Everytime I see children or adults playing baseball, it takes me back to when I played baseball. Although, it is not just seeing the people play that brings me back, it is all of the different things which I associate with baseball that are present while watching or playing a game. Including the fresh cut grass, the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers cooking on the barbecque, the blinding light and heat from the large lights used to light the field, and the freshly painted bases. All of these things make my experience of watching or playing baseball so much better. It could be the highest level of competition (MLB), or it could be a tee-ball game, it does not matter, it still takes me back to when I played baseball. The level of competition does not matter to me because I played at levels of very low competition (tee-ball), all the way up to levels of high competition (varsity high school baseball). Depending on the age of the people playing, it brings me back to different times when I played baseball. If I see younger kids playing it brings me back to the days that I played tee-ball or coach pitch. But, when I see a major league game or a college game it takes me back to the days that I played high school baseball. Also, the score of game can affect the type of experience I have while watching a game. If the game is close, it takes me back to a game that I was playing in that I was very close, or if the game was a blowout, it takes me back to a game that I was playing during which my team was either winning by a lot or losing by a lot. But, no matter what baseball game I watch, it brings back my love of baseball.
For many people who have played baseball for as long as I have and as much as I have, watching a baseball game will them sick. My friend who I played high school baseball with could not watch any baseball game on television or in person. The reason, he told me was that "his life was already all about baseball, and he didn't need to watch any more of it." This is very different to my own feeling about watching baseball games. When I watch a game it brings back my love for baseball, but when he watches baseball it brings him back to countless hours of gruelling practices. Also, he does not get the same satisfaction as I do from the fresh cut grass, the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers cooking on the barbecque, and the freshly painted bases. When he smells fresh cut grass, he thinks about mowing his lawn. When he smells hamburgers and hot dogs cooking on the barbecque he simply thinks about eating, and when he smells something which is freshly painted he thinks about painting his room. All of these things bring me back to playing baseball, but for him when he smells these things, he does not think for one moment about the game of baseball.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Prompt 5
"33" is an essay by Chuck Klosterman which discusses how the Celtics and Lakers represent politics, and also how this historic rivalry can represent almost every aspect of life. Klosterman compares the Celtics to the Republican party, and the Lakers to the Democratic party. The Celtics are compared to the Republican party because the players coach themselves in order to avoid anything too "taxing." Which goes along with the Republican party's ideals of people running the government and wanting less taxes. The Lakers are compared to the Democratic party because of their strong leader, Pat Riley. Klosterman compares Pat Riley to LBJ, who he argues is one of the strongest and most influential leaders in the history of the Democratic party. The poem "End of Practice," is about players on a football team running after practice. Each time the players race, the person who finishes first will attain momentary glory, and be able to leave practice. The author talks about how he had a dream to finish first and win, and this is what drove him to succeed. But, he says that each players motivation comes from a different source, it may come from a relative who is ill, or a girlfriend. Although, each has one common goal, which is to finish first and win.
The combination of sport and community can undoubtedly define a culture. A culture in many cases is dominated by the sports teams which surround it. For example, when I played baseball for my high school team, all of the other teams that we played thought we were "red-necks." This was due to the fact that most of our opponents thought our athletes drove pick up trucks, and used chewing tobacco. This was true for a handful of the athletes at my school, but for many of us this was not the case. I drive Honda Civic, and I have never used chewing tobacco. But, this was the idea by which other schools defined my school and its athletes. Many of the other teams would make rude remarks when we played at their fields about being red-necks. But, we used this as fuel to play better. Instead of running away from this idea, we embraced it. Deep down inside I wanted to deny being a "red-neck," because I really hated what other teams had to say about me, and I knew it wasn't true (because let's be honest, how many "red-necks" do you know that lived in New York for most of their lives, the answer is not many). When someone is a fan or is a part of the sports team, it is much easier to accept a culture which is defined by sports. But, when someone is not a fan or not a part of a sports team which defines their culture, many more people will attempt to disassociate themselves from this culture. I feel as though a culture which is defined by sports, will most influence a person when they are participating in the sports that define the culture.
