Allegiances, aka, Baseball.... how I hate thee

As a matter of full disclosure, I feel I must divulge my allegiences. And while I may not feel the misery that is felt in the south side of chicago, I have experienced much anguish for most of my life. With baseball, my allegiances seem to run close to my geography. I was born in Korea, and while I left before I was three, I already was a fan of the newly formed Korean league's OB Bears

(yes, named after the beer)

I had an OB hat, and though I don't remember, I also had a whole uniform...

But, that came to an end after moving to Elmhurst, NY and going to church in Flushing, NY... yes, that flushing. and what would I see every sunday, but:

And while the big blue stadium lured me in, it was this moment:

that lasts in my mind and claimed me as a Mets fan. I was supposed to be in bed then, but my sister and I were looking around the corner of the hallway at the tv, trying to watch without my parents noticing me. Of course they spotted us, but unexpectedly, my dad told us to come join my parents on the couch and watch with them. :-)

I have always loved and followed the Mets (though I did become a bit uninterested during the mid 90's post strike), but I have a few other teams that I will on occasion root for. First is the Pirates. after spending my college years in that town, and seeing PNC park go up and going to the inaugaral game alone - first row in the left field corner... it just makes me feel like i was a part of the agony, and I want them to succeed.

I also live in Baltimore, and will root for the orioles. And since I came to this town in 01, all I've known for the O's are the losing seasons...again, I'm part of the agony.

These are my allegiances. And it is because of these allegiances that I suffer and at times despise baseball. But it will always pull me back.

baseball. how i love thee.

This being my inaugural post, I feel I must explain myself a bit. I love baseball. As far back as I can remember, I love baseball. Some stories my parents tell me of when I was a kid before I could remember..... I love baseball.

I don't know what it is that grabbed a hold of me, but I love the artistry, the competition, the cognition, and the exhiliration of it all. I think about baseball, so I want to put some thoughts on...bytes before they disappear within the synapses of my ever diminishing brain.

Hopefully it's interesting. hopefully, well, it'll at least make SOME sense... and if you don't think so, please chime in...

so, here goes.