Often times people talk about how it used to be. They say phrases like, "back in the day" and "when I was a kid." Mostly these stories are outworn and boring and seem to no relevance to today's world. I would have to say, though, that there something thing that I miss. I miss the sports experience of going to a sports game for the sports. In today's sports, a ticket for each of your children, a hot dog and beer will cost enough to force you into taking out a second mortgage. What ever happen to sports being the every-man's event? Now you have to expect to spend, spend, spend. My wish is for sports experience to go back to what it used to be. A time when going to a baseball game was a casual event, not a day of ruseness and disruption. My wish for sports is for the game to be the focal point, not the amusement. A wish for the sporting event to represent the culture of the game. I ask you to consider these two stories:

I was young, about the age of eight. The Detroit Tigers were playing the Kansas City Royals. My first baseball game. The ride to the park was one of sobering amazement, where everything looked old but in a new way. Hidden by the surrounding buildings, the stadium seemed to appear standing on the street trying to hail down a cab. Tiger stadium was a place of magic, at least the was the way my father and grandfather talked about it. I wasn't sure of what to expect. The placed looked run down a bit and seemed older in person than it did on TV. Five dollars was the price of parking in the shadow of the stadium, which looked like an old wooden battle ship. Instantly, when you walked in, the place had a smell of dirt and old age, almost like going into your grandparents basement. We had upper deck seats, so we quickly made our way to the ramp. It was so steep you almost needed a rope to pull yourself up it. The upper concourse was one of action and crowded behavior. We could hear the starting lineups being announced, muffled by the post that held up the structure with all of its strength. Hot dog stands, beer stands, vendors, and people who were looking for the person they said they would meet after they went to the bathroom, but one person had already gone back to the seats.
Not wanting to miss the opening pitch, my Dad hurried me to our seats. Walking across a suspended bridge and into a small narrow tunnel was the path that didn't really convince me that this was going to be fun. Then all at once, like a great awaking, it was all there. The

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about My top comeback wishes in sports for 2008?
We want to hear your view. Write now!