Growing up, I loved baseball. I wanted to be a professional baseball player. Or at least, I wanted to play little league baseball. I had the desire and heart and a love for the game. I would watch every Braves game (grew up in Atlanta), even when they were last place every year. I would listen to the AM radio under my pillow as I went to sleep, even when I wasn’t supposed to. I would even sneak out of bed, turn on the TV and watch the games against West coast teams as they started at 10:30p.
But as much as I wanted to play, my parents wanted me to focus on studies and wouldn’t let me play any sports. So, every chance I got, I would go to my backyard, and throw a tennis ball against the wall and make diving catches and acted like I was playing others. When I tell this to others now, they say, “don’t make me cry.” Such a sad story, a kid who loved the game so much and yet wasn’t able to play.
Well, Nathan is now just at the age to start playing tee ball. He randomly got a baseball glove this past Sunday from someone that we don’t even know. It was pretty new, so I showed him how to work in the glove, and he has been stretching and working on that glove almost everyday, every chance he gets.
Yesterday, on my way home from work, I bought him a baseball as well as a tee ball starter kit, with a bat and tee. We spent the morning practicing and he’s starting to whack that ball off that tee. He’s so ready. This morning, I didn’t see him in the living room, and he was in the playroom with the door closed. Usually, that’s not a good sign because he’s doing something that he shouldn’t be (i.e. playing with his Nintendo DS, etc.). When I called him out and asked him what he was doing, he told me that he was practicing his baseball, hitting off the tee. I almost cried at that moment. My son … living out my dream!
Yes, I will give him an option if he doesn’t like it … but he WILL like it! I’ll make him!
ahhhh, little boys playing baseball nothing more american, when he turns pro and plays in dodger stadium i better get hooked up with some good seats
That there is a good swing.
Third picture: Head on the target the whole time, nice.
that’s right! good observation, erwin.
what a beautiful entry… I almost cried.. imaging you as a little boy with the tennis ball and diving. How great it must be to give Nathan the opportunity you didn’t have!
p.s. (he’s getting taller!)
I was struck by how similar your post is to parts of one I made a few days ago: not getting to play myself (but practicing on my own), later helping my son get started, etc. Baseball is the greatest game. Good luck.