My Husband is an Addict - His Love Affair with Baseball
75
Where Do I Begin?
My husband is an addict. He searches frantically for his fix all day, every day. When he doesn’t get what he craves he is cranky, he pouts and he is prone to sweaty shakes. He can get depressed and he often reminisces about his last fix. When my husband does get a fix he sits around the house with a blank stare on his face, a man who has found his heaven. The children and I do not exist. Those times are the most tranquil. We dread the bad fix as it can lead to fits of violence – jumping around and screaming, flinging arms in the air, and lots of swearing. At first my husband scared the kids with his outbursts, but sadly they’ve become accustomed to his ways. They just accept their father for who he is and what he does. They don’t ask questions and if the outbursts become too intense they leave and lock themselves in their bedrooms. My husband doesn’t seem to realize what his addiction does to the family. Either that or he just doesn’t care. The pull is too much for him. I wish I could break the hold but I just can’t compete. I’m absolutely terrified my husband will pass his addiction on to the children. We have three daughters and I have such high hopes for each of them. But my husband’s addiction is such a strong presence in the house; I don’t think I stand a chance.
Wait A Minute!
If you’ve made it this far I thank you for taking the time to read. I’d also like to stop you from calling Children’s Protective Services. While my husband does indeed have an addiction, it’s to baseball. During baseball season my husband is absolutely obsessed in the true word of it. He goes to several games, gets autographs from as many players as possible, and follows scores on the TV, the radio, and the cell phone all at the same time. I often make jokes and ask if my husband has money riding on the games because he gets so into them. He lives and breathes by our local team The Cleveland Indians. Sadly they aren’t very good and my husband can be caught yelling at the TV more often than not. In the off-season my husband counts down the days until spring training and watches old baseball games to find his ‘fix’. The children have gone to so many games this season that I think they’ve caught the bug. They now collect cards and baseballs and have several players’ autographs. I personally do not like baseball so I don’t get the attraction. Sitting on the opposite side of the living room I get a very different perspective of my husband during baseball season. Thank goodness we started dating during the off-season and I didn’t see this obsession immediately or we may not be married today. No, that’s not true. I suppose we balance each other perfectly.
"When Does a Habit Become an Addiction?"
Of course all of this is in jest. While I can say my husband is addicted to baseball he can say I am addicted to the Internet. When my husband sits and watches his baseball games I can be found on the computer writing articles or commenting on Facebook. Our children also have mini-obsessions of their own. I call them mini because the kids obsess about these things for a short while and then move on to something else. Our oldest daughter loves video games and sketching. Right now she’s into making comic strips about wolves. Our middle daughter loves writing; she’s just like her mom. Our youngest daughter is obsessed with drawing people she knows. She has an entire notebook full of stick figures with names written beside them. And the dog is obsessed with licking the skin between the toes on his right front paw.
Let Me Hear From You
Do you have an addiction?
See results without votingEvan Longoria Great Catch
ESPN Top Headlines
- Hinton: The magic remains in Indy
It will happen Sunday. The echoes will resound through the most massive grandstands on the face of the earth and the Indianapolis 500 will be the most important race in history ... again. - 69 minutes ago
- Howard: I had no role in Van Gundy's firing
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard told TMZ on Thursday he played no role in the team's decision to fire coach Stan Van Gundy. - 17 hours ago
- Woodson signs multiyear extension with Knicks
The New York Knicks on Friday named Mike Woodson their next coach, removing the interim tag from his job title. The team announced that Woodson had signed a multiyear extension. - 77 minutes ago
|
1953 Topps #18 Ted Lepcio Boston Red Sox Vintage Old Baseball Sports Ball Card
Current Bid: $2.49
|
|
MLB Sport Titanium Necklace,X-30 Baseball Sport Authentic Titanium Necklace
Current Bid: $6.20
|
|
MLB Sport Titanium Necklace,X-30 Baseball Sport Authentic Titanium Necklace
Current Bid: $6.20
|
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (6)
- Funny (20)
- Awesome (9)
- Beautiful (5)
- Interesting (10)
CommentsLoading...
