Have you noticed, with the economic times being what they are, words like billion and trillion have lost their impact? Let’s face it, we have a number of alarming issues in front of us, and if you’ll forgive the cliché, ‘difficult waters to navigate’ in our days to come. Even with that perspective, this is not a good month and I’m pissed!It happened again! The frick’n Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) has snubbed me. This is eerily similar to what they did to Rob Neyer and Keith Law of ESPN, when they were not approved in December of 2007. However, being in good company doesn’t make the hurt go away. In fact, I continue to wonder aloud, ‘who the hell do they think they are?’ This is so distracting! All I want to do is resolve to focus on baseball and the first class sports journalism you’ve come to expect here at TDC, yet I remain distraught & riddled with panic! What can I do?
Hmmm, maybe there is a way to appeal? I suppose a petition package could be put together and presented to the BBWAA’s DFW Chapter Chairperson. I'm not going to say his name, but his initials are EG. I could ask Evan, errr, I mean EG, to carry it forward on my behalf to the BBWAA’s national executive staff for their review. But then I’m torn whether that would work or not?!? On one hand, why would the BBWAA chairperson, a local beat writer/blogger himself, give his accomplished and gifted competitor a leg up? Then again, I don’t mean to brag, but I know someone who knows someone who knows EG. Baseball in general is a close-knit community, and in large part, it’s plainly incestuous. In fact, the conditions are ripe for a few favors to be tossed around, grease a few palms, drop a few compromising photos and they’ll see things my way real fast. Yea, that’s it! That’s the plan! I could…
Listen to me!?!?! I have met the enemy and he is me! It’s time to reflect on the wisdom of Lord
Acton; "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." Am I a bad man? Do I have to sell my soul, simply to gain entry to the stink’n BBWAA? Is this an obvious example of what happens when greed and ambition get out of control, and how it can make a person twist in the wind? Am I out of control? When dirty politicking rears its ugly head in this game of sports journalism - it makes me nutty crazy. Now, although I am obviously ashamed of myself, this is not about my ego being hurt, like it was when I was cold-shouldered by the cool kids in high school. This is a big deal though. It’s huge when you consider the global cascading effect and the eventual impact it has on you, the TDC fan(s). For example, without a press pass, I’ll have to pay to get in the stadiums!! Consequently, I’ll have to manage that expense by increasing the subscription rates here at TDC. See?? This sucks for you too! Maybe I should just close up shop and not write about baseball ever again!?!?!
Ok, you know I won’t really do that! Sorry for all the drama, I’m just upset! The reality is, with
millions of readers relying on TDC’s topical articles on a daily basis, I have a job to do. On top of that, with the dreadful economic times we’re in, I can’t put all of my employees out on the street and into the unemployment lines; my conscience just won’t allow it. So, this year, like in years past, I’ll continue to be a baseball fan first, a humble journalist second, paying my own way into the games, sitting in the stands with my Dictaphone in hand, so I can spread the good word to you, the loyal TDC fan(s).So, together, let’s all agree to take the high road and decide right here, right now, to just – let – it – go! It’s time to sing Kumbaya! Besides, I’m not an Old Testament kind-a-guy, where an ‘eye for an eye’ is strictly necessary to maintain a balance in life. Those BBWAA elitists can continue with their lavish lifestyle in the luxurious press boxes, with their free Keystone beer, complimentary hotdogs, gourmet pork rinds and naked prostitutes dancing around!
Thank goodness for wars, famine and a bazillion dollar deficit to help me keep this in perspective.
Peace out, ChopperJim
