#NatsMass

Even though the Nats are in first place (what what), they lost on Friday when I was at the game.  Back in the lean, painful years of 2005-2011, John Brewer used to say I cursed the Nats with my presence.  Perhaps for the Nats sake it is best I watch from a distance on MASN, a la Sting's "I'll be Watching You."

 

As I walked to my car in sadness on Friday night, I was encouraged by a most welcome sign.  At a Catholic Church just a block from the stadium, this invitation was issued: 

 

Photo borrowed from @catholicgauze.  Edited by moi.

 

#NatsMass gives Catholics an opportunity to worship while they're on the way to the baseball game on Sunday afternoons.  I like it.  Way to go St. Vincent De Paul!

 

I was not in on the committee meetings when they decided to start this new service, but here's what the church could have done when the stadium was built a few years ago:  Thrown up their hands in frustration!  Complained about the construction and noise!  Looked in judgment at all those people skipping worship for baseball!  

 

That's what the church could have done when everything around them was changing.

  

Here's what the church did instead:  Added a service to accomodate Catholics on their way to the baseball game!  Spent $$ designing a big banner invitation to thousands!  Launched a social media campaign (#NatsMass) so folks would be welcomed.

 

There are many ways to respond to change.  #NatsMass is a good way.

 

How do most of our churches react when everything around us changes?  Do we respond with complaints and anger?  Or do we respond by spending time and $$ to reach folks in a creative way?

Since we're talking sports, I know many pastors and church folk are frustrated when youth games are scheduled on Sundays & Wednesdays.  And all sports are year round now.  I have been frustrated too. 

 

It wasn't like that when I was growing up.  My dad was often the coach and our practices on Wednesday nights followed GAs and children's & adult choirs.  I miss those days.

 

But those days aren't today.  They aren't.  And bellyachin' won't help, friends.  Many have tried that method.  It doesn't work. 

 

We can kick and scream...or we can be like this creative Catholic church.  They continue to have Mass at the regular time, but they added a service on game days to make attending services just a little bit easier.  

 

With that said:  Worship is much more important than any sporting event and we won't be able to make things easier for everyone.  Sometimes people will have to make a decision when soccer  interferes with their regularly scheduled time of worship.  Sometimes it's okay for people to have to choose. 

 

When possible though, perhaps the church could try to make things just a little bit easier.  Surely we can at least sit at the drawing board and try. 

 

Happy Day, Dad.

Happy day to my dad, who is one of my favorites.

Maybe Mike McKown seems serious, but here is a picture of him with nachos so I'll let you decide.

What a guy.  These nachos are in an adult size batting helmet.  

Can you feel his joy through your computer screen?  I thought so. From my dad I learned to celebrate life's gifts like nachos and baseball. Go to a game with this man.  As soon as your ticket is scanned Mike is on a mission:  That mission is nachos.  He swears up and down no park will ever surpass the amount of sour cream at Busch Stadium, but he may have met his match at Miller Park.  "He gave me 3 scoops of sour cream.  THREE SCOOPS!"

Dad oozes happiness about the most interesting of things:  nachos, assorted electrolyte beverages, baseball, jerseys, making cassette tapes of his lines for church plays, exercise, shopping & corresponding people watching, nachos, etc.  What a fun guy.

If I could only use one word to describe Dad it would be good.  Dad always tries to the right thing, which is so very admirable to me.  He is unflinchingly fair which was frustrating as a child (let's remember when he was a ref at my game and called five fouls on me!); but actually he was helping me be independent--a real gift.

Dad, I sure do love you.  Happy day!

America's Pastime (or more aptly named "boring you with baseball")

My first Opening Day at Nats Park was amazing.

 

I come by my love of baseball naturally.  My gram would take score while listening to St. Louis games on the radio in her kitchen.  How great is that?  My dad dresses in full-on Cardinal gear while watching games on television.  Mike's love is real, folks.  Also Dad's game time sound effects are entertaining.  He screams like Marv from Home Alone after Kevin McAllister shows him what's up.

Since I was a girl my family played "pick a player" when we go to the stadium.  Rules:  Every McKown selects one player.  If your player hits a home run, everyone owes you $1.  Likewise you pay $1 when someone else's player hits a home run.  (We haven't adjusted for inflation.)

My first "pick a player" player was Jack Clark and he played for the Cardinals from 1985 to 1987.  My allowance was $1 a week so it was a risky endeavor for a kindergartener.  Mike and Pat = unafraid of accepting dollar bills from children since the early 80s.  I love that. 

My family will be here later in April for a game.  Dad's "pick a player" will undoubtedly be someone NOT on the Nats.  I will look at him with disdain but he will not care.

