Baseball Tour: St. Louis

The baseball tour rolls on in spite of the belief that this summer would be an "off" year. I have friends from central Illinois to thank for making a tour stop happen this summer. On August 21st, my friends and I visited Busch Stadium part III for the Cardinals vs. Giants. As Cardinal fans, my friends have been there several times. Me, this was my first visit.

Busch Stadium is right out of the modern mold of the retro stadium expect that this style is no longer retro (over use). The overall appearance of the stadium was good, especially the brick work. The open view exposes the surrounding skyline including the spectacular Arch. Just like Cincinnati, this new ballpark is far and away better that the previous one. The concrete donuts were just dumb construction and an eye sore artistically.

Anyway, we had a great time. Along with our game tickets, we received pre-game passes to Founders Day Appreciation. This experience was a real treat. We enjoyed on-field access where we walked along the warning track; circling the playing field, then explored both home and visitor dugouts. The St. Louis ball club was even so kind to serve lunch free. All-you-can-eat lunch! All together, I ate 2 hot dogs, 1 brat, 1 box of popcorn, 2 cokes and a novelty ice cream. I had a snack later during the game. Throw in the fact that I retrieved 3 player autographs and this experience was terrific. Nothing like going to the ballpark with friends.

Thanks guys! I can cross another major league city from the list.

The Opportunity of "Inactivity"

Daniel Okrent, an award winning writer, has the same addiction I do: a love of baseball. He was a significant contributor in the Baseball documentary by Ken Burns. Okrent describes the game in the Burns film as a game of inactivity. He explains that baseball gives the appearance of purposeless action but that this view is to misunderstand the game. This perceived "inactivity" is really highly directed activity that the casual fan or an antagonist to the game understands as a flaw. Okrent argues that the pace of baseball and the moments when it seems the action has stopped is what makes the game so great. He is right! In these perceived gaps of action are the moments of gamesmanship: strategy, signaling, sign stealing, grabbing an extra extra step in the basepaths, leaning one way or the other in defensive positioning, making the batter wait, making the pitcher wait, etc. The development of the dramatic happen in these so called slow moments.

There is a lesson here that applies to achievement of personal goals and hopes for our lives. For anyone that we consider hugely successful I contend that more likely than not the successful devote large amounts of time in quiet "inactivity." Slowing themselves down to understand the setting, circumstances and resources needed for winning. These are activities that to the casual observer are not noticed.

What thought have you given to the next 5 years? How much time is devoted to planning your success? When is the last time you have sat alone day dreaming? How will you measure your progress? These are important questions to answer, the glory-less sort of activity that generates purpose and direction. Significant success does not happen by chance. The hard work is going on while the action has slowed. There lies the advantage.

Greatness Always Requires Sacrifice

Soon I will be 34 years old and I know that these are the most important days of my life. I am a husband and father and so the search for significance is easy. The opportunity for impact is built in--naturally. The pursuit of success in these roles is the most difficult challenge facing me.

How does a person my age handle such a realization? Ah, you ask which one, the most important days idea or the pursuit of success thing? My response--both! These concepts are intertwined. I want the rest of my days to be full of success.

Sine greatness always requires sacrifice, what are the things that must go in order for my most important days to produce the most important outcomes? I believe a list is in order.

Ignoring Myself

Yes, I am the most important person in my pursuit of greatness. Don't think of this statement as an arrogant, self-absorbed commentary on the depravity of man. I must throw off this kind of false humility that suggests human capital should extend exclusively upon others. I realize more than ever that I need to invest in myself. Not just for my benefit but for the benefit of others. I want to be the best I can be so that I have something of worth to give to those I love most. Please hear me clearly. I do not want to be an achievement monger or a shallow, isolated me worshipper. With something bigger than myself in mind, I simply want to prepare and be trained in bringing out the best of who I was created to be.

Temporary Pleasure

If I had a dollar for every decision I have made that meant immediate gratification then financial independence would be mine. Because I made so many such decisions, the money I could have is elsewhere because I had to have something right now. How stupid! Of course, consumerism is not the only example. Decisions regarding relationships and even eating choices can also fall under the "I need this right now" category. Doing everything on purpose sets up success. The biggest and most important question to ask is "Why?" Being able to answer honestly is identifying purpose. Purpose eliminates distractions and keeps the flames of focus burning. This is foundational, without purpose, nothing else matters.

