Bryce Harper wants to “Make Baseball Great Again.” How can you make something that is already great, even greater. Isn’t this one of those, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it situations, right?
I know, Bryce. The game is not as flashy as football, or say basketball. It is not nearly as dynamic as hockey, which leaves me asking “where’s the puck?” There is something special about this sport. Life lessons are learned in the stands around the diamond. Here are five perceived shortcomings that are undoubtedly improving your life.
1. Long games allow you time to enjoy the moment.
Zen and the art of baseball. Diamonds and sandlots are places where we can singularly focus our attention. Today people tend to jump from distraction to distraction. Everyone is on their phones, checking email, and hyper-focused on keeping up with the Kardashians. There is more to life than these distractions. Watching the game with a friend, sharing a hot dog, and some quality conversation is great for the soul. Why? Because you are connected to the experience in a meaningful way. If you would not rush through a family meal, or a religious service, then the same should be true for a baseball game.
2. Gratification is not instant.
Most of baseball’s gratification is slow to come. Home runs like the ones launched into San Francisco Bay or over Fenway Park’s Green Monster are pretty exhilarating, but are not necessarily what wins games. The small moments are what makes the game. A go-ahead run off a single, a line-drive double at the top of the inning that gets the momentum going. Baseball creates an opportunity for all of us to work on patience, an element that is in short supply in the 21st century. Wait around long enough and something memorable will happen. Many small moments may lead to a big win.
3. Baseball is a gentlemen’s (and gentle women’s) game.
Baseball provides many opportunities for fans to see positive, human interactions. Players get excited when their teammates achieve great feats of athleticism. They are also there for them when a play goes poorly. There is not enough kindness in today’s world where we are fighting hard to get ahead. Few people have one another’s backs in the workplace and among friends because their perceived “busyness.” There is always time and opportunity to do something in support of another person. On the field, one of the best examples of this phenomenon is when an infielder or outfielder backs up a struggling pitcher by making a great catch, or blocking a ball to throw a player out on a nearby base.
There are so many more ways in which baseball is fine just the way it is. It is called our national pastime because it reflects back to us what it means to be human. Baseball was, and will always, be great.
