Subscribe Feed (RSS)I think it’s kind of cool that Taco Bell is giving away free tacos to every man, woman and child in America because Jason Bartlett stole a base last night. I have nothing against that. But come on — that meant Fox had to interview some corporate suit during the game? Even that wasn’t too bad until we had to hear that this Taco Bell big shot speak with a British accent about his career as a cricket player. Seriously — what does that man know about fixing a high-quality steak quesadilla???
And Tim McCarver . . . I don’t even know where to start. That part about what a dangerous pitch a curveball is from a left-handed pitcher to a left-handed hitter. Yeah, Tim, left-handed hitters are killing that pitch — it’s why there are lousy left-handed pitchers making a living getting left-handed hitters out. And why guys are switch hitters. Does no one at the network monitor this man?
And just one last thing that’s been bothering me for a few years now. Please, don’t think I’m some sort of anti-American zealot, but someone has to speak up here:
What is the point of stopping these postseason games at the seventh-inning stretch and trotting some singer onto the field to sing “God Bless America”? It started after 9/11 and just keeps going, probably because nobody has the nerve to speak up about it. It seems so blatantly self-serving not only by baseball but by Fox, which doesn’t break away for a commercial until the song is finished. There’s something kind of uncomfortable about it. I believe that the one national anthem prior to the game is plenty good enough. There’s a game going on here. If you want to hear “God Bless America” sing it prior to the game — not during the game.
Plus, it looks like you’re wrapping yourself up in the flag and pandering to the stray superpatriot. These postseason games are big games, but they’re still just games — not tributes to the greatness of our country. One anthem prior to the game pretty much fills the quota.
Tags: Dwight Jaynes, Fox, God Bless America, National Anthem, stolen base, Taco Bell, Tim McCarver, World Series
Mr. Jaynes I love your blog. I’m a college student and think this stuff is hilarious and on point. I will be recommending this to all of my sports-enthusiast friends (which includes all of my friends). Way better than anything else I can find. Please keep this work up. Today was great too since you wrote two pieces.
On Taco Bell – I’ll see you there
On McCarver – How does this man have a job?
On GBA – Nice observation
I’m not a baseball fan and the speed of the game is the primary reason. It is just too slow and too long for me. Adding delays like this only makes it worse and it doesn’t make you any better of an American for having listened to it.
Dwight,
Over the last couple of weeks I have found myself in the kitchen preparing dinner during many of the playoff games. Thus, I turned on the radio broadcast of the games in the kitchen and would duck my head back into the living room to catch anything exciting or to see an instant replay.
Anyway, Miller and Morgan are far more palatable than McCarver. If the television broadcast was not something like 15-20 seconds behind the radio broadcast, I’d just turn the sound down on the TV and use the radio broadcast for my audio.
The worst part of God Bless America is that we don’t get to hear Take Me Out to the Ballgame. It is the 100 year anniversary of the song and I believe the only appropriate time to show crowd shots — it’s nice to see parents with their kids singing together. I share your thoughts on annoying crowd shots, but there was a great one last night of a little girl probably 7 or 8 years old mouthing “oh my gawd” after a close pitch.
I agree with you on McCarver — the guy needs to be stopped. Does anyone own the URL ‘FireTimMcCarver’?
This URL — http://shutuptimmccarver.com/ is what you’re looking for… it’s been there for years… not sure they’re keeping it up but it used to be pretty funny.
– Dwight
What is the point of stopping these postseason games at the seventh-inning stretch and trotting some singer onto the field to sing “God Bless America”?
More importantly, why does the stadium insist on stopping concession lines during both the national anthem and God Bless America? This needs to stop too.
Agreed Dwight, on all counts.
The league imposed post-9/11 mandate that we all sing “God Bless America” drives me crazy. And the practice in the stadium of ushers and concessioneers standing at attention and stopping everything is worse. The song isn’t the National Anthem, which we all already sang, and baseball has a great local tradition of singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame, which is a non-polemical organic tradition, not a fiat commanding us to be “patriotic” (and religious while we are at it.)
At least they could occasionally sing “This Land Is Your Land” written in specific answer to “God Bless America.” Or “America the Beautiful” the best of the unofficial anthems.