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Baseball – Our Natinol Metaphor for Hope
By Neil Peterson | April 6, 2009
The stadium doors have now opened to welcome tens of thousands of fans to start of Major League Baseball’s 2009 season. There are fewer things more reminiscent of an American summer than the crack of a bat, of popcorn and peanuts, and bleached white uniforms. And something less tangible – for the true believers, a sense of hope – even if your team hasn’t won’t the pennant for decades, there is always a dream for the new season. (Ask any Boston Red Sox fan – they did finally win the World Series pennant in 2004, after 86 years!)
Take Me Out to the Ballgame turns 100!
But baseball, like any human endeavor, has its failings. Amidst all of the gloomy news of the past few months, it was easy to miss the brief firestorm of controversy that erupted in early February, when it was revealed that Alex Rodriguez, of the New York Yankees, had taken steroids. In a country that is facing so many other hurdles right now, this may seem like small potatoes in comparison. And maybe that’s a problem.
For a few days after the news was released there were the expected back-pedalings, commentaries and the like, full of strong sentiments about athletic integrity. But most interesting were a few brief interviews with Little Leaguers. Five pre-teen boys were asked what they thought about the scandal. At their young ages, they had only seen A-Rod’s remarkable rise to the top of the game – the New York Yankees, his winning seasons, and remarkable talents. Without fail, when asked if they were bothered by the news, every child said ‘no.’ They went on to explain, in various fashions, that steroid use is now somewhat expected, and while it is cheating, it shouldn’t be that big of a deal.
That should not be an acceptable answer. If it is alright for one of the most talented, well paid athletes in the league to take performance-enhancing drugs, where does that logic stop? This is a dangerous precedent to set. A-Rod’s excuse was that he felt pressured by having a high-paying contract to play at the peak of his ability. He was worried he wouldn’t be able to measure up. He also claimed to have only used the drugs a handful of times, stopping in 2003.
There are a lot of serious conversations on the table right now, but especially in difficult times it is important to remember the things we value, and why we value them. Baseball is our ‘national game’. It is a part of our heritage, one that has amazing stories to tell. The epic home runs of Babe Ruth, the ‘Green Monster’ at Fenway Park, the heroism and honor of Jackie Robinson, the World War II era All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. This is a legacy that is worth protecting.
It may be hard to explain to someone who has never been to a game, never played on a team, never connected with a fast ball – all those intangible things, and shared moments, how they become part of your life. But whether you are in the stands as the new season gets underway, or in your living room, this is a time for true believers, and hope. It’s Spring, the past is forgotten, it’s a new season!
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Topics: Favorite Things, General, Management, Sports | No Comments »