I lately added "visit every baseball park" to my bucket list.  This summer I will visit my eleventh  team park (the Milwaukee Brewers) at my family reunion.  I like visiting ballparks as much as I like visiting national parks...so basically...I am very cool.  (Jokes!)  I have memories of each one:

• St. Louis Cardinals
• Learned to love the game at Busch Stadium 
• Ozzie Smith backflips
• Classy fans
• Chicago Cubs
• Ivy on the outfield walls!
• Oakland A's
• The stadium is gargantuan 
• I've never been that cold at a game in my life
• Boston Red Sox
• The Green Monster!
• These people are for real about the game
• New York Mets
• I saw the Nats play and WIN at CitiField! 
• Was told to "sit down" by Mets fan when I throttled out of my seat in merriment and glee.  IT WAS AMAZING.  I felt like a true fan.  (Okay: so it was awkward and I was a bit distraught, but completely worth it in retrospect.)
• First time I had sushi at a ball game
• New York Yankees
• These people are also for real about the game
• Excellent snacks
• Saw Ichiro play his first game for the Yankees
• Cincinnati Reds
• First time I sat on level one
• Atlanta Braves
• The Braves are the nemesis of my teams (Cardinals, Nats) but I liked Turner Field
• Baltimore Orioles
• First time I rode an escalator at a game
• Washington Nationals
• I don't have pleasant memories of RFK, although that's where I started to love the Nats.  They were down and out then and needed fans so I signed up.  At one game it felt like 90% of the fans were for the other team.  Their boos overpowered our cheering.  So depressing--but then things got better!
• We've entered the promised land! (biblical metaphor--can't help it)
• Nats Park combines my love of politics, history and baseball.  Can't beat it.
• Nats Park is so DC.
• Our mascots are presidents of the US.  HISTORY!  Our newest addition is President Taft who we call 'Bill' which feels too personal (how about William?) but I'll get used to it
• I always hear the John Adams soundtrack blaring, which tickles me to no end
• We sing "God Bless America" in addition to "Take me out to the Ball Game"
• We salute soldiers who are recuperating at Walter Reed.  They sit in a special section and we give them a standing ovation every game
• There is more...but I'll leave that for another post.

Please please please do yourself a favor and enjoy America's pastime this summer!

Go Nats!  Our first of many curly Ws.

A Childhood Dream Come True

I can't believe it happened.

I HAVE A GAME BALL.

Once again:  I have a game ball.

I was elated.  Stoked.  Thrilled.  Over the top excited.  I called my dad.  I called my brother.  I still can't believe it but it's true! It really happened. I HAVE A GAME BALL.

I can remember toting my Macgregor glove (why no capitalization of the 'G' friends?) to Saint Louis Cardinals games as a girl hoping for a chance to catch a ball.  Last night the childhood dream came true!  And it was a Nationals game ball.  And I love love love the Nationals. (Please excuse my excessive use of 'love' for such a time as this.)

For non-baseball fans, to what can I compare this joy?  It's like a guitar pick from The Edge.  It's like a piece of the net from March Madness. For game show fans (too much?):  It's like a Pat Sajak AND Vanna White autographed a piece of the Wheel.  A game ball--especially a scuffed up ball--is pretty much the best thing ever.

My pal Erin surprised me with excellent tickets to the game.  We were just behind the dugout.  That in itself was enough to delight me for the next week.  I love love love (can't help myself) surprises and this was a great one!  I could see the expressions on the players' faces. When Tyler Clippard (bless him) returned to the dugout dejected and downtrodden we stood and clapped for him.  I think he made eye contact with us.    I gave him the "You'll get 'em next time" support look.  I think he felt that.  It's a stretch, but I think he felt that.

So:  The ball.  How is it mine you ask.  One of the Brewers' players foul tipped the ball.  The Nats ball boy picked it up.  As he ran back to the dugout I stood up, smiled and politely said "Hello!  May I have the ball?"  We made eye contact and for some strange reason he tossed it at me.  This is when things went into slow motion.  I see the ball hurling toward me (thank you ball boy!).  I reach for it but wait:  A man in front of me snatched it for himself.  Nooooooooooooooo!  Noooooooooooo mister!  GIVE ME BACK MY DREAMS.

Ultimate sadness...

Until the man turned around, handed me the ball and said "This ball was meant for you."  I gushed.  I thanked.  I gave a passionate explanation of the significance of this ball.  It was a bit much for him.  I think he was done about 15 seconds in but I needed him to know.  Thank you mister.  Faith in humanity restored and childhood dream come true.

Thank you mister.  Thank you ball boy.  Thank you Erin.  Thank you baseball.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Three Nationals games in three days:  Huzzah!  1-2:  Not so huzzah; however the all-star break will be restorative.

I love baseball.  Game day excitement is palpable.  The metro is filled with red, white and blue.  The city is actually abuzz with Natitude which is welcome relief after so many years in last place.  Don't get me wrong: I loved the Nats when they were losing too...but first place feels GREAT!   

I love cheering for Ryan Zimmerman.  I love keeping score.  I love the smell of hot dogs (in general, but especially at the ball park).  I love jumping up in excitement when a sweet play is made.  I secretly love feeling superior when I sing "cracker jack" instead of "cracker jacks."  I love watching fans dance in glory.    

I blame my family.  I can't remember a summer I didn't go to Busch Stadium. We would arrive hours early just to watch batting practice.  The St. Louis Cardinals were it.  My favorite was watching Ozzie Smith do a back flip before the game.   My family continues to practice absolute loyalty to the Cards, while I've made room on my scorecard for the Nats.  Most of them have disowned me, which is painful yet I appreciate their loyalty.

KM color blocking at an early age.

If you haven't already please enjoy America's past time this summer.  It's a great game.