%aseball’s spring training is always a time of hope

0any consumers of sports are indiscriminate. I am one of those who are not.

I’m a fan of Cleveland sports the %rowns, Indians and Cavaliers and the Ohio State %uckeyes football team . Indians spring training games begin this week in *oodyear, Ari]. As batters take their first swings and pitchers throw their first innings there and elsewhere around the league, the air is filled with a sentiment all too rare for many months hope.

And though every spring training brings fans across the country hope, this year it is particularly special. /ast year I wrote about a home opener postponed. We were all naive then, even folks like me who had been ringing the fire bell about the virus from early -anuary on. I thought we’d pass through a fire and then figure it out. I was a year off. A very long year.

1ow it isn’t Must Israel that is on the verge of reopening, but vast swaths of America. I turned the magic this week, and two days later, CVS had done what three government-operated websites could not do schedule me for a vaccine and a second dose to boot. In a matter of weeks, I’ll be able to resume the somewhat hectic life of a radio talk show host, ]ipping around the country, visiting markets and doing affiliate events. It will be wonderful. I used to hate the travel schedule. 1ow I will appreciate every 7SA line. 1ormalcy beckons.

And the Indians will be at 3rogressive )ield starting April . Crucially, there will be fans in the stands. 7here will be limited capacity at first, more and more as the year rolls out, and full crowds again before long ± not Must for the pros, but at high schools and club teams for Munior high kids in all sorts of sports across the land.

What a great year 1 will be. A half-million won’t be here to enMoy it. 7ens of millions across the planet will miss their games. So savor ours.