My job requires me to rise and shine at the ungodly hour of 3:45am.
A 15-minute shower and gallons of coffee keep my alert for the drive in but it's ESPN's All Night with Jason Smith that keeps me informed and entertained.
On this particular morning, the guest host was questioning why anyone would have trepidations about showcasing Barry Bonds' 756th home run ball in Cooperstown because, in the end, who really cares about the Hall of Fame?
Still blurry-eyed and a little fuzzy, I found it to be an interesting argument although in the interests of honesty, I didn't catch the entire program.
The thrust of the argument, however, was, outside of taking your kids to Cooperstown, is displaying a record-setting baseball and a dusty pair of cleats from some long forgotten shortstop really necessary? And for that matter, do professional sporting leagues really need a Hall of Fame?
Absolutely! And the reason is simple.
It comes down to culture.
Compared to Europe, North America has very little culture to draw on. That's not to say our continent hasn't given birth to some fantastic authors or artists but with Canada having just celebrated its 141st birthday and America entering its 232nd year, both countries are pups compared to England, France and the lot.
Unlike those countries, however, North America does not celebrate its artists like they do overseas. There is no real North American equivalent to The Odyssey or Shakespeare, Monet or Beethoven and few venues to house it all, like the Louvre.
What North America does have, though, is sports. And boy, do we do it well!
Baseball is the national pastime, entrenched in the very fabric of America, just like apple pie.
Hockey is religion in Canada, something we revere even more than the almighty.
THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is our culture. More so than Norman Rockwell and Tom Thomson. It our source of pride and we will fiercely defend it, even if we can't stand the Toronto Maple Leafs!
And that is why we have to keep our Halls of Fame, whether it be for baseball, football, basketball, or hockey. Those privileged enough to have been inducted, the history they have created and the fruits of all their labours MUST be remembered and celebrated in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown and elsewhere.
Our Halls of Fame are just as important as the Louvre. Our "artists" are Maurice Richard and Babe Ruth, their puck and ball as vital as the Mona Lisa. And no one should take it for granted.
Nor should you take coffee for granted. It really is wonderful at four in the morning. But that's just me.
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3 months ago
Good stuff! That's awfully early to rise lol! I agree with you though, for sure.
3 months ago
Awesome points. You are so right. Sports are America's pastime, and that's why the Hall of Fames matter.
Good stuff.
But, goodness. Where do you work?
from 3 months ago
The first line of of my profile bio may give you an idea.
3 months ago
Nice article Tim. My argument is the HOF could have been a very important part of American culture, but thanks to the writers who established this "club" there are and will be many overlooked players. Cooperstown is nothing more than a popularity contest nor is it an indication of a player's ability. Nobody who knows baseball history could argue that Bill Mazeroski or Gary Carter should be in the HOF over Pete Rose or Tim Raines. As for Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro...they just don't have the stats.
from 3 months ago
I agree, Nick, that more needs to be done to allow players in to the HOF. It should be based on the player's ability.
from 3 months ago
Dont have the stats, does Clemens having 7 cys, and 20 strike outs in a game...twice qualify? He has the stats my friend, third all time strikeouts, 354 wins alone, not too mention the above alone with 2 WSC rings. Sosa does too, as does Bonds. They belong there, and are as much a part of the game as any. I would like to see Shoeless Joe in there, who may have been the best ever, was exonerated, but not by the comish - fraud. It is a part of history, and is trying to be snuffed out, and wrongly so. I agree with the first part, not so much the second part though. Bonds isnt liked because of his attitude, which no one will know in 30 years anyhow. Writers have no right to chose these guys....fans do, after all without us...there is noone to wrtite for, and play for...it is OUR game, and the players. the owners and writers make money of it, so it is business to them. Players do, obviously, but if they didnt love it, then they couldnt be any good.
