MLB's decision
to use pink bats to raise money for breast cancer on
Mother's Day was a curious one. I was one of the talk
show hosts who
had an issue with that. Hats, wristbands, ribbons... ok,
but not
bats.
For two reasons. One, the bat is a direct part of the
game. My
co-host on FSR on 'pink bat day' was Marques Johnson (the
former NBA
star) he didn't have an issue with pink bats, not at all...
not until
I asked him on air if he would be ok with a pink basketball
that day
in the NBA.
But the real issue to me was that MLB was picking and
choosing causes
based on politics and not true charity. An assertion I
stand by.
I have no problem with raising money on Mother's Day or
Father's Day
or Labor Day. But my point that it was political grandstanding
was
proven by MLB's deaf ear to the brave men and women who
have (and are
now) serving and dying in defense of this nation.
For Memorial Day (a day MUCH more important than Mother's
Day... be
honest it is) MLB didn't just do very little... it did
worse.
It didn't even bother to schedule 6 teams to play...
It didn't bother to make sure the team located in the
nation's capital
was playing... at home... or.. even at all! (but the Nationals
did
have a series that started on that ever important 'day
after labor
day'.
It ok'd a schedule that had the Yankees playing.. in Canada.
CANADA!
To not have every team playing in 15 American cities and
to not have
dark green bats or to make a huge stink in raising money
for the
heroes of the country - from a sport that claims to be
the 'American
pasttime' is unforgiveable.
MLB ought to be ashamed.
It played politics in bending to pressure to support one
cause and one
alone.
The little American flags on the side of the hats and
the indivudual
teams efforts (color guards, fly-overs) were nice, but
self-serving to
a degree.
Where was the "half of every ticket sold goes to
the wounded war
veterans fund?" -- ummm... nowhere.
And look out, MLB will get caught again. The YANKEES PLAY
IN CANADA
AGAIN ON.... sitting down? September 11th.
John Fricke is the host of Fox GameTime Rewind heard
nationally on FSR. Prior to FSR his career included stops
in San Diego and Denver.