First it was football widows and now baseball wives. On the one hand you want him to have a genuine interest but on the other hand when does it go too far. If he was like this when you met him then you bought into the mania and he probably feels you don't have anything to complain about. Good hub!
Dee
Great writing and just hilarious
Wow! I 'm just glad this didn't turn out to be yet another sad story about an unhappy marriage. Sometimes it's hard to see the difference between addiction and lifestyle, I think.
Aw, sorry JerryJupiter! Im not usually tongue-in-cheek but I had to have a little fun at my husband's expense :) He hates when I write about him. As for the caffeine addiction - I have heard its THE hardest to kick. Heck, I quit smoking last Decemeber with no problem, stopped eating anything processed easily and there's no way I will give up my caffeine (Diet Coke). And of course, like with HP, not all addictions are bad!
SexyLadyDee, thanks for stopping in. I suppose being a football widow and a baseball wife are much the same, just different seasons! I think my husband's addiction has gotten worse over the years but its ok. At least he does have his own hobby
Jenubouka, thanks! :) I was a little nervous someone would be offended that I was making light of addictions. Im always too worried about being PC. But I love to read articles like this. Im a closet humorist I guess.
Haunty - naw, I kinda like that husband of mine :D I loved that video I put in asking how one can tell the difference between a hobby and an addiction. It got me thinking! Thanks for stopping in.
I thought it's addiction for something which is worse. Glad ..it's a positive addiction. Lol.
Hi blog8withJ - Yah, I sorta feel bad drawing people in with a false title like that :) My sense of humor doesnt always go along with everyone else's. Thanks for reading!
My husband is an addict too - but he doesn't care as much how he gets his fix (baseball, basketball, football). One thing I just don't get are the "fantasy" leagues. I mean, don't we have to put up with enough "real" sports? LOL! Great hub!
Oh, Lord stephhicks - I hadnt even thought about the fantasy leagues! I wont even go there on that one haha I feel for you though. Your husband has an all seasons addiction - lucky for me baseball is about over :)
Dear, i love this piece. The angle you wrote from, spendid. Your writing style awesome. I am in lack of words to describe my happiness. Bless you
Thank you ubanichijioke, you are too sweet. You are also a very talented writer. Are you going to enter some of your work in the HubPages Creative Writing Contest?
Ardie :0)
Great Hub.....
Yes you had me going too...Love your writing style...you probably write like you talk...after all that's what writing is a good conversation on paper/ net!!!
" And the dog is obsessed with licking the skin between the toes on his right front paw "
Great ending statement LOL..tied it all together...
Your new Fan Mike :0)
Mike! Its my favorite hubber to visit when I have writer's block :) I try to sound like I'm talking to a friend when I write so I dont sound too stuffy - nobody wants to read that...and the dog? Well, he's now bald between those two toes.
...wow that's quite an amazing video isn't it - and it's all about timing too - or as they say being in the right/wrong time at the right/wrong place - lol - and yes I love your writing and its tongue in cheek style which reminds me of Erma Bombeck (high praise indeed) so there is only 2 things left to do for the epi-man and that is to post this awesome hub to my facebook page with a direct link back here and to follow you with great pleasure indeed .... lake erie time 2:29pm
Hello, its great to see you here epigramman :) That video is so very cool. Every time I see it I cant believe how Evan managed to get it bare-handed. And you are just way, way too kind. I dont think I've ever had such an amazing compliment! Erma? Wow... And a link on Facebook? What did I do to deserve all this niceness?
