tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-113602252024-03-08T11:58:37.535-08:00Fans Love BaseballTalking baseball.
Because we love the game...Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-32387490421530557502013-05-07T11:34:00.000-07:002013-05-07T11:34:02.233-07:00Go see these tow terrific baseball fans... http://www.youtube.com/user/DodgerFanWeeklyBaseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-79176773690629429132012-03-28T13:27:00.001-07:002012-03-28T13:30:22.462-07:00I love Magic... but...Several people have written me and asked for my take on the new Dodgers ownership situation… so here is my take for those who may give a crap… first of all I figure it’s a good thing that Frank McCourt is no longer part of operating the Los Angeles Dodgers. So in that way I like it!<br /><br />But anyone who knows me knows that I’m not one for taking things like this at face value… so… here we go…<br /><br />First… press reports gush that, with several others, Magic Johnson owns the Dodgers. But the truth is that Magic owns the Dodgers like I own Budweiser (I have several shares)… I love Magic but he does not own the team. A guy named Mark R. Walter owns the team. That’s Mark R. Walter. Again Mark R. Walter owns the team. He is the head of a privately held company called Guggenheim Partners. He owns the team. Magic Johnson has money invested in the Dodgers like I have money invested in Budweiser but he does not own the team anymore than I own Budweiser. Again Mark R. Walter owns the team.<br />Fair Warning: If you see me on the street and you tell me Magic owns the Dodgers I will tell you I own Budweiser… get used to it. Magic is the face of Dodger PR. It is an important job but when Mark R. Walter wants to send Magic packing, believe me, Magic will be gone.<br /><br />I do however think Magic has finagled his way into some development leverage at Chavez Ravine. And the way the Public Relations is unfolding I predict he will be the one who breaks it to Dodger fans that Dodger Stadium will be torn down and the team will move to downtown. Then after the blowback of that announcement hits he will back off and announce a compromise that the team will stay in Chavez Ravine but there will be significant changes to Dodger stadium and the surrounding area including significant commercial development including a Chucky Cheese and a build out much like The Grove and the Americana. That is where I’m guessing Magic has his cards.<br /><br />This is how the PR industry is pushing this issue… “Outgoing owner Frank McCourt and <em><strong>certain affiliates</strong></em> of the purchasers will also be forming a joint venture which will acquire the parking lots surrounding Dodger Stadium for an additional $150 million.” <br /><br />Again… Magic may not own the Dodgers but he ain’t no dummy.<br /><br />Who does own the Dodgers? That’s right… Mark R. Walter… have a look… <a href="http://www.guggenheimpartners.com/">http://www.guggenheimpartners.com/</a>Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-52872462215492522852012-03-07T16:40:00.003-08:002012-03-07T17:38:25.135-08:002012 Season - March 7thThis year I'm going to a few Dodger games... I'll keep you posted as the season goes on... I'm not hoping for too much but we'll see... stay tuned.<div><br /><div>Cubs... looks like a long year but you never know... if all the possible "if this happens" happen... then maybe the Cubs can win a few games.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still wondering who framed Ryan Braun and why... there is clearly a chink in MLB's drug testing program and somebody should get to the bottom of it. I would suggest that the person with the most motive would be the back up left fielder for the Brewers... he probably conspired with that MLB drug tester guy and spiked Braun's pee sample... </div><div><br /></div><div>Okay I guess I'll make my picks... Phillies, Angels... long shot Giants... </div><div><br /></div><div>Check back in a week and I'll talk about Vin Skully... this may be his last season as the Dodger announcer... </div><div><br /></div></div>Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-3764895728086878802012-03-05T15:39:00.001-08:002012-03-05T15:39:38.678-08:00Who framed Ryan Braun...Let's see... Ryan... you go first... who framed you?Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-52239845298658674652011-02-23T11:40:00.001-08:002011-02-23T11:41:01.080-08:00Okay... let the 2011 baseball season begin. First prediction... Pujols injured again... steroids have taken their toll...Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-35589848928694470692009-03-27T13:51:00.000-07:002009-03-27T13:52:38.820-07:00<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dWvv-3UwT8c&hl=en&fs=1&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dWvv-3UwT8c&hl=en&fs=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-38087940374765098112009-02-10T15:29:00.000-08:002009-02-10T15:32:22.618-08:00Call for help in reaching fans...