America's National Pastime?

Ryan Rigdon, staff writer

Growing up in West Texas often includes playing just about every sport you could possibly imagine. 

From football and soccer, to a recently emerging hockey interest, sports is a major foundation and to some, a way of life.

Somewhere along the way though, some people have lost sight of a sport that everyone in previous generations had regarded with such adoration and love.  That sport is supposed to be our national pastime.  Baseball has been a major institution in the United States since the early 1900s, but has recently lost the fan support and appeal because of a shift in interest. 

Does anyone even know what a pennant race is anymore?  OK, I know that is a bit overdone, but when was the last time anyone ever discussed it with a friend or co-worker?  Perhaps we are too focused on other events such as the college football season, the NFL, or some other sporting event that has taken priority over what we used to hold so dear.

This year already is a great pennant race, and should have plenty of exciting teams in the post-season.  But does anyone truly care? 

As a long time fan of the game of baseball, I can truly say that the most exciting time of year for me coincides with the baseball postseason.  Divisional and League playoffs, along with the World Series, are some of the most exciting and gut-wrenching hours of television.  But ratings were down all last year until the Boston Red Sox made a miraculous comeback to defeat the New York Yankees in seven games.  For the first time ever, a team had come back from being down 3-0, and pulled off something that had never before been accomplished in Major League Baseball. 

Despite something so amazing, ratings were down for the World Series that followed, probably because of a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals by Boston. 

This year, perhaps another miracle might happen.  Maybe ratings will go up, and baseball will become popular again.  But season attendance statistics would almost guarantee an outcome of far-less-than-ideal fan support and a continuation of falling ratings for the sport that we used to hold in such high regard. 

Do yourself a favor this year.  Even if you aren’t a baseball fan, or even if your team did not make the playoffs, invite some friends over, or relax with a loved one and sit down and watch one of the many playoff games that will be available on network television.  Perhaps you can help bring back America’s national pastime.