Wow, this was wonderful. I truly regret that I did not take Dr. Linder's History of Baseball or History of Christianity courses when I was an undergrad at K-State. I certainly can identify with his description of exhaustion in graduate studies as well as stimulation and satisfaction. I hope in that finish-line feeling of well-being in a couple of years. And let me just say that what Dr. Linder and Liam said about 3 yrs is actually 4 or 5 in a doctoral program fits precisely with how students experience my program, though it is not a history program.
As for baseball, I believe baseball's biggest challenge is that, while it was once America's game, our country is continuing to turn its trajectory, like the mast of a ship, away from the very qualities that gave birth to the game in the first place. To enjoy baseball, one must understand it, and to understand baseball, adults and children alike must learn to think in a way that is increasingly forgotten in the West. Baseball is a game, largely, of nuance and strategy, specialization and mental focus. Homeruns are romantic and sensational, but loving a homerun is not enough to love baseball. I don't know if our culture can relearn appreciation for baseball's beauty. Another, much shorter answer to this question is: Soccer. : ) Thanks for a great blog gentlemen--blessings.

Welcome aboard the HVB train! I hope your doctoral studies are going well. The Chronicle of Higher Education just reported last week that of those who end up finishing their PhD in the US (and many don't) the average time in a PhD program is 7.7 years! Thanks to the tutelage of Dr. Linder, I got mine done faster than that, but it still seemed like an eternity.

Whoa! I have a total of 7 years to finish mine, according to program requirements but I am hoping for 4 or 5. I am finishing my last semester of full coursework, though I will need to pick up a stats course and a couple cognate (minor) courses over time. I'm planning on comps this fall and then diving into dissertation. I might call you sometime to get your brainstorming on some potential dissertation topics related to small groups in churches. Hope you're well--I love your blog. Hi to Precious and warm regards from all of us--Sarah, Anna, and Ben too!

maybe the question of the day could be called "stump the folks" challenge baseball faces?? i guess living in Seattle i want to say "WEATHER" but i am sure i will not win the six million dollars for that answer.

Indeed, Profesoor Linder posed a great question about baseball. I believe that the most serious thing MLB faces right now is legitimacy... it will likely weather the storm of steroid allegations, but definitely at the cost of its legitimacy as a sport that inspires young people to pick up a baseball and toss it around with the generation that came before. My question for the prof is, "Does baseball really define America and/or what it means to be an American any more?"

i'm like Dee, i don't really feel qualified to say--but it think its a great question!
my unqualified response: No heroes or credibility. But, honestly, i think this is the issue facing all professional sports. There is a serious lack of athletes worthy to be some small town kid's hero, and the entire organization, (perhaps more in MLB than other pro sports orgs) is suspect for corruption. Specifically, i am thinking of Mark McGwire, though the MLB is rife with examples of corruption.

I wish I could answer Dr. Linder's baseball question, but I have no idea what baseball is facing these days. (I'm still deciding which team I should root for!) :-) Living in Queens, the Mets are the closest, and I like to be on the side of the underdog, so . . . Maybe the Mets.