<p>We have tried to be a part of MLB “coming clean”. They have made every effort to mute the fan voice regarding this issue. Our frightening “foam asterisk” was banned by the Dodgers, it was not allowed in Wrigley and several other teams had them confiscated. Do the Dodgers and/or MLB have the right to ban these foam symbols? Is this a free speech issue here?<br /><br />At the end of this video you’ll hear the Dodger representative stating the Dodgers case… MLB has stunted our efforts at every turn. As a result they may never have to “come clean”<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWvv-3UwT8c">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWvv-3UwT8c</a></p><p>Any insights on how we can reach and unite the fans would be greatly appreciated. </p>Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-83862887923660819952008-10-22T15:27:00.001-07:002009-06-21T09:31:44.017-07:00<span style="font-size:0;"><strong><blockquote><p align="center"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span></span></strong></span></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p></blockquote></strong></span><div align="left"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">I remember it well…</span></span><br /></div><em><strong><br />Sometimes you hold on to your memories… and sometimes they hold on to you... </strong></em></div><em><div align="left"><br /><strong>The 2008 World Series was one of those memories... as I recall…</strong></div></em><br /><br /><strong>Game 1 – @ Boston</strong><br />Lester throws a one hitter.<br />Lowe and Lester dueled into the ninth both pitching shutouts. Lester was tossing a no-no until Jeff Kent’s pinch hit homer in the top of the ninth. That was the only hit for the Dodgers but it put them ahead 1-0 going into the bottom half.<br />After a Pedroia walk, Big Papi goes deep to win it in the bottom half of the inning.<br /><br />WP – Lester<br />LP – Saito<br /><br />Series<br />Boston – 1 Dodgers – 0<br /><br /><br /><strong>Game 2 - @ Boston<br /></strong>Manny hits three dingers… but Jason Bay meets the challenge and takes Billingsley downtown twice. In a 12 inning, 5 hour, 7-6 Red Sox victory… Boston takes a two game lead.<br /><br />WP – Papelbon<br />LP – Billingsley<br /><br />Series<br />Boston – 2 Dodgers – 0<br /><br /><br /><strong>Game 3 – @ Los Angeles<br /></strong>In a 12 -11 error fest the Dodgers get back in it. Dodgers jump on top 10-2 with a grand slam by Nomar Garciaparra. The Red Sox roar back but the rally stalled when a fan reached out and touched a fair ball returning the tying run to third where it was stranded in the bottom of the ninth.<br /><br />WP – Maddux<br />LP – Dice K<br /><br />Series<br />Boston – 2 Dodgers - 1<br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /><strong>Game 4 - @ Los Angeles</strong><br />Lester pitches another gem but ex-Sox Derek Lowe does him one better. The Dodgers pull even in the series scoring on back to back doubles by Ethier and Lowe. 2-1 Dodgers. The Dodgers turn 5 double plays.<br />WP – Lowe<br />LP – Lester<br /><br />Series<br />Boston – 2 Dodgers - 2<br /><br /><br /><strong>Game 5 - @ Los Angeles</strong><br />The Dodgers looked to hold home field and go ahead in the series but end up blowing a 4-1 lead in the ninth. JD Drew goes deep with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth to give the Red Sox a 5-4 win.<br />WP – Burnett<br />LP – Broxton<br /><br />Series<br />Boston – 3 Dodgers - 2<br /><br /><br /><strong>Game 6 - @ Boston</strong><br />Back to Boston. The series looked all but over till Papelbon walks in the winning run with the bases loaded. Broxton strikes out Big Papi for the final out. On to game seven.<br />WP – Broxton<br />LP – Papelbon<br /><br />Series<br />Boston – 3 Dodgers - 3<br /><br /><br /><strong>Game 7 - @ Boston</strong><br />The two teams trade blows with the score going back and forth until the score is tied 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth… with two out…<br />Broxton comes in to pitch to JD Drew. Boston has the bases loaded. The count is full.<br />Broxton reaches back and fires a 100mph fastball… Drew takes a tremendous rip…</div><div align="left"><br /><br /><em>...anyway it was one hell of a World Series and I’ll never forget it… or was it the Phillies and Tampa Bay? </em></div><div align="left"><em>Nah...</em></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div>Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-11102718154264155942008-10-10T09:25:00.000-07:002008-10-22T15:36:44.056-07:00Cubbie SenseIt is no secret that everyone loves a winner. Bandwagons are full of lost souls who can't endure the weight of life's cruel realities. We Cub fans understand this more than most. It is no secret that it takes very little fortitude to support the winners in this world. Only a chosen few can hold close and remain devoted to those who are down and those who are out. There are no bandwagons for us. Rest assured that the failure that has forged our loyalty will one day end... but until that day comes we will stand by our team and continue to support and respect the game we love. Our allegiance, our dependability, and our steadfastness will not dissolve into the waters of defeat. These things that are hard now will one day become the pillars of strength that will hold us up in triumph. And the day will come when our resolve is rewarded with victory... but until then we stand tall. We stand proud. We stand together. We are Cub fans.Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-50047729568793854882008-06-10T14:56:00.000-07:002008-06-10T15:06:15.392-07:00The Steroid EraThis link directs you to a good explanation of the Steroid Era...<br /><a href="http://www.shaunassael.com/pdf/WhoKnew.pdf">http://www.shaunassael.com/pdf/WhoKnew.pdf</a>Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-328361054952263462008-06-02T13:32:00.000-07:002008-06-04T09:11:56.064-07:00Did Joe Morgan know about the Steroid Era?In your opinion, do you THINK Joe Morgan knew some of the players were on steroids?<br />Do you think ANY of the ex-ballplayers/announcers knew?<br />And if you THINK they knew... why didn't they say something?<br />And finally, if a cop sees his partner planting a gun to frame a suspect, should he speak up?Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-17378259134011681512008-06-02T13:13:00.000-07:002008-06-02T13:30:25.643-07:00How can a parent love and troubled child?When the whole Big Mac/Sosa race was occurring I had no clue as to the existence of a ‘steroid era’. I believed the ball was juiced or the stadiums were small. After all, that is what all of the television announcers were telling me.<br /><br />Then I read two books ‘Game of Shadows’ and ‘Juicing the Game’. This is when I became aware of how big of a role steroids had been playing in the game of baseball.<br /><br />What really bugged me was how the MLB announcers (Joe Morgan), who I believe knew what was going on, ignored the truth. Not a single MLB announcer had the guts to say “wait a minute… the balls aren’t juiced… the players are!!”<br /><br />I don’t think they (MLB mouthpieces) trusted the fans with the truth. But those of us who love the game know that nobody is bigger than the game itself. Pete Rose learned that. And now so have Bonds, Clemens, Morgan, Selig and Fehr, etc…<br /><br />It is difficult to walk the line of critic and fan but to honor the game we must not ignore what is so obviously damaging the game.<br /><br />Your question was- How do you go about rooting and supporting the Cubs and still stay strong in your beliefs?<br /><br />That is a very good question and one I have been struggling with for a while now, and there is no simple answer… but I do know this.<br /><br />The game belongs to us… the fans.<br />It is OUR game… we will not abandon it and we will not to lie to protect it. And as long as we are not afraid to speak up while seeking the truth - the game will survive.<br /><br />While I may not respect the cheats who stained the game, I will always respect the game. And while there may be steroid cheaters on the Cubs, I will always love the Cubs.<br />And though the truth can sometimes be inconvenient and difficult, I will always do my best to seek out the truth.<br /><br />For the love of the game…Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-34612685169886031502008-06-01T21:05:00.000-07:002008-06-01T21:10:28.630-07:00questions???That makes me think about this: if the game is so polluted with performance enhancing drugs, and there are probably players on the juice on my favorite team, what do we do about it. I can’t stop rooting for my favorite team even if some players are juiced up. I know how adamant you are about cleaning up baseball, how do you go about rooting and supporting the Cubs and still stay strong in your beliefs?Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-62544863378788197892008-06-01T20:51:00.000-07:002008-06-01T21:04:59.170-07:00then and nowWell, I hear you that you think Kerry Wood might be on the juice. I just don’t want to admit it to myself, which I guess makes me just as bad as all those Bonds’ supporters if it is true. When ever I talk to my friends, that are south side fans, they insist that he is. It is sad but until I hear his name reported somewhere, some document, I have to keep rooting for the guy. I guess I am a little naive when it comes to the topic of steroids. I never even thought about steroids until the topic became mainstream. I mean, Sammy Sosa, playing for my home town team, I never even thought about it. When did you take first notice of the issue? Was it when the Big Mac, Sosa run was happening or after? The way the game and media spun it then was that the ball was juiced, not the players. I guess we know differently now.Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-9472823742346460332008-05-29T11:12:00.001-07:002008-05-29T11:13:55.630-07:00Pitchers on Roids?When it comes to finding steroid cheats it helps to find managers who have a reputation for looking the other way. So when looking for steroid cheats I will go to the king of looking the other way… Tony La Russa, he of the Bash Brothers era -- Canseco and McGwire.