I'm not a huge sports fan. I like the drama of the big game, and so watched last season's incredible American League Championship Series with great interest. But normally I can't be bothered to really care who wins or loses. I would have liked to go to the Washington Nationals' home opener tonight, but even if tickets had been available I probably wouldn't have made it on a weeknight.

So this morning at 7:00am, like most weekday morning at 7:00am, I'm at the gym on the elliptical machine reading the WashPost editorial page. Unlike most mornings, I get a little lump in my throat while reading the lead editorial:

... tonight and the many other baseball nights and days to come this summer at RFK Stadium are for someone about 9 or 10 years old who's never been to a big league game and who will walk into this old and wonderfully outdated stadium and start climbing the long, gentle ramps, one after another until suddenly at one of the turnings, the field leaps into view, bright green and tan, framed by the upper and lower decks and teeming with people one has seen only on television, loping about in pregame drills almost as if they were mere human beings.

A baseball writer who had spent many days and nights following the Boston Red Sox once described how, bringing a friend to Fenway Park for his first visit, he walked backward in front of the newcomer as they entered the stadium, just so he could see the expression on his face as he caught sight of the field. Tonight at RFK, if you see some parent stumbling backward up the ramp in front of a son or daughter and watching intently for dramatic changes in facial expression, try to understand. It's been a long time.

I thought to myself, now that's weird, where did that emotion come from? After a few nanoseconds of reflection, I realized the obvious answer. Not long after the last year DC had a major league baseball team (34 years ago), my dad was taking me to Rochester Red Wings ball games. I remember going to a breakfast with the team and getting several autographs from players who went on to long careers with the Orioles. Some of my favorite early memories ...

As a happy coincidence, it's my dad's birthday today.

Happy birthday dad! Thanks for being such an awesome role model, and thanks for being responsible for that lump in my throat this morning.  ¶ 6:40 PM