Tuesday, July 12, 2005
The Home Run Derby goes international
I'm a big supporter of the idea of a Baseball World Cup, and so the idea of holding the Home Run Derby as an international event was awesome to me - it turned what was basically a BP exhibition into a proper contest. I guess I've seen how much players care about international matches in football/soccer, and it's just fun to see that same passion translated today into baseball - the Latin Americans, especially, seemed really into it. The Dominican crew was clearly were rooting for Ortiz, and Bobby Abreu was all, "I'm so proud for my country... I'm so happy to win this trophy for my country". Genuine excitement rather than platitudes - such great fun. Even some of the commentators seemed to have become converts to the format - the fact is, as long as it matters to the players, that makes them put on a great contest. Jason Bay must be mortified.
And if you don't know Bobby Abreu by now, you will never never know him. 41 homers in one day. I suppose he moves off the all-underrated team now.
I'm a big supporter of the idea of a Baseball World Cup, and so the idea of holding the Home Run Derby as an international event was awesome to me - it turned what was basically a BP exhibition into a proper contest. I guess I've seen how much players care about international matches in football/soccer, and it's just fun to see that same passion translated today into baseball - the Latin Americans, especially, seemed really into it. The Dominican crew was clearly were rooting for Ortiz, and Bobby Abreu was all, "I'm so proud for my country... I'm so happy to win this trophy for my country". Genuine excitement rather than platitudes - such great fun. Even some of the commentators seemed to have become converts to the format - the fact is, as long as it matters to the players, that makes them put on a great contest. Jason Bay must be mortified.
And if you don't know Bobby Abreu by now, you will never never know him. 41 homers in one day. I suppose he moves off the all-underrated team now.
You know, I'm all for being proud of who you are and where you come from. I saw all of these great players giving homage to their countries. Good for them! Imagine if you could bottle what they were feeling. I can only imagine.
I ask you, was I the only one watching diligently in hopes that one of these great players would take time to reconize the country that made everything possible for them? Boy was I ruting. After all, these men are America's heros and idols. Fingers and toes were crossed...
Not one of them. Zero. Nana. None. Not a single "Amedica's been beddy, beddy, goot to me." Was it a lack of education or just complete disrespect?
Post a Comment
I ask you, was I the only one watching diligently in hopes that one of these great players would take time to reconize the country that made everything possible for them? Boy was I ruting. After all, these men are America's heros and idols. Fingers and toes were crossed...
Not one of them. Zero. Nana. None. Not a single "Amedica's been beddy, beddy, goot to me." Was it a lack of education or just complete disrespect?
Singapore Sox Fan
![[Powered by Blogger]](/images/bloggeredbutton.gif){kind=small}