<br /><br />#1<br />Jason Isringhausen – He missed the team's World Series run because of hip surgery… at 36? Hip surgery? This one does not take a genius to figure out.<br /><br />#2<br />Chris Carpenter – An absolute bust with Toronto. Signs with the Cardinals and becomes a Cy Young winner overnight… presently on the DL with elbow problem. Don’t look for him to be more than a #4 starter from here on out… if that!<br /><br />#3<br />Todd Wellemeyer<br />A complete bust with the Cubs and KC. Never close to a 2 to 1 strike out to walk ratio.<br />This year 53 SO - 22 Walks. Look for him to win 18 to 20 and then it’s DL list for this guy.<br /><br />#4<br />Gagne<br />A blind man could figure this one out…<br /><br />Dishonorable mention – Mota, Farnsworth, Mulder, Pedro M. Wainwright<br /><br /><br />Finally, I hate to say it but I think our own Kerry Wood and Mark Prior were juicers. Looks like Wood is off the roids (look at his size) but I suspect he just moved over to HGH which is not detectable. Wood may find some success as a reliever because now he only throws 10 to 20 pitches an outing… but I’ll bet a dollar he does not make it through the whole season… truth hurts.Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-32342903774078518432008-05-28T23:23:00.000-07:002008-05-29T08:51:41.714-07:00Blogging with Hollywood<strong>Blogging Hollywood Style</strong><br />I’m glad you asked this question, you asked me this before you left and I have done some thinking about it. I think there are a bunch of guys doing steroids and after looking at it closer the three guys I would like to talk about are Emil Brown, Carlos Quentin, and Todd Helton.<br /><br />First, Emil Brown. How does a guy come from nowhere and start hitting? In his ESPN profile he is called a “late bloomer.” I am not talking about him coming out this year; he started hitting in 2005, when he was 30! That seems a little peculiar that a 30 year old bulks up and starts hitting out of nowhere.<br /><br />Next, Carlos Quentin. This guy already has as many homers this year as he has his entire career. He even looks like Jose Canseco, with all the same mannerisms. He appears to be a showboat and a little hot tempered at times. Can you say, Brady Anderson??<br /><br />Lastly, Todd Helton. This guy went from hitting 40 plus homers a year and averaging 330, to now barely hitting 15 and 300. Coincidentally, as soon as the steroid crack down came, his offensive numbers dropped as well. I don’t think he is/was the only player using steroids on the Rockies. Take a look at some of their players now; sure are a lot of injuries??<br /><br />Notables that almost made my top three: Eric Byrnes, Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe, Garrett Atkins, Lance Berkman, Ivan Rodriguez, Johnny Peralta, Vladimir Guerrero… just to name a few.<br /><br />Now I’ll ask you, since I named so many, can you tell me a few guys that you believe are on the juice. The catch; only pitchers. I think it is easy to spot a position player all juiced up, but I can never tell with the pitcher.<br /><br />HollywoodBaseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-88962577947775084612008-05-28T20:37:00.000-07:002008-05-28T20:59:20.826-07:00Baseball FactoidThree guys with ten years in the league have yet to hit the DL. <br /><br />Derek Lowe<br />Brad Ausmus<br />That Yankee outfielder that looks like a Native American Indian<br /><br />Probably not steroid guys...<br /><br />What three guys would you guess are still on steroids?Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-28767645289492453372008-04-30T14:17:00.002-07:002008-04-30T14:18:24.255-07:00Birth of the Steroid/AsteriskIt was 1974. I watched number 715? I can remember watching Hank Aaron break Babe Ruth’s record. I was in a basement in Illinois. I was watching it with my father and grandfather and some of the locals. Al Downing released the ball and Hammerin’ Hank drove it into the Atlanta sky. As Tom House caught the ball I remember the thrill that rushed through me. Wow… history!<br /><br />And then there was a voice. Someone in the room blurted out a racist comment. I clearly remember feeling a sense of disappointment at the comment and why… why did that guy stain the moment? I froze. Why did no one speak up? Why did we all act like it never happened and look the other way? I was fifteen years old.<br /><br />Yes, I saw number 715. And from that day on I wore number 44. Partly to honor the accomplishment the greatest home run hitter of all time. And partly in protest of the dirty comment that still rings in my head. I wore 44 as a way of making amends for my father and grandfather and for all those who heard the racist comment and said nothing and looked the other way.