ESPN reported two weeks ago that the legendary Iowa farm that was used in the movie “Field of Dreams” is for sale.
Now, YOU can own a piece of sports movie history for the low, low price of…$5.4 million.
The majority of the inquiries have stated that the field would remain intact. Then again, I’d hate to be “that guy” that decides to buy the farm and tear down the baseball field.
“What’s your point?” is the question you are probably asking yourself right now, regarding my post.
I guess I’m just glad that people realize the need to keep the field. It may just be a movie set, but it is an iconic part of what makes sports so great, and so necessary.
The field was built in the movie because Kevin Costner’s character, Ray Kinsella, heard a voice that told him “If you build it, he will come.” This line itself is one of the most recognizable movie lines, ever. But it goes deeper than building a baseball field.
Kinsella builds his field, despite ridicule and contempt from everyone but his wife. After seeing historical baseball figures come out from the cornfield and play on his field, he finally gets to play catch with his father in the end, making it quite clear why the divine messenger sent that iconic message. This is a really, really brief explanation of the movie, I recommend watching it from beginning to end to truly understand the message of the movie.
This baseball field represents the ultimate sign of faith. Kinsella placed everything he had on this one bet, and despite the hardships he faced, he was rewarded in the end. Not so much economically, but emotionally, and spiritually.
Sports are our release from all of these hardships. Even in times of economic despair, sports teams are still selling out arenas and bringing cities together, one game, one play at a time.
Look at the 2001 New York Yankees’ run to the World Series. Following 9/11, New Yorkers were united under two banners: FDNY/NYPD, and the infamous pinstripes of the “Bronx Bombers.”
In situations like that, sport transcends its recreational value, and makes us all realize there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
High school football and basketball shut down many of the small towns across the country for hours at a time. Completely shuts them down. Everything closed. When was the last time you can think of something like this happening?
Some of the greatest moments in my life have been sports related. Watching my high school football team win our first state championship my senior year (and again this past year), being in the crowd for the first ever Blue Jackets home playoff game, watching Ohio beat Georgetown and storming up Court Street afterwards, and hopefully, watching Ohio beat Ohio State for the first time ever in September (Wishful thinking, but it’ll be my birthday)
In sport, there is always someone to root for. And because of that, its value is intangible.
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