Sports - Empty Ball Fields

This picture I took as I walked by an empty ball diamond.  

It was the best of times, it was the worst of time. Where are the kids playing baseball at?  From what I hear the leagues are full in most towns across the country. Not as full as soccer or football, but baseball is still being played.  That's organized ball though.  I am talking about street ball.

Where are all the kids who play baseball at the school yards and ball fields just for kicks?  I don't see it anymore.  It makes me really sad.  The best times of my life were playing baseball all day long, and I am thinking most kids have no concept of that experience.

Has the world changed so much that there are more options?  That there are better options? How could it be?  If you are my age, and you grew up playing baseball through spring and summer, it's a part of who you are. Every now and then I'll run into a childhood friend who remembers those games as if it were yesterday.

So in the future what are the kids of today going to talk about when it comes to the past?  "Hey remember that Ipod we use to play Angry Birds on together?" or "Remember when we used to play games that were two dimensional with remote controls?".  Yeah I'm sure it will be something like that..every generation has it's deal.  But playing baseball? That should be a requirement.  Every kid should take a baseball class like they take music. Right?

Hockey, Football, Soccer, Basketball...I love them.  Baseball though has something special about it.  It is a different romantic lore.  It is that part of the brain that longs for good times, good smells, good tastes of yesteryear.  Baseball unlike any other game lends itself to pure romance. Football is power.  Hockey is passion.  Soccer is finesse. Basketball is grace.  Baseball though is love.

I reckon someday there will be no ball fields for kids for anyone to walk up to and play. There will just be organized leagues.  Heck probably just simulated video baseball leagues.