Take Me Out to the Ball Game

I'm a sucker for sports, specifically live sporting events. When I was young, my father would dress me up in ridiculous outfits that touted I was the child of a #1 fan. He would quiz me on the game being played, the players and the positions. Going to sporting events with him are some my happiest childhood memories. 

Flash-forward to my "adult" life. I still love sports and going to games. I may not be covered in the colors of the team, wearing an inflatable helmet and have a fun face paint design, but the passion is still there.

For the Fourth of July holiday, two friends from back east came to visit for a week. There biggest request-aside from wanting bacon and hummus-was to watch the Cincinnati Reds play the San Diego Padres. The sports fan in me was screaming to come out; I had to oblige.

Knowing that the Padres have been struggling most of the season, we were optimistic as Reds fans. In the four game series, we went to half the games. We saw the Reds lose to the Padres on July 5 at the last second, but then we saw the Reds make a comeback the night of July 7. 

What I loved most was being surrounded by so many people who share a common love for baseball. As a Browns fan, I know what's its like to believe in a team that isn't very good, so I respect Padres fans. What I loved was the following of Reds fans that came out of the woodwork to watch the team play. I thought we would be the only four goofs in Cincinnati garb and we were wrong.

It has been a long time since I had watched those Red Legs play but I was happy to be with my friends and watch the team I grew to love in college play. Would I go to Petco Park again to watch a random sporting event? Absolutely. You can care little about the team being played, but there is just something about live sports, beer, gross food and friends that make an evening awesome.