Calling all sports fans

Well the winter sports season came to an end in Putnam County last week and now it's time to switch gears and get ready for spring.

So as the athletes get out there and begin their spring training for baseball, softball, track, golf and tennis, I say the fans should get ready as well, ready to fill the stands.

I have seen it over and over again where fans will flock to football and basketball games and fill the bleachers until they can't hold another person. Then when the spring season comes around, you hardly see a bleacher packed full of fans cheering and I asked one question. Why is that?

Why do fans choose to come out and cheer on baseball and softball teams like they do for football and basketball? It can't be because it's not exciting. True, you don't see players cracking open each others heads like you do in football or see players drive in and rip down the rim like you do in a basketball game, but it's still exciting to watch.

How about when you have your team down by three and it's the bottom of the seventh and there are two outs and it's the bottom of your lineup and that player jacks one over the fence for a game winning grand slam. I bet that would get you (the fans) up out of your seats. And it would show that player that you don't have to be a basketball player or football player to get the support of the public. How about when a track athlete breaks a four-minute mile or clears seven-foot on the high jump or even throws a school record in the shot put or discus; that too is exciting. Or when a golfer aces the last hole of the match to secure the win for his team.

How do you think the athletes would feel if they ran out of the dugout or walked onto the golf course and saw a huge crowd from the community come out and support them. How about amazed? I would even bet that our spring teams would do better throughout the season if they had a bigger fan base. Athletes tend to go the extra mile when fans are pushing them too.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that there are some athletes that only play spring sports and they don't quite get the support as the athletes who do play the fall or winter sports and it would be nice to see them get the recognition they deserve.

Spring sports can be just as exciting, or even more exciting, than the fall and winter sports given the right circumstances. True, they are not as physical, and I mean that in the contact way. They are still fun to watch and to get involved with.

So to close off this rant I am going to say this. If you (the public fan base) are willing brave the scorching heat and freezing cold during the football season or brave the snowy roads during basketball season to show your support; then I think you can come out in the nice spring weather and cheer on your spring sport athletes.