Nice touch, Ardie! To coin the catch-phrase, "you had me at hello," you had me with your first statement in the first paragraph. No, I am not a baseball addict, but my wife says that my "love" for college football is one that I could live without. Maybe she has a point. I may choose a halfway-house in the 50 yard line and go to a huddle and say, "Hi, I'm Kenny. (crowd says: HI, KENNY!), I am a college football addict. This is rough. It all started in 1966 with a glimpse of the Crimson Tide at Alabama...what a great team. They give me such a "high," hey, folks, you said be honest. Then it was a game a weekend then 2 games a week...then sports pages with Alabama stories, stats every evening...I couldn't stop. I was making myself a "pigskin wreck," my family would leave home every late September...they all knew that it was "my time," for college football. Today I am a much-improved addict. I lead a mostly-sane life and try to be good to others. I can, (gulp), live (gulp) live with---ou---without college football...thaks to tevo! Thanks! Ardie, you are a natural-talent and I am a fan and follower. Kenneth Avery from a rural town in northwest Alabama, Hamilton, that makes you think of Mayberry where Andy and Barney worked. Voted up and all across. Sincerely, Kenneth
HAAAA!! I was already laughing as I read through your introduction to the crowd at the halfway house. But when I got to the part about living without college football thanks to tevo I roared!!
Thank you for the wonderful votes! I wasnt sure how my husband would take this jab at his "addiction" but he's taken it better than I thought. So far this hub was the most fun to write in my almost 3 years here.
Great Hub! You had me hooked right from the beginning! I sympathize with living with a baseball addict - my hubby loves football, though not quite to those extremes. He would say I'm an internet addict. I've relegated him to the TV in the den to watch football games because his yelling at the TV makes me crazy. At least I don't usually yell at my computer, though I have been known to break out in giggles! Voted up!
Stephanie, I HAD to laugh at moving your husband to a different room due to him yelling at the football games! That's too funny. Right now my darling is going through fits missing his team. Im trying to be firm yet gentle to pull him through this :)
Great lead-in! Excellent HUB! Voted up and funny! :)
Thanks justmesuzanne! I appreciate you stopping in and finding the humor in my torment :D
I am definitely more of a football fan, I feel bad for you because it seems baseball season never ends!! Great hub!
Oooh, I don't know. Our team stinks so the season ends pretty fast here hahaha!! BUT our satellite has been broken for a week (we're waiting on the tech) and the dear, sweet husband has been really hurting without the TV
I am addicted to pain. Love is beautiful but the pain is what makes it that much more. Beautiful write, Thank you
That's not a very healthy addiction, JadedLove. Love is beautiful and sometimes it can hurt, but it doesn't HAVE to. Thanks for reading :)
You are most welcome. Honestly I never knew love until I was 35, before that it was an illusion only suffered by fools. Now I know different and I wouldn't change it for anything.
You are very lucky to have found it at all. I know several people who gave up too soon. Keep it safe and hold on to it with all your might.
How about a 'soft' addiction - I think it is called 'soft' - and what could it be? The judge shows. Some may laugh and scoff. But what started out years ago as me coming home from work or being off and catching a couple shows, well they have become even more popular. I don't even know who all these judges are.
So since I have been home blogging and what not this last year - well, the shows have gone from say 2pm to 5pm to now from 11:30am to 5pm. And I would turn the tv on and have the background noise for hours and I'd work around them and...
Ah, but wait...I said...finally. Do not watch judge shows until Friday. Well, that didn't work. So what did I do? I threw that ridiculous old tv out. Yessirree. I felt that was the only way to handle this.
Now I have more time than ever, and I am writing more - earning more money, seeing friends, taking great walks and on and on - my creativity which I have not seen in years - is back.
I am not totally without because when I go to bed at night I can logon to hulu.com and watch some comedy or Alfred Hitchcock or such.
I have to say though after reading your hub - there was a show about the effect of crazy husbands (and friends) and their sports obsessions. The consensus - the yelling at the tv with loud friends over is in fact stressful and can cause a heart attack in the wife. I believe it. I've been around fanatics and the noise they made. OMG.
Thanks for a great hub. I was going to follow you but I am a loyal fan from so long ago. Must visit you more often.
Rated up!
