Happy Feeling

Little story.

For those that missed it in the bios page, i'm currently serving in the US Navy on active duty in Groton, CT.

I grew up living, eating, drinking, and always believing (mostly foolishly) in Cleveland sports. My pops worked at old municipal stadium as a security guard, so he smuggled me in to many Indians games and Browns games as a child. It was my favorite pastime, hands down. I remember all the guys in my high school gathered around the big screen at our homecoming dance, dressed in our best clothes and ignoring our dates as the Indians beat Baltimore (97?) in the 1-0 game to keep the team rolling in the playoffs.

I left for boot camp in the summer of 2000; the Indians were locked in a tight pennant race, and watching them play ball was the only thing that really kept my mind off my upcoming boot camp "vacation". I rode the long bus ride into Chicago and felt sorry for myself, with no idea how the next few months would play out.

My biggest correspondences were from my mother, who would cut out sections of the Cleveland Plain Dealer sports page detailing the Indians games. As I had no contact with outside, it was the only way I could keep up with the tribe. I got mail once every week orso, so I would stay up late at night in my bunk with a flashlight and pore over the box scores and hope the indians could miraculously pull out and win the central crown.

My favorite player in the days was Kenny Lofton; as a center fielder in high school, I really admired what he did with the glove and bat. Lofton caught fire in the last month of the season, almost carrying the team into the playoffs. They lost that year by 1 game-ish to the White Sox, ending the playoff run of the 90's.
It was heartbreaking, but really kept me from feeling too homesick or left out.

I still keep those newspaper clippings in my correspondences folder from boot camp. When the Indians re-signed K-love, I felt just like most everyone else; regardless of how it pans out, it is the best feeling in the world (if only for a day) to see our boy back in the Jake. I can't even express how deep the feelings go.

Sorry for the novel...Just wanted to share my joy with yall.