Okay. Most of you know that I'm baseball obsessed, right? Most of you also know that I'm a die-hard Detroit Tiger fan, right? So, obviously, most of you know that I'm completely insane. I haven't mentioned baseball on the blog because I know that most of you don't give a ratzass about it. But I think it's now crossing the threshold into a permissible subject.
The Players' Union Executive Committee is meeting today and, by all accounts, is going to set a strike date. That strike date appears to be next Friday, August 30. If anybody believes that once the strike starts we'll see any more baseball this year you're out of your mind. It's much easier to stop the ball from rolling than to stop it when it's already chugging downhill. That said, they're not making any progress. The strike will happen. It's going to be long and it's going to be ugly. Word is that the owners would really like to break the union. In order to do that some are willing to sit out not only this year but the entirety of next year.
Usually it's easy to pick sides in a situation like this. In my mind, there aren't any good guys in this battle. The primary sticking point is a luxury tax on teams with payrolls above X amount. The players oppose this altogether as it would be an incentive to cut salaries. It would act as an artificial salary cap or so they think. It's awfully hard to sympathize with a group of guys who are making, on the average, almost 2.5 million dollars a year. On the AVERAGE. The minimum salary is nearly a quarter of a million. The MINIMUM, folks. In an economy where people are losing jobs and investments left and right they aren't going to get much sympathy. The owners, on the other hand, are just flat out liars. They claim that they're all losing their shirts. Riiiiight. Yes, players are overpaid. Yes, some teams aren't very profitable. However, there's no way that they aren't practicing voodoo economics. The public isn't going to let them get very far with that argument, either.
After the last strike (in 1994) people came back to the game. They were drawn in by the McGwire - Sosa homerun barrage. This time with the players acting like spoiled brats and the owners like fat cats I don't think they will. There's also the entire air of steroids clouding the game. So once the strike is over people will have a bad taste in their mouths regarding a game that they perceive as tainted. Not good...
Posted by mikewolf at August 16, 2002 11:58 AMSo, as a hardcore baseball guy, would you go back to the game? After the '94 strike it took me this long to even become remotely interested in the game again, and that's only because of the success of the Mariners. McGwire's story got me interested for maybe 5 minutes. If/when the strike happens, I'm done.
Luckily I've still got my football to fall back on! :-)
So, as a hardcore baseball guy, would you go back to the game? After the '94 strike it took me this long to even become remotely interested in the game again, and that's only because of the success of the Mariners. McGwire's story got me interested for maybe 5 minutes. If/when the strike happens, I'm done.
Luckily I've still got my football to fall back on! :-)
Look, I could be completely disingenuious and tell you that I won't be back. That wouldn't be true. Baseball is such a outlet for me that I will be back regardless. Will I be angry? Sure. But I'll be back. The fact that I'm a Tiger fan should be enough to demonstrate that I just love the game, not the personas involved.
In 1994 I actually went to a few of the "scab" games in Atlanta. It was an interesting time, to say the least.
There is a ton of minor league ball around here so maybe I'll just pay more attention to that.
Look, I could be completely disingenuious and tell you that I won't be back. That wouldn't be true. Baseball is such a outlet for me that I will be back regardless. Will I be angry? Sure. But I'll be back. The fact that I'm a Tiger fan should be enough to demonstrate that I just love the game, not the personas involved.
In 1994 I actually went to a few of the "scab" games in Atlanta. It was an interesting time, to say the least.
There is a ton of minor league ball around here so maybe I'll just pay more attention to that.
It's all a conspiracy to deny
Barry Bonds the alltime HR crown.
It's all a conspiracy to deny
Barry Bonds the alltime HR crown.
It's all a conspiracy to deny
Barry Bonds the alltime HR crown.
It's all a conspiracy to deny
Barry Bonds the alltime HR crown.
whoopsie.
sorry about the ground rule double post
whoopsie.
sorry about the ground rule double post
Like Mike said, there's football. Abetter sport anyway. Tho' my Bears are now tied in tonight's game.
Posted by: Dennis on August 16, 2002 09:35 PMLike Mike said, there's football. Abetter sport anyway. Tho' my Bears are now tied in tonight's game.
Posted by: Dennis on August 16, 2002 09:35 PMAs the resident "Sports Professional" (and I use both words *very* loosely), I feel like I should weigh in with my two cents worth.
If there's a strike, I'll be bitter, and for one reason only.
I won't get to cover the NLCS/World Series and get to go to Ted Turner's big post-game soirees. (The shrimp are the size of your fist, for God's Sake!).
Seriously, though, I'm in the same boat as you, Mike (W)... I'll be back. Oh, I'll be bitter and pissy, but that's my nature. I'll still be back.
As the resident "Sports Professional" (and I use both words *very* loosely), I feel like I should weigh in with my two cents worth.
If there's a strike, I'll be bitter, and for one reason only.
I won't get to cover the NLCS/World Series and get to go to Ted Turner's big post-game soirees. (The shrimp are the size of your fist, for God's Sake!).
Seriously, though, I'm in the same boat as you, Mike (W)... I'll be back. Oh, I'll be bitter and pissy, but that's my nature. I'll still be back.
Kirsten was on ESPN a few months ago, everybody. I haven't made fun of her about that yet!
Honestly, the Braves not being in the playoffs might be the only good thing about a strike. Oh, and not having to watch my Tigers lose 100 games.
Kirsten was on ESPN a few months ago, everybody. I haven't made fun of her about that yet!
Honestly, the Braves not being in the playoffs might be the only good thing about a strike. Oh, and not having to watch my Tigers lose 100 games.
A quick tangental note... I'm going to see the Tigers play at the "Devil's Ballpark" (Comerica Park) this weekend. Haven't seen them win a game in person since Frank Tanana was pitching for the Motor City Kitties.... maybe my luck will change!
Posted by: K. Britt on August 18, 2002 01:42 PMA quick tangental note... I'm going to see the Tigers play at the "Devil's Ballpark" (Comerica Park) this weekend. Haven't seen them win a game in person since Frank Tanana was pitching for the Motor City Kitties.... maybe my luck will change!
Posted by: K. Britt on August 18, 2002 01:42 PMI am disappointed that it will happen THIS season when the Braves are soooo far out front. You gotta love their lead.
Posted by: Meredith on August 20, 2002 10:05 AMI am disappointed that it will happen THIS season when the Braves are soooo far out front. You gotta love their lead.
Posted by: Meredith on August 20, 2002 10:05 AMI don't follow baseball at all and while I've heard mutterings about a strike I didn't really pay it much attention. A friend was kind enough to explain the situation to me tonite and all I have to say about the whole thing is this: No matter what sport the greediness of the owner's and the player's disgusts me. As Mike said, in a time when people are losing jobs it's obscene that people should be crying over not making hundreds of thousands of dollars to play a GAME. Entertaining it may be, but it's still only grown men and women running and hitting a little ball. (or whatever the necessary props may be.)
Posted by: patricia on August 22, 2002 01:19 AMI don't follow baseball at all and while I've heard mutterings about a strike I didn't really pay it much attention. A friend was kind enough to explain the situation to me tonite and all I have to say about the whole thing is this: No matter what sport the greediness of the owner's and the player's disgusts me. As Mike said, in a time when people are losing jobs it's obscene that people should be crying over not making hundreds of thousands of dollars to play a GAME. Entertaining it may be, but it's still only grown men and women running and hitting a little ball. (or whatever the necessary props may be.)
Posted by: patricia on August 22, 2002 01:19 AMoops. wrong use of apostrophes in my entry. hate when i do that. and yes i'm nerdy enough to care.
Posted by: patricia on August 22, 2002 01:21 AMoops. wrong use of apostrophes in my entry. hate when i do that. and yes i'm nerdy enough to care.
Posted by: patricia on August 22, 2002 01:21 AM