Been awhile since I have done this. Between the work being done for clients and other stuff I post on here, the Big 12 and SEC stuff and morning coffee threads my time just get's stretched. My first priority always goes to the actual hunkering down and doing the handicapping. Clients come first. Always. Frankly this post is just my way of being somewhat productive while I take a break from capping the weeks football.
I chose today because it is such a monster day for so many baseball fans. Game One of the World Series is always a special day. Fortunately growing up a Cardinals fan has enabled me to live it many times. But thus year is epic for the Cubs and Indians fans. But for the Cubs supporters this thing is off the charts. One of my buddies here in town I play softball with is a die hard Cubs fan. He is going to be going to Wrigley for a game. It's just refreshing to see and yes, that is indeed coming from a Cards guy.
I remember being in grade school in 1968 when the Cardinals were playing in the Series for the second straight year. They were up against the Detroit Tigers in a series the Tigers would eventually take in seven games. Bob Gibson was on the hill for game one and that guy was like a god around missouri. Back then it was a really big deal, the world series. The games were ALL played during the day time. It was a truly national spectacle. They would roll TV sets into our classrooms and let us watch the entire game in class. Somehow I do not think that would fly today. TV has taken over, TV is the $$$$$$. They dictate when and where games are played. It boggles my mind how some people are befuddled how baseball has declined some over the years in popularity. I might be in the minority but it has become just another big event on prime time. ALL the games seem to be available now and the public has grown some hard bark on it. Nothing except maybe the Super Bowl REALLY seems epic anymore. It is my own view, and this will sound crazy to most, if they returned the World Series to all day games and yes, even in the day time the aura would return. If they would let kids watch in school and employers let people listen on radio's at work it would be a cool thing. It would ALSO lay the seeds for the future with young fans. Kids would see the games and not have to endure the late nights. I think it would become once again a national holiday sort of scene. Baseball could use that. No, I am not naive. I realize this would have a snow balls chance in hell of getting approval from the powers that be. The ones who dictate what would be in the best interest of all of us and most importantly, put the most dough in their pockets. I get all that. ALL I am SAYING here is it would be a truly cool thing. Trust me, I remember a time when the world series was a much bigger deal than it is now. It was huge.
Well that is it for today. I think maybe I just needed to vent a little. I love the game and just feel it could be promoted better. Kids have so many options today. I think baseball needs to focus on those kids, they are the true future of their game. No, I am not one of those guys who thinks everything was better in the good old days, Those people are dinosaurs and I am the polar opposite. I embrace change and staying with the times. BUT, sometimes it is okay to admit they did some things better back in the day. They truly did whether they knew it or not, lol.
Time to get back to work. I am sure somebody else recalls how big this stuff was when they were kids. If you have a special memory I would sure like to hear about it. Thanks and best of luck tonight. Enjoy the games.