America's Pastime, and America's Future
By Phil Kiver

On a night when I wanted to leave politics behind I just went to a Lake Monsters baseball game to unwind. The night was fun and festive at Centennial Field. While the stadium seats 4,000 on this night paid attendance was 2,184 so it was a very cozy small town atmosphere.

While roaming the grounds before the game I met a young man named Hayden Fitzgerald. Hayden was your poster child young baseball fan asking everyone including me for an autograph. Every game that I go to as a journalist I always manage to acquire a baseball or two and give them to unsuspecting young fans. Whether it was any of the All-Star or World series games to this one in Burlington, nothing brings me more joy than seeing young boys face light up when they receive a ball. Hayden saw what I was doing and began asking me for a ball of his own. He really began to pester me in earnest, so I finally said, "Listen son I give balls to those that don't realize it is coming. You are going to ruin it for the next person." Sufficiently detected Hayden left me alone which is exactly what I wanted. After about 30 minutes I presented him with a ball much to the delight of us both.

In between innings I strolled around asking people why they came out to the game or what their favorite food at the ball park was. Judy Tomb was eating a monster dog; she explained to me in-between monster bites that is was her favorite thing at the park. There were three other people at her table none of whom said anything noteworthy enough to make this column. Just so you know I told them that at the time, they know who they are.

I was having such a good time at the ball park I dropped ten dollars on a 50/50 raffle for one of the local school districts that was fundraising at the game. I didn't really care about their funding needs, I mean we all pay taxes in some way for schools yet they are still short of money it seems. In fact I believe our public education system is broken and should be abolished but that's just me I guess. I was only interested in winning the pot and not the schools financial needs.

After some off and on rain and sloppy play by both teams it was time for the drawing. For some reason the announcement was delayed by one inning so I went to find out for myself. At customer relations they showed me the winning ticket which I did not possess. I went back out to watch the game and got into a discussion with some young adults about the drawing and taxes. I shared my opinion about all that with one man grumbling under his breath said the war is the reason why schools don't have enough supplies. Now try as I might I couldn't resist the opening he had left for me. I jumped all over the young teachers and said if not for the war on terror there would be no schools like we know them today. Islamic terrorists don't care if you voted for John Kerry or would do so again. After the man retreated far away from me and the good sense I was making, he friend remarked I should just relax and enjoy the game. I didn't even bother to remind him that there is a war going on and that there are bad people in 267 nations around the globe that want to kill us and the freedom we represent which would mean no baseball games. He wouldn't have listened or believed me anyhow.

Lastly let me leave you why this new but eternal question. Do we educate our children to prevent terrorist attacks, or prevent terrorist attacks to educate our children?

Enjoy your next game!