AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2008 > March > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBaseball’s sold its soul
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Good morning. You just missed Opening Day.
The Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics played the first game of the major league season Tuesday morning (normal baseball earth time) in Tokyo. I imagine Japan will reciprocate this breach of tradition by opening the sumo season at Fenway Park.
“You’re taking something many consider like a national folk festival and moving it overseas,” said Roger Kahn, baseball purist and author of several books, including the classic, “The Boys of Summer.”
“They just dumped it.”
Opening Day. It merits capital letters.
It’s self-contained, needing no explanation.
It is less a game than a coronation.
William Howard Taft threw out the ceremonial first pitch in 1910, beginning a tradition for presidents. Jackie Robinson became the first African-American player in the major leagues in 1947. Aaron hit home run No. 714 to tie Babe Ruth’s record in 1974.
Take all of those Opening Day moments. Now move them to Japan.
“I don’t guess that any baseball fan really likes it,” Hank Aaron said. “It’s just that everything has gone so global. But I haven’t really caught on to this. Maybe they’re doing it in Tokyo because they have a dome.”
(Pause.)
“No, on second thought, we’ve got domes here.”
I get the whole global marketing thing. I don’t get taking one of the few special traditions remaining in sports and turning it into some infomercial like a Vegematic.
The first pitch for A’s fans was scheduled for 3:05 a.m. Pacific time. Advantages?
“There are a lot of bars that’ll still be open in Oakland,” Kahn said. “Jack London used to drink there all the time.”
Baseball officials want to grow the game in the Pacific.
Shouldn’t they be doing a better job nurturing the sport closer to home?
Now there are kids asleep before the first pitch of the World Series and the first pitch of the season.
Cincinnati, Boston, St. Louis … Tokyo. Feel the tradition.
This is MLB’s third Opening Day venture in Japan (Mets-Cubs in 2000; Yankees-Devil Rays in 2004). Yomiuri, a Japanese media conglomerate whose properties include a baseball team, is footing the bill.
While we’re at it, perhaps commissioner Bud Selig should have Yomiuri weigh in on the DH, the All-Star Game and Roger Clemens.
Aaron is still a player at heart. He thought about the Boston and Oakland players first — the disruption to start their season, the jet lag they’re feeling over there, how their bodies will feel upon returning.
“I used to get tired just when we went to L.A.,” he said.
But the wrecking ball that MLB’s marketing department has taken to the sport’s tradition confuses him most.
“I don’t guess there’s a lot of people who really like it,” he said. “If you ask anybody, ‘Where would you like to open the season?’ everybody would say in their own ballpark. But the game has gotten so crazy now with the schedule. Now teams are playing in Mexico and Japan. But I have to say I really don’t know how good it’s been.”
The Braves open Sunday night in Washington, a made-for-ESPN event in the Nationals’ new stadium. They return home after one game. As unconventional as that is, at least they’re in the same time zone. And continent.
Opening Day was special for Aaron. “No matter how many years you play, when that bell rings, you get jitters,” he said.
He tied Ruth in 1974 with a homer off Jack Billingham in Cincinnati. But his fondest memory came in 1956 as a Milwaukee Brave. It was another home run, but this one came off the Chicago Cubs’ Bob Rush in extraordinary circumstances. The Farmers’ Almanac database indicates a low of 33 degrees in Milwaukee on that April 17, with some rain and snow flurries.
“It was cold — I mean, freezing cold,” he said. “The manager, Fred Haney, had a meeting and said, ‘If anybody talks about how cold it is, it’s going to cost you $50.’ That was a lot of money back then. Then we beat the Cubs and I hit a home run. I’d have to say I remember that opener more than any other just because it was so cold and I was able to hit a home run.”
Now, we have memories. Japan gave us Daisuke. We gave them Opening Day. Nice trade.
Permalink | Comments (76) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz
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By Jim Ragan
March 24, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this
Even as someone who has pulled for the Braves, I wish MLB would go back to tradition and let the Cincinnati Reds host the opening day of the baseball season on their home field again. I have no problem playing an overseas regular season game, but do it later on in the year or at the end of the season. Playing an opening day game outside the Continental U.S. is a bit much.