<br /><br />Coming from a family of baseball lovers, I guess it is only natural that I feel a strong sense of honor surrounds the game of baseball. And in my youth an obsession with statistics and history became a big part of honoring the game. Time passed and I grew older and slightly wiser but numbers still reflected history and theyBaseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-41861208635543096732008-04-30T14:17:00.001-07:002008-04-30T14:17:47.977-07:00Post Strike -- Home Runs Go BoomWhen the records were broken by Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds I was as excited as the next guy. Sure, like all the announcers were saying, the ball was juiced and the stadiums were small but the playing field was balanced and fair. Everyone played on the same field and with the same ball. The game was healthy. America’s pastime thrived. Baseball was back<br /><br />Then I read a book. Actually I read two books. One was called Juicing the Game and the other was called Game of Shadows…<br /><br />I was stunned.<br /><br />The ball wasn’t juiced. The players were!Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-84270306495295483582008-04-30T14:16:00.002-07:002008-04-30T14:17:14.411-07:00The RealizationToday I am sufficiently convinced, like many other baseball fans, that there were players who decided to secretly take advantage of an illegal drug to enhance their performance. Now I could go into all the reasons this is wrong but that discussion has been had and at the end of the day either you agree or you don’t.<br /><br />As time passed I watched ESPN and other baseball broadcasts in hopes of hearing that the statistics of the steroid era must be taken with a grain of salt. I waited to hear that there is integrity in obeying rules and that those who cheat will, in the end, not prevail. I waited for the truth. But to my surprise I heard mostly silence. Nothing. Crickets.<br /><br />There they were, the same baseball announcers and ex-ballplayers who were so verbose about juiced baseballs and shrinking ballparks. Those same talking heads that went on and on about… where does the mud that baseballs are rubbed down with came from? Where were the balls made? Corked bats! And now those television talking heads were silent. Like the people in that basement back in Illinois. I waited for them to talk about the stain that had been placed on the game. I waited for a voice in the wilderness to stand up and say…”this is wrong”. And what I heard was silence. Even today ESPN and FOX baseball voices only apologetically cover the issue of the steroid era. And the Clemens issue has only made them more defensive.<br /><br />Off in the wilderness, on HBO, one brave soul spoke up. Bob Costas took on the challenge with aplomb. But overall dissenting voices were muted. Just watch highlights of Barry Bonds and the Giants play on the road. There is no serious coverage of how baseball fans really feel. There is no voice from the stands. And if Clemens comes back will we get to hear the voices in the stands, or will they be muted as well. Muted. Like in that basement back in Illinois.Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-66008039251627263152008-04-30T14:16:00.001-07:002008-04-30T14:16:31.635-07:00A Fan Tries To Speak OutI am blessed with a wife who loves baseball as much as I do and we enjoy the game on every level. And even though she is a Dodger fan I still love her. She knows I am a Cub fan and she loves me too. She understands that to be a Cub fan one must have an even deeper love… a love for baseball. A century of losing puts winning in perspective and one comes to terms with the simple fact that, in the end, it is the game that we love.<br /><br />And with that love for baseball comes a love of history and statistics. So when I began to consider the effect the steroid era had on statistics I began to feel despair. The integrity of the game I loved had been smudged at least. The statistics were thrown askew and most of all, those that covered the game on TV were essentially apologizing for what had become this “unfortunate set of circumstances.” They were effectively “looking the other way”.<br /><br />As I asked around I found that most true baseball fans were feeling the way I was. Were we going to look the other way too? What could we do? And that’s when I struck upon an idea…Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-22789577148572478362008-04-30T14:15:00.000-07:002008-05-14T14:44:02.436-07:00The Foam Steroid/Asterisk!!Now the story of the foam steoid asterisk is an adventure in itself. Even though the LA Times, Newsday and several radio stations have given us a blip on the baseball radar screen we have only sold a few thousand foam Steroid/Asterisks. Did you know that one thousand asterisks were waved in Shea Stadium in May 2006? Oh you never heard that? That’s odd isn’t it? Well remember what I said… there are those that choose to look the other way. And sometimes those that look the other way are the ones who hold power and influence.