Thaw

Southerners just aren’t used to this.

After days of battling ice and snow, now we aresubjected to brutally cold temperatures. This morning, as I drove to work, the reading on my temperature gauge said “2 degrees.” I put on my parka, gathered up my things and then schlepped to the office.

Tomorrow, the weather folks say, it’ll be even colder. We’re sure to break records. And whereas all sports-minded citizens such as myself enjoy record-breaking performances, these are some stats I could do without.

We’d like to have the thaw now, please.

Speaking of sports, it is two emails I received today that should give me - and all my sports-minded friends - a bit of hope in the midst of this winter misery.

First, I received notification of the latest blog from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Braves players are starting to arrive in sunny Florida. Tomorrow is the official day “Pitchers and Catchers Report.” Their arrival heralds the start of spring training.

MLB.TV wasted no time in promoting its television package for spring training games; cactus league and grapefruit league games en masse coming your way for a nominal fee. 

Alas, the 2015 baseball season isn’t far away. Before long, I will return to Turner Field to see the Braves in the warmth and sun of summer.

Meanwhile, I received a second email. This one came from the Tennessee Titans. It signals it is time for my season ticket renewal.

This notification leaves me conflicted.

On one hand, it is exciting to think of the fun and excitement of the upcoming 2015 season. The timing for this notification about 2015 is curious as we’re still in the same month in which the 2014 season came to its dramatic conclusion in Super Bowl XLIX. On the other hand, I am really not sure I’m going to keep my Titans tickets.

It has become increasingly difficult to get to Nashville three or four times during the fall season. And, let’s face it, during the last five years there haven’t been many reasons to get excited about a Sunday road trip to Music City.

I remember when Paul and I were there, in December, to see the Titans take on the Giants, the experience was just sad.  The lifeless Columbia blue-clad throng led a New York fan – with his pronounced accent – to exclaim  “It sounds like a library in here!” (“It sownds liiike a librayree in heeyuh!”).

He was right. 

Not many Titans fans were present that day and the ones who were no-hand little to cheer about. Indeed, the Titans were soundly beaten that day by a mediocre, at best, Giants team by the score of 36-7.

This is the story of the past five seasons and serves as the driving force behind my impending decision: “To renew or not to renew.”

Right now, I’m leaning toward letting them go. After 15 seasons of making the drive west and east on I-40, I may choose to sit this one out. Tickets can be had via eBay and Stubhub (better tickets than mine) for a very affordable price.

Anyway, the kickoff of the NFL season is still seven months off; the start of the MLB season is just seven weeks away.

Still, the dual email messages in y in-box this morning warmed the heart on a bitterly cold late February day.

JG

Originally posted 2/19/2015