Perspective

My kids are more interested in what the basketball team is doing then their former baseball/softball teams. Once each baseball/softball roster got to the point I didn’t know any of the players I lost a lot of interest.

I think whenever people leave something incredibly important to them, they have to step away and get some distance before they can come back to it in in a manner that is comfortable with the new relationship.

So you play baseball, love it, are good at it as a player. Then you're not a player anymore and when you come to games it feels weird cause you've always been on the inside, and now you're on the outside. And if people aren't working as hard, or working in the same way as they did when you were there, that can make you feel even more distant.

While my personal experience is different, I left a job I loved after working at it for close to 30 years and started my own business in the same industry. It's taken me two years to feel comfortable interacting with the people I knew at that job, and to be comfortable with the fact that I'm now outside of that work life, outside of those relationships and creating something new and that a--that's okay, and b--I KNOW it's okay.

After college I stepped away from the game and didn't go to a game or watch on tv for 10, maybe 15 years.  I just completely lost interest in it.  When my kids were born and I spent a lot more time sitting around the house looking after them I re-discovered the game and became a bigger fan than I ever was before.  I can't get enough of it now.

It amazes me how quickly we can adapt and change, even with things that are such a significant part of our life.  I was involved in organized ball (and various other team sports) for close to 50 years straight, the last ten being mostly as a HS coach.  The HS gig occupied a tremendous amount of time and I loved it.  It has been almost two years now since I stepped away and I can't find enough time in the day to do all the other things I want to do now, mostly non-team sports related.  Our kids (young people in general) are even better at moving on to the next thing.

As much as sports have been at the forefront of my entire life, it turns out it is many of the people I miss instead of the sport.  

When you're hardcore into something, it takes a while, sometimes many years or never, to go back to being a casual fan. It just feels weird and unnatural. It's even true with things that are bad for us. People who drink too much don't usual become casual drinkers. It's all or nothing. Same with gambling. You don't see hardcore gamblers become once-a-month players overnight. They were immersed it and once they're out they need to be out. 

As soon as I was done with college and baseball I spent most of my spare time on the beach learning how to play two man beach volleyball. Once I learned to come from behind the ball instead of under it (played high school basketball) I was eventually good enough to compete in the opening day of pro-ams. 

Then, after making it out of the “am” bracket reality hit. Across the net would be Singin Smith and Randy Stoklos or Tim Hovland and Mike Dodd. If they weren’t decent about it they could have taken out my partner and me 15-2. They used these games as a pre tournament stretch. 

My problem was I was short (6’1”) for two man. My partner was 6’4”. I got served a lot so I would have to also be the striker (bump, set, strike).

I had just as much fun teaching my kids how to play volleyball as baseball/softball and basketball. My daughter played indoor six man in high school as an outside hitter. 

I think  a lot depends upon each individual.  Son coaches one  D1 team, but if you cut him open he would bleed orange with a little purple.

I know of a lot of former players who have moved on. Whether they still love the game as much, I don't know, thats personal and if not, thats ok.

My son has been back 3 or 4 times since drafted and attempts to engage any of the players who want help or advice etc. or whatever. If they don't, he certainly connects with the guys he knows the coaches and folks around the program and dips afterwards. He has stated and is adamant that baseball doesn't define him although he appreciates his time there, lessons learned and experience. I was just there for the Palmetto State Rivalry with South Carolina at Clemson yesterday. It turns out that one of my wife's HS cheerleader team mate's son is a grad transfer from Southern Miss playing for Carolina. We got to meet up , eat the Pot Belly Deli and catch up a but. I snapped this up in the Cajun Cafe with the boys who cook all the food for the masses.

Yum to the Pot Belly Deli and nothing like the Cajun Cafe!

Fenway, your son went through this for 4 years - maybe now he waits for summer to get excited about baseball.