By Marietta Dawg
March 24, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this
It’s not just MLB, all of the leagues are doing it. Who cares about keeping American kids involved with the sport or trying to get more African American kids into baseball, why don’t we just go play in Japan and “expand” our following globally. I’m sure that the Japanese are watching games that don’t involve Dice K or Ichiro. I applaud the Red Sox for threating to not play, since the coaches were not initially given a stipend. I’ll be at Turner Field next Monday night rooting on the Braves, at home, in the good old USA, the home of baseball!
By David G;azer
March 24, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this
Completely agree, Jeff. Where’s the tradition anymore?
By Doug
March 25, 2008 12:02 AM | Link to this
I used to like Baseball, but now I really don’t have much interest. Drugs killed the game, the Commissioner is incompetent and Donald Fuer, the union guy, is a joke. Maybe they can play out the season in Japan!
By SpringTraining
March 25, 2008 6:54 AM | Link to this
Taking our teams overseas is a slap in the face to the home fans who wait to see their team play. Why take the players thousands of miles to play one game then bring them thousands of miles back. This is America’s past time and it needs to be kept in the United States and in the ball parks of those teams that play the game. Overseas travel is just pure stupid. Not to mention risky for the players with all the other countries hating America the way they do. Keep our players home where they belong.
By Ted
March 25, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this
The entire world is becomming more Americanized as our culture is spreading around the globe. What’s wrong with that? The more American culture the rest of the world absorbs with open arms, the less evil our society will appear. Besides, Japan has some pretty good teams and this is an excellent way to reach across the oceans.
By geekboy
March 25, 2008 7:54 AM | Link to this
Hey, it’s still baseball! And calling in to work sick is more believable at 3 am than 1:05 on a Wednesday!
By J. Byron Flanders
March 25, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this
Maybe steroids are legal in Japan…you think?
By bob
March 25, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this
i love baseball, i’m a little obsessive. and seriously, this is not that big a deal. what’s wrong with trying to spread america’s pastime? this is an increasingly global economy and baseball is losing its fan base here. better to play overseas at the beginning of the season than in the middle or at the end when players would have to deal with the time change. way to encourage the xenophobic attitude, jeff.
By hop
March 25, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
HANK is right everything is going global and maybe , this country has found something that will balance our trade deficit with japan.
By Joe
March 25, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this
“Professional” Baseball. WHO CARES!
By hud47
March 25, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this
Jeff, please get over it. You of all people should know that baseball is an international game, always was, always will be. Do you think any serious, or, for that matter, any casual fan really believes that this will affect the so-called integrity of the game? I love the game for what it is: tradition, excellence, execution. Whether it’s in Japan or Jersey, the thing to remember is the game.
By Papa
March 25, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this
I have not been to a Major League game since the last Strike - swore ‘em off, the greedy so-and-sos. I’ll watch on TV or catch some radio, but have enjoyed the few minor leage and numerous college games. Ballplayers sold their souls to Wall Street years ago. My grandsons are coming of age where I would like to teach them the history and essence of the game - thank goodness for black-and-white footage of real players — Aaron, Robinson (Brooks and Frank), Clemente, Pappas, Boyer, Ford, Burgess, Alou, Banks, and the old-timers Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, Dimaggio, Williams. Talent is rife today, but it’s all about the money. “… where have you gone …?”
By ATLNative
March 25, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this
I feel bad for either Boston or Oakland, who lost out on the extra revenue that Opening Day brings in. The stadium, vendors, surrounding bars & restaurants… all the way down to the ticket scalpers. Even when your team sucks, Opening Day is usually a good turnout.
By Cashews Clay
March 25, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this
Oh no! Baseball is doomed!
By Matt the Brave
March 25, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
I’m with the first poster on this one…let the two oldest teams open the season. Get rid of the DH, interleauge (completely useless now that they have teams playing other divisions.), and opening days in other countries. Also, I feel that Chip Carey must explain the infield fly rule at least once without getting po’ed.
