2008 Woodie Awards
Nothin' like going to the ballpark for a midweek series
Off the foul Pohl
Bart Pohlman
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Sports
I went to the ballpark for only the second time this season Wednesday to see Arkansas take on Centenary in the second game of a midweek series.
I had two main reasons for taking the time out of my day to head down to Baum Stadium.
First, there are few things I enjoy more than going to the ballpark to watch a game. I'm not the biggest fan of watching baseball on TV (although I do it frequently), but actually going to a game is a great experience. I thought it would be a good way to spend the day.
Second, my family and some friends were in town, and had a box at Baum. This, of course, meant free food. Who turns that down? I know I don't.
In between the complimentary hot dogs and chicken wings, I spent time watching the game.
As I watched, something bothered me to an extreme degree.
Centenary's mascot is the Gentlemen. Yes, the Gentlemen. You can't possibly tell me they couldn't do better than that. The Gentlemen? Really? I mean, come on. It's just absurd.
There are so many available nicknames that would be better than Gentlemen.
Arkansas Tech male athletes are Wonderboys, and UA-Monticello's teams are the Boll Weevils. Both, although unique in their own right, are better than Gentlemen. And those are just in Arkansas alone. There's also, of course, the Hoopeston, Ill., High School Cornjerkers. I'm leaving that one alone.
But I digress.
I sat behind home plate for most of the game, all the while happy just to be back at the ballpark.
The grass was green, the bats made their familiar "ping" and the stands were not quite full. The sky was overcast and it was a little windy, but all in all, it was a great day for baseball.
After the seventh inning, with the Hogs trailing the mighty Gentlemen, I decided to make my way up to the box, where an array of tasty treats awaited.
Apparently, though, I had already missed most of the excitement.
While I was still sitting down below, a foul ball hit and shattered the glass on the box right next to ours. Those are always exciting.
I had two main reasons for taking the time out of my day to head down to Baum Stadium.
First, there are few things I enjoy more than going to the ballpark to watch a game. I'm not the biggest fan of watching baseball on TV (although I do it frequently), but actually going to a game is a great experience. I thought it would be a good way to spend the day.
Second, my family and some friends were in town, and had a box at Baum. This, of course, meant free food. Who turns that down? I know I don't.
In between the complimentary hot dogs and chicken wings, I spent time watching the game.
As I watched, something bothered me to an extreme degree.
Centenary's mascot is the Gentlemen. Yes, the Gentlemen. You can't possibly tell me they couldn't do better than that. The Gentlemen? Really? I mean, come on. It's just absurd.
There are so many available nicknames that would be better than Gentlemen.
Arkansas Tech male athletes are Wonderboys, and UA-Monticello's teams are the Boll Weevils. Both, although unique in their own right, are better than Gentlemen. And those are just in Arkansas alone. There's also, of course, the Hoopeston, Ill., High School Cornjerkers. I'm leaving that one alone.
But I digress.
I sat behind home plate for most of the game, all the while happy just to be back at the ballpark.
The grass was green, the bats made their familiar "ping" and the stands were not quite full. The sky was overcast and it was a little windy, but all in all, it was a great day for baseball.
After the seventh inning, with the Hogs trailing the mighty Gentlemen, I decided to make my way up to the box, where an array of tasty treats awaited.
Apparently, though, I had already missed most of the excitement.
While I was still sitting down below, a foul ball hit and shattered the glass on the box right next to ours. Those are always exciting.
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