Expectations Set By Others

I used to care a lot about what other people thought. I still care a little; at least enough to make a judgment on whether I should stick close to that person or put up a friendly barrier. I want to be sure that I run with those who are supportive and encouraging. It is much easier to keep pressing on when you have fans. For those who just want to be sure that I know their opinion and their disapproval, I am learning not to take it personally or let them hold me back. Sure, a little constructive criticism is helpful at times, but when the words are consistently negative and said in a spirit of defeat, then the best course of action is to keep a distance. Success is like beauty, it is in the eye of the beholder. Since I determine what success is, setting goals is an activity of utmost importance. My expectations, that is, what I know to be most important become clear when goals are established.

Unplanned Time

I believe one of the biggest barriers to success and ultimately a joyful life is wasted time. Time is my most valuable resource. Planning, although time consuming, is time well spent. Creating an action plan toward the accomplishment of goals is a compass always pointing in the right direction. When there is uncertainty on what to do then there is bound to be worthless (less worth) activities that creep in and steal energy away from potential accomplishment. The mathematical odds suggests that if you plan for success you'll be more likely to get there than if you made no plan at all. There is no two ways around it; the numbers don't lie.

Here is the plan. Now the doing part which means identifying the trash and throwing it out.

Simple Thinking on the Kingdom of God

In thinking about kingdoms and in particular the kingdom of God, I feel compelled to consider what the characteristics of earthly kingdoms are as a way of comparison. After all, how can red be understood unless blue has been experienced? The kingdoms that quickly come to mind are Nazi Germany, Communist Russia, colonial America and the historic Magic Kingdom in Orlando.

After review of some significant Scriptures with the kingdom of God at there core, I found two important elements that seem to repeat in these passages. The first is the kingdom of God is a spiritual reality. There is a certain energy present when a group of like-minded individuals come together with a unified focus. That focus is galvanized with point-of-view, attitude, sense of purpose and a shared hope for the future. The apostle Paul writes, "for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17, NAS). Within the earthly kingdoms that we know, isn't a foundational value system a characteristic that makes it go? It was an extremely rouge understanding of Darwinian thought integrated into political ideology that fueled the rise of Nazi Germany. The kingdom of God also operates with specific, unwavering belief; that is, love for Christ, righteousness, joy and a life that has been changed from inward to outward.

Another important element found within this study is that the kingdom of God is physical. A set of beliefs and attitudes shape and motivate behaviors that will bring tangible results. A physical kingdom has boundaries, a leader and a place within history because of how history has been made. Jesus spoke to Peter, his disciple, and said,

I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:17-20, NAS).

Here it's clear that all of these physical characteristics exists within God's kingdom. His kingdom encompasses both Heaven and Earth and is known in history as the church, which as the leader, Jesus, claims it as His own.

The physical attributes of established rule seem the easiest to spot either because of the dynamic personality of the leader or the societal influence upon the nation. To some, this is true concerning God's kingdom. To experience it is to receive love no strings attached. To others, God is not real and faith in an invisible God is a difficult concept to accept. This objection will cease because the Scriptures teach that Christ will reign with his people. See Revelation 20:4.

Honestly, understanding the kingdom of God is a huge undertaking. Most of the scriptural teaching is packed in Jesus' parables. I think I should spend most of my time here. The most important thing I can do as I seek greater understanding of the kingdom is to deepen my faith in these core beliefs of Christ and to wait expectantly for his return. The King will return.

Baseball Tour Recap

I made it out to Great American Ballpark this past Saturday night for my first MLB experience of the summer. What a game to get it started. I realized when I received my tickets that this would be the annual Civil Rights Game. Little did I know when I arrived that I would see Henry Aaron, Ernie Banks, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson. There were other notables there like Laila Ali and Harry Belafonte but it was these baseball icons that made me light up like a kid on Christmas morning. Bonus! There was still a game to be played.

Seeing baseball royalty up close and personal got me thinking about my baseball tour journeyed through the years. My experiences have all been unique. So the idea of this post came from considering these moments in time and wondering how to best judge them. Here is a list ranking the tour moments:

10) Detroit--It is hard to be fair when considering my time in Detroit. I had the opportunity to visit Tiger Stadium before it was demolished. My only reason for being in Detroit was to visit the Stadium so it isn't fair for me to critique the city itself. All I saw was a crumbling town full of chaos and demise. Even the stadium itself was falling apart. I remember thinking when I was walking in the concourse under the grandstand that "I hope it doesn't fall in on me". I need to go back and visit the new stadium and spend some time exploring Detroit as I'm sure there are some interesting and positive sights.

