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Obama's overexposure, Domino's pizza, and Derek Jeter's tears: Random thoughts on the All-Star Game
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it is still in your interest to avoid the noid.
The All-Star game is for people under 14. It's hard to imagine anyone else caring about it. Other people watch it, but it's hard to imagine anyone else really, passionately giving a darn about it
Come to think of it, when I was 13 I was very unhappy that my summer camp's usual ice cream social was canceled in favor of cramming a hazardous number of unwashed boys into an un-air conditioned meeting hall to watch the All-Star game in front of an antennaed 24 inch tv. I would have rather been outside, listening to Run DMC and chatting awkwardly with girls.
So probably no one cares about the All-Star game.
Sure, contending teams have a stake in it. World Series homefield advantage is awarded according to the final results of the game. But there's no need to watch all 27 outs in order to find out if your team of choice has a chance of hosting a World Series game 7 in three in a half months. The best thing to say about this year's game is it clocked in at a merciful 2 and a half hours.
Here's a few random thoughts about the broadcast.
- Dominos, which only college kids should be poor, desperate, or numb enough to eat, is now selling six varieties of regionally-themed pizza. Because nothing says great regional pizza like a national pizza chain that once had its own Nintendo game. On the plus side, I wasn't aware that Memphis was known for its BBQ Chicken pizza until today.
- Lincecum didn't get the complete game? I lost that bet.
- I didn't vote for Obama (or McCain) but I don't hate the guy. At this point, though, his obsession with sports is an embarrassment. Throwing out the first pitch is a time honored Presidential tradition. But sitting in the booth and cracking wise about Cubs fans while sporting head-to-toe White Sox gear? It's like having a 13 year-old for President. This is the same President who filled out an NCAA bracket on ESPN and spoke about the need for college football playoffs. It just all seems so unbecoming of the office. I half expect to see Obama sparring with Jay Marrioti and Woody Paige on Around the Horn when I flip on the world wide leader. Maybe he could get all of his sports thoughts out on a special Twitter page. PrezLovesSox: “Buerhle's the best 2day. He should b MVP!”
- A “fun fact” about Derek Jeter is “he cried when Chris Webber called time out during the NCAA finals.” What is this, MTV's “Next”? What kind of a fun fact is that? I mean, don't get me wrong, I have fun thinking about Derek Jeter crying, but how about a more relevant context? I'd love to hear about how Derek Jeter cried after the 2001 World Series. That's got YouTube viral video written all over it.
- Who the heck is Sara Evans? No self-respecting Northerner should know the names of more than three country artists at a time. Should she be one of them? Judging from her performance during the stretch I'm going to say no. You're safe for now Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks and Shania Twain.
- In actual baseball-related news, it was a mild surprise to see Charlie Manuel call for the intentional walk of Victor Martinez to get to Adam Jones. While the announcers were complimentary of Jones, the Phillies manager didn't show him much respect. Jones broke the 3-3 tie with a sacrifice fly that brought Curtis Granderson home from 3rd base. Tim McCarver referred to Jones' at bat as “gritty.” The O's CF fouled off a number of pitchers before hitting a deep fly out to right field. In any event, you can't blame Manuel for trying to maintain the tie.
- The American League held on to win the 2009 All Star game. They've won every midsummer's classic since Barry Bonds was a mustachioed stolen base threat.
- This October, Adam Jones can now sleep well knowing he gave the Red Sox homefield advantage in the World Series. As a fan, I know that made my All Star experience all the more exciting.
- Meanwhile, Carl Crawford gets the MVP award for barely hopping for a ball in the outfield? You've got to be kidding. If you're going to name the All Star MVP award after Ted Williams the award winner should not get a glass bat but a cryogenically frozen head. Either Jones or Granderson should have been out there holding a frozen replica of Williams' noggin. What happened in the post-game ceremony tonight was a major disappointment.
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