By Dave In Tampa
March 25, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
I totally agree. What use to be the greatest sport, aka: America’s Pasttime,” Is now a joke. Players from the 60’s and before have to be so dissapointed or rolling in their graves.
This is not the same game that brought us Ruth, Aaron, Mantle, Mays, Matthewson, Cobb, Wagner and so on.
Bud Selig has a lot do to with it. He is a baffoon of a commsioner and the entire league has walked all over him. To start change he must go first.
There are a lot more players than just Bonds on steriods. We need a commisioner that will get rid of all players on steriods REGARDLESS of who they are. Have a base salary of about $150,000 then give bonuses based on achievement. Guys can still make their millions if they have great seasons. Just like a successful salesman. If not, they get their $150,000 base pay. The owners are owners. They should be the ones making most of the money. You do not see owners of large corporations making less than their executives. It would also even out the playing field.
I use to be a baseball crazed fan, but it’s hard to get excited about the game now with the way it has been brought down.
Now I say, “Bring on College Football!”
By Dan
March 25, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
It is a sad day when the almighty dollar can buy tradition. Just another stain on baseball. Nest thing you know players will be corking bats and juicing up. The times they are a changing. So sad.
By Dan
March 25, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
It is a sad day when the almighty dollar can buy tradition. Just another stain on baseball. Next thing you know players will be corking bats and juicing up. The times they are a changing. So sad.
By Dan
March 25, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
It is a sad day for baseball when tradition is sold for the almighty dollar. The next thing you know players will be corking bats and juicing up. We need to get back to basics or lose it all.
By Mark Picarro
March 25, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
How about writing about, how most of the Brave fans around the Southeast, will not be able to watch the home opener because it will be televised on PTV.
By ManOfTeal
March 25, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
You know it is also tradition that times must, and always do change.
I consider myself a serious baseball fan and I see no problem with having Opening Day in another country. What that shows me is that we as Americans know how to put on a good show and the rest of the world envys us because of it. Think about it.
By TnBravesFan
March 25, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
Spread American culture all you want, but do it when the culture is not compromised. How would you like it if they held the Final Four in Italy? No. This is not a matter of globalization or cultural intermingling. This is nothing less than the sell-out of an American tradition. And, if globalization and cultural exchange becomes the guiding principal for major league American sports then there is nothing to keep them from turning into traveling circuses. MLB should NOT become the Harlem Globtrotters!
By Vasily D'Efferins
March 25, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
You know, Americans constantly get it rammed down our throats that we are barbarians out to rule the world and spread our evil culture. Other nationalities and cultures come here legally, or illegally as the case may be, and we get it rammed down our throats that we have to respect their traditions, that it is us who has to adapt, us who has to accept, who has to practice tolerance, blah, blah, blah. Which way do the weasel globalizers want it? How can we blend in when we are supposed to accept, appreciate, and tolerate everyone else’s “uniqueness”? They aren’t blending. Why should we?
So, why the hell can’t we have something that is uniquely American – like our own baseball league that plays its regular season games on American soil? The freaking sport started here didn’t it? I don’t give a crap about Japanese baseball, or Italian basketball, or watching a NFL game played in London of all places We are giving the rest of the world all our jobs for God’s sake. Can’t we keep something?
Globalization is a code word for assimilation. Resistance isn’t futile, people. Wake up.
By Michael
March 25, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
America’s Past Time no more. It is a shame to watch it die.
By old timer
March 25, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
This just adds to the growth of giving everything to foreign countries. Electronics, textiles, toys, baby products, food, manufacturing, steel production, and now baseball. Can selling our souls be far behind?
By JJ
March 25, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
This is not good. It may be someones new “tradition” but it won’t be mine. Things are changing and the world will never be the same. I guess that’s the way it goes.
By crackbaby
March 25, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Terrible column. You have mindlessly followed the sports “journalist” pack on this one. The Japanese love baseball and it is a tremendous honor for them to host the World Champion Red Sox on opening day.
