Boycott Major League Baseball 2006
Posted on March 29th, 2006 by JTkPosted in Baseball, sports |
I can remember my days playing little league more clearly then almost anything else from my childhood; the sound of the wooden bat making solid contact, the satisfying vibrations in my hands, the relief of making it to base safely.
The pure innocent joy that I remember is like very little that I have experienced since, and even though my interests quickly turned away from baseball to other sports, girls, music, etc. baseball still has a very special place in my internal mythos.
I think this is why I have had such a visceral reaction to the farce that Major League Baseball has turned into, and in my mind is personified by Barry Bonds. About the same time I was learning how to turn a double play, I watched Hank Aaron hit that Al Downing pitch over the wall to break Babe Ruth’s homerun record and I will be damned if I am going to support an organization that is planning on celebrating the aforementioned Mr. Bonds breaking Hammerin’ Hank’s record with the (alleged) aid of performance enhancing drugs.
I say alleged because it has never been proven that Bonds has ever used steroids; he has never tested positive, but come on, anyone that is the least bit unbiased can look at the evidence and come to a fair conclusion that there is very little doubt that he is/was not juiced. If you need more evidence than his physical transformation, the fact that he has gotten significantly higher production at point in his career when all pre-juice era players production falls off, and his laughable grand jury testimony, just read the excerpt from Game of Shadows and I think that you’ll get all of the evidence you need.
Early in this MLB season, Bonds will pass Babe Ruth to become the second most prolific home run hitter in Major League history. But I won’t see it. I am not going to watch the first baseball game this year, I am not watching the highlights on Sport Center, I will not attend a game, read any baseball news online, nothing. I am boycotting MLB because they are complicit in allowing this to happen and I want nothing to do with it.
If Bonds hits homeruns at the same pace this year as he has in the last few seasons, he will pass Henry Aaron later in the season to be baseball’s all time homerun hitter. I don’t care if you put an asterisk next to his name, tell me that nobody is going to think about this record the same way as Hank’s, etc. MLB is not only going to let it happen they are going to celebrate it - and it is a travesty, a miscarriage of justice and I will not be a part of it. I am boycotting MLB and I ask each of you to look inside yourself and decide if you want to support this farce.
If you watch baseball on TV, go to a game, buy merchandise – then you are an accomplice in this ludicrous, empty show – this mockery, this sham. Join me in letting Bud Selig and Barry Bonds know that this is NOT okay, that we are not going to be part of this travesty.
Join me in my Boycott of 2006 Major League Baseball.
While I agree with the sentiment, I can’t agree with the act. I think, if you can walk away, you weren’t that big of a fan to begin with?
The last baseball game I watched featured Joe Carter nailing a Mitch Williams pitch over the left field wall at the Toronto Skydome. That’s right, in *1993*.
So you’ve got my support for your MLB boycott, but I’m 13 years ahead of you. Baseball hasn’t been interesting, fair, or honest since the strike in 1994.
(I was a Phillies fan, by the way. And that Joe Carter homerun hurt.)
Jeffrey - I would suggest that if you don’t boycott this season that you aren’t that big of a fan. I honestly feel that MLB will be making a travesty of the game by celebrating Bonds’ do called records.
To parapharse Sting: If you love something, set it free.
I’m with you, this perversion just makes me sick. I am having nothing to do with baseball until they clean up their mess.
I am not really a fan of baseball, but the one thing that it really had going for it over other sports is it’s rich history.
I see that being tarnished by not only Barry Bonds but all of the players that have disrepected the sport.
MLB should be ashamed of itself for not being a better steward of our national pastime.
In a shocking development MLB discovers that they have a steriod problem:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060330/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_steroids_14
I got your comment dude… As I can agree with you to every degree. I am too major of a fan of the sport (as my team is the Cardinals). I’ve been lucky that “my team” has only had one “faker,” and sadly that was McGwire. “my team” raises their players up, and doesn’t take any s**t from them. BUT, I can greatly appreciate & understand your stance on MLB, as IT AS A WHOLE is the farce, along with the teams that support the players–such as Bonds, Sosa & Palmiero. It’s funny to look back & see how…as soon as MLB said, “hey guys, we’re going to catch you…” Everyone SUDDENLY started getting torn ligaments, and knee problems, coupled with elbow issues… I think that is humerous. Also, it makes no sense to me that it’s taken THIS long for MLB to launch an “investigation.” It’s not like anyone is doping NOW.
