World Series game

Written By: mike on August 30, 2010 No Comment

Gone are the days of a daytime World Series game, gone are the days of camera men on the field taking a single snap shot of a hitter and gone are the days of stadiums that echo baseball. In 2009, the Yankees hoisted their 27th trophy which put them among the worlds elite when it comes to professional sports franchises. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and other such social networks were flooded with fans telling the entire world their feelings on the World Series and the outcome. But, what about the thought of “World Series” does it still hold the same meaning as it did say some 50 – 60 years ago?
Greats such as Babe Ruth, Joe Dimaggio, Reggie Jackson and Don Mattingly wore the pinstripes and will go down in Yankee History as the greats. Names like Aaron Boone, Paul O’ Neil, and Chuck Knoblauch who have helped the Yankees to a title are just dust in the wind. Players of yesterday played for blood, they played to beat the other day in and day out while players of today are more interested in their dollar value on Wall Street. A World Series trophy of yesteryear was hard earned and won by men with a chip on their shoulder. Long train rides with no A.C. playing in uniforms, when covered in sweat could possibly weigh about 6 – 7 pounds made players bitter and they wanted to take some frustration out on the opposition. Now, with first class and limousines, super models attending their games and clubhouses that rival the 4 seasons players of today have no idea what playing with a chip on their shoulder means.
What about the idea of this being the “World” Series, does this still hold true? Japan, having claimed the past two World Baseball Classic titles, should be considered the best in the world. So why are they not represented when it comes to the World Series? With many Major Leaguers coming from nations such as the Dominican Republic, Japan, Venezuela and so on is this really a true World Series? If the World Baseball Classic has taught us anything, being a fan means more than donning a jersey or a cap while sitting in the stands. Instead, we as fans are in the stands drinking our $11 beers talking on our cell phones and trying to find a perfect match to spend the rest of our lives with. Parents are no longer sitting with their children at these games, instead they are buying them stuff at the fan store or taking them to the play areas.
Of all the things that have changed for the worse, the one thing that has this writer very concerned is that of talking a bit of trash to the opposition in person. I can recall the day you would see a Giants fan get into a debate with a Dodgers fan while at a bar and have it become borderline violent. As a purist to the game, I miss those days in which your friends would back you up at the bar especially when it came to defending the honor of your team. Now, “Let me post a tweet,” my rather technical friend says after we return from Pac Bell Park. Dude, lose the Iphone, let’s go to a bar and talk a little mess and perhaps get you laid for the first time in 3 years. Facebook postings, MySpace posting, texting all of this stuff has made people afraid to speak to one another in person. What I wouldn’t give for a good old fashioned Dodger Giant brawl at the local watering hole.
Yes, the Yankees won the 2009 World Series but do we as Americans really feel it is a true World Series? Thanks Japan for taking over another aspect of Americana and thanks the U.S. public for allowing their fans to beat us. However, we as Americans wouldn’t know how to counteract a Japanese barrage because we are all reaching for our Iphone to send a nasty tweet to all who are listening or posting a remark on our Facebook page. LOL, OMG, LMAO have now replaced Let’s go Mets go!!!!
Reyes