Sports : Out of Bounds: A few of my favorite and not-so-favorite teams

 I haven’t been around for a while, but then again, softball ended over a month ago. After conversations with Dean last week, it looks as if I’ll be making my Vinton Today return this week as Viking football (and the rest of the fall sports schedule) opens Friday night against Benton Community at Karr Sports Complex. I’m excited to get back on the sidelines and will try to get things out in as timely a manner as possible.

As for other things…

I do get a level of abuse sometimes because it seems as if I have more that one “favorite” baseball team. Well, that’s actually an ugly rumor that is true. I have always loved baseball and I always will, and that love has drawn me to cheer hard for several teams. So to clarify the point for my many friends who have always accused me of being a “bandwagoner,” I’d like to set the record straight!

1. Kansas City Royals – Yean I, know. But I became a Royals’ fan in the early 1970s, stayed one through the glory days of the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s, and became even more involved in the seven years we lived there just a decade ago. It leads to a lot of heartbreak, but we remain loyal.
2. St. Louis Cardinals – One of the valuable lessons I learned from my father. They were my first team, and short of the Royals, they remain my favorite. And besides, they’re fun to hold over Cub fans’ heads!
3. Colorado Rockies – Colorado has always been a second home to our family, so the Rockies – like the other teams out there – are like our home team.
4. Boston Red Sox – I love the tradition, I love Fenway Park (especially after visiting there 10 years ago) and I love the fact that they are everything anti-Yankee.
5. Anaheim Angels – The Angels have been involved with the Cedar Rapids Kernals for so long and truly have the best minor league system in baseball. This loyalty comes from the fact that you can see players right down the road when they’re young, then four years later see them in the big leagues.
6. Minnesota Twins – I’m not really that big of a Twins’ fan, but I have a lot of friends who are, and I figure, what the heck!

Honorable Mention goes to the San Diego Padres (I have relatives there who are season ticket holders) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (we almost moved there years ago).

As for teams, I just can’t cheer for, there are basically two.

One is the Yankees. They are the Evil Empire, they are everything that is wrong with baseball and they are just annoying.

The other is the Cubs. I was born and raised a Cardinal fan, I know they are never going to win anything and besides, they’re fun to mess with.

I’m evil that way sometimes! Ha-Ha!