All Star Games are jokes

There is nothing more asinine in major professional sports than the mid-season all star game.

There...I said it.

The NFL used to have a Pro Bowl after the season which was at least something to watch for those suffering from football withdrawal after the Superbowl. Then (like  virtually anything else in the No Fans Left league) they had to ruin even that. Now they play that before the Superbowl in that weird no man's land between the NFC and AFC championships and the Commercial Fest...I mean Superbowl.

The problem with that is what plagues all all star games: no player wants to get hurt, especially before a Superbowl, and so no one really tries. It is not even as rough as a collegiate intramural flag football game. It's a beauty pageant for jocks.

The same thing plagues Major League Baseball. It is a game where the desire to win and the hustle level is somewhere between a church league softball game and two brothers playing each other in Mario Kart. In other words, millionaires loitering in a dugout and tweeting.

Baseball has tried to make the game not completely meaningless. The league that wins the all star game gets home field advantage in the World Series. That would be an interesting gimmick if either side actually played and coached to win. That, alas, never happens because there is this weird gentleman's agreement that everybody gets to play like some sort of round robin powderpuff game.

With no player actually playing more than 3 or 4 innings tops, no cohesion is ever really established, and because no one wants to get hurt, when they do play, they play like old grannies on walkers who are afraid of falling and breaking a hip. Like I said, All Star games are pointless.

If we must have all star games, I think we should up the steaks so the players at to win and coaches coach to win. I think the teams from the league that loses should forfeit roster spots in the playoff or the team that has the most all stars from the league that loses gets a significant salary cap for the remainder of the season.

If you are going to have an all star game, make them count. Make it worth watching. If I want to watch church league softball, I can walk around the corner to the community ballfield.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thoughts on the 'Connecticut 6'

For some weeks, I have had several friends (mostly non-Episcopalians surprisingly) wanting me to voice an opinion on this Connecticut 6 (sounds like a fleabag motel) business. If you are unfamiliar with this fiasco, for lack of a better term, let me describe it as best as I understand it. There is so much spin going on (from both sides I might add) that I have been having trouble discerning fact from fiction. As I understand the situation, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Smith is the Bishop of Connecticut. Well, at least he has a pointy hat, I do not think he is particularly acting like one. Likewise, as I understand, there are Six rectors of churches (at least they have collars, but likewise are not acting like it) that have applied for DEPO oversight (i.e. another Bishop to oversee them.) The best way I know how to describe the hoohah is as follows: The Feloniously Rev. Smith is trying to defrock the Superciliously Reverend Rectors. Darth Smith claims they have abandoned communion and has shadil
Read more

The History of the Football helmet

Image
NCAA.com put out an interesting editorial about the evolution of the football helmet that can be found here . This is in part due in my estimation to the current buzz (one might go so far as to describe it as hysteria) about concussions in contact sports, particularly football. I have always found this an interesting evolution. Long gone are the days of strapping on your leather helmet: In the 50's and 60's, the helmet evolved into, basically becoming a metal then hard plastic version of the leather helmet with the addition of a rudimentary face mask (which was really just a bar at first): Gradually, the helmet's face mask itself began to evolve: Combines with new space age style lightweight plastics and foams, the helmet mask ultimately became a type of full, goalie style face mask (This little number costs just under $1000 to purchase new): Ironically, being a military history major, the football helmet evolution followed the pattern of design that helmets worn
Read more

Homily Notes for the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

                Many churches often have Stewardship Renewal drives around this time of year, with St. Michael’s beginning its drive in mid-October. Talks or homilies on stewardship during this time of year often utilize the imagery of the fall harvest season because stewardship is often a time to take stock of God’s bounty-both spiritually and materially-and plan accordingly as to how much a family or individual is willing to commit to giving to the parish in the coming year of their time, talent, and treasure. The Mass readings today are picked in part to reinforce that theme of the importance of giving to God’s work through the church out of the bounty God has given to us. The question in the back of some people’s minds as they listen to stewardship appeals often is not touched upon in depth by the preacher or speaker discussing the importance of stewardship, however. That question is best summed up as, “If God is all powerful, why does He need my money?” The readings today beaut
Read more