As we begin negotiations with the Elizabethton Twins, there
is still no guarantee that they will stay here in Elizabethton. While I am
optimistic, we must realize that the facility improvements the Twins
organization is looking for are not cheap, quick fixes. They are improvements
that city tax payers will be paying for a long time in the future. The
flip-side to this is that the Twins provide yet another attraction to our city
and help grow our tourism assets throughout the County. They enhance the quality
of life for our citizens and may provide an allure for people who are
considering moving to Elizabethton.
But it takes more than just the actions of the city
government to make Elizabethton an attractive place for the Twins to remain. It
takes you! Every year it gets harder and harder for the Elizabethton Twins
organization to find housing and other needs for the players. This year they
are struggling not only with housing, but transportation options as well. We
need the community to support these players and this organization to help keep
them here in Elizabethton! Put yourself in the Twins organization’s shoes. If
they can’t find housing for their players, the question becomes how interested
and vested is this community in seeing the success of our team here?
I completely understand that there are some out there who
would really enjoy having a player stay with them, but simple don’t have the
means. But, if you have a spare bedroom with a bed, you have the means. If you
have an extra vehicle that you only use occasionally, you have the means. If you can speak even broken Spanish, even better.
On a personal note, this is the second year my partner and I
have taken Twins players into our home. We are both busy, working adults and
have found that our schedules have yet to conflict with our players. They do
their own laundry, cook their own meals (or maybe I should say go out to eat on
their own), work with other teammates to arrange transportation to the field
and workouts, etc. We’re usually at work when they wake up and they’re usually at
the ball field when we get home. We offer to take them to the grocery store or
Walmart when we go, and either take them or tell them about the places to check
out while they’re in the area. Neither of us are baseball fans, but we recognize what it means to our community.
I also recognize that as a Christian it is my duty to welcome the stranger and those in need into our home and make
them feel welcome. In many ways, these players are strangers in our land! Work
with your church or Sunday school class to figure out how your group can help.
If you support the Twins being in Elizabethton purchase a
season or 10 game pass, take a Twins player into your home, or offer an occasionally
used or spare vehicle for their use. It’s only two and-a-half months out of the
year. If you can do any of these things, give the Elizabethton Twins a call at 547-6441.
Let's show the Twins that our community is dedicated to their success here in Elizabethton. Let’s talk about it!
