Baseball and the World Baseball Classic

:More Proof That "The Game" is NO More

The N.Y. Yankees posted a sign at their spring training complex apologizing to the fans for not being able to see some of their beloved heroes play in Tampa this spring. They went on to say it wasn't their idea and they never liked the idea and didn't vote for the "World Baseball Classic" to take place and that fans should send their complaints to the commissioner of Major League Baseball or the Major League Baseball Players Association." Yankee owner George Steinbrenner has said he is worried star players might get injured and with the 200 million dollars he has invested in this years team to win the World Series that's a legitimate complaint. But he's to blame for this mess also, and primarily, because it was and is him who continues to take this former game away from those who love it and put it into the hands of those who are only in it for the money. Or are they justin it for the money? Those players participating in the WBC are getting paid what amounts to "coffee money" for them so why are they doing it? National pride, that why. And that's yet another problem, all those Latin ballplayers ( and make no mistake they are the worst offenders) who want to play for "THEIR" countries. For them the U.S. will always only be their place of employment, period. No loyalty beyond that. Upon retiring they will return "home," home to whatever Latin country they were born in, not America. That's why I have gained a measure of respect for A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez, that I never had before. I always admired his baseball ability. He will be a player for the ages, one that comes along once in a persons lifetime, but he has always been a greedy person as well, first by selling himself to the highest bidder and the two years later forcing that bidder to trade him to where he wanted to go while eating a large portion of his paycheck. But now he has decided to play in the WBC for the United States and to me that's as it should be. To me you should play for the country who made you what you are, the country who gave you your opportunity, the country you owe a debt of gratitude to, if they'll have you. If they don't want or need you, then go play for someone else. Mike Piazza, a great player, a first shot hall of famer will play for Italy. Why because he's 37 and his skill are declining and America has better players at his position. He is NOT playing for Italy because he's Italian (tho he certainly is), but rather because its his only opportunity to play. He's about as far removed from Italy as today's pizza.
So what do we have? Players that are greedy & opportunistic because they are dealing with greedy owners (Steinbrenner mainly), and sucker fans but are now showing that they can and will play for pride and peanuts. Maybe the game isn't dead after all.