Upcoming Happenings at Christ Church

The Strange Behaviors of a Sports Fan
By Ron Gaus

It has always been an intriguing puzzle to me... those that live and die with the baseball Cardinals and those that really can’t figure out why anyone cares. It does not appear to be a resolvable issue. Those on both sides cannot seem to understand the other side’s reasoning and both sides do have strong reasons to support their position.

Logically, to view two groups of people running around in a complicated game would seem to be a waste of time. Spectators have no direct influence on the results. They are not participants, and they have to pay their hard earned money in order to watch the event in person. With TV, radio and movie theatres all offering entertainment at much lower prices, it would seem these events would have a tough time bringing anyone to watch them. The people playing the game earn huge sums of money and owners of the teams make large profits as well, even after paying the “players”. It would seem everyone involved makes a good deal of money except those who watch in person, watch the TV or listen to the radio. So why do so many people in major cities across the country continue to follow this sport to such a degree it is called America’s Pastime? It is a puzzle.

After my Dad, an avid fan, passed away in 1993, my sister called me the following day. She said “I’m sure there is nothing to this, but a bright red cardinal just landed on the ledge outside my kitchen window. Don’t remember that ever happening before. Think it’s a sign from Dad?” “Or, Dad,” I laughed. From that time forward, it seemed, every major event in our lives was met by a “sighting of Dad” that same day. The most wondrous was on the day of Kody’s adoption when we saw a cardinal underneath our porch roof, sitting on the light... the only time we’ve ever witnessed it.

Perhaps the love of this sport and of the hometown team stems from a generational past. Those that follow the team with a loyalty befitting a member of the family can trace memories to their childhoods. Especially in St. Louis, whose team dates to the late 1800s, those current fans from St. Louis can usually remember their parents and maybe grandparents listening to the radio at family gatherings, rooting for the hometown team. In current times, each of the victories and even losses can evoke some of those earlier memories of good times gone by. The current success, as viewed by those with a history of generational ties, results in thoughts like “I wish Dad or Mom were here to see this” or “I think Grandpa would have gotten a kick out of what that player did today.” Baseball is a way to tie fond memories together that may have been forgotten without the ongoing memory trigger. It may prompt a call to a stagnant relationship of an old friend or maybe to a brother or sister across the country. The result can often renew relationships. It would seem that an activity with capacity to improve relationships isn’t all bad.

Sometimes, as this year, there are lessons that can and will be applied to life experience. Kody and I saw a movie years ago which had a strong positive message: When things look impossible, always keep your mind wide open! Over the years, he’s had to remind me of that quite often. Because of his reminders, it will always be in the back of my mind.

Similarly it was this year with the Cardinals. Mistakes were made throughout the year. Bad mistakes. Mistakes all of us can relate to in our own lives with each passing year. But a lesson loomed here... to persevere. Too far behind in September to possibly be in the playoffs... but they did. Next, they were much too weak to defeat the powerful team from Philadelphia... but they did. Next, they had no chance at all against recently powerful Milwaukee team... but again they did. Finally they surely had no prayer against the dominating Texans... but they again did win, and in a way that continued to defy logic. Eight times in the games leading to the championship, they did something that had “never been done before”. It was a year of keeping your mind wide open... and for those that didn’t see the “mind wide open” movie, it provided a lesson to be remembered and pointed to for at least the next 100 years.

Witness these real examples of other logic defying behaviors...
• Grown men jumping up and down and acting like little boys, and then crying like babies with joy.
• A bank president giving a “high five” to the person sitting next to him, without regard to their social standing
• Complete strangers passing on street, wearing Cardinal caps. One says Go Cards! The other laughs & repeats.
• A tired 96 year old giving up on the team, goes to bed, then climbs out of bed 30 minutes later, with hope, surprise, joy.
• A 99 year old man with two items in his casket: A photo of his loving deceased spouse and a Cardinal’s T-Shirt.
• Our former preacher’s wake, honored by a visitor wearing a Chicago Cub cap, his team in this competitor city.

A city lacking a safe reputation, yet a city whose sports team draws together companionship of all races, ages, social status, religious, sexual and political positions. All are secondary positions to the folks who follow this curious passion. Call us fools. Call us crazies. Call us naïve or call us lacking in our priorities. Call us any of those things. It’s okay. For the exhilaration that occurs during that final moment of the final game of the long enjoyed and entertaining summer... that one magical moment makes it all worthwhile. Those who do not experience that moment probably come close in their appreciation of watching or listening or even performing in a way to appreciate talents we admire. But for those who do follow this sport, and this team, those magical moments throughout the summer, as well as the hoped for one at the end, and keep us coming back year after year, looking forward to the memories we can share and pass on.

When the Cards won the World Series, I called my sister the following day and we talked about how Dad would have enjoyed this so much, along with our grandpa George. As I celebrated through conversation with her, she interrupted me. “My Gosh,” she said, “there is the brightest red cardinal that just popped up on our bird feeder!” Tell Dad “Hello” I said. May God provide us with reminders of our past positive relationships and remind us to always keep our minds wide open to His possibilities for us.