Hi Bk, its been a couple years :) Im glad you found a cure for your addiction. I love the use of "soft addiction" to describe it - because it's not hurting anyone but it is causing some inconvenience to your life (such as missing out on friends and extra time for work). I prefer to call my "soft addictions" my latest obsessions. I flit from one obsession to another after I get my fix.
As for the judge shows, it IS kinda funny to me. My stepdad is as serious as they come and works his fingers to the bone. He works harder now that he's retired than he ever did, and he was a workaholic before. But guess what he enjoys watching...yup, those judge shows!
I'll have to look into the impact on my childrens' health when they see dear sweet Daddy screaming "C'mon boys, get on your horse!!!!!!!!" at the TV - that's one I pick on him about. I guess he says it when the players aren't running to the bases fast enough? Who knows. Anyways, thanks for stopping in and for the Up. It was great to see you again.
Good Hub. My wife could probly relate. I'm a huge baseball and football fan and neitehr team I like (the Oakland A's and the Seattle seahawks) is very good, so many cursings and uncreative bouts of anger can be heard around my house. We do not have or want kids, and this is probly good. We were babysitting my niece this weekend and my team, predictably played terribly. I had to be careful to not let loose with any f bombs.
Aaw, your poor wife PDX! She has to deal with baseball AND football. Please send her my way if she ever needs a sympathetic ear :) On a different note: I got stuck in football traffic on my way home from work tonight - yikes those are some mean, aggressive drivers! Thanks for reading.
my wife actually loves that i love footballa nd baseball and often watches with me. Or she reads my HUBS while I watch :-) She's the best
Lucky man!! I tried getting into baseball with my dear, and at least I understand it now and I do go to some games...but NOTHING like him :) take care of that wife you got, she sounds like a keeper!
she is, and I will. It helps that she's smokin hot :-)
PDX Too funny!
Hehe! Well a degree of obsession can sometimes be a good thing! Though I am more of an internet addict like yourself, rather than a sports fan.
I agree Paul! We all have to have our own ways of staying entertained, right? ;)
Congrats on being ELITE!
Thanks!! I busted my behind on comments for it. But to be honest - I would've done all the commenting anyways. I love interacting on the hubs :)
I love this article. You did a fantastic job of describing obsessions anyone can have about this or that. Awesome. I can empathize with the autograph part. I would invest a lot of time doing the same thing.
That was what my ebay business was. I got auto's at NHRA drag race events and sold them. There are bunches of ppl who will never have the opportunity of going to a National event and drool over having an authentic autographed this or that. My challenge as here is my nemesis - time. So, I closed my store.
Oh yeah, thank you for taking the time to update the ESPN, I don't have it on my cable, so I have created a new file in bookmarks for sports. I will check back for updates since you & your hubby are a trusted source for what is important. And, I look forward to your kids escapades at the blog. Hasta luego as we say here in Diego , , ,
Hello tsmog! Autographed anything seems to really have a good niche if you're lucky enough to get your hands on it. My husband is so obsessed about his autographed baseballs that he bought special lights to hang over them that won't damage the balls or the ink! It kills me :D
Maybe some day you can open your shop on ebay again when time is more available. It sounds like a fun way to make a fan's day!
(My poor blog has been neglected lately...I better get back to it, eh?)
Hasta luego ts!
thanks ardie :-)
Ardie..don't do this to me again...I was ready to call childline. You had me going for a minute. What a great read. I am hooked on a game over here called Rugby League. My favourite team is the Leeds Rhinos. Champs last season. Waiting for Feb to come round!
Vote up / awesome but should be a vote fo X10
Great to see you Posh! Im sorry to worry you like that hahah Your sport's season is much closer than my husband's. He's waiting for the end of April and he's not fairing very well with patience!
Came ro see if you'd started the 30 - and I didn't want to waste the trip so I checked out so ething else. I knew you had something up your sleeve in the title! Yep my hubby is a football fanatic and I mean fantasy leagues and the whole 9 yards (heh he) and it is some serious stuff. I play fantasy usually every year too at least for the play off's. I've really learned to look forward to and and enjoy it. After about 10 years I took the if you can't beat them - join them approach:) lol. Really fun hub! Up and all that!
