It's still a Game!
"Life in the United States will never be the same again," is a sentiment that's not at all too rare these days. We watched with disbelief at the vision of the Twin Towers aflame. It was a scene that belonged to a "disaster" movie and not reality. Suicide bombings, beheadings displayed on web sites and other acts of violence have become common fare for news reports. Our own country is divided over fundamental approaches to the nature of government and the deep resentments seem difficult to bury, let alone the ever widening gap between the privileged and the poverty stricken. No wonder it seems at times as if the world is coming to an end.
Like so many of us, I was delighted with the performance of the St. Louis Cardinals this past 2004 season. I know I state the obvious when I say that a good deal of our obsession with Major League Baseball has to do with its history. Every play is recorded and consequently takes on an unusual significance and an aspect of immortality. So despite the degree of commercialism, the unbelievable salaries and the obscene gouging in the sale of World Series tickets that reportedly took place on E-bay, the game's symmetry, its moment of elegance and its unforgiving nature - I think it was Joe Dimaggio who was quoted as saying that "Baseball is a cruel game" - the fact that one mistake or a bad call by an umpire can change the game's momentum or even cost the team an entire game - continues to make it a legitimate object of fascination.
But, in the final analysis it's still a "Game"! It's value isn't intrinsic, it has to do with the importance we give it! It would still appear that to most of the world the triumphs and tragedies that take place on the diamond are worth less than a mention. The vast majority of humanity will remain unaffected by the outcome of the World Series, emotionally, economically and any other "-ally". Yes, it would have been great to win the Series; it would have buoyed up our spirits - for about three days max - and it would have been part of our city's history. Other than that, life would have gone on and we still would have to face our social and economic problems the way we did before.
So I watched with dismay at the New York crowd's reaction to what turned out to be a legitimate call when "ARod" clearly interfered with the Red Socks' players on his run home. What's going on when people start throwing objects onto the field and a whole police platoon has to be summoned to quell a possible riot?
Even if the crowd's unhappiness is understandable because of their involvement in the game, how does one excuse the reaction in Boston after their team won the World Series in four straight. What prompts behavior that results in injuries, arrests and even an individual's death?
It's still a game!
It does seem to me that here's a Wake-up call to examine our own values, and if it is in the nature of humans to react so violently to a sports event, I guess I can't be surprised when they react violently to poverty or the lack of social services or personal liberty; issues that do have a direct impact on their lives.
...and that still doesn't make the violence and its public display legitimate, justifiable or even excusable!
God have mercy on our souls!
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