Willie Nelson’s On the Road Again recording might as well have been our theme song earlier this month as we took Jean’s constant reminder to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to go see things that interest us. My absence from this space last week was the result of a trip to the Midwest that featured some new sites, a bit of nostalgia, and, of course, a few baseball games.
Although it was totally out of character for this Cowboys fan, our first stop took us to Green Bay to tour legendary Lambeau Field. If you have any hankering for sports history, include it on your own bucket list, as the two-hour experience is worth your while.
I felt a bit like a fish out of water when the tour guide asked the question, “Who is your favorite team?” Good-natured ribbing ensued, but I gained support from some other Cowboy fans in the group.
The town’s self-proclaimed “Titletown’” moniker is proudly displayed as the Packers are a unique case in the NFL. They are the league’s only publicly owned team, with 537,460 stockholders collectively owning 5.2 million shares of stock. The stock does not pay dividends, but shareholders do have voting rights at the annual meeting.
Despite a Green Bay city population of 107,000, Lambeau Field seats 81,441, making it the third largest NFL stadium, trailing only the Meadowlands and the Cowboys AT&T Stadium. As was witnessed during the tour, stadium seating provides close proximity to the field with excellent site lines. The Packers have sold out every home game since 1960 and currently have 147,000 names on a waiting list to buy season tickets.
The next stop took us 120 miles south to Milwaukee, where the Pirates were in town for a three-game series with the Brewers. The Buccos took two games from the Brew Crew, but the friendliness of the people made for a fun-filled three days. Our hotel was within walking distance to the park and our Pirates attire generated lots of conversations.
Thirty-six thousand were on hand for the series’ final game to witness sensational rookie Paul Skenes throw seven innings of no-hit ball in a 1-0 Pirates win, giving first-place Brewer fans a bit of a surprise. While well-known in the Burgh, several ‘who is this guy’ inquiries were thrown my way from fans not yet aware of the Skenes’ growing lore. Hours after the game, many more knew who Skenes was when he was named the starting pitcher for the National League in last week’s all-star game.
The roadshow continued to Indianapolis for a first-hand look at the growing phenomenon of Indian Fever sensation Caitlin Clark. She didn’t disappoint, leading her team to a victory over the Phoenix Mercury with a double-double that included scoring or assisting on eight of the first nine Fever baskets.
Despite her obvious skills, which are lifting the WNBA to heightened interest and attendance levels never seen before, Clark has become somewhat of a lightning rod for those envious of the attention she is receiving. Among them include Minnesota Lynx and Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve.
Last month, Reeve posted a message on social media expressing frustration that Clark and the Indiana Fever were getting so much attention using the hashtags “#12 teams” and “#theWNBAismorethanoneplayer,” obvious shots at Clark.
Following last week’s Fever 81-74 victory over the Lynx, Reeve’s tone had changed.
“I mean, I don’t know that I quite understand the question, in that everybody knows that the reason why our teams around the league are having sellouts is because Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are coming to town. So, what the league can do is be ready to capitalize on the moments.”
Touché.
Experiencing the Gainbridge Fieldhouse electricity of a Clark-led Fever game was highlighted by the growing positive influence Clark is having on the thousands of young girls wearing Clark 22 jerseys, holding up handmade signs, and seeking autographs or a waving acknowledgment from their sports idol.
Pop singer Taylor Swift has her ‘Swifties’, but from the enthusiastic reaction of her young fans, Clark’s growing army of ‘Clarkies’ is gaining momentum.
While in Indianapolis, I was afforded the opportunity to walk down memory lane with a tour of Little League Baseball’s Central Regional Center, which was provided by current regional director Stu Hartenstein.
During my tenure with Little League as the Central Region director, Indianapolis was selected as the organization’s first regional home base. That center was replaced with its current home in Whitestown, a northside suburb. During my visit, the center was in preparation for the upcoming Regional Tournament, which will determine the Great Lakes and Midwest champions who will advance to this year’s Little League World Series.
It’s been said that ‘you can’t go home again.’ While ‘home’ is in South Williamsport, the chance to visit the new center brought back many memories of past friends and experiences in the Hoosier state. More importantly, seeing first-hand the interest and excitement currently surrounding Paul Skenes and Catilin Clark reinforces the potential positive influences athletes can provide for the many fans who follow their careers.
