I've been sitting back relaxing tonight, enjoying the MLB All-Star Game. Which makes me feel like a good American taking part in the national past time. You see, I really love baseball. I don't watch it much, but I love it. I love the game, the personalities, the ball parks, the smell of a glove, the history of the game. But I've gotten away from the sport in the last 10 years. Maybe it was the strike a few years back. Maybe it was the steroid controversies. Maybe it was not having a local team. What ever it was, I drifted away. A couple weeks ago I went to a New Orleans Zephyrs AAA game. I loved it. I had a seat about 5 rows behind the visiting dug out with a buddy of mine, enjoying a summer evening, making small talk with with the nice people around me. It was a good night, and a good game. the Z's won in the bottom of the 9th. Since then I've been watching the grand old game a little more on the television.
But there is one thing that bothers me, and I feel a little guilty admitting it, but I don't like it when they sing "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch. I loves me some God and I hope he blesses America. But there is nothing as American as several thousand people from all walks of life coming together to sing a song about baseball. Baseball is part of our shared American heritage. "Take me out to the Ball Game" is part of that heritage and is part of baseball tradition. Tradition is why we love baseball. What would the Yankees be with out pinstripes? What would Fenway be with out The Green Monster? What would the cubs be without another losing season? You see, those things are tradition, just as Harry Carray Always sang "take me out to the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch. I, for one, love it when the camera pans around the crowd and shows people who don't know each other with arms around each other swaying side to side and singing "ONE! TWO! THREE STRIKES YOUR OUT!" to me, that's proof that God has blessed America, and it's not found in a church or cathedral, but at the "Old, Ball, Game"!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
don't you remember how the tradition of singing God bless America got started... 9/11/01?
I am pretty sure that they still sing take me out to the ball game, just not televised (except for the Cubs).
U R not un-american... But IMHO making noise about something that shouldn't have any noise...
I agree with you Uncle Panachio. Take me out it is. you get the national anthem at the beginning- what more can you ask for.
I think God Bless America is a great song, should be sung in a large group where people will then remind themselves how fortunate they are to be Americans. Many teams add a third song. I.E. The Astros also sing "Deep in the Heart of Texas".... The fans love all of it. It is all about the fans. Traditions can be added to, there is nothing wrong with adding, so long as "Take me out to the Ballgame" is in the mix.
Jeri
If they don't want to sing "take me out to the ballgame" they should at least be amenable to altering "God Bless America" to include free advertising for the snack bar.
Instead of "buy me some peanuts & cracker jacks" it could be...
God Bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her, and buy her
some nachos from the snack
bar behind section 125.
From the hot dogs, to the pretzels
to the ice cold beer and soda!
God Bless America my home sweet home!
God Bless America, make sure to visit our gift shop for all sorts of great gift ideas, perfect for any mom or dad, even grandma will love the hats, bats, caps, jerseys, pickled squid and t-shirts available in our gift shop on the mezzanine level between sections 112 and 113.
I mean that version would pretty much kill all the birds necessary with one stone. Does anybody care about mountains, prairies and oceans white with foam? No, I didn't think so. Nachos? Beer? Those are things Americans can get behind.
JB, I love your comment. But sections 112-113 would be on the plaza level. The mezzanine would be the 200's or 300's. At least thats how they do it in the 8th wonder of the world, your Louisiana Superdome.
scott
Post a Comment