Sosa likely gone for good

[GTDawg]

I gotta say, I'm a little biased towards baseball considering my job.

However, I can say that being around the players shows you a love for the game that you can't find anywhere else on the planet.

Those guys eat sleep and live baseball. Before games and after games...most of them find joy in every little aspect about baseball and to see the work that goes in to a single game, let alone a season...it's pretty damn cool.

That being said, the late 90s was a very bad time for baseball. Bonds/McGwire/Sosa...it was rough and the resulting scandals is a big black eye after they recovered from the strike.

Sammy's numbers are quite inflated and he never could get over the hump of Cubs management. It's always been a stigma with the way the team is run. And, suddenly forgetting how to speak english on capitol hill along with cork didn't really help the situation.

I'm hoping the WBC brings some new joy back to the game and, hopefully, with some of the inflated steroid numbers retiring, we can put the past few years behind us (all-star game tie, steroid policy, stupid players association leadership).

The playoffs have been kickass the past few years. The home run derby was insanely popular with the players again.

The sport was damn near dead 12 years ago and it came back. Here's hoping it happens again.

[Dodoubled]

What do you do, GT?

[GTDawg]

Batboy for the Braves

I don't know how I lucked in to it, but it's pretty kickass
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I wish they'd do something about the all-star game too. That play for home field advantage thing is the biggest crock ever

[redbank09]

oh shit dawg u got to hook me up when im there this spring. can u get a few autographs.

[GTDawg]

Part of the ND agreement says I can't ask for personal autographs or game stuff (eBay and all that jazz).

But, I should be able to swing a game ball or too if I'm working the game you go to.

[Gordogg]

That's a sweet job GT. I'll be looking for you on the TBS broadcasts. I respect the Braves' organization 100%. I like how they actually build there teams the right way, from their farm system. I went to a Braves game in 1995, they were building the olympic stadium right across the street for the 96' Olympics. I love going to ballgames, but baseball has lost it's magic in my opinion. The steroid problem, plus Bud Selig's moron ass, plus the outrageous salaries has killed it for me. The salary thing is a universal problem for every sport. But baseball and basketball in particular. Shouldn't be guaranteed the money, should have to earn it game by game, especially when it's a $2 mil a year salary just to come in and pitch for one inning a game or what have you. Anyways, that's awesome you got the job, enjoy that shit!

[Dodoubled]

Wow. Sweet deal. I've always dreamed of a cool job like that. Rock on, GT.

[redbank09]

i came to about 20 games last year, my girlfriend is a baseball freak. this year we have only planned the weekend of the 13 th in may for the marlins. she would flip if u could get her a ball. we usually sit in section 119 and we never get any foul balls. it onlys takes us aliitle more than an hour to get there so im sure we will go to more. i always try to go if smoltzs is pitching.

[Talking Poker]

As much disinterest I have in baseball now (is that even a word?), I do have many fond memories of the game from the past...

Being a batboy = Way, way cool. That's every baseball fan kid's dream. Enjoy that, man. How old are you?

[GTDawg]

January 3rd...21st birthday

Last year was my first year working for them.

My mom knew a few players through working for a sports retailer (sign autographs at events, etc) and they hunt/fish a lot so she talks to them when they come in to the store.

The guy who is my boss, she has known for 4/5 years now and he was asking how I was doing at school...and she mentioned me looking for a job that didn't interfere with school hours too much. Snowballed from there.

*shrug*

I'm trying to figure out how I can do that instead of being an engineer or whatever the hell you do with a degree from Georgia Tech.
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redbank - hit me up when the games get closer and I'll see if I'm working etc