On Motivation: Mirage Senior Softball...Yes or No?

Last season was the first time the Mirage Bombers entered in league play and it turned out to be a success. Nonetheless, the feeling here is that some guys did not like the heated competition of the summer league; when the fall league began the play was much more relaxed and the boys seemed to prefer that style of play.

This season we will continue the trend away from win-at-all costs and be more player-friendly. The feeling here is that some guys are on the fence as to whether to play, or if it is finally time to hang them up.

Before making that decision, we'd like you to consider the following: We all have said it one time or another: "Life is short." Every day that goes by this saying becomes more astute, so our questions remain...how do we close the circle? How do we finish the race?

Most guys our age choose to play golf and bowl, both nice secondary games. But neither enters the roots of our youth or our soul the way baseball does. Now I ask you to try and remember what baseball meant to you as you were growing up, beginning at age 5. Baseball wasn't just a pastime, it was how we grew up. it provided for us who lived in closely knit communities a vital connection to the world beyond. Baseball gave us a connection to the people we shared our lives with as well as others we never met. 

We now begin the origin of yet another season and for all of us the question remains, do I dare step on the field again? Do I tempt the possibility of injury? After all, I am a year older. The answer to this lies between your ears, in your memories of July and August in the 50s and early 60s. Are you really ready to give up that special feeling you get every time you cross the white lines? Once you decide to mentally hang up your glove there's no going back – you then begin the next chapter in your life. I for one am not ready for that chapter. It scares the hell out of me. 

There is nothing more enjoyable than the sound of silence just before the pitch, and the anticipation of the ball being hit your way.  

To some, baseball is just a game but to those of us who love it, baseball will always be a measure of much greater importance. We all remember putting on the uniform for the first time, hoping there was a need to slide (the more dirt the better). To your mother complaining, "How am I supposed to get these pants clean?" your reply was "Yeah ma, ain't it great?"

You can't buy that memory. Every time you walk on that field you take your youth with you. In the next few weeks as our players think about whether the risk is worth the reward, I hope the answer is as easy for you as it was for me.