See it here: https://issuu.com/bhamkidsandfamily/docs/enjoy_hoover_-_mayjune_2025/14

I suppose that opinions don’t matter much, but there is strength in numbers, and half a billion people around the world would prefer baseball over basketball, football, or golf.

It may not be an easy pill to swallow for many Americans, especially for those in the south, where football reigns supreme, taking a back seat only to church or family, and even then, it’s a toss up.

The Hoover Met likes to remind us every Spring — and will continue to do so at least through 2028 — that the Southeast is capable of producing a baseball atmosphere worthy of our attention. Eleven or more teams in the conference have the potential to end the season nationally ranked, with as many as nine flirting with the top ten.

Oklahoma and Texas joined the SEC last July, increasing the number of schools in the conference to 16. They aren’t the only two teams looking to knock off the Vanderbilt Commodores or defending champions, Tennessee Volunteers, two teams that have come away from the tournament victorious in four of the last six years, with Arkansas and Covid claiming the others.

And this year? A twist.

With the addition of these two new schools, the old way of things was reconsidered, and the new way has been rolled out. This month, all 16 teams will compete in a single-elimination style bracket. This marks the first time in the tournament that every SEC team will be partaking, as well as the first time that double-elimination will not be utilized.

As if that weren’t enough to prioritize surprisingly comfortable aluminum bench seats with back support over high-back leather chairs behind computer screens, the Met is wrapping up renovations that include a club suite along the third base line, providing a more fashionable baseball experience. Revel XP has package bookings available for Champions Club, Patio Club, Private Left Field Cabanas, and the Omaha Club, all of which include exclusive restrooms, premium viewpoints, and reserved seating. The Champions Club package also comes with an all-inclusive food and non-alcoholic beverage package.

For those like me, though, general admission is just fine. All we need is a little shade, a couple of sausage dogs, a Coca-Cola, and a few young sons to come along and dream a little. We can root for the home team, give the umps a piece of our minds, wonder at the immaculate craftsmanship of the grounds crew watering the infield dirt, and revel in the ping of the long ball off the bat.

Supposing opinions did matter, I may spend more time on the subject of baseball.

I’ll see you at the Met.