Sadly, I have already bought my tickets for this year, at New Busch, in St. Louis. I (sadly) will watch every game on TV, but I will not buy any merchandise, nor will I buy anything like the MLB.TV or anything like that… Does that work for my side of the boycott…?
Hey Oseary - thanks for stopping by - we all have to do what we think is best I guess.
Take care,
Jtk
Jtk, I’d say thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment, but you were so utterly dismissive and intolerant of my post that I just thought you should know that you left a bad impression.
If you think that there isn’t just as much crap going on in the music industry or film industry, two subjects I see you’ve written about here, and yet you don’t talk about boycotting them, then it hardly makes sense for you to claim superiority because you are boycotting baseball (good for you), and I’m not.
I actually like your post about baseball a lot, you touch on your childhood connection to the game just as I did, and I share your dismay about Bonds. That said, I read today something very surprising, that Bank of America, one of MLB’s biggest sponsors, has said it will not participate in any celebration of Bonds’s landmark home runs. (Link)
Unlike you, apparently, I have taken a look around your blog, like what I see, and though I haven’t heard of any of the bands you talk about, which is cool, I will be commenting on your CohenBrothers vs. Wes Anderson post as soon as I’m done here.
Peace.
Hey Howard -
I apologize if I came off as dismissive I can see how my comment may have seemed that way even though that is not how I indented them, but I don’t get the intolerant part.
All I was trying to say is that, yes you can stay in denial if that is what you choose to do. You first suggested that denial not me, and I was just saying if that is how you are dealing with this situation then that is your call and that is okay with me.
However I have some of the same issues and I have decided to approach it differently.
That’s all. I wasn’t trying to say your approach is less valid then mine, that I was somehow superior, etc. I was simply saying you go ahead and do what you need to do, and so will I.
I meant no offence.
As for as boycotting the music industry or film industry - sure i do - I don’t buy RIAA music anymore, don’t go to chain movie theaters, etc. While it is not a 1 to 1 comparison with my boycott of MLB neither are the situations imho. But in both cases I let my conscience be my guide and do what I think is right.
And that is all any of us can do. Thanks for your time, I meant no disrespect.
JTk
btw - I think Skull & Roses is a better multi disc live record from around the same time period then is Europe ‘72
Boycott Baseball ?
I’d like to Boycott baseball until there is a level playing field. It just doesn’t make any sense ? Why on earth would a Royals or Brewers fan attend a game ? Is there any league in the world that has such a uneven playing field ??
Mark Summers
Jtk, just thought I’d report on how much fun I had at Opening Day in Seattle. Fine day for baseball (rainy, but Safeco Field’s retractable roof kept us all cozy and dry), fun game though a loss, good company (two whole rows of friends), and my denial held up beautifully!
Seriously, I respect you completely for your decision and, what’s more, I envy all the time you’ll have freed up for other activities.
Barry, there’s no crying in baseball!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12331822/from/RS.4/
Pesos For Penguins adds:
I woke up this morning just in time to catch Baseball Tonight on ESPN. As well as just in time to throw up in my mouth. Are YOU just as sick & f**king tired of seeing ESPN bend over backwards for Bonds? Along with their countdown to passing the Babe? Have you seen the DEDICATED area on MSNBC.com to Barry Bonds?!
Your post a few weeks ago to boycotting baseball…well, will you post something simply to boycott ESPN–or at least their MLB sections, as well as the baseball tonight–and MSNBC?!
It’s making me sick dude… I should paid more attention when I read your blog last time.
I had to rant to someone, and I figured it’d be you. Haha!
I posted already about it…
http://www.pesosforpenguins.com/2006/04/23/barry-bonds-first-home-run/
I’m writing an article on how Bonds is being viewed in America right now. I came across this boycott posting and wanted to speak to the author. Could the person who runs this site please contact me at the above e-mail address? I’ll respond directly with more info. Thanks.
Ticket prices climb, Players think the fans exist only to stroke the players ego, and in turn be snubbed by the players.
cut off the money to the owners, at the trunstile, drop the tv ratings cutting off the money from tv, and you’ll see a huge return to the old days when “the love of the game” still meant something other than filling out deposit slips with 6 to 7 zeros.
They should be paid well, but are they more important to society than a teacher, a cop, or a fireman?