You know that chanting at the beginning of High School Musical 2. Where all the kids are in the classroom, watching the clock tick down until their summer vacation? "Summer. Summer. Summer. Summer. Summer." No? Just me?
Anywho-- the point of that was to describe to you how I am feeling today, and have been feeling since Monday. Tigers' Baseball is back and for the first time, and hopefully not the last, I will be going downtown for Opening Day to see the game in person. And all I hear in my head, is a never ending loop of "Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Tomorrow." What a feeling.
I've always loved sports. I've been playing them since I was able to walk. I played in grade school, played a Varsity sport for three years. I've been watching any and all sports since before I can remember. The Detroit Tigers have always been there, a team that I just inherited because I lived in Michigan, along with the Lions, Pistons, and the Red Wings. I think I loved the Red Wings on my own first because of the Stanley Cups they won when I was younger.
The Tigers were always just there in the background. But my view of them changed when I was at Justin Verlander's first no-hitter... and didn't even know what was going on. It's funny now and kind of sad, but at the time I had no idea why everyone was so happy. Grown men were crying and I was mocking them. We won, and it was a boring game. I realize that I should be shot or banned from future games for even thinking that but what can you expect from a girl who just thought about the Tigers in passing.
After that, the Tigers went on to have an incredible season. I remember watching them make in to the playoffs in my dorm room and I had tears falling as I ran down my hallway yelling, "We're going to the World Series." I think that's when it changed; not because they were finally winning but that I watched history happen.
Since then I've payed more attention and completely fallen in love with "our boys". I have staunchly defended players on the grounds that no city or person should publicly boo their own team at a game. I have seen JV almost throw another no hitter last year. I know more about the game, not as much as some, but much more. I hate certain players from other teams for ruining our chances at winning, and that's not limited to just players. (I'm looking at you Jim Joyce. I'll never forget.)
Win or lose, I'm a fan now. I have multiple "Who's Your Tiger?" players, and I don't care that you're supposed to have just one. JV is my ultimate and I know that one day I'm going to be there and actually paying attention when he throws that perfect game. Why? Because baseball is in all of our blood. It affects us all a bit differently and at certain times. Some people pick hockey or football or basketball over baseball and that's fine. But for most, when you hear that first pitch hit the catcher's glove, you feel home.
I have this dream. My favorite sports movie moment of all time comes from a baseball comedy, Major League. It's "that game", the one that the whole plot of the movie hinges on. The once empty stadium is completely filled to the brim and the feeling of excitement sparks through the TV. Everyone knows what's going to happen and then the music starts playing. "Wild Thing! You make my heart sing. You make everything groovy." And Ricky Vaughn, played by Charlie Sheen in the only role I tolerate him, struts out of the bullpen and onto the field. The crowd... goes... nuts.
What I really want... what I secretly dream will happen... is that the Tigers make it to the World Series and that moment of pure thrilling energy is felt amongst every single person and that feeling is transported to the players. And in that moment, "Wild Thing" comes on and we all sing it.
I guess I could settle for "Don't Stop Believin' ".
