Every time you go to see a game, you have the potential to see something you have never seen before. Fans who took in a minor league game between Norfolk and Jacksonville recently got to see something that has been labeled as a “Thunderbalk”. Here it is:
- Jax has a man on third base. The weather is threatening.
- The pitcher is in his windup; his lead foot is off the ground, and he is leaning into the throw.
- There is a tremendous thunderclap that makes every player on the field and even the umpires jump in reaction; the pitcher holds the ball and steps to the first base side of the mound.
- That is a balk; the man on third base scores.
I never saw a “Thunderbalk”; how about you?
Last night’s All-Star Game ended in a tie-breaker Home Run Derby. It is not how I would ever want to see baseball games that mean anything decided, but in an entertainment exhibition like an All-Star Game, it is quick and decisive – – and it can provide a bit of drama on its own. Just keep it in the All-Star Game or maybe in one of the Savannah Bananas’ games…
MLB also used the robo ump challenge system for this exhibition game. It was not intrusive; it did not stretch out the game; had it not been the first time I had seen the concept in practice; I would have assumed that is how baseball has always been officiated. This is not nearly a big-deal in my mind.
Moving on … The WNBA issued a warning – – and threatened to levy fines – – against two players for the New York Liberty and the warning has nothing to do with their play. In fact, the incident that drew the warning happened in a game where both players were inactive. So, what was their offense that drew the ire of the league?
- They wore hats on the bench.
- One was a baseball cap, and the other was a beret.
- How dare they …
There is no rule in the WNGA rulebook about wearing hats on the bench; there is however an “operations manual” is also given to each team and in that document, there is mention of the attire that can be worn on the bench during games. That almost reminds me of Dean Wormer declaring that Delta House was on “double secret probation”.
The WNBA is in a growth spurt; it has never been as popular as it is now, and it has never garnered the level of attention that it does now. Now is not the time for the league to paint itself as petty or fussy.
- The baseball cap had a slogan on it, “Calm Before the Storm”.
- The beret bore no writing or “message”.
Someone may need to explain to me how “Calm Before the Storm” had any effect on the play in the game or how that message might be offensive to anyone or anything. I can understand that the league would want to assure that players do not wear apparel from providers who are competitors with the WNBA’s “corporate partners. I can understand that the league would not want players wearing apparel with “hate speech” prominently displayed. But “Calm Before the Storm”…?
The player wearing the cap with the offending message is a 10-year veteran, Natashia Cloud. Here is her comment on the threat of a fine:
“I just feel like we’re doing nitpicky sh*t. I’d rather the W focus on actual things than trying to take our money for wearing what we want to wear and expressing ourselves.”
If the boundaries of good taste obtain, I agree with her.
Finally, these words from James Barrie:
“Life is a long lesson in humility.”
But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………