Saturday, June 25, 2011

Once again baseball has tortured my soul

I am very weary of professional baseball and actually baseball in general. My minor league roommate, John McLaren, an extremely class gentleman, was named interim manager of the Nationals after manager Jim Riggleman resigned due to mistreatment by the Nationals management. John had managed the Mariners briefly and that ended without him having much a chance when the players preformed poorly. It appears now that John is going to resign from the Mariners (two days later) - hard to know whether that was forced or not. The Nationals have named Davey Johnson manager who last managed a game in 2000. (I guess he learned something in his eleven year absence?) Baseball is a business, no one understands that more than I do - however, it is a business that functions as if slavery were still an accepted form of business. What makes me so weary is that it is so obvious to me the insidious behavior of baseball owners, and television (cable) that manipulates the game has filtered into college baseball (ASU being cheated out of a regional, maybe because the NCAA didn't want ASU at the World Series because of their violations or because ESPN didn't want them their because of the marketing of the new Longhorn network - and the firing of friend Dave Stapleton from Grand Canyon University). Even at the high school and grade school level where club baseball rules and the poor are pushed aside. This started years past with my own treatment in professional baseball and the horrific treatment of Kevin Wickander and Dave Stapleton (at the professional and college level). I am weary, this punishes my soul. I must find some rest.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Mr. Stafford, I agree with your statement,"what makes me so weary is that it is so obvious to me the insidious behavior of baseball owners...and the firing of friend Dave Stapleton...horrific treatment..."
When institutions neglect the human quality and "KICK SOME TO THE CURB" without follow-up, restoration, or counseling then the institution becomes a mirror image of themselves. The image of "horror" for young people, coaches, friends and family. No matter how one "appears" or "labels" "kicking people to the curb." This creates a culture of broken dreams, promises that could destroy a young person's life in school, marriage, family and career. It might take a lifetime for this destruction to come full circle then be reparied. Even though the young man, coach or whoever was wrong for youthful mistakes or decision making. For some, there is no hope for restoration. Yes, life is weary Mr. Stafford, especially when you lose everything. The great thing is many have families, place of faith to go too and I hope for the people you mentioned do have those backstops.
Holy Scripture states, "we can do all things thru Christ who strengthens us." In conclusion, in the final movie of Rocky he says to his son who was very weary as well , "it's not how hard you hit, but how much you can take and keep moving forward...that's how winning is done."

Respectfully Submitted,
Tony Mattia
Graduate Arizona State University
Religious Studies.