Wednesday, January 18, 2012

SB Cocoon

Back in the 80s the movie
   
highlighted the beauty of  the human spirit through the story of a group of trespassing seniors who swim in a pool containing alien cocoons and are re-energized with youthful vigour.

The game of baseball/softball also serves as a cocoon. When I hear older players say "the game keeps me young , keeps me alive" I am often reminded of Hall of Famer Roy Campanella quote “You gotta be a man to play baseball , but you gotta have a lot of little boy in you too.” One of my favorite parts about the game is that while the actual game is being played time in the real world is irrelevant. However, time is a factor in the game in the form of age. The value of youth 
 
 
on the field cannot be understated, but this game has a certain mystical ability to make a participant feel young inside regardless of age. Ironically this fountain of youth effect can be found not too far from Ponce De Leon Boulevard in Miami Fl., at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center (softball in Florida?). On every Tuesday and Thursday, Los Veijos immerse themselves in a softball cocoon where they take batting practice,
Senior Citizen Fetchers















play competitively to win,


 have fun,


 and even talk trash




One player is  94 year old outfielder



94!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK they have special age rules like 6 outfielders, two home plates, and flags
 
placed in centerfield that indicate fair territory, but what really matters is that for a few hours they feel young again thanks to the softball cocoon.

Truly inspiring - they have the love

2 comments:

  1. they make Jack O look like a teenager !

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  2. " Don't be afraid to punch him out , blue ! "

    ReplyDelete