3 months ago
I guess I will play the devils advocate here...having grown up close to Cooperstown, and going several times...it aint what it is cracked up to be. No bat pun intended. The rules have changed more times than A-Rods new fling, so whats to compare. There was the dead ball era, with a lower mound and fences that stood 450, like the yanks old stadium; so how compare Babe to A-Rod or Bonds. babe did it with a squishy ball, longer fences by far and a shorter season. There is no comparison at all...the babe rules, but has no crown to show off. Cheating? Please. Tell me about greenies that have been around since 1950, and were legally given back in the 1940s to pilots, including one Teddy Baseball, who flew fighting in WW2...he is a hero regardless. Steroids have been in baseball since the 1960s...unless you can try and explain what a magic flu shot is, and why an abscess cause the best (maybe) hitter of the Yankees, possibly of history, to sit out the rest of the season in 61? He hit a ball 610 feet, and no one questions that at all? That is one tenth a mile! That and the fact that they were legal until 1991, Fay Vincent made illicit drugs illiegal...not exactly steroids, which are legal as long as prescribed. They were not banned until what 2003? HGH is no more than a vitamin and many will be taking them just as often in about ten years. Ask Ankiel and Bird about them and their benefit to the body. Why can I take them, but players in a sport cant? Old foagies are trying to protect baseball records to no avail. Check the fences for one. I think I made some points, some I dont neccessary agree to. A HOF is important to all generations for mere inspiration and memories. Pete Rose, the best hitter of all time wont see it because he gambled though...he was a favorite of mine growing up, and now is pan handling for heavens sake. Gambling is legal too, to me and you. But not them We should hold them to a different adn higher standard as fans who pay their salaries....but does baseball have to as well? I think not. If kids want a moral guide, tell them not to look to players nor politicians, tell them to look to soldiers and preists for that...cuz baseball doesnbt requiore anyone to be a Saint, nor be loyal to anyone. We demanded home runs, and healthy players; and baseball gave them to us. They knew what was up, and are only pissed because they didnt get to keep more money than they already made.
3 months ago
Oh yeah, one more thing, there is a definite and strong culture for America, who gave freedone, some call it liberty to the whole world through the American Revolution...the 4th was just yesterday, how can you miss that...We inspired France to rebell and have their own French Revolution...and then England to adopt democracy too. It was called Enlightment. So I will take Benjamen Franklin, Sam Adams, Thomas Jefferson over these Europeans anyday...especially thise in England, who run a imperial empire still called Great Britain. I will also side with the Declaration of Independence anyday over The Eliad, Odessy, and even The Virtues by Plato and Socrates....THIS country was the first to realize liberty, and shared it with the world...barring Karl Marx who just won back Jagr, and will make a lot less because of it! We have the only culture worhty of admiration at all...and it doesnt involve poets or sportsmen..it involves Leadership and Historical Documents ...those kicked out of England and not welcomed other places took over the world with INSPIRATION and Freedom. Who needs em, shoot, they need us. We champion the cause for which they seek in dictatorships...freedom. though most political leaders have lost the path from the founders, it can still be found in the people..sometimes.
Rock on Freedom...you rule!
3 months ago
Oh, regarding he above response, for more Culture Americana, check out the military and their history, check out New Orleans, who play jazz like no other, check out a local mueseum. I live in DC so its simple for me, but not all are close to one. Our culture is every culture, because we Americans are made up of every country. But striclty American culture is found in our history...check out the Jamestown settlement online. Read about Cpt Smith. Read about PLymouth Rock...which was the 2nd settlement, not the first. Read about William Bradford dude, the real founder of capitolism...and he based it all on the...BIBLE there Pope John Hockey Player. No offense, but I am Catholic...hows that for culture too...the religious culture. Culture is very rich in America, maybe the rochest of all; but very few know what it is
3 months ago
Patrick...all excellent points and I agree bot America and Canada (because I'm Canadian) have plenty of culture to celebrate. Problem is, in my opinion anyway, neither country promotes it well enough with the exception of our sporting past times. That's why I feel it's important to keep the HOF's going, no matter how they're cracked up to be.
Unfortunately, it seems these days, Culture Americana is the formulaic nonsense spewed from Hollywood. New Orleans jazz, the Group of Seven...all of it ... could stand a little more promotion.
from 3 months ago
Hear ya Tim, and my Dad was from Toronto, his Dad was the mgr of the Syracuse "crunch" in the 1930s, who eventually were sold to, and became the Sabres. I am a Rangers fan. ;o) Dad was the only one from his family born in the US, so I am Ranger Blue, and he is a Leafer still. I liked the article, and cant stand the Hollywood left either. I have a feeling we're on the same side of the fence my friend. Youre absolutely right, it could use more prmotion, and not by HBO, who did the Adams storyline, and got half of it right. I guess the only real culture is sales. My dad was, I am, and most everything we read, see or listen too is all sales oriented. Too bad, the truth is much better than what is made as a "good pitch"...ps....you a Grapes Fan? He loves the Flag, and I remeber watchign this guy from Syracuse on Hockey Night in Canada since I was a wee-lad in the 1970s, when he was still a coach. He rules as a commentator too. I have a feeling that ESPN is going to buy him up, as Melrose is gone on to the sunshine state, florida...still cant believe they have hockey tim. omg.
3 months ago
Ah, and Tim, what I said about America up there, goes for Canada too. You all are our brothers, at least to us anyhow. Didnt mean to make America exclusive, but it was th e4th and I falsely assumed you were talking about the US. Which youre really a part of and share our past too, being as you are immigrants too. I used to travel up there every other weekend for a travel team I played hockey for. that is one beauty for a country dude. Rock On Canada!
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