The Game That Means the Most to Us

When I was growing up, I didn't have many choices of good teams to root for.  Although the Giants, A's, and 49ers had their good years, I just never became a die hard fan of any of those three teams.

Besides, I wasn't really a football or baseball fan when I was a kid, my first love was always basketball. So, being a die hard basketball fan, there was one team I fell in love with and watched with anticipation: the Los Angeles Lakers.

I became a fan of what was called "Showtime" in the late 1980's.  The team comprised of names like Bryon Scott, A.C. Green, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, James Worthy and Ervin Magic Johnson.

Yes, Magic was the leader of that team, but that team was exactly that...a team.  They were flashy but unselfish, they dominated teams but did with it a style all their own. 

The Lakers weren't the only team that showed style or were flashy on the basketball court. How about Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons, Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics, Dominique "Human Highlight" Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks.

Those were the days were showmanship wasn't one player scoring 50+ points per game or making everything happen all by himself. It was when the game meant the most to me.

Since moving from my hometown of Fresno, CA for the beautiful weather and gorgeous views of San Diego, CA, I've become a die hard baseball fan.

I remember the NLCS in 1998, watching my favorite team (San Diego Padres) taking on the Atlanta Braves, Trevor Hoffman getting the strikeout to end the series and watching Jack Murphy Stadium absolutely erupt.

I had never had a feeling like that watching any sporting event, it was at that moment that I began to love the game of baseball.

Now that I'm living in Irving, TX, I only get back to San Diego twice a year so I don't get to see many Padre games. I do, however, read up on them every single day. The players, the stats, their schedule and everything in between. It's not only the Padres that I love, it's the game itself.

How pitchers select what pitch they're going to throw and what situation they'll throw that pitch and what effect it has on the batter they're facing at that time. How does a batter have the hand-eye coordination to hit a 95 MPH fastball?

How does an infielder or outfielder have the quick reaction they have to make a diving stop or diving catch?

I'll end this article with a question. What's your favorite sport and have you ever made the change that I did? Did you have a favorite sport as a kid only to leave that behind for the love of another sport? 

One thing is for certain, no matter what your favorite sport is, sports will always be a part of our lives and that's what makes it so much fun to be a fan.