Is There Really No Such Thing as "Bad Press?"
Brian O'Connor
Issue date: 4/20/05 Section: Perspectives
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Religion, war, and politics are all issues that demand an opinion in our nation. Though these topics were always considered taboo and unmentionable before, the current state of American society calls for a person to take a stance, whether or not he or she wants to, or should. Nearly every day, people are subjected to confrontations of all sorts, many of them completely uninterested in the argument at-hand.
While baseball is considered a national pastime - even a religious experience to some -- it too is now subject to unavoidable argument and polarity. Through the rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, passive baseball fans are no longer allowed to enjoy a simple game of hardball without hearing about the rivalry, or being asked for their opinion of the latest fiasco from that took place at Fenway Park the other night.
The fact of the matter is that the simple pleasure that comes from watching a baseball game is in decline. Those seeking an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon in a ballpark can no longer enjoy their seven-dollar draft beer and their nine-dollar hot dog from the seat they paid about forty-five dollars for. Fathers with their sons can no longer watch a baseball game without seeing their heroes throw a punch or get punched by a fan. A simple way to meet with friends and enjoy the American sport has become mired in a race for profits, headlines, and pennants. In short, the average fan of baseball is forced to become an active member in the rivalry that is slowly destroying the sport they enjoy.
While the rivalry between these two gifted teams is nothing new, the manner with which the two teams compete is ludicrous. Pitchers bean batters, outfielders get slugged, managers and coaches get involved in all-out fistfights on the infield, and players insult each other on and off the field. In the golden age of baseball, the Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry was just as strong as it was today, but a sense of class, dignity, and respect still prevailed. Though their uniforms were different, players on both teams remembered that they were all a part of a cherished sport, and would not let the result of a baseball game affect the manner with which they interacted.