A World Series “No-No”…

Two nights ago, the Phillies set a World Series record with 5 homeruns in the first 5 innings of a World Series game.  Last night, the Astros had 4 pitchers combine to throw a no-hitter at the Phillies tying the World Series at two games apiece.  What might these two teams have in store for us tonight?  Perhaps an extra inning affair with a final score of 19-18?

One of the narratives for this World Series is that there are no US born Black players on either team in the World Series 75 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in MLB.  That is a fact; I submit that is also a non-event.  Neither the Astros nor the Phillies have conspired to load their lineups with people who are not of African-American heritage.  The rosters of the two teams do not “mirror US society” and my response to that observation is “So what?”

• The percentage of Black players in the NFL does not mirror US society.
• The percentage of Asian players in the NBA does not mirror US society
• The percentage of Hispanic players in the NHL does not mirror US society – – nor Canadian society.

There is plenty of inequality in society today; there is no need to try to carve out new territory for activism where there is no need for it.

Moving on …  Every metropolis in the country has its own sports story/issue that is at the core of local fandom.  I want to let you in on the DC area’s core-story this morning.  Late yesterday, reports surfaced that Danny Boy Snyder had retained Bank of America as investment bankers to consider offers to buy the Washington Commanders from him.  The team statement and the bank’s statement left it open that what he might choose to do is to sell only a minority interest in the team, but it also opened the door to a possible sale of the whole shootin’ match.

That announcement created the following coverage in this morning’s Washington Post:

1. A front-page story above the fold with 8.5 column-inches on the front page and a total of 42 column-inches on an inside page in Section A.
2. A report on the front-page of the Sports Section with 12 column inches on Page 1 there and another 24 column inches on an inside page
3. A column by Jerry Brewer with 8 column-inches on the front page of the Sports Section with an additional 26 column-inches on an inside page.

If I were to try to give you a flavor of the reporting and the column here in a single word, that word would be:

• Hallelujah!

Fans in this area are at the point where they might willingly accept one or two of the plagues that were visited on Egypt in the Book of Exodus – – if enduring that plague or two guaranteed that Daniel Snyder would sell the team, leave town and go live on his super yacht for the rest of his days on the planet.

I want to make two points here with the open acknowledgement that it is far too early in this story cycle to know how it ends.  These are first impressions that I will be looking to validate or refute as more information becomes available:

1. This might be a PR move by Danny Boy where he makes it look as if he might sell the team but he winds up selling only a minority interest to a group of folks that allow him to “virtue-signal” that he is opening up NFL ownership to people who do not look like all the other NFL owners.
2. If Bank of America comes up with a bid of $6B for the team – – Forbes says it is worth $5.6B – – and Danny Boy jumps at the offer and sells it all, I will have to wonder if the league might have shown Snyder a rough draft of the league’s ongoing investigation into his financial dealings and into the “toxic culture” as a way for him to find a face-saving way to get out from under.

At least for the moment, local writers, commentators and fanboys are overjoyed at the news that Snyder is even considering selling the franchise.  Right now, this is a situation that calls for “wait and see” – – but for most folks it just feels too good to avoid “irrational exuberance”.

For my next topic this morning, let me welcome back to Sports Curmudgeon rants a regular provider of grist for this mill.  José Canseco has been off the radar for a while now, but he just got back in the news earlier this week when he offered up some advice to Aaron Judge.  Actually, what Canseco did was to second some advice to Judge voiced previously by Jake Arietta on a podcast; Arietta told the podcast hosts:

“If I’m him, like ‘F**k Y’all’.  I’m not coming back here.  No, you want to boo me after what I just did for you?  I’m going to the Mets.”

Canseco added to that advice with this Tweet:

“Aaron Judge even if you were to replicate the season you had this year again the fans would still hate you because you’re making more money.  New York is known for the most psychologically damaged angriest people in the world.”

The advice to Aaron Judge from a former Cy Young Award winner and a former AL MVP is simple and direct.  I wonder what Judge’s agent is thinking about his impending free agency; somehow, I think the agent’s take on this is more important.

Finally, since I preached “patience” above regarding the possible sale of the Washington Commanders, let me close with this observation by author/journalist, Ambrose Bierce:

“Patience, n.  A minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue.”

But don’t get me wrong, I love sports ………