…American baseball & Steamboat Springs, CO

SO good to be here in Steamboat Springs, CO w/family for cousin's (Andrea Sherman) wedding. Sitting to the right is my incredible mother: Terri Brewerton from Augusta, GA - love this woman!

As many of you know we are still on break from our cross-country walk and will officially set out on August 5th from just outside of Canon City, CO (Next Thursday!!)

I am writing to you from an amazing paradise tucked away in Steamboat Springs, CO. My cousin Andrea Sherman is getting married here over the weekend and much of our family is getting together for the first time in YEARS. This place cuts into the mountain side overlooking Steamboat Lake and is simply magnificent. – relaxing – refreshing – and FUN. I will post a video soon, once all of my incredible family arrives…

Colorado Rockies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – THANK YOU Rob & Carol Gifford for taking Ben and I to the game – ahhh, good people you are!

A rant…

Above is a small video from last night’s baseball game (Colorado Rockies vs Pittburgh Pirates). I haven’t been to a professional game in a long time and (especially after the walk) am mesmerized by its sheer ‘magnitude’. The flashing world of color, light, and sound fuel such a ‘what seems to be’ intense passion for SPORT in this country. After walking through corn fields, cattle yards, and prairie lands – I find these environments exciting & challenging. As an athlete myself (beach/sand volleyball), I can fully appreciate the community and camaraderie behind playing and/or watching these games. Team loyalty, rivalry, and the art of being a player and/or fan in the eyes of competition can be exhilarating.

I love sport. I hope the passion for it never dies. Sports can and hopefully will forever teach us about discipline, goal setting, teamwork… as well as carry communities, cities, countries and/or a family into a positive place when they are troubled.

All of that said – I am unsettled with Marketing and its heavy grip on our ‘Sports’. It is, as if the ‘lifestyle’ and the ‘brand’ of the sporting industry is working very hard to steal the tradition that truly is baseball – soccer – basketball – football – golf..etc. Trying to wrap my mind around the speed and chaos at which our ‘wallets’ are tempted to constantly dance with our sporting experience is stressful.

…imagine if just a SMALL percentage of these profits were balanced and steered towards the heavy issues that exist in our personal lives, social lives – in our communities (locally, nationally and globally).

Thanks for hearing my rant… would love your thoughts! ; )