(ThyBlackMan.com) While David Stern was being massaged by Michael Wilbon at halftime of game three of the NBA Finals on Sunday night I switched channels to watch the Cubs host the Boston Red Sox. Wrigley Field was packed as usual and despite both teams being under .500 and the game was close and exciting. I took some time to check my Twitter and Facebook timelines to see who else was enjoying the game. Nobody. Now let’s be clear that I don’t have thousands of followers and friends but I do alright, but when I stopped to think about it I don’t have any Black friends that like baseball. They tolerate the game, maybe even keep up with it, but besides my dad (Happy Father’s Day Dad.) and my mentor former Cincinnati Enquirer, San Francisco Examiner and Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Terence Moore, I don’t know any other “Baseball Fans” that were Black.
With that said I am going to do my best to convince my folks out there that baseball is a wonderful sport that is worth the regular three hours sacrifice. I now present you with (my) five reasons WE should watch more baseball (if you don’t already):
1– The football seasons- college and pro-are over by the end of January, early February, the college hoops season ends in March and the pro game is done by the end of June. Baseball season starts in April and can keep you busy 
depending on who you root for until late October, just in time for your football seasons and basketball seasons and your son’s high school football and daughters high school basketball seasons to start. Unless you watch European soccer or are into the tennis majors (I love them both, but this isn’t about me, I watch USPBL baseball) then where else are you going to get your sports fix? There are enough games (162 regular season) that no matter when you start focusing on your team you still have time to jump on somebody else’s bandwagon in time for the post-season (loser).
2– The knock on baseball within the Black community is that the game is “boring on television.” Well then get your butt to a live game. Why? Let’s take Atlanta’s Turner Field for example: no bad seats, good food (no stadium had “great” food. It is a ball park after all.) all while you’ll get the chance to get out the house and into the sun. If you live in Georgia you have to watch pro football in a lousy dome stadium and most of the football season anywhere else not named Miami is outside in the cold.
3– The price is always right. Again I’m going to knock pro football, I swear it’s not personal (well maybe a little): You can take yourself and your two sons to a game at practically any major league and especially any minor league stadium for about seven dollars each. No the cheap tickets don’t put you behind home plate but the parking at a professional football game is more expensive. Pick your poison.
4-There are so many things going on at a ball game hat you cannot help but be entertained. The fielder’s movements before and after every pitch, the pitcher’s weird transgressions, the hitter’s strength and athleticism. That’s just in one inning. The game has so many great black athletes to watch now after bit of a drought entering the 00’s: outfielders Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves, Matt Kemp of the L.A. Dodgers, B.J. and Justin Upton of the Tampa rays and Arizona Diamondbacks, respectively (yes, one Black family has two baseball players), pitchers (Yes we pitch too!) C.C. Sabathia of the (hated) New York Yankees and David Price of the aforementioned Rays to name a few. Enjoy.
5– Baseball is and always will be a great teacher of teamwork and camaraderie. Nine players on the field working towards one goal, unlike in a basketball game where a great player can dominate the ball or in a football game where the really good running back gets carry after carry, baseball gives the individual his time at bat and he or she (girls cal play too) has to contribute their best effort in contribution with another player’s best effort in order to win. What are you going to do hit a home run every time you get up to the plate? If nobody is on base that’s still only four runs in four at-bats. Team work people. Now only if we can get the rest of the world or at least our respective national parties to follow suit. That’s another column for another day.
Staff Writer; Donnell Suggs
One may also connect with this talented writer via twitter; Suggswriter and also facebook; D. Suggs.