Opening day is the most overrated event in baseball and perhaps all of sports. The weather sucks and half the teams are on the road anyway.
The reason opening day is a week early is ‘cause the travel is a B***. Just like you, Schultzie.
Easy to pick on the Japanese (they stay quiet and don’t call your B.S.) isn’t it you racist Jew….
By whatever
March 25, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Last time I checked, soul-selling isn’t too uncommon these days.
By Gene
March 25, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
Bud Selig is to baseball as Mike Adams is to education.
By Mr. T
March 25, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Lame. Opening day is a non-event. This is like writing a column about how you wish all bowl games were played on New Year’s Day, we should reinstitute the no-dunk rule in college basketball and Dale Earnhardt drove the Wragler car.
While you’re at it, why don’t you wax reminiscent about black-and-white TV broadcasts, leather helmets and Coke that costs a nickel. Or how Howard Cosell told it like it was and they don’t make them like Dick Butkus anymore.
Times change, traditions evolve and those who are too rigid get left behind. The same columns were written when the NFL played it’s first big game in Mexico. Japan loves baseball…who gives a damn if it’s the first game of the 78th game? The sad thing is you and I are probably the same age. I better tell my doctor to watch for signs of early dementia.
We already have one Furman Bisher. Please go back to being Jeff Schultz please.
By Jimv
March 25, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
Can next year’s opener be at Pearl Harbor?
By VaBravesfan
March 25, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
I wouldn’t care if the Red Sox played all their games in Japan and took the Yankees with them.
By jill
March 25, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Jeff,
It’s not that big a deal, and I love baseball and opening day (note the lowercase). I just watched the game at work. And yes, I have a real job.
Well, back to the grind…
By Halberstram
March 25, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
No one should be too surprised at this. It’s obvious all MLB and the owners care about is the bottom line. They have taken the fans for granted. It’s just like the start times for the playoffs. The games aren’t over until midnight. How are young kids supposed to get into the game when they aren’t over until that late. Get back to your roots baseball before its too late.
By peter
March 25, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
Bottom line is the Commissioner has to go…….. He is like the George Bush of baseball!
By Roswell Ed
March 25, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
This is overblown.
They play 162 games.
Who cares if the first one is played at 4:30 in the am in Japan?
Bring on the Braves!!!!
By Lance
March 25, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
Nothing MLB does makes any sense anymore. Can anyone explain giving home field advantage in the World Series to a team from a league that wins the ALL STAR GAME?? Next thing you know, they’ll be playing part of the World Series in Iraq.
By chippersan
March 25, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Jeff:
If you’re so upset why don’t you boycott the 2008 baseball season. Oh, that’s right, I forgot, you’ve already sold your soul to journalism.
By tulsabravo
March 25, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Get off your high horse Schultz, they sold out the game of baseball years ago. What bothers me most is that both Oakland and Boston have to come back to the States after this series, and then continue Spring Training. I used to think that once the season started, it stayed started. Great game by the way. Nice to watch Manny stand and watch his double go over the centerfielder’s head, instead of running in a close game. Now that’s baseball!
By sportsmandh
March 25, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
I agree this is much over reaction. I don’t blame baseball for trying to market the game. An opening game in Japan, and an exhibition game to the other day with the Red Sox. Who cares? We’ll still have our opening day.
I agree with some of the other points above, like giving home field in the World Series to the winner league of the All Star game. Now that is stupid.
I am no fan at all of Boob Selig’s, but having a game in Japan is no big deal to me.
By Mr. Myagi
March 25, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
With the dollar at all time lows, the yen can buy that much more baseball in 2008.
By Storm8
March 25, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
it’s just getting that it is no fun being an americna anymore.
By dack jerrick
March 25, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
To quote Thomas Wolfe: “too bad, too bad, too bad”. The clowns running MLB headed by Bozo(Selig) keep tearing at the fabric of the game. Eventually, it’s going to burst right down the seam.
By Tommy
March 25, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
It’s just diplomacy, gang. It’s not like all 30 teams went overseas to kick off their season. It’s one game. The Sox still get a home opener in a week or two, same with Oakland.
