no balls

Our township created a men's baseball league and is recruiting residents. I've spent the past few weeks thinking about dusting off my knuckleball and signing up, but I keep resisting. First of all, I'm not sure my rotator cuff will take too kindly to pitching again. I was a reasonably efficient pitcher and I know the game, but it's been awhile since I've pitched to live batters. And if my physical therapist ever found out...
Secondly, and of greater concern, I've finally realized my body is older. I don't recover as well and I can't compete at the level I used to. And while the league is "35 and older", I know it will be littered with guys trying to relive their glory years of High School and college ball. It's the same attitude we fight in all of our rec softball leagues: the "Johnny Softball" who takes out the shortstop on a double play, slides with his spikes up, tries to throw runners out at first base from the outfield, plows the catcher on plays at the plate...all of the unsportsmanlike behaviors I detest. I'll be very angry the first time somebody tries to pitch me inside and beans me with a 70 mph fastball. Not because I got hit -- that's part of the game -- but because I'll sit at my desk the next day and dwell on it, thinking, "Why is this fun again? Is the game really worth 48 hours of pain?" Plus, I'll be jealous because I can't throw a 70mph fastball without a strong wind behind me. Guess I'll stick to Wii baseball.
...and building my Campus Legend in NCAA Football 2009.