The combination of sport and community can undoubtedly define a culture. A culture in many cases is dominated by the sports teams which surround it. For example, when I played baseball for my high school team, all of the other teams that we played thought we were "red-necks." This was due to the fact that most of our opponents thought our athletes drove pick up trucks, and used chewing tobacco. This was true for a handful of the athletes at my school, but for many of us this was not the case. I drive Honda Civic, and I have never used chewing tobacco. But, this was the idea by which other schools defined my school and its athletes. Many of the other teams would make rude remarks when we played at their fields about being red-necks. But, we used this as fuel to play better. Instead of running away from this idea, we embraced it. Deep down inside I wanted to deny being a "red-neck," because I really hated what other teams had to say about me, and I knew it wasn't true (because let's be honest, how many "red-necks" do you know that lived in New York for most of their lives, the answer is not many). When someone is a fan or is a part of the sports team, it is much easier to accept a culture which is defined by sports. But, when someone is not a fan or not a part of a sports team which defines their culture, many more people will attempt to disassociate themselves from this culture. I feel as though a culture which is defined by sports, will most influence a person when they are participating in the sports that define the culture.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Prompt 4
Dear Jason Bay,
I would like to ask you one question. That question is how is it possible that you can be paid sixty-six million dollars over four years, when you are this bad of a baseball player. I will be honest and tell you that you did have a few good years as a Boston Red Sox. But, ever since you became a New York Met, YOU SUCK. Three-quarters of the way through this season you had 22 hits and you were batting under .200. Mike Trout who is a ROOKIE, had more home runs than you had hits, and so did almost every other player in MLB. What makes this whole situation even funnier is that you grew out your hair in order to play better and save your career. The harsh truth is that growing out your hair, nor growing out your facial hair, will change the fact that you are washed up and you flat out suck. For most teams their second highest paid player is batting in the number three or four spot. Instead, you are either hitting in the 7 or 8 spot (you would hit in the 9 spot too if the Mets were an American League team), which are spots reserved for the worst players on the team. Also, the only reason you still play in the MLB is because the Mets can't release a player who has such a big contract. If you didn't have such a big contract, you would have been realesed about two years ago, forgotten about, and would be sitting at home watching baseball on television just like me. Then a few years down the road, after a few years of retirement, you would try to make a comeback like Manny Ramirez (I applaud Manny for attempting to make a comeback, it really worked out well for him, NOT), play for some double-A team in the middle of Idaho. Then you would receive a fifty game suspension for use of PEDs because you know that would be the only way you could bat over .200 in the MLB.
I'm sorry about this letter, I know it is extremely cruel, but 100% of this is true. I watch you hit on television and it honestly makes me want to cry. I watch almost every Mets game, and seeing you get a hit is more rare than Sportscenter not talking about the New York Football Jets and Tim Tebow.
Sincerely,
Phil Borroni
I would like to ask you one question. That question is how is it possible that you can be paid sixty-six million dollars over four years, when you are this bad of a baseball player. I will be honest and tell you that you did have a few good years as a Boston Red Sox. But, ever since you became a New York Met, YOU SUCK. Three-quarters of the way through this season you had 22 hits and you were batting under .200. Mike Trout who is a ROOKIE, had more home runs than you had hits, and so did almost every other player in MLB. What makes this whole situation even funnier is that you grew out your hair in order to play better and save your career. The harsh truth is that growing out your hair, nor growing out your facial hair, will change the fact that you are washed up and you flat out suck. For most teams their second highest paid player is batting in the number three or four spot. Instead, you are either hitting in the 7 or 8 spot (you would hit in the 9 spot too if the Mets were an American League team), which are spots reserved for the worst players on the team. Also, the only reason you still play in the MLB is because the Mets can't release a player who has such a big contract. If you didn't have such a big contract, you would have been realesed about two years ago, forgotten about, and would be sitting at home watching baseball on television just like me. Then a few years down the road, after a few years of retirement, you would try to make a comeback like Manny Ramirez (I applaud Manny for attempting to make a comeback, it really worked out well for him, NOT), play for some double-A team in the middle of Idaho. Then you would receive a fifty game suspension for use of PEDs because you know that would be the only way you could bat over .200 in the MLB.
I'm sorry about this letter, I know it is extremely cruel, but 100% of this is true. I watch you hit on television and it honestly makes me want to cry. I watch almost every Mets game, and seeing you get a hit is more rare than Sportscenter not talking about the New York Football Jets and Tim Tebow.
Sincerely,
Phil Borroni
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Prompt 3
The author of this text discusses the difficulty of playing sports at higher levels of competition. I was able to witness this first hand, and completely agree with the author's position on this point. I played baseball since I was four years old. As I got older I began to excel, and made a travel team. After years of playing on this team, and traveling all around the nation with my parents, I left this team to play high school baseball. I made my high school baseball team, although many of the kids that I played with on my travel team did not make their high school baseball team. This was very surprising to me considering many of these kids were good baseball players and athletes. While in high school, many of my friends attempted to be recruited by colleges. Many of them spent thousands of dollars in order to be recruited by these schools. They traveled to different college camps, and showcases around the entire nation. Even though they put immense time and effort into this venture, only a hand full of my friends received offers to play at the collegiate level. Going through this experience made me realize that in order to play at the highest level of competition, a person must put enormous time and effort into making this dream a reality.
