Son is a junior at a D2 college program full of JC transfers, drop-downs and upperclassmen, so most of them are 20-23 y.o. He is in a bit of a cold spell with hitting. He has been waiting for a new custom glove to arrive since ordering it around Christmas. The glove arrived at the house a few weeks ago and I made the road trip to one of his series and delivered it after one of the games. They had lost that game and he was still not his usual feisty self due to the fresh loss and lack of hits falling. I had the glove in a box and he knew I had it with me.
We all remember when they were little kids at Christmas and the new glove made them practically wet themselves. Well I knew, as a 21 y.o., he had matured past that long ago. So I thought. He was downright giddy. It was fun to watch.
OK, now some of the teammates were making their way off the field into the area where parents and fans were congregating. Now, he would have to pull himself together and act like a grown-up in front of his boys.
Nope. He held it up and yelled, "Hey, so-and-so, check it" I swear, the three or four guys in this group were more excited about it than he was. They each had to touch it but all were afraid to put their hand in it as that would mean it was being formed to a hand other than that of the proud new owner. About every three to five minutes, another group would emerge and the same act would play out several times. Some had headed several yards toward the parking area and reversed course when they saw there was a new "piece" to be inspected. I just was really taken aback that these young men were, to a man, instantly reverting to childhood days over a new ball glove. For most, not even their own.
We know about the countless hours of work and commitment required to stay in the game at this level... yet there are still a few things that succinctly capture the burning love of the game that they have. "It's a job". Whatever. Not that day.