I've been a baseball fan since age 10, when I feigned illness to watch the Pirates play the Yankees in the 1960 world series. We caught only one or two channels, but one of them was the right one. I was watching when Bill Mazeroski hit his game-winning homer in the bottom of the 9th, game 7.

Growing up, I played baseball . . . and played and played and played it! If no one was available, I'd bat gravels, or throw a rubber ball against the steps to practice catching grounders. If there was a pickup game to get in on and I was done with chores, count me in. I played little league, pony league, high school and thought of walking on in college, until I saw the practice and game schedule (at which point I decided I wouldn't try out as it would crimp my hunting and fishing trips).

Now here's the important point in all this -- through all my years of playing and eventually coaching younger brothers and sisters then my own son, I never, ever saw an advantage to spitting out my saliva. It never even occurred to me that my game might be improved if I were to eliminate it. Something has changed through the years, however, for it seems that virtually every major league baseball player I see is constantly spitting. Most are not chewing tobacco or sunflower seeds; they're just spitting. Often!

If you've been following the post-season games, you know what I mean. No sooner does the camera zoom in on a player than he spits. The Mets' pitcher averaged about once every three seconds -- sometimes no more than a minuscule drop -- but it was clear that he had an aversion to keeping any saliva in his mouth. And it's not just him: they all do it! I'd hate to see the dugouts! As the camera pans down the line of sitting players, it's one after another -- phht, phew, spft, haaaak - thw. Thou shalt not keep saliva in thy mouth! What must the dugout floor be like? Can you see it? Slimy . . . muddy . . . eghh!

Basketball players don't spit like this. They just sweat A LOT! But they have mouthpieces on the court, and spitting on the gym floor would probably be dangerous, at any rate.

Football players don't spit either (unless on each other in a pile-up). They do spit out their Gatorade on the sideline, however. Watch and see. They grab a cup of the stuff, swish it around, and splff. They don't all do this; some pour the Gatorade on their heads (sticky yuck). Most likely, it's the ex-baseball players who, in some kind of withdrawal, spit out their Gatorade, grabbing cup after cup of the stuff.

It's a serious problem, this spitting. Once you take note of it, you can't stop! It becomes a distraction from the game, or it becomes another game in itself, of sorts, as you wonder how many times a player will spit while on camera. If I were a gambling man, I'd bet on this sort of thing, and would generally win by taking the high number.

So how to enjoy this post-season? The Cardinals (my favorite team) are in again, but they all spit, too. Even Albert Pujols!

Never mind, I guess. Just sit back and relax and close your eyes when they do a close-up shot of one of the players (which is often). Or watch Sports Center on ESPN to catch the highlights. But whatever you do, don't let it rub off on you. Repeat after me . . . saliva is harmless . . . it's OK to have a little bit of saliva in your mouth . . . yes . . .

Hi Phil,

I was just wondering after recently reading your book on Kundalini when it was that it became comfortable to watch sport again, as you said that anything competitive was a no no.

I am not really a sport person myself, and have sometimes felt that the competetiveness and hysteria that sometimes surrounds sports and those who watch it seems to be of a different spirit than the love and humility of Christ. I am not saying sport is evil, just that it promotes competitiveness and rivalry and even sometimes violence between players and also between fans.

Much love in the Lord Jesus
Jacques

I can do pretty much anything now, Jacques . . . in moderation. There was a time when I needed to "fast" from sports as I did get quite caught up with my favorite teams, and the ensuing emotional turmoil was hell on the energy process. Nowadays, those old attachments have been scaled back to preferences, which makes things interesting without them being "do-or-die." E.g., I'd like the Cardinals to win enough to be rooting for them, but the old physiological "fight-or-flight" system isn't much stimulated by the preference.

At the risk of being too enthusiastic, if you are a baseball fan, Game 7 last night is as good as it gets.

That was a very fine game, and I'm quite pleased with the outcome.

What nerves that young relief pitcher for St. Louise must have had. Bases loaded, two out, and pitching to Beltran. Struck him out looking. Oh my!