Kate's Point of View

Growing up I was super fortunate when it game to sports. Well, at least baseball and basketball. My Dad had access to season Reds tickets going back as far as I can remember so I got to go to lots of games. When I started liking professional basketball (funny how a man named Michael Jordan can inspire love of the sport) he was able to get me tickets to two games so I could see him play. The Michael Jordan games were pretty much the pinnacle of my childhood sports viewing experience with two possible exceptions.

In 1990 I got to see one World Series playoff game and one World Series game. I was 12 years old. The city was crazy for the reds. I remember walking towards the stadium and seeing just a see of people in red all unified around one thing. I remember watching Glenn Braggs catching a ball by leaping so high into the air he actually reached over the outfield wall and snagged the ball. It was unbelievable.

In a reminder of my age (a reminder that comes a little too close to my birthday), this year is the 20th anniversary of the 1990 Reds World Series Championship. Cincinnati is a fickle baseball town whose loyalty comes and goes with the team’s success. But right now the Reds are in first place, so celebrating a World Series Championship with our eyes on another makes baseball more fun.

Last night after the baseball game against Colorado (Reds won, by the way) 12 members of the 1990 team were brought out onto the field and interviewed by Marty Brennaman. Despite the repeated “twentieth anniversary” part, it was awesome seeing the sports heroes of my youth and watching clips of the games that made them so successful.

From left to right: Paul Noce, Glenn Braggs, Chris Sabo, Billy Hatcher, Hal Morris, Randy Myers, Herm Winningham, Tom Browning, Ron Robinson, Norm Charlton, Keith Brown, Eric Davis

Marty Brennaman Talking to Eric Davis

Marty Brennaman Talking to Chris Sabo

Yesterday Wonder Boy and I celebrated our country’s freedom with hundred’s of other people in the Northside Fourth of July parade. We rode in the parade alongside 20 to 30 other scooters. We saw family and friends lined up along the streets waving to us, little kids alert for any floats tossing candy and people waving American flags.

My perspective was certainly different from Wonder Boy’s as I didn’t have to worry about actually driving the scooter. I just sat on back snapping photos and waving to people. It’s a really cool experience to be acknowledging something we typically take for granted, or at least something I typically take for granted.

Here are the photos I took. NOTE: Some are a little racy for children. What can I say? Northside is a colorful community!

I have faith in the power of contests. I believe that one day I will strike it rich. Win big in the lottery, win a new car or maybe just win a new outfit. When a moment of boredom strikes me, I enter contests. It’s a weird fascination and it’s been a long, long time since I won. (I think my last wins were some Aveda shampoo and a Guess purse.)

But again, I have faith. Around the holidays I start hitting the contest circuit big time. I entered more than I care to admit and, alas, won nothing. Or so I thought! A few days ago I get this in the mail.

Admittedly, this is not my first choice in “Items Kate would like to win.” But, if all I can claim to winning is some cream that slows down unwanted hair growth, ah well. I can still brag over the win!