National pastime worth cherishing
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I must respond to the letter titled “National pastime is past its time.”
In the first paragraph the writer states that football has overtaken baseball as the top spectator sport in America, and goes on to ask, “Why is that?”
Very simply, gambling. Virtually everyone has some stake in any given NFL game, whether it be through an office square pool, illegal bookmaking or the ultimate in lameness—the fantasy player. Football may not be the country’s national pastime but it sure is in Las Vegas.
He goes on to complain about the pace of baseball while extolling the virtues of football —speed, skill, power and physical collisions. The average football game contains approximately 12 minutes of actual playing time while the remaining three hours of an average NFL game are filled with commercials, quality time with the teleprompter and waiting 15 minutes for officials to determine if the receiver’s left toe was in or out on a 6-yard pass on that crucial second-and-18 play in the first quarter. Also, in no other sport outside of golf are actual skills more on display than baseball. Let’s face it, if you’re big and fast you can play football. Baseball, on the other hand, requires extraordinary eye-hand coordination to play effectively.
I for one would much rather see Joe Torre sharply dressed in Dodger blue than look at the pompous Bill Belichick pacing the sidelines in a ratty looking hoodie. And that “cute little song” and the seventh-inning stretch is baseball’s way of paying homage to its rich history.
One point I do agree with the writer on is the fact that MLB does start the World Series games much too late. First pitch should never be any later than 8 p. m. EST. But at least the games are still the main focal point of the evening. The Super Bowl, on the other hand, is almost an afterthought behind the commercials and the over-the- top halftime shows.
To paraphrase the fine announcer Bob Costas, baseball is dull only to those with dull minds. Baseball will forever be our true national pastime.
John Yea
West Seneca
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