my brother and i grew up watching 'this week in baseball' and going to wrigley field. we would cluster along the low brick and slide through crowds to get dozens of autographs on baseball cards and the sweet spot of baseballs. this collection stacked up around our bedroom and at night we would promise each other that if one of us made it to the big leagues, the other would supply autographs for both. that was eight years ago.

this past sunday i watched illinois baseball's #2 prospect throwing on the other side of the brick, except this time there were no pens in our hands. i had my dslr and a borrowed video camera. he was trotting to the hill with his glove for his one inning. 2 k's and a game ending pop out.

i wonder if those years have been leading up to this and so much more.