First off I want to start this post by asking a question. Wtf did I use Sugar Honey Iced Tea in the title, when everyone knows what I meant? Isn’t the intent what’s important? And with that being said why did I just write WTF? And who puts both sugar and honey in their ice tea? I wonder about these things. Anyway congrats to the Giants for winning the World Series but I honestly could care less. It has nothing to do with the fact that they beat my Phillies. It just was not entertaining. I don’t know what it is but baseball is no longer entertaining to me.
I grew up with baseball as my favorite sport. My grandfather and I had season tickets and we would go to Phillies games and sit behind 3rd base and enjoy all of the games. I grew up watching Charlie Hayes, Steve Jeltz, Kevin Gross, Juan Samuel, Shane Rawley, and Von Hayes as my heroes (Although I hated Von Hayes because he seemed to strike out every at bat without swinging).
I would get to the games early and I met a lot of the Phillies players as well as visiting players. I got to see who appreciated the fans and who had no home training (If anybody knows or ever sees Andre “The Hawk” Dawson tell him I hope his sister or niece gets stuck in an elevator alone with Ben Rothlisberger).
I also grew up in the inner city and there really were not a lot of outlets to go and play baseball. I could however play basketball in any neighborhood and maybe that’s the reason why I fell in love with hoops.
Anyway back to the World Champion Giants. The only thing I personally found entertaining about the giants was how ugly a team they were. I mean is it me or did Tim Lincecum look like a lesbian woman (Nothing against lesbians The War Room loves lesbians, at least I do).
And their closer Brian Wilson looks like the old Wooly Willy (Pause) toy.
They had so many ugly players that I would laugh just watching them play but it had nothing at all to do with the game. Eventually I stopped watching because there were a lot better things to watch on TV. In fact I would rather watch any basketball or football game regardless of the teams instead of The World Series. In fact I would rather watch reruns of What’s Happening with the Givins Kids singing “Bubbling Brown Sugar”.
I often wonder where did my love for baseball go, but as I talk to others I realize that many feel the same way. I don’t know what baseball could do to win back fans but the numbers show they are losing fans to other sports. What’s your opinion? What could baseball do? Let The War Room Know!
James “The Blueprint” Williams AKA Jimmy of The War Room
Tags: Basketball, Charlie Hayes, Juan Samuel, MLB, NBA, NFL, Philadelphia, Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Shane Rawley, Sports, Steve Jeltz, Texas Rangers, The War Room, Von Hayes, War Room Sports, Whats Happening, World Series
First let me say this… I’d watch the Givin’s Kids episode of “What’s Happening” over just about anything on TV these days. It may possibly be the greatest example of a one-verse song ever. The whole song was the chorus. Brilliant!
Secondly, I’d like to thank you for hitting the nail on the head w/ Brian Wilson. Couldn’t figure out who he reminded me of but you got it. And yeah, lil Timmy looks a bit like K.D. Lang.
As for the state of baseball itself. I too was raised on baseball. First sport I ever played. I’m dismayed by its general lack of fan interest. I think the issues surrounding baseball are inherent to the sport itself and the change in culture. Baseball has never been a fast paced sport. Foul balls, stepping in and out of the batter’s box, pitcher’s routines and changes all make for a sport that isn’t “fun” to watch if you’re not a huge fan. Also, the athleticism of the players themselves is hard to appreciate. We live in a society now that is extremely fast paced (almost impatient) and driven by individual celebrity. While baseball has it’s standout stars, if you’re not a fan of the game or able to follow it, it’s difficult appreciate a guy like Ichiro Suzuki. He doesn’t hit the long ball often and doesn’t make Sports Center highlights but he’s flat out the best hitting player in the league for the last decade. Then add to the above that the strategic intricacies of the game can’t be seen overtly in an era when people don’t take time to learn anything that’s not shoved down their throats (baseball’s unwillingness to have explanatory segments or breakdowns of the game… like the NFL has w/ it’s pre-game shows) and you get wanning interest.
I have hope for baseball tho. It’s a GREAT game and as long as there are fans out there that are willing to explain the game to those that think it’s boring and take their kids to games as your grandfather did with you, it’ll be okay. I mean, does the tension get higher in ANY sport more so than in baseball? 9th inning down by 1 a man on 2nd and your cleanup batter at the plate w/ a full count! No other sport can come down to such drama and maintain it for 10 minutes w/ foul ball after foul ball! LOL
Great post Mont. The funny thing is in terms of going to a game I would still take baseball over any other sport. And as entertaining as football is on TV in my opinion it is the most unwatchable in person. You made a point I never thought about in terms of
‘baseball’s unwillingness to have explanatory segments or breakdowns of the game”. They also don’t do a great job of selling their stories the way other leagues do. Look at Ron Washington, and Josh Hamilton and their demons they dealt with. If that happened in any other sport there would be all kinds of segments telling us how they are heroes and they were given a second chance. I think Bud Selig is a major part of the problem as well. (Jimmy)
I agree. They only run those stories on Real Sports but anyone who’s watching that is a sports fan already and not just casual.
I hate watching football live (except pee-wee ball… absolutely hysterical). I’ve turned down tickets to college games and Eagles’ games (well, to be honest just once for the Birds but that was in December at home and it’s just too damn cold for that) because it’s just unwatchable w/out replay and hearing the announcers.
Baseball is magical live tho. As soon as you emerge from the tunnel to go to your seat you can feel the electricity in the air. I think it’s got something to do w/ the lights and the greenness of the grass. Nothing like it… Then again, I’ve never been to a pro soccer match.