We’ve got enough to whine about regarding baseball (the commish, drugs, high ticket prices) without adding this to the mix.
As few friends as the US has overseas now, I say let’s do what we can to make some connections. One game out of 162? No sweat.
By american
March 25, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
Well, our steel industry has moved there, our auto supplies have shut down here and moved there (Delphi, why not baseball. All of our manufacturing ability, what made us strong, is gone. Jobs by the hundreds leave every day, so why not sports! WAKE UP AMERICA!!!
By Blind Homer
March 25, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
Yes, baseball sold its soul. but it wasn’t this week to the Japanese. It was years ago when the owners caved in after the strike and let the players and the union take over the sport. Now fat, steroid bloated Clemens can sit home for four days, show up to pitch and make almost $1M per appearance! Any sport that rewards that kind of behavior has no soul.
By Matt
March 25, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
They played the game over there because they know the Japanese will sell out that ballpark. They take baseball way too seriously over there. Just watch a game with a Japanese player on one of the teams, and there will be a whole mob of Japanese reporters clicking away on their cameras every time the player so much as picks his nose. Will someone please send Selig to rehab? He needs to lay off that crack.
By WR
March 25, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
The one positive way to ruin baseball, football, basketball, etc.. is to let television take over as they have now. Baseball in Japan-WHY. You will never get the true sport of baseball back as long as pencil pushing dollar or nothing morons are making the decisions. They are only interested in one thing $$$$. Just like TBS.
By Russell
March 25, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
Baseball has been STUCK in it’s past. Mired in its so-called traditions. Its a great game but it’s just a game. Why should we keep it to ourselves when the world is loving the game too? Hopefully there will be major league teams in Japan, Mexico, Cuba, Central and South America.
By I Agree With Schultz
March 25, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
Schultz hit the nail on the head. Baseball is losing it’s tradition. The decline of the American pasttime all began in 1942 when they allowed Puerto Ricans in [legally]. Then in 1947 they allowed blacks, who promptly ruined the integrity of America’s game. Before that, the game was pure. Then the Japanese invaded again in 1964 when Masanori Murakami pitched for the SF Giants. The next step in baseball’s degradation occurred in 1974 the MLB conspired to allow a black to break the American homerun record. By allowing the most important game of the season to occur overseas in the land of the rising sun is an insult to my ancestors who gave their blood defending our shores. This long line of travesty is political correctness run amok. What is next? A World Series held in Canada?
By Jmac
March 25, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WStc3g_-008
By ChampDawg
March 25, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
It’s all about money. Period. If it were about making friends overseas, then let’s throw the first pitch in Iraq. Maybe then we could just all love one another. Bunch of crap. It’s all about money. MLB would kick it’s mama for a quarter.
By dorrel
March 25, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
Are YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL! I can’t wait, who gives a crap about baseball anyway??
By Sri
March 25, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
Jeff,
Respecting tradition has never really been an American trait — it has its plusses and minusses. Among the plusses, Americans are typically on the cutting edge of most fields in life. Among the minusses, as you very eloquently put it, there is lack of “soul”.
If I may digress, the first time I watched a lighting display at Stone Mountain, to see slides of GMC trucks (before the actual display started) on the facades of Davis, Lee and Jackson was unappetizing and definitely lacked “soul”. It was extremely tacky and inopportune to see trucks being sold on the sculptures/carvings of historical figures.
I’m not surprised that MLB has decided to sell baseball’s soul just to be chic and cool. Baseball, after all, is reflecting what is going on in American society.
By Roswell Ed
March 25, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
I agree with Shultz:
There was a world series held in Canada.
I assume that your whole blog is sarcasm so that may be also.
The roids are what made me rage against baseball, but I do love watching the Braves!!
By beeniez
March 25, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
Is this meant to be serious? You realize you published this online and not in your little diary, right? Let’s just ban all the people who aren’t from the United States, you know, like tradition of 1946.
