Welcome Home, Kid!

Change I Can Believe In

All That Is Good and Right About Professional Sports

Seattle's Golden Child, The Kid, Junior....call him what you want. I call him my hero. I've always been a baseball fan, but Ken Griffey Jr is the reason I fell in love with the Seattle Mariners. I was heartbroken when he left Seattle 10 years ago and vowed to become a Cincinnati Reds fan (in addition to maintaining my support for the Mariners, of course). However, not a lot of National League baseball was being broadcast here in Mariners country. Then when he came back to Seattle two years ago with the Reds for interleague play, I watched all three games of the series from my living room in Juneau, Alaska. Seattle fans sold out all the games and his reception was phenomenal. I wished so much to be there in person. At that time, he held a press conference saying he was deeply touched by the support of his old fans, that he loved Seattle and would like to retire as a Mariner. That sparked hope in my mind that someday it would be true. So, as you can imagine, when I'd heard in the last week that there were talks with Griffey and Mariners management to bring him back, I literally screamed in excitement. Now, for those of you who are not true fanatics of any sport or athlete, I can't expect you to understand this momentous occasion....why get so excited over someone I don't even know? Someone who will not be anything like the athlete he was 10 years ago. Someone who is at the end of his career returning to a team that lost over 100 games last season. What's all the hype about? Well, if you don't know, then I couldn't possibly explain it. I don't care if he only has one at bat the entire season. The fact that he will be wearing a Mariners uniform again, choosing Seattle over Atlanta shows just where his heart is. I always thought he was a good guy, but now I know for sure. I can't wait to hear them call out his name when they announce the players on opening day. If I am not in the stands, I will be watching from somewhere because I won't miss it for the world. Welcome home, Griffey! Seattle has missed you!!