(C) 2012
Pizzaonian National Flag, courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator
Nothing epitomizes the “winner takes all” spirit of the United States like professional sports. As the baseball season ends the heroes line up to take their bows - and the goats brace for the long winter of second-guessing on what might have been.
Ironically, the heroes at the end were often the goats during the long season. Fans and the 24/7 sports news cycle makes all who play or work in professional baseball fair game for the fans.
As all those who play the game know, you are only as good as your last game, no matter what you have done before.
They say this type of up and down praise and scorn heaped on the players and managers is good for the psyche and brings a sense of community to a city. The ability to have a serious love/hate relationship with your team unties those who love and hate in the spirit of togetherness.
Maybe so, but it would be nice, just once, to hear players talk about this honestly.
That is not likely to happen since this type of honesty would bring the ire of the fans down on anyone who attempts it. Each player knows the name of the game is winning, and even though you may have the fans' affection for the moment, one bad play or decision at a crucial time can change everything.
So for the moment, the champions are singing cum bi ya arm and arm with their fans, and this will last at least until the first game next year. Then the fans will realign the order of goats and heroes according to how well their local heroes performed – and the cycle begins again.
Maybe the reason baseball players are paid so much is more about putting up with the love/hate relationship with the fans than it is about playing baseball. I would think many players and managers would agree with this particularly when they are goats instead of heroes. Play ball!
Brother Giovanni, commenting for "The Pizzoanian" - Diverti Mento, editor, a division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network
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