BASEBALL AS A METAPHOR FOR AMERICA

Former MLB commissioner Bowie Kuhn was elected to the Hall of Fame.  Fortunately Marvin Miller (the former player union boss who was constantly at odds with Kuhn) was not elected.  Also elected were Dick Williams, Walter O’Malley, Billy Southworth, and Barney Dreyfuss.

 
Miller is now claiming the Veterans Committee  vote was rigged, proving the 90 year old firebrand is still as feisty and combative as usual.  Miller was eligible under the “Executives and Pioneers” committee.   The committee consists of
“…of 12 members, comprised of members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, executives, and veteran media members. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. shall act as the non-voting chairman of the committee and shall act as non-voting Secretary of the Committee….”  

It is nice to know that no matter how things change, they remain the same.  With luck Miller will never be admitted into the HOF.  In my personal opinion, I think he did more to damage the game than anyone before now indicted (I love it) Barry Bonds.

FIELD OF DREAMS
This morning I was channel surfing while getting dressed.  I landed on one of the movie channels and Field of Dreams.  I try not to watch the move very often.  It was nearly over, and was the part where Kevin Costner arrives home after his adventure that includes “kidnapping” James Earl Jones. Fast-forward to the James Earl Jones speech about baseball and America.  

“…The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time…”

I’ve been complaining about Barry Bonds for years.  Then today, while watching those last scenes of the Field of Dreams, and listening to that  “People Will Come” speech, I realized that the problems with Barry Bonds is indeed a metaphor for what is going on in America.   We have become a nation of spoiled brats, abject self-interests and the death of altruism.  People basically don’t give a damn about anyone or anything.  

Barry Bonds is indeed the perfect metaphor.  He is selfish. He has abused the fans and has done tremendous damage to THE GAME.  I’m not sure if it is irreparable, but I do know that true fans, people like me, feel that baseball has lost its joy and pure innocence.  We are living in the era of abject manipulation of the rules where the ends justify any means possible.  

Baseball is the perfect metaphor for America.  We live in a nation of pure selfish manipulation of the rules.  The ends justify the means.  We live in an age of cynicism.  We are an age of creeps who have no manners, no loyalty, nor a concept of gracious living, honor or decency.  Maybe we are seeing ourselves in baseball and we don’t like that reflection.  

REMEMBER WHEN BASEBALL HAD A REAL COMMISSIONER?

Along this line, I go back to the late, great Bowie Kuhn.  He would make me mad when he was commissioner, but he was the last, real power house commissioners, I’m afraid.  What we have today in Bud Selig, Mr. Snuggle Up to the Owners and Don’t Make a Wave is a joke.  He’s no more commissioner of baseball than Rumsfeld is a German Shepard. I think the Rumsfeld analogy is a good one. Bowie Kuhn was a noble German Shepard, protecting the Integrity of THE GAME.  With him it was always FOR THE GOOD OF THE GAME.  Today, our little pampered toy poodle with the bite of my Rumsfeld is about as useful as, well, Rumsfeld.

AS AMERICA GOES

Remember the line, As America Goes, So Goes the Game of Baseball?  I have this horrific feeling it is true.  There is this trend to obliterate our old and noble historic ballparks, replacing them with new and improved models that make one think they are going into the WallyWorld version of The Great American Historic Ballpark.  They are all theme-arks, thrills and spills, gourmet hotdogs, Starbucks coffee, and micro-brewed beer.  The players who populate them are spoiled, pampered, multimillionaires who are more interested in their personal bottom line than they are interested in THE GOOD OF THE GAME.  In fact, Johnny Bench (my man!) was the last great super-star.  He absolutely refused to take the big contract.  He was making good money and was playing for the good of the game and for the love of the game.  It’s too bad there are no more superstars like Johnny Bench around today.

If Baseball is indeed a metaphor for America, a reflection on who and what we are, then we are in trouble.  
I am very glad Marvin Miller did not get into the Hall of Fame.  In many ways, he was the catalyst that started it all in baseball.

I love baseball.  I breath baseball.  I celebrate that first moment of Spring when pitchers and catchers report and go into mourning with that last out of the World Series.  My world revolves around baseball, emotionally.  No, I am not up on it like I was when I was a kid and could quote every stat and give you a detailed report of every Johnny Bench or Hank Aaron at bat. My annoyance with the players of today and the management that allows it has not dimmed my basic love for the game.  I'm simply annoyed with it and want things to go back to those glory days when I was a child. 

Once my uncle told me that he would not consider me a real baseball fan until I chose a player during his rookie season and followed his career all the way to the Hall of Fame.  Then, I would never look at the game the same way.  I began following My Man Johnny the first month he was in the Majors and have the clippings to prove it.  My live revolved around Johnny Bench and the Big Red Machine.  Then he retired and was elected into the MLBHOF.  Baseball has never been the same.  It will never again be the same, but may I have passed the test of time. 

I love baseball.

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Rosemary's Thoughts, Mark My Words, Right Truth, Adam's Blog, Big Dog's Weblog, Cao's Blog, The Bullwinkle Blog, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Chuck Adkins, Conservative Cat, Adeline and Hazel, Pursuing Holiness, third world county, DragonLady's World, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, Dumb Ox Daily News, Right Voices, and Stageleft, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
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