Hi RHW :) I've come to the conclusion that I would rather deal with a baseball fan over a football fan hands down. I've been watching these men this past month or whatever with their football and good Lord! Maybe in another 3 years I will learn to just give up and go with the flow, can't beat him? Sometimes I'd like to! Hahah Thanks for reading
well, the worst are soccer fans. They're sport is sooooooooooo boring and they're so passionate
Ugh PDX, I will agree! I sat through soccer all this past year because my middle daughter became obsessed with it when she started playing. Worst game ever
Great hub, Ardie. It was one of those hubs you just can't stop reading. You seem to have very creative children. I'm not sure about your husband's creativity though ... :)
Howdy Made and thanks for reading! Im glad you enjoyed it. I had so much fun making this one because I got to poke fun at the old chap :)
i would hesitate ti call soccer a game. games imply a winner and a loser. soccer can be played for hours with no winner, perceived or literal. it's fun to play but dreadful to watch
PDX, I couldnt help but belly laugh at your comment about soccer. Yes, the games could've gone on FOREVER if not for the set max time! I only hope my daughter chooses something different this year...maybe basketball :)
I love this! You're a really good writer. When I began reading, I kind of caught on, since you didn't mention at first what his addiction was, and, naturally I was captivated, because, at that point I wanted to find out. I suppose we're all addicted to something benign. Me? The gym, the sun, coconut water, ...Oh, there's way more... : ) Good hub! (As always)
Albertsj, you're just too smart for me ;) And now you have me craving coconut water...what the heck is that?! Sounds like heaven.
SINGING "Take me out to the ball game, teke me out...." what Cleveland hell leave me home LOL. WOW well at least he chose his better half well because he blew it with the Indians. Like I can talk being a Mets fan and a part time Rangers fan since that is all that is here in Dallas area. I to am a baseball addict, along with football, hockey and NASCAR. Unfortunately the hospital TV only has basic and I miss everything. I am having major sports withdrawal, not to mention Italian food and BBQ. Great hub Up awesome and across the board
I used to follow Football team(soccer) West Ham Utd. they were hopeless and luckily I grew out of it.lol
That was an amazing catch in the video.
Voted up interesting and well written. SHARING
Addictions?! Hmmm. Nope I'm good. Not!! I'm an addictive person who borders on compulsive! Ha! I'm glad to hear your husband is a baseball addict it could be so much worse. I thought he might be a gamer. Fun hub! Well told! I'm more a softball fan. My two son-in-laws team starts up soon and I'm their #1 cheerleader!! This hub is a homerun!!!
Jumpin' Jupiter you had me goin there for a minute--but I have a baseball fan at home too--Good hub!
AV :) Cleveland has a certain….oh I get it now. Met and Rangers fan? There are actually quite a few guys I like (as in like like) on the Texas teams!!! But don’t tell the addict – he’d have my head. I don’t think I will ever understand about men and their sports.
Molometer my friend! Thanks for the votes. I wrote this Hub JUST so I could use that video…can you believe that?! I know – weird :)
SS625 – I wont even start to list my addictions. Luckily I am fickle and my addictions change on a biannual basis :D And don’t even get me started on those gamers. I dated one waaaaay back in college. NEVER. AGAIN.
Hi Audrey! Im sorry – I was in a goofy mood the night I wrote this. Is your fan happy to know the spring training equipment trucks are arriving in…oh, where is it? In….where ever teams go to spring train.
Hi - my name is Cindy, and I'm a hub-aholic! And I'm not sure I want to be cured either. Great hub!
(Echoed chorus) Hi Cindy!
Yes we all understand your addiction and we promise to be enablers. Who would encourage you to break an addiction that benefits us?!
ardie, i played soccer when i was six. My team was so bad, I didn't actually know there were two goals :-)
Hahah PDX, thats priceless! You should use some of these funny stories for poems and Hubs :)
Great opening capsule... certainly caught my attention... smiles. Love the way you have brought this all together,
Hugs from Canada
Well, that was unexpected!... A much more uplifting hub than I was expecting :-)
Hello Rolly and thanks for stopping in! Did you happen to watch the video at the end? It still gives me the chills to watch.
