Back in the 80s my dad, with no connection to anyone on the team, went to OU softball games at Reeves park. This was back when only parents of players attended. In the 90s and 2000s he only got to watch them on the really rare occasions they were on television, and that was the only exposure to softball I ever got. And I liked it.
My dad never really cared about or liked watching baseball, but loved softball. He was a really good fast pitch softball pitcher in Dallas before I was born, and my mom was a pretty good hitter (though she was never able to play in school back in 50s/60s).
My dad died several years ago, so he never got to see them become the dominant force they are today. And he never saw espn + or soonervision. Ironically, though the games he went to were practically free, he wouldn't be able to attend their games now because he wouldn't be able to afford them! The team went from only parents watching to having to build a new stadium because a number more than twice the number of seats in their stadium show up to watch their games.
That includes their very last game in the stadium, which broke the all time record for consecutive wins. A game that was down to one swing of the bat down 3 runs, 2 outs, and 2 stikes. Had she not hit the ball the game would have been over. But instead she hit it out of the park and into the overflow of fans watching outside to tie it up. I really wish my dad had gotten to see that moment.
At least my mother did. She was with me on the couch, and she screamed and laughed with joy. What a moment!
Amazing how far they've come. And how far they will go. My dad would have loved it.
My dad never really cared about or liked watching baseball, but loved softball. He was a really good fast pitch softball pitcher in Dallas before I was born, and my mom was a pretty good hitter (though she was never able to play in school back in 50s/60s).
My dad died several years ago, so he never got to see them become the dominant force they are today. And he never saw espn + or soonervision. Ironically, though the games he went to were practically free, he wouldn't be able to attend their games now because he wouldn't be able to afford them! The team went from only parents watching to having to build a new stadium because a number more than twice the number of seats in their stadium show up to watch their games.
That includes their very last game in the stadium, which broke the all time record for consecutive wins. A game that was down to one swing of the bat down 3 runs, 2 outs, and 2 stikes. Had she not hit the ball the game would have been over. But instead she hit it out of the park and into the overflow of fans watching outside to tie it up. I really wish my dad had gotten to see that moment.
At least my mother did. She was with me on the couch, and she screamed and laughed with joy. What a moment!
Amazing how far they've come. And how far they will go. My dad would have loved it.
