M is for Mania

 "Mania: excessive or unreasonable enthusiasm; the object of such enthusiasm."

                                                Merriam-Webster

What things bring you mania? Mania producing power for me is usually sports related, but to be different and make the creative juices come out, this will be the only time I write a sports themed mania.

I thought I would write a really long post about Ilona Maher and how rugby just makes me happy, but I have already wrote that HERE. Maher has recently hinted that she is back practicing in San Diego where the USA Eagles have their practice facility.  This truly makes me have Ilona Mania, but I am sure you will hear more about that over on socials as I pine about going and seeing her play this next season and in 2027-28 as she prepares and competes with her team in the Olympics in Los Angeles.  

The other sport mania that hits me every March-October is baseball season.  I follow two teams, which is contentious at times.

“Logo courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers / MLB.”

People with either LOVE, or they will HATE The Los Angeles Dodgers.  I have a friend who is my ultimate baseball friend. I love how I can talk to her about baseball and she knows her stuff.  We can talk until it turns to talking about LA.  She is a Diamondback fan and Dodger hater.  She is a good friend though because she let me watch a Dodger vs Brewers game in spring training when we went. That is true friendship there!

I went to my first ever professional baseball game when I was twelve.  My older "Californian" cousin took me and it was magical. He later saw me with a Dodger hat on and asked "Wait, you are a Dodger fan?" That game obviously didn't stand out to him like it did me, he was just taking his little cousin to a one game while she was in town with her mother while said mother was on a work trip.  He has been to a lot of games so I forgive him, and I also thank him for making me the fan I was.  The energy of Dodger Stadium and the fan base there is one of a kind.  And don't get me started on Dodger Dogs!  

In the era of Orel Hershiser and Mark Gibson and their 1988 World Series win, how could I not become a fan?

I also love my true home team:

Logo courtesy of Major League Baseball / Milwaukee Brewers.

My family didn't follow The Brewers as I grew up in Wisconsin.  We did occasionally get to a local summer collegiate game here and there, and I played softball, but we never concentrated on the Brewers.  Now, that could be because the Brewers have never, ever won a World Series.  It seems like if teams have a history of being better, they have a bigger fan base.  With the Brewers, we just keep a hoping. They did appear in the 1982 Series, but lost to the Cardinals.  Maybe this is why to this day I hate the Cardinals! In the past five years, they gave made the post season twice and they do really have a lot of talent lately, so the excitement is there but they often choke when it counts. Currently, they have the best record in Major League Baseball, but that could have changed before you read this!

It is hard being a fan of two teams.  Who do you cheer for when they play each other? My friends from home were glad a few seasons ago when I told them I would be cheering for the Brewers against the Dodgers in post season play, but then they were disappointed to see I was cheering for the Dodgers after the Brewers choked.  It is a rough life, but somebody has to be this kid.

Here is a baseball mania haiku for you:

Baseball mania:

What team do I cheer for now?

Depends on the day!

I'd love to hear what things bring you mania.  Comment here or on the socials...

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