Billy Crystal Whiffs. Relax, It’s Just a Game.
Baseball purists whined, Yankee haters hated and the talk radio hosts went ballistic. All over a 59-year-old man playing a game.
Yes folks, baseball, love it or hate it, is a game played by grown men. So when the New York Yankees decided to sign comedian/actor Billy Crystal to a one-day, one at-bat minor league contract, why were so many people outraged?
This wasn’t a game of any importance. It was the Yanks and the Pittsburg Pirates going through the motions of nine innings of spring training baseball.
If you want to be mad that Billy Crystal is fortunate enough to “fame” his way to YOUR dream, then so be it. But don’t tell me the first inning strikeout (though Crystal did make contact) tarnished the pride of the pinstripes.
Step 1: Win 26 championships
Step 2: Let actor play in practice
Step 3: Devalue your franchise
Sorry, dear Yankee haters, that is not the case.
Last time I checked, professional sports were designed to entertain. Distract. Make kids smile. If those are the goals, then yesterday, for at least a few minutes, the Yanks exceeded expectations.
Not a bad gift for Crystal’s sixtieth birthday.
Stars crossing over to the diamond is nothing new, both Garth Brooks and Tom Selleck have had their hacks.
Crystal might have whiffed, but the PR move didn’t.
Relax. It’s just a game.
Thank you! Finally, someone with some sense writes about this! I’ve been hearing rant after whiny rant about this. I mean, so the guy got a great birthday gift? And after all, who did it hurt? No one. And its like you said about not visiting pages that you hate. If all folks do is talk about this (whether they like or dislike it) they are only drawing more attention to it. So thank you again. Maybe people will listen to you and stop complaining over nothing.
Landon said this on March 16, 2008 1:55 am