Chris Peterson Column: It's always good to get out to the old ballpark

I'll admit it, baseball isn't my favorite sport. It isn't America's either. The game that was once called our national past time and was unquestionably the most popular sport in our country, is now third, possibly fourth on the list. But, that doesn't matter and didn't matter this past weekend at Legion Field, because baseball is still a great game, a beautiful game — unlike any other.

Baseball is great for so many reasons and if you didn't get a chance to attend the Havre North Stars Jamboree Friday, Saturday or Sunday, then you missed out on a chance to enjoy the baseball experience — because baseball truly is like no other game I know.

There is no clock in baseball, no time limits (at least not normally), but there is a romanticism that is unique and captivating. There is just something special about catching a ball game with your dad, munching on some hot dogs or maybe a burger, spitting some seeds and having a coke.

Baseball is a great sport but it's one that doesn't always translate to television. There are are a lot of things left out when you watch from home, the lazy atmosphere in the stands, the intense thought and effort put behind every pitch, the chatter in the stands, the sound of the ball hitting the mit and the bat hitting the ball.

Baseball is summer, it's cooking on the grill, it's serene and I, for one, hope it never changes.

Already there are those that want to change the game, speed it up and make it more interesting for fans. But in life there are just some things that are left unchanged and baseball is one of them.

The rules don't need to be altered to increase excitement, people just need to appreciate the exciting things that are already happening. There are still few things better than watching a clutch hit or a great catch or a battle between a pitcher and a hitter that never seems to get settled.

Sometimes with all our technological advances, we forget about the simple things — the things that make us happy. We are always trying to find ways to make things better and sometimes we forget that some things are better off left alone.

One thing that hasn't changed is that baseball is part of the fabric of America. It may not be the most-watched sport or the most talked-about, but what father doesn't look forward to the day of playing the first game of catch with his son? I know that's something I'm looking forward to, just like I look forward to taking my son to his first game.

I want him to know what it's like to go to a ball game, to eat cracker jacks, hot dogs and ice cream, sunflower seeds and peanuts, while he watches his favorite team play. And even if he doesn't like baseball, I'm going to make him go, at least once, because as a father, I have a responsibility to help my son experience life and in my opinion, no childhood is complete without some time at the ol' ballpark.

But, I hope he does love baseball (I'm already indoctrinating him into Chicago Cubs' fandom so it's likely he will) and, even more, I hope he plays it. He doesn't have to be great or even average, I wasn't a great player, but I had fun with my friends and playing was something that will stick with me forever.

So if you missed out on the games this weekend or haven't been all season I suggest you go to a ball game, at least once, because even though the game is timeless, summer will come to an end sooner than you think and what is a summer, really, without going to at least one day at the ballpark.