Hi smzclark :) I am glad to have tricked you - but only in this instance! It was my first attempt at writing humor and I enjoyed it more than I ever could've imagined possible. Thanks for reading!
Anybody addicted to baseball is alright with me. Your husband and I would get along famously well. Great hub Ardie, as always.
I have some friends who's marriages are interrupted every year by hunting season. It is too bad that baseball doesn't have cheerleaders. You could make a little costume, add pig tails and get his focus back on you. :) Of course, it is good some men have hobbies. It gives us some free time. Cute hub!
hahaha...loved it Ardie.
My husband is addicted to sports and running marathons!
Gosh...I am not addicted to laundry and cleaning...lol
voted up as interesting, funny!
I loved this! I was afraid for a minute there, and you really had me worried! But I am glad to know it's only a baseball addiction. My husband is addicted to music, movies and food :)).
Knowing you I was pretty sure there was a catch at the end. Great story.
My husband is addicted to sugar, the man eats candy all of the time. Not good but at least he isn't out chasing women.
Great hub. GBY
Great hub! I thought this was going to go somewhere completely different at first-great suspense. I know people who are obsessed with sports. I like hockey but, but not obsessed. Unfortunately I do have 2 addictions-nicotine and caffeine. The caffeine is not horrible for me but the nicotine needs to go. My kids are telling me to quit and I only smoke outside, not in the house around them.
Voted up :)
Heeeeey billybuc! Then this baseball season I will send the husband to you :) The kids lose their (main) television for the duration of the season and I hate listening to them complain that they want to watch Spongebob on the big tv.
Tammy girl, oy – at least the marriage isn’t interrupted by hunting! I am one of those big softies that cries at the idea of shooting a poor animal. At least baseball is pretty much harmless. And since our team stinks the tickets are decently priced hahahha!!
Hello Ruchira! You wanna come live with me? I promise to watch sports and run so long as you do my cleaning :D Thanks for the vote
Rlaha! I felt so bad when I first wrote this that I might trick people in the beginning – I was worried people would be mad that I took the topic of addiction lightly (which I do not). Im so glad you liked this :)
Hello Pamela!! I couldn’t get you :P Don’t tell anyone but I am addicted to sugar too…actually just sweets. So I’ve started buying sugar-free candies to help curb my snacking.
Hello stars439 and thank you!!
Hi Dawn :) My addictions were the same as yours. I haven’t smoked in a little over a year now – mainly because my kids begged me to quit. And I just realized this month is the first I’ve been sick all winter…usually I have a bad cold 3/4 times by now! Anyways, thanks for reading and for the vote. Im glad you liked this.
Hi Ardie... I did now that is what you call a real gentleman...
Hugs from Canada
I don't take real addictions lightly either. I am glad you made this a light hub :). Thank you!
Hello Rolly :) I agree - he basically saved that ladies life!
rlaha - just so you know I love your name!! I think its about time I try for another light Hub - they're so much fun to write.
Brilliant Ardie I loved this one.
Take care
Eddy.
Good to see you Eiddwen! And look at that little angel in your picture :) so sweet. Im glad you enjoyed this one. Sadly for me - the season has just started again. *Sigh*
JerryJupiter Level 1 Commenter 7 months ago
Good hub - you had me really concerned for a bit there! I'm not a sports fanatic - but I must confess I am addicted to Caffeine which is a horrible thing to be addicted to... being that nobody takes it seriously like other addictions. I literally cannot have a period of 2+ days without cafeine or I get the most horrendous headaches, sweats and shaking. I'm glad your husband isn't abusing chemicals though! I'm getting increasingly more and more addicted to HubPages though - writing has always been a passion and HP provides a great outlet for it. Thanks for sharing :)