by Marcus Brooks

Created on: March 21, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Major League Baseball players used spring training to give back to their fans. The games don't count. Rookies, stars and free agents were sharing the same field and competing for the same jobs. Spring training games are an extended interview. There's no competition for a World Series title, but a competition for a free agent's or rookie's livelihood.

This year's preseason had its moments. The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays started a rivalry of sorts. Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays were boycotting their obligation to play in Japan. MLB discussed a settlement to compensate both teams trainers and coaches.

On a positive side, major leaguers realized signing autographs for fans supported the game. Fan Appreciation Days, pregame and postgame festivities promoted more player and fan interaction.

On the negative side, Barry Bonds is still looking for a new team. To some Americans, it appeared that MLB may be blackballing the all-time homerun leader. We're still anticpating a federal indictment on tax evasion and lying. Steroids and human growth hormones remained a bugaboo. Former Red Sox, former Blue Jay, former Astros and former Yankee, Roger Clemens is being followed by cameras, like Britney Spears. He is facing a confrontation with the FBI and the Justice Department for perjury charges.

However, the story of spring training came from the so-called "Evil Empire". The Yankees went to Blacksburg, Virginia to play the Virginia Tech Hokie baseball team. The game ended with an 11 to 0 Yankee victory. However, it was more than a game. It was an emotional healing. Upon their arrival, the Yankees visited the Hokies' 33 stone memorial. Captain, Derek Jeter took a picture with a woman who lost her fiancee. They posed by her fiancee's signature stone that had a Yankee practice shirt on it. Alex Rodriguez signed autographs and shared laughs with Hokies in their dugout. All of the Yankees signed autographs at will. They hugged the victims' families. They spent time with the victims' families. Their owner, George Steinbrenner sat with some families in the grandstands. The Yankees shed their celebrity for one day for Major League Baseball and humanity.

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