Making America’s Favorite Past Time Great (For Me) Again

I grew up playing softball while living less than 150 miles from Atlanta in the 90s. So, yeah, naturally I was a YUGE Atlanta Braves fan, even going so far as to dress as Greg Maddux at church camp (don’t ask). I went to a ton of Braves games with my parents and uncle, including a World Series game in 1995 and the subsequent parade when they won. But since the late 1990s, like Sisqó, I’ve been mostly MIA, until two weeks ago when my parents and I shipped up to Boston for the marathon. We had time to kill so we took the Fenway Park tour which brought all the nostalgia feels. The next day, we snagged tickets on Gametime for the afternoon game and basked in sunshine watching America’s past time at America’s oldest active MLB park. A park where my grandparents would frequent games back in the 1940s.

Seeing seats that are 100 years old, the Green Monster, brick from decades past really drove home (pun not intended) how long America has loved the sport and what it’s meant to generations of fans. Coupled with today’s game environment of walk-up (and run-out by relieving pitchers) music, kiss cams, and the wave, it’s hard not to be awed by it all. Plus, we saw the concession area where James Earl Jones and Kevin Costner grab a beer in Field of Dreams or where the climatic heist scene in The Town takes place. After catching a game as an adult, in that stadium no less, it’s not hard to see why the Tim Kurkjians of the world continue to push the greatest game narrative, and it’s why I’ve made the Red Sox my new favorite team.

Since I (re)caught the baseball bug, I was PUMPED to find out that Nashville’s minor league team, the Sounds (get it, because Nashville is Music City) has Tail Waggin’ Tuesdays where you can bring your pup to every Tuesday home game. So, Bruce Springsteen (the Beagle, not the Boss) jumped at the chance. We met our good friends Casey (human) and Gus (pup), along with tons of other waggin’ tails who were there for America’s Game, including East Nasty Queens Ally (human) and Caddy (pup). Along with the game itself, we enjoyed the running of Country Music legends George Jones, Dolly, Reba, and Johnny Cash, not to mention the dog chorus as the legends walked through, mid-inning games, and a full bar. A picture perfect night, enjoying a relaxing game and supporting a local team, surrounded by dogs. It was the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be (unless dogs were allowed at a Springsteen show).

That’s one of the things that makes baseball so timeless, being able to root for the home team (and for MLB, that’s up to 81 times a year) while being outdoors in a seemingly unhurried but engaging and fun environment. While the pitch clock ticks away, so does your stress, replaced by the nostalgia of yesteryear’s game with the captivating innovations of today’s. Oh, and dogs.