<br /><br />But this is America. This is our national pastime. And I wasn’t about to look the other way this time. I let Hank down once before and I wasn’t about to do it again. Now you may be asking yourself. Why haven’t I heard about this asterisk? Well it isn’t because I have not been trying. Let me tell you a little story about my trying to reach you, the fan.Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-88414931956472717302008-04-30T14:14:00.000-07:002008-04-30T14:15:26.832-07:00Step 1: Have a Foam Asterisk ManufacturedI hit the phones and called the top three foam finger manufacturers. As it turns out I could only find three manufacturers that can make foam Steroid/Asterisks that cheap enough to sell. That is unless you go to China, but I was not about to have our baseball Foam Steroid/Asterisks made in China.<br /><br />So I called the USA boys.<br /><br />“Can you make a foam product for me?”<br /><br />“Sure that’s what we do! What do you need?”<br /><br />“I need a foam asterisk.”<br /><br />“Foam asterisk? What for?”<br /><br />I went on to explain the Foam Steroid/Asterisk. And to make a long story short, they said…<br /><br />“Oh we can’t do that; we have licensing relationships with MLB.”<br /><br />When I asked if they would put that in writing one said "we can't make it... we don't want to step on anyone's toes". The other said “I don’t think so” and abruptly hung up on me.<br /><br />I felt a bit like I was back in that Illinois basement. Silence.<br /><br />Gosh they sure are skittish I thought. The bottom line was neither would manufacture the asterisk… period. And I don’t think it would have mattered how much I would have paid them.<br /><br />Finally I found a guy in Texas who said "I'm retiring in a few years and I like the idea... <br /><br />I'll make them for you.” Thank god for the Texas folk… good baseball fans down there. Now we have our tool for speaking out! A foam asterisk.Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-55054505389971303102008-04-30T14:13:00.000-07:002008-04-30T14:14:19.338-07:00Step 2: Find Retailers Who Will Sell the Foam AsteriskOn the phones again. Calls to Chicago, New York, St. Louis. Call after call to retailers that sell products to baseball fans. Call after call.<br /><br />Well it didn’t take to long before I could recite their reply. “Sure we think we can sell them... but we have licensing deals with MLB and we don’t really want to jeopardize our licensing relationships.”<br /><br />Okay, I guess I understand. I am a business major and I guess I might feel the same as them. But it did bother me; the influence one big industry can have over independent store owners. But that’s okay I guess. I’m a big boy. There’s more than one way to sell a foam Steroid/Asterisk.Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11360225.post-65452548772885615832008-04-30T14:10:00.000-07:002008-04-30T14:22:54.461-07:00Step 3: If Step Two Does Not Work Sell Them YourselfHonestly, I began to wonder if there was even a market for the foam Steroid/Asterisk. Do the fans really even want to speak out? Do they even want a foam Steroid/Asterisk. We launched our website. FansLoveBaseball.com<br /><br />I figured I’d call a few radio stations and see about some good old fashioned radio publicity! That’s worked for other people right?<br /><br />But living is learning and did you know that most baseball related talk shows are owned or are a part of the ABC/ESPN family? A lot of shows rely on cozy relationships with MLB and as you might expect they were not too eager to have me on the air discussing the topic of the steroid era.<br /><br />But hard work pays off and I managed to find some radio stations that weren’t beholden to the folks at Major League Baseball. Phone interviews with Seattle, Tampa and Mississippi followed. Generally they were smaller stations but nevertheless I was reaching some baseball fans. They were small radio stations but they were independent and I was reaching some baseball fans.<br /><br />And sure enough the Foam Steroid/Asterisk began to sell. Orders came in and we packed them in pizza boxes and sent them off. Still it was hardly the movement I had hoped for and while it wasn’t total silence like in the Illinois basement the impact on the national dialogue was minimal at best. And Hank Aaron’s accomplishments were once again on their way to being hammered as voices were muted.<br /><br />The season was dragging along so my Dodger fan wife and I packed up a hundred asterisks and headed four miles down the road to Dodger Stadium. I should probably tell you that both of us are chickens when it comes to selling stuff but off we went. And we hadn’t sold more than fifty asterisks before the horse backed policemen rode toward us and we ran away. But the fans were into the Foam Steroid/Asterisk! There were kindred souls who felt like we did. There was a demand to be heard.<br /><br />We rushed home and anxiously watched the game on television as the legendary Vin Scully called the game. Certainly he would mention the fans in the stands with asterisks. Alas no... not a word.<br /><br />That’s okay we thought. Maybe he didn’t see them. Maybe we