Steve: i make no claims to have the right answer to that question - as it’s probably somewhat dependent on the individual anyhow - but the way i generally answer it (i’ve been asked it *a lot*) is this:

i like the sport for many reasons: the fact that it makes me think of summer, the fact that it’s unique among pro sports in that the stars of yesteryear would be stars today, the fact that it’s got genuine history, the fact that it, only slightly less than soccer, is an international game, and so on.

but the number one reason i love baseball is that it connects me back to generations of my family. it’s a link to my parent’s generation, my grandparent’s generation and beyond. there’s nothing like bonding with family at an event by sitting around listening to or watching a ballgame. even after my grandfather got alzheimers, we could still sit around and talk baseball because that he remembered.

it means a lot to me, in other words.

anyway, look forward to seeing you at the MySQL conference and let’s try and catch a Giants game later this summer.

I sputtered on passionately but incomprehensibly for about 10 minutes & afterwards I wondered if she would ever would want to see me again. (apparently she does although I think its a little early to actually take her to a game).

“there aren’t a great many things I care about, but the things I care about, I really care about.” covers it about as well as any.

Stephen: I look forward to meeting you at the MySQL conference next week, I’m just disappointed that the Giants will be away & we won’t be able to share a game at AT&T Park.