Steve Gann
Sandra 1Gospel Of A Reds Fan
April 23rd 2009 05:56
I was hoping to write a great introductory article this week explaining why I have been a lifelong Cincinnati Reds fan. I am however not blessed with an incredible mastery of the English language. Here is my first attempt in explaining why I am a Reds apologist.
The Cincinnati Reds were the first all-professional baseball team, having played their first game in 1869. I have been a Reds fan nearly all of my life.
My uncle is the biggest Reds fanatic that I have ever seen. He will argue for hours at a time at how Pete Rose belongs in the Hall Of Fame. He is the reason that I started paying closer attention to baseball. He gave me all of his old baseball cards, the vast majority being Reds players. I remember having old cards from the great Reds championship teams from the seventies: Rose, Bench, Foster, Perez, Morgan, Griffey, and Concepcion. I had all the member of the famous Big Red Machine. I would make a baseball diamond out of the cards and pretend to play a game. Of course, the Reds won every game in my imaginary season.
I remember cheering alongside my uncle and my dad as the Reds swept the Oakland As in the 1990 World Series. Even though the Reds have not had much success since the 1990 season, thousands of Reds fans have faith that a championship is just around the corner.
Can you see how I would have second thoughts on even writing this article? In writing, as in life, you should always stick to what you know best. In the past year I have been blessed to have rediscovered my faith in God. I have always been a student of world religions and mythologies, so I concluded that I might be able to better explain the yearly suffering of us poor Reds fans through some parables. I hope these will give you a greater insight into the mind of a Reds fan.
These are the living words spoke by Steve, a Reds fan to you his loyal readers.
1.1 Steve said: being a Reds fan is like falling in love with the same girl every year in April, knowing she will break your heart by August.
1.2 Steve said: being a Reds fan you must be naïve enough to think that the call up of a Double A pitcher will be the answer to a five-game losing streak.
1.3 Steve said: do not depend on Ken Griffey Jr. as he will undoubtedly injure himself diving for a ball in preseason.
1.4 Steve said: remember that, unlike the Reds bullpen, Jesus can and does save.
1.5 Steve said: Adam Dunn may hit forty homeruns in a year but he will strike out in every other at bat.
1.6 Steve said: Remember even if the Reds are within a game or two of first place at the All Star break the ownership will trade away any players that “real contenders” are interested in acquiring in a trade for so called future “good” prospects.
1.7 Steve said: to be a real Reds fan you must live your life in absolute denial of reality, it is the only way to retain some semblance of your sanity.
1.8 Steve said: while it may not be advantageous for the blind to lead the blind, this is the preferred state in viewing a Reds game this year.
1.9 Steve said: Rejoice! We have signed a new closer and his name shall be Lazarus!
1.10 Steve said: remember the Reds have absolutely nothing in common with fig trees or mustard seeds.
1.11 Steve said: I am telling you that it is by far easier for the camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for the Reds to win the World Series in the next five years.
I plan on posting these sayings on top of the home dugout at Great American Ball Park. My only hope is that they will give some comfort to thousands of Reds fans that have their hearts broken game after game.
Dear God, It has been nearly twenty years since our last championship would you please end our suffering, if not this year sometime before the end of the decade? Amen
The Cincinnati Reds were the first all-professional baseball team, having played their first game in 1869. I have been a Reds fan nearly all of my life.
My uncle is the biggest Reds fanatic that I have ever seen. He will argue for hours at a time at how Pete Rose belongs in the Hall Of Fame. He is the reason that I started paying closer attention to baseball. He gave me all of his old baseball cards, the vast majority being Reds players. I remember having old cards from the great Reds championship teams from the seventies: Rose, Bench, Foster, Perez, Morgan, Griffey, and Concepcion. I had all the member of the famous Big Red Machine. I would make a baseball diamond out of the cards and pretend to play a game. Of course, the Reds won every game in my imaginary season.
I remember cheering alongside my uncle and my dad as the Reds swept the Oakland As in the 1990 World Series. Even though the Reds have not had much success since the 1990 season, thousands of Reds fans have faith that a championship is just around the corner.
Can you see how I would have second thoughts on even writing this article? In writing, as in life, you should always stick to what you know best. In the past year I have been blessed to have rediscovered my faith in God. I have always been a student of world religions and mythologies, so I concluded that I might be able to better explain the yearly suffering of us poor Reds fans through some parables. I hope these will give you a greater insight into the mind of a Reds fan.
These are the living words spoke by Steve, a Reds fan to you his loyal readers.
1.1 Steve said: being a Reds fan is like falling in love with the same girl every year in April, knowing she will break your heart by August.
1.2 Steve said: being a Reds fan you must be naïve enough to think that the call up of a Double A pitcher will be the answer to a five-game losing streak.
1.3 Steve said: do not depend on Ken Griffey Jr. as he will undoubtedly injure himself diving for a ball in preseason.
1.4 Steve said: remember that, unlike the Reds bullpen, Jesus can and does save.
1.5 Steve said: Adam Dunn may hit forty homeruns in a year but he will strike out in every other at bat.
1.6 Steve said: Remember even if the Reds are within a game or two of first place at the All Star break the ownership will trade away any players that “real contenders” are interested in acquiring in a trade for so called future “good” prospects.
1.7 Steve said: to be a real Reds fan you must live your life in absolute denial of reality, it is the only way to retain some semblance of your sanity.
1.8 Steve said: while it may not be advantageous for the blind to lead the blind, this is the preferred state in viewing a Reds game this year.
1.9 Steve said: Rejoice! We have signed a new closer and his name shall be Lazarus!
1.10 Steve said: remember the Reds have absolutely nothing in common with fig trees or mustard seeds.
1.11 Steve said: I am telling you that it is by far easier for the camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for the Reds to win the World Series in the next five years.
I plan on posting these sayings on top of the home dugout at Great American Ball Park. My only hope is that they will give some comfort to thousands of Reds fans that have their hearts broken game after game.
Dear God, It has been nearly twenty years since our last championship would you please end our suffering, if not this year sometime before the end of the decade? Amen
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