Another thing I agree with in this reading is the statement that most people who play a sport are more likely to watch the sport and have a connection to the players who are playing the sport. Every time I sit down to watch a baseball game I watch very closely, knowing that one pitch or one at-bat could have a decisive impact on the games outcome. I can feel the emotions of the players, and I can assume what they are thinking during each at-bat or before throwing each pitch. After playing hundreds of baseball games, it is almost as though it is a sixth sense. But, when I go to watch other sports, it almost seems foreign. Since I have never been in their shoes I seem to have no clue what they are thinking, or how they are feeling. When I watch those games I don't watch as intently. Most of the time I will just glance at the scoreboard and see how the teams are doing, but after a certain amount of time I begin to lose interest. I can use this connection that the author describes in my paper, because the connection that I have with baseball made me fall in love with the game. Also, the author's use of facts to back up his argument may help me in writing my first paper. Instead of just simply stating an idea, the author uses reliable data to support his argument. This adds a formal touch to the reading and makes it much easier to accept the author's argument.
Another thing I agree with in this reading is the statement that most people who play a sport are more likely to watch the sport and have a connection to the players who are playing the sport. Every time I sit down to watch a baseball game I watch very closely, knowing that one pitch or one at-bat could have a decisive impact on the games outcome. I can feel the emotions of the players, and I can assume what they are thinking during each at-bat or before throwing each pitch. After playing hundreds of baseball games, it is almost as though it is a sixth sense. But, when I go to watch other sports, it almost seems foreign. Since I have never been in their shoes I seem to have no clue what they are thinking, or how they are feeling. When I watch those games I don't watch as intently. Most of the time I will just glance at the scoreboard and see how the teams are doing, but after a certain amount of time I begin to lose interest. I can use this connection that the author describes in my paper, because the connection that I have with baseball made me fall in love with the game. Also, the author's use of facts to back up his argument may help me in writing my first paper. Instead of just simply stating an idea, the author uses reliable data to support his argument. This adds a formal touch to the reading and makes it much easier to accept the author's argument.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Prompt 2
In the two readings, The Greatest Game I Ever Saw and "Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio," there are two commonalities. One is that they both deal with sports, The Greatest Game I Ever Saw, about a junior college basketball game in North Dakota, and "Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio," about high school football in Martins Ferry, Ohio. In The Greatest Game I Ever Saw, junior college basketball is unimportant. Even though this game is unimportant it is something the people who saw it and played in the game will never forget due to the great performance by United Tribes, who beat NDSU-Bottineau with only five players on their team. "Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry Ohio," discusses the importance of high school football in Shreve High School and Martins Ferry, Ohio. It describes Martins Ferry as a poor town, where high school football plays a huge role in the community. Another commonality between the two readings, is the importance of race. The Greatest Game I Ever Saw discusses how the under dog, United Tribes, was a school for Native Americans. Also, the struggles Native Americans face to this day of being recruited to play basketball in college, and to be drafted by an NBA team. This is a common predicament in Native American culture. People seem to forget that Native Americans have not held as many high-ranking positions as people of other races, and they have still not had a "star" in any professional sport in the United States. In "Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio," the author mentions the Polacks and Negroes. This shows the divide between the Polacks and the Negroes in Martins Ferry, Ohio, but how they come together for Shreve High School football. This is also another common problem in many towns. Towns become divided by two races, but in many cases they have something which brings them together, which in this case is high school football.
Nostalgia and memory play a huge role in, The Greatest Game I Ever Saw. Without nostalgia and memory this game would have never been told by Chuck Klosterman. The emotions that this game evoked made a lasting impression on Klosterman's memory, and without these emotions the story of this game may have never been written about. This game may have perhaps never been talked about, and forgotten forever. Nostalgia and memory also plays a large role in "Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio." The reader can feel the emotions of the people of Martins Ferry, Ohio, thanks to the memory of James Wright. The reader is able to see how high school football is able to bring a divided town together.
These reading will help me immensely when writing my first paper. Like The Greatest Game I Ever Saw, the game which I attended was probably forgotten by most people, but to me this game is a huge part of my life. Also, I can use the structure of The Greatest Game I Ever Saw, to write my essay. Like Chuck Klosterman, I can use the emotions that I felt during this game to show its importance to the reader. My first paper will not have much in common with, "Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio." My paper will not discuss the circumstances surrounding the game, but it will discuss how the event influenced my love of sports.
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