9) Anaheim--Aside from the fact that the Angles play in southern California and that they are consistently a pretty good team, there is really not much to say. The stadium is rather boring and Anaheim seems to be a rather regular suburban community.

8) San Diego--By far, this is my favorite major league city. The stadium is one of the newer ones and it has its features. Like the warehouse out in left that was fitted into the new construction of the stadium and the beach out behind the right-center field fence. My friends and I happened to sit in the all-you-can eat section which was great since hot dogs are my favorite meat. None of these things though make it my fav baseball city. It's the weather and the beaches and the Mexican influence on food that makes it the perfect city.

7) Baltimore--I had looked forward to visiting Camden Yards at Oriole Park since it opened back during the Cal Ripken days. This is a good ball park with all the brick work and open feel. I remember that it was also very comfortable. The only negative is the team itself. The Orioles stink!

6) Atlanta--I must confess that Atlanta made it this high on the list because the Braves are my favorite team. I am fully aware that most journalism rankings put Atlanta as one of the worst sports towns in North America. Whatever. I don't have Atlanta in this spot because of the city but because of the team. My first trip to Atlanta was to see the Braves in Fulton Co. Stadium. I didn't pay attention much as this trip was a 14th birthday present. I was too excited about seeing my team up close. My second trip to Atlanta was just a couple of years following the Olympics which produced what is now Turner Field. Good venue to watch a game but nothing spectacular. I would be remiss to ignore the run of 14 straight division titles the Braves rattled off.

5) Cincinnati--I believe the old Queen City could once again be a big time baseball town. It just needs a good team on the field. As I write this the Reds are in first place. The history is rich and the roster of all-time greats is long. I live here, so of course, I get to enjoy the ball park and team regularly. Riverfront Stadium (Cinergy) was terrible. I remember as a young kid thinking how poor a stadium it was with the doughnut shaped configuration and Astro Turf playing surface. Yuck! It was hard to see the players and the ball. Great American Ball Park is so much better. The view from almost anywhere is really good and the open feel helps make viewing more comfortable. The LaRosa's pizza is a big negative.

4) LA--Dodger Stadium was one of those classic ball parks I've always wished to see. I finally did last summer and it was as good as I'd hoped. The ball park is big and wide open which fits the personality of the city. What's not to love about southern California besides the traffic and smog? The Dodgers are one of the few historic baseball franchises with mega stars at every turn in their history. The Dodger dog and garlic fries are a must.

3) NY (Bronx)--Two summers ago I had the privilege of visiting old Yankee Stadium before it was closed. Even better was the particular game we saw which matched the Red Sox versus Yankees on the ESPN Sunday Night Game. The bitter rivalry made it all the better. The stadium was alright, nothing unique in my opinion, other than the history of players who played on that same diamond. It was "the house that Ruth built." The NY fans live and die with their Yankees. It's personal when they lose. It's the passion that makes NY a great baseball city.

2) Chicago--The combination of the city and the stadium is what makes Chicago a great place to see a ball game. The Cubs stink. Nothing new in that regard. Visiting Wrigley Field is a great experience; probably my favorite park. Everything about it is unique. Wrigley sits right smack dab within an old neighborhood with lots of surrounding eats and drinks to enjoy before and after. The ivy is what it is most famous for but the 3 piece brass ensemble is fun as well as the party that's going on in the bleachers. Always a full house, the atmosphere is fun-loving and energetic. I've also visited the south side with a game at new Comiskey which has since sold out to a corporate sponsor. The White Sox are a better team overall but not good enough to overcome the party going on by the lake.

1) Boston--By far, Boston is the best baseball town there is. Three hours before the game the crowd is shoulder to shoulder gathered outside. There are tons of great eats and drinks surrounding including The Bleacher Bar, situated just behind the Green Monster. We happened to view batting practice from our seats at the bar. Very cool. The memorabilia and gift shops are massive and many. The fans are passionate and yet friendly. Fenway Park is a great place to watch a game. It's small and cramped because the place gets sold out every game plus the seats are original; narrow and hard. Every pitch matters to every fan in the park. It's the game they have come for, not the park necessarily. The fans of Boston understand that the entertainment is with the baseball game itself.

Recap--I wrote this because it is unlikely that the tour will continue this summer. The tour isn't stopped, only paused. I'll give a full report once I'm back on the road. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the first place Reds (while it lasts).