the team avoid embarrassment, when the press has been called out to take photos and do interviews or when the fans are there in full force cheering against an arch rival ( Can you spell Yankees or Red Sox?)
It's that time of year when fans of my two favorite teams, the Rays and the Cubs, still dream of a pennant.

It’s that time of year when we all oil our gloves, fill our cups with beer, stand and  recite our Creed:

I believe in the Church of baseball.
I’ve tried all the major religions
And most of the minor ones.
I’ve worshipped Buddha, Allah, Brahma,
Vishnu, Siva, trees, mushrooms,
And Isadora Duncan.

I know things, for instance:

There are a hundred and eight beads in a Catholic rosary
And there are a hundred and eight stitches in a baseball.
….
I prefer metaphysics to theology.
You see, there is no guilt in baseball.
And it’s never boring.
Which makes it like sex.
…
Making love is like hitting a baseball.
You’ve got tot relax and concentrate.
…
It’s a long season and you’ve got to trust it.
I’ve tried them all, I really have.
And the only church that truly feeds the soul
- day in, day out - is the Church of Baseball.                   
        As adapted from “Bull Durham”
By Ron Shelton
                   

                    PLAY BALL!!