From Arrr to Argh!

The Pittsburgh Pirates, my favorite baseball team from childhood, marked a different chapter in their storied history after a loss to the Cubs two days ago, one in which they broke the record for most consecutive losing seasons of any major league sports franchise. Reflecting upon how my beloved team reached new levels of consistency in losing, I am reminded of my experiences as a member of a Little League team growing up in Plano that rarely tasted victory, and I know that even playing in a recreational league, while playing the game was fun and playing with teammates was fun, the losing was the part that wasn't too much fun. I'm sure it's worse for professionals. I'm sure the players don't want to lose; I know the fans don't like to see their team lose; I'm confident the city would rather the team not lose; I hope the team's management is growing weary of losing. Yet while it is difficult to endure losing (especially after so many years), part of the hope that still remains despite the loss is that there's "next time." There's the next game, or the next season. For the Pirates, I hope the fans are still hanging on to the hope that someday, the "next season" will be a winning one.

I mentioned several blogs ago that I'm glad that in Christ we are not measured according to our successes and failures, and this again reminds me that life is not about winning or losing, or even competing with one another for that matter. As believers, we are taught that while we endure the "losses" of this life, we hope for a future where we will celebrate Christ's victory forever. I am thankful for that!

Still, it would be nice to see the Pirates in the playoffs one of these years. I have a promise between my cousin, my brother and I that we'll gather together to go to a game at PNC Park in person when they reach the World Series someday. I'd love for that day to come soon...sitting in the bleachers with the skyline behind us, chanting "Let's Go Bucs," chomping on a Primanti Brothers sandwich...I'll keep hoping.

In the meantime, I encourage you to read this article that I felt was right on the money:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=bryant_howard&id=4452642