Tradition, give me a break. You’ve turned into those little old ladies at church who point out everything that’s wrong. Why haven’t you freaked out when Toronto or the Expos opened the season? Where’s the article about how there’s a Canadian team in the AMERICAN league?!
Baseball is an international sport. Even though the United States has won every year, it’s called the World Series. It’s a sport for the world’s best. They played the game just like they would here in the United States. They did not use chop sticks, wear sumo outfits, or talk out of sync with their voice over. They played at an earlier time than you wanted to get up, and that’s basically what you’re writing an article about.
I’m a Braves fan and Opening Day doesn’t start until Sunday for all I care. If the Braves were ever to play in Jackie Chan Stadium or wherever, I could care less because I’d want them to traditionally beat the crap out of their opponent no matter where they play.
By Fulton
March 25, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
Baseball is using ONE game to market its product to a large culture that understands and appreciates the honor of the sport. What’s the problem with that? Besides, they’re not reaching for steroid headlines over there and, don’t we still have 181 games left to go before The Braves tank in the playoffs?
By Season Ticket Holder
March 25, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
There really isn’t much left of baseball’s soul to sell to Japan. The games have turned into one giant advertisment (played way too loud). They have the HUGE HD video screen at Turner Field, and what do they use it for? Instant Replays, Hi-lights from around the league or previous Braves games? No, Home Depot Commercials, silly animated races, etc. They have a greasy headed John Candy look-alike playing MC for Bubba on an abreviated “The Price is Right”. They play the music so loud between innings you can’t hear yourself think. Every thing you see has some kind of advertisement on it, save the players uniforms (how long will it be before they look like Nascar Drivers’ race suits). The ballpark once was a relaxing place to spend an afternoon or an eveing, now it’s a place for constant visual and audible stimulus that rarely has anything to do with Baseball - all with a sponsor.
The fact that they played opening day in Japan - not a bit surprising.
I’m looking forward to minor-league baseball in Metro Atlanta.
By Max
March 25, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
This notion that Americans are the only ones that should get to enjoy MLB is silly. Traditions are nice, but we’re talking about an average, run-of-the mill opening day here. For the A’s. No Jackie Robinson, no President Taft, no Hank Aaron. Its Emil Brown, Ryan Sweeney and Kurt Suzuki. Those guys can be as special in Tokyo as they are in Oakland.
Frankly, this attitude that MLB can’t open up in Tokyo reeks of rank xenophobia to me. America should share its game to as many countries as it can to popularize the game.
Putting an opening day in Tokyo is not “selling its soul”. Please. If it was that easy to sell the soul of baseball, the game was already destroyed long ago.
By Schultz Factchecker
March 25, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
“I imagine Japan will reciprocate this breach of tradition by opening the sumo season at Fenway Park.”
While not Fenway, the World Sumo Challenge was held in Madison Square Garden in October 2005.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002581353_sumo25.html
By rob
March 25, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
For anyone who still says they wrote off baseball after the strike…
Get a life. If you really wrote of baseball, then you wouldn’t post on a baseball blog. The NFL and Hockey have had strikes, and no one harps on that. Let it go, jeez.
By Stan
March 25, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
We need to “grow the game globally?”
WHY?
It’s sure as hell not better for the quality of the game or the loyalty of the real fans.
Don’t let anyone in MLB fool you with this global marketing smokescreen. The ONLY reason they want to grow the game globally is to create MORE revenue sources and line their own pockets.
“Growing the game” is just a marketing term. The only real result for the fan is the increase in the overall cost of attending a game (we’re already getting raped as it is).
Some fans of baseball are not as stupid as you think… we love the game… not the business.
SHAME ON YOU BUD SELIG AND MLB!
By Random
March 25, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
Careful what you wish for, peter — if Bud steps down, one of his least unlikely successors is Dub!
By AGTfan
March 25, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
Baseball sold it’s soul the day Selig was named comissioner. It just keeps getting worse. Of course Random is right. It could get even worse, we could have DUMBW.
By Fulton
March 25, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
Shame on anyone for not realizing; Baseball and sports in general is very big business! C’mon kids, wake up! We’re not in Kansas anymore…
By Martin Calloway
March 25, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Amen, Amen, Amen.
By ManOfTeal
March 25, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
Go Marlins!!!!
By Damian
March 25, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
I love the passion this story is bringing out in the baseball faithful! To me, this Japan game was just a glorified exhibition game. NOT Opening Day!! Opening Day will be the night the Braves take on the Nationals in Washington. Americans will actually see that game.
How stupid can America be? In our ‘Think Green’ society, how does it make sense to fly a baseball team halfway across the world for one game? I’m not an environmentalist by any means and even I know this is ridiculous.
By Swami Dave
March 25, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Well congratulations Bud Selig. Maybe there is a competition between the NBA, NHL, & MLB to see who can most effectively dump on their fan bases and trash what market brand that they might have.
This just in Bud, sports fans know that’s not rain!
For the full article, feel free to use this link.
-Swami Dave
By Brendan
March 26, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Baseball sold its soul a long time ago, Jeff. A labor-dispute caused the 1994 World Series to be cancelled. Organized “cheating” in the form of rampant steroid abuse permeated the game. With the league’s blessing, as it watched the TV ratings from the McGwire-Sosa and Bonds/McGwire HR Derbies.
Baseball has not been a “posterchild” for anything … for a long time. Perhaps, they’re still ahead of the NBA. Say what you will about hockey, and losing a WHOLE SEASON, but at least the puck action is “honest.” And the NHL has a hard salary cap, that prevents a “Steinbrenner-like” owner from commandeering the game.
By Douchebag McCloud
March 26, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
Get a grip. Really is this the end of the World as we know it. Go outside take a walk smell the dog poop get a life.
By Richard
March 26, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
I didn’t like the idea of sending our games overseas, but then I went to London for the Dolphins/Giants game. You wouldn’t believe how much excitement it generates in foreign countries. You’d have thought they were playing the Super Bowl in London.
We all know it’s solely for the purpose of generating enough interest to drive up the TV rights and merchandise costs overseas. For the NFL, I still think there’s a problem since the home fans are deprived of 12.5% of their games. But home fans in baseball get 81 games per year. Shultz, like you said, “Good morning. You just missed Opening Day.” Noone over here really knew that there was a regular season game until after the fact anyways.
By Marc Schewel
March 26, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
I am an Oakland A’s fan who lives on the East Coast. This is probably the only time all year that I willget to see the A’s on television. What better time to watch a baseball game than at 6:30 AM?
By NY Jay
March 26, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
Tradition, Nationalism, etc are all ideals that allow society to remain stuck in the past and one of the main factors for the existence of racism and sexism that is still very much active in our society after all these centuries of knowledge and progress.
This article only contributes to that logic. Which is: you join us if you can conform but we will never join you.
Forget the fact that Japan has produced a Future Hall of famer in Ichiro or a CY Young winner in Hideo Nomo or a Yankee legend in Hideki Matsui or the best 8th inning reliever in Okajima or Matsuzaka who would be the Braves number one starter if he was on their team.
Oh and lets forget about the fact that Japan has supported and played the sport of baseball for well over 100 years!!!
Two gmes in Japan is hardly worth anything except to place the bug in future baseball players that MLB is better than their own Japanese league.
They should just export their players to the U.S. and get nothing in return.
You know, like the entire South American continent has done for decades. Given that fact, I’d say that the soul of MLB is firmly entrenched in its’ national traditions.
By Shane
April 1, 2008 3:52 AM | Link to this
Im living in Japan right now and its Important to remember that Japan is one of the only countries with a major population bar america that actually likes baseball. And they really do like it a lot. So considering we play Games in London a country which, like most countries, doesnt even follow baseball, but love a chance to see something so unusual in their country. I think its perfectly ok to open in Japan who not only follow their own league but ours too. On the other hand we do not have any major Sumo following in the States so the Sumo Comment in the original Piece was ridiculous. Sumo started before the Europeans even got round to setting our country up. The tradition of Sumo is far stronger and uncomparible to anything baseball has to offer. To summarise I think its not a bad thing at all.