By Nick Brockman, The Messenger
While most sports fans find themselves enthralled in March Madness, another athletic malady has begun to spread, Baseball Bonkers.
Personally, I have suffered for the last 22 years.
It begins innocently enough in January every season with general anxiety and difficulty sleeping, but by March comes sweating, shortness of breath and an inability to eat, not to mention fantastic dreams of the New York Yankees being dissolved as an organization.
When looking at the symptoms, one can sympathize how difficult it truly must be to endure this year after year like those allergic to pollen each spring. Currently, there's no known cure for Baseball Bonkers unless your favorite player has been accused or admitted taking steroids, which instantly crushes your spirit. Look at Chicago Cubs fans, they certainly have not discovered a vaccine.
Thankfully, the Cincinnati Reds, my team, have not been included in this scandal, but have experienced near similar disappointment in the standings as the Cubs, at least in my lifetime.
Nonetheless, the disease, just like the flu, returns with more potency season after season.
If reporting pitchers and catchers weren't enough to get excited about in February, now the sport has added another first-rate event to anticipate in the World Baseball Classic.
Personally, I have suffered for the last 22 years.
It begins innocently enough in January every season with general anxiety and difficulty sleeping, but by March comes sweating, shortness of breath and an inability to eat, not to mention fantastic dreams of the New York Yankees being dissolved as an organization.
When looking at the symptoms, one can sympathize how difficult it truly must be to endure this year after year like those allergic to pollen each spring. Currently, there's no known cure for Baseball Bonkers unless your favorite player has been accused or admitted taking steroids, which instantly crushes your spirit. Look at Chicago Cubs fans, they certainly have not discovered a vaccine.
Thankfully, the Cincinnati Reds, my team, have not been included in this scandal, but have experienced near similar disappointment in the standings as the Cubs, at least in my lifetime.
Nonetheless, the disease, just like the flu, returns with more potency season after season.
If reporting pitchers and catchers weren't enough to get excited about in February, now the sport has added another first-rate event to anticipate in the World Baseball Classic.
The Classic began in 2006 and it is a tournament held every three years featuring 16 squads representing their respective nations. This year's event began last week and the U.S. team has already advanced to the second round with wins against Canada 6-5 and Venezuela 15-6.
Although the Classic is a rather new affair, for diehard baseball fans it can be compared to the feelings soccer enthusiasts experience during the World Cup.
Baseball may be America's pastime, but many other countries can play at or above USA's level. That was shown when Japan took the inaugural crown and the U.S. bowed out after the second round.
Not to mention natural rivalries with Canada, Mexico and Cuba and games in Asia that start at 4:30 a.m., it's easy to see how baseball supporters suffer from chronic insomnia and headaches from anticipating the matchups.
Then, there's life as a sports reporter, which brings high school and college baseball into the mix. College play has been underway for some time for those lucky schools in the Deep South, but local high schools will kickoff Opening Day on March 23.
And of course there's Major League Baseball's starting date, April 5.
So many ways and reasons to catch Baseball Bonkers, but at least there are products to soothe the illness. For three seasons, I have had MLB.TV, which allows me to watch all out-of-market games live on my computer. The doses don't come cheaply, but at least it's something to alleviate the problem. Direct TV's sports package complete with every regional Fox Sports Network makes one calmer as well.
After one score and two years, my ailment continues to metastasize though. Despite the disease, I would have it no other way.
My name is Nick and I'm a Baseball Bonkers sufferer.
Although the Classic is a rather new affair, for diehard baseball fans it can be compared to the feelings soccer enthusiasts experience during the World Cup.
Baseball may be America's pastime, but many other countries can play at or above USA's level. That was shown when Japan took the inaugural crown and the U.S. bowed out after the second round.
Not to mention natural rivalries with Canada, Mexico and Cuba and games in Asia that start at 4:30 a.m., it's easy to see how baseball supporters suffer from chronic insomnia and headaches from anticipating the matchups.
Then, there's life as a sports reporter, which brings high school and college baseball into the mix. College play has been underway for some time for those lucky schools in the Deep South, but local high schools will kickoff Opening Day on March 23.
And of course there's Major League Baseball's starting date, April 5.
So many ways and reasons to catch Baseball Bonkers, but at least there are products to soothe the illness. For three seasons, I have had MLB.TV, which allows me to watch all out-of-market games live on my computer. The doses don't come cheaply, but at least it's something to alleviate the problem. Direct TV's sports package complete with every regional Fox Sports Network makes one calmer as well.
After one score and two years, my ailment continues to metastasize though. Despite the disease, I would have it no other way.
My name is Nick and I'm a Baseball Bonkers sufferer.
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