On the American Pastime

elSicomoro · 07-04-2002, 01:41 PM

Whoohoo! First thread.

Word around the campfire is that the players in the majors are talking strike sometime next month. For the last 7 years, we've had relative peace in the baseball world, although it practically took 3 seasons to get many of the fans back.

Baseball is so ingrained in the minds of many in this country. Philosophical wannabes like George Will wax nostalgic about it. We have poems about it. Ken Burns made a movie about it, not to mention all the other ones (humorous or serious) that have portrayed it. Baseball heroes are more hero-like than probably any other sport heroes in this country. It's become so popular that many cities have major and minor league teams.

The first sporting event I ever attended was a Cardinals game versus the Pirates in 1983. I've attended many games since, and have seen some great players come and go in my short time on this earth (including one who will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in August--Ozzie Smith). Though I would say I'm probably more of a hockey fan now, I'm still a big baseball fan as well. It doesn't even have to be the Cardinals or Orioles or Phillies on...I'll watch damn near any game, which is more than I can say for other sports (minus soccer).

People will call the players and owners greedy...I guess I look at it from a capitalist and entertainment view. Julia Roberts gets $20 million dollars per film...why shouldn't Mike Piazza make $15 million per year? Baseball does not have a revenue sharing agreement as do other sports, that's why owners are sweating bullets in smaller cities like Minneapolis and Pittsburgh. It's a business like any other...profit and loss. You have to factor in players' salaries, not to mention stadium upkeep, promotion, etc.

If the players do decide to strike in August, I feel it would be another stab in the heart of the sport. Football has been fighting baseball as the most popular sport for years now...it might have even surpassed it. Baseball strikes more than any other sport, yet the fans always come back. As I mentioned earlier though, the fan return was slow from the last one...and I think it could be even slower if another 1994-like strike occurs.

07-04-2002, 01:41 PM	#1
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	On the American Pastime Whoohoo! First thread. Word around the campfire is that the players in the majors are talking strike sometime next month. For the last 7 years, we've had relative peace in the baseball world, although it practically took 3 seasons to get many of the fans back. Baseball is so ingrained in the minds of many in this country. Philosophical wannabes like George Will wax nostalgic about it. We have poems about it. Ken Burns made a movie about it, not to mention all the other ones (humorous or serious) that have portrayed it. Baseball heroes are more hero-like than probably any other sport heroes in this country. It's become so popular that many cities have major and minor league teams. The first sporting event I ever attended was a Cardinals game versus the Pirates in 1983. I've attended many games since, and have seen some great players come and go in my short time on this earth (including one who will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in August--Ozzie Smith). Though I would say I'm probably more of a hockey fan now, I'm still a big baseball fan as well. It doesn't even have to be the Cardinals or Orioles or Phillies on...I'll watch damn near any game, which is more than I can say for other sports (minus soccer). People will call the players and owners greedy...I guess I look at it from a capitalist and entertainment view. Julia Roberts gets $20 million dollars per film...why shouldn't Mike Piazza make $15 million per year? Baseball does not have a revenue sharing agreement as do other sports, that's why owners are sweating bullets in smaller cities like Minneapolis and Pittsburgh. It's a business like any other...profit and loss. You have to factor in players' salaries, not to mention stadium upkeep, promotion, etc. If the players do decide to strike in August, I feel it would be another stab in the heart of the sport. Football has been fighting baseball as the most popular sport for years now...it might have even surpassed it. Baseball strikes more than any other sport, yet the fans always come back. As I mentioned earlier though, the fan return was slow from the last one...and I think it could be even slower if another 1994-like strike occurs. Last edited by elSicomoro; 07-04-2002 at 02:00 PM.

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