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Saturday, October 31, 2009

Sports Questions and Samhain

The World Series continues into November. In the Northeast, no less. This really bugs me. With two rounds before the Series, somethings gotta give. Maybe a 154-game season, which Major League baseball used to have until the 1960s, when it went to 162 games. And while they're at it, couldn't they starts some games earlier, so I kids could watch past the third inning?

I suppose this is sacrilege, but I wish the Yankees, and some minor league teams, and maybe others, would get rid of "God Bless America" during the 7th-inning stretch. It started after 9/11/2001, but now it's become a "new tradition". And at the last Hall of Fame game I attended, "honored America" with a scratchy and warped Kate Smith recording. And some people are now getting bent out of shape if television doesn't cover the singing of same, even when TV doesn't cover Take Me Out To The Ballgame, which follows.

In the NFL, I was really happy that Denver beat New England a few weeks ago, but I found it unfair that the Patriots never touched the ball offensively in overtime. There's got to be a better way than a coin flip. In the college game, each team at least gets a chance to score, not a perfect model, but clearly fairer.

So what's bugging you about sports? Maybe it's the relatively new scoring system in figure skating; I happen to like it better than the 6.0 standard. I read that some are advocating for more instant reply in baseball; not sure how that would work. The example is a ball, not a home run ball, that was judged as foul by the umpire but fair in the replay. Where would the batter, and even trickier, the runners, end up? I'm not opposed out of hand, but I can't see how it would work.


Swiped from Uthaclena: In Druid tradition, Samhain is the time of the dead, when the veil between the worlds thins and spirits walk the land of the living. It is the feast of death and rebirth, and the New Year of the Celtic calendar with the fall of the last leaves, the heart of the Autumn, the beginning of the Darkened Days, and the Quiet Time to listen to the Wisdom of the Crone. At this time we celebrate and commemorate our ancestors and elders who have passed into the Otherworld. But, fear naught, for the Sun will be born anew, and Light and Life will return to the world!

Solemn Blessings to you all; hold fast to the seed of Hope, and dream of Better days!


ROG

3 comments:

Scott said...

The World Baseball Classic didn't help the schedule either. But yes, I think the schedule should be shorter. I like the three rounds of playoffs though. Too many good teams would be left out. Either that or go back to the old days of no divisions within the leagues and the pennant winner based on standings goes to the Series, and that's it.

I read an article yesterday and the media was asking Bud Selig about the amount of games. He says that he doesn't know of one owner that wants to cut back the schedule, so for the time being, it will continue to be this long.

Greg said...

They should schedule double-headers during the season, which would allow them to keep the number of games but get it done sooner. Also, the scheduling of the playoff games screws everything up. There are too many off days. The Series could be over right now if they didn't have so many off days.

College overtime stinks. Just give each team a possession (unless, of course, they don't score) or change the rules so the winning team has to win by six points. Problem solved!

Uthaclena said...

Happy Samhain! May the strength of your Ancestors flow through you in an unbroken chain unto your daughter! May we rest in the Season of Darkness, dreaming of the return of the Light!