I went with my son and brother-in-law to the Astros' opening day game against the Brewers today. It was a wonderful day for a game, a little breezy, but just enough to cool you off from the noticeable warmth. It was the kind of day that lets you know that summer is just around the corner. We missed the Astros batting practice, but got there in time to watch Richie Sexson put a couple out of the stadium. Enron Field has to be one of the better parks to watch batting practice.

It was really good to hear the crack of the bat and the sound of the balls pounding into the gloves. Those sounds become more and more familiar as the summer goes on. Eventually they become like the sounds of cars on the highway or waves at the beach, background noise to daily living until the day summer dies and the bats and balls are put up for the year. The first day of every new year that you hear them live, whether it is t-ball, little league, or the big show, is something special.

My son is five and I have never been so proud as when I looked down at him during the National Anthem. He was using the wrong hand and it was nowhere near his heart, but he was singing the national anthem with all the fervor of a tried and true veteran. A lot of the athletes and fans could learn a lesson from him.

My son is not really into the game yet, but he was excited about going. He may have been more excited about missing an afternoon of school and the stories that he could tell his friends the next day. He enjoyed watching the planes fly around the stadium with the company advertisements floating behind them. He enjoyed the train when Daryle Ward hit his grand slam to give Houston a 7-1 lead. We took a couple of innings off and went to the kids play area at the stadium. We spent 45 minutes in line for 5 minutes of play, but he seemed to enjoy that also. He liked the yelling as loud as he could when we cheered and the clapping and stomping with the organ. He liked the hot dogs and nachos and popcorn. He liked the things that all five year olds should like and that was wonderful to watch. He sees things at games that I have never seen and going with him is a valuable learning experience each and every time.

I bought a small Astros outfit for my, as yet, unborn daughter. I wouldn’t want to be unprepared in September as we head toward that pennant drive. This town may need all the fans it can to pack the stadium (only 36,000 on Opening Day). I bought the traditional collectors ball for opening day. This gave us three: the last regular season game at the Astrodome (1999), the first regular season game at Enron Field (2000), and Opening Day at Enron (2001). It's something small, but a tradition I hope we get to keep in the family.

I went to a baseball game today and my memories of the game are not what stand out. My memories of the boy and I are what I will remember. This is why basketball, football, and hockey will never be able to compete with baseball as the national pastime. Those sports are about the game and the game's special moments. Baseball is about families and the special moments that they share around the game. I went to a baseball game today and was reminded that it is as much about mom, dad, son, daughter, grandma, and grandpa as it is about bats, balls, bases, hits, and outs.

The Astros won 11-3. Not a bad day at all...

» Joey Ware is a computer programmer and budding writer currently living in Houston, Texas. This article was previously published at e-sports.com; you can see his previously written articles at www.byJoeyWare.com.

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