Another baseball season. I just love it. And thrilled to be apart of the new Braves Pre-Game Show, with Leo and Lemke. I grew up totally in love with baseball down in Valdosta. Braves baseball on the radio. Braves baseball on TBS. Dad loaded us up, with a few friends, a few times each year. Normally, we'd get to see the Cardinals or Dodgers each summer. Dad would let us hang out at the Hyatt Regency Downtown and chase autograph's. Then, we'd hit the Holiday Inn. This was the seventies. 
    My first real memories of Major League Baseball was 1969. I was 9. It was my first year in LIttle League. The Braves won 93 games and advanced to the Postseason, against the Mets. And Hank Aaron was our guy. Hit 3 homeruns in the series.
    I always had great respect for Hank Aaron. When I tuned in, Mr. Aaron was always in the line-up. You could count on him playing. In the season of '69, Hammerin' Hank hit .300, with 44 homeruns and 97 RBI. I admired his determination. Nobody was going to stand in his way, not even Bob Gibson. I was 14 when he broke Babe Ruth's record. I was in awe. Our guy was breaking Ruth's homerun record. How awesome is that? 
    Remember the line about Hank? "Sneaking a fastball by Hank Aaron, is like trying to sneak the sunrise past a rooster." Classic. And he could stroke the off-speed pitch too. Those falling in love with the game years for me happened when I was 9-14. During those years, Mr. Aaron averaged .293-39-96. And he was 35-40 years old. Awesome player. Great example. Played the game like's it's supposed to be played. Hard. No fear. Develop an all-around game. Run, field, throw. Refuse to give an inch. Take losing like a man. Aaron was a great influence. And I totally respected how he stood strong to the racism he faced along the way. The way I saw it, what was not to admire about Aaron?
    He's the greatest Braves player ever. Opening day always seems to take me back. To the days, when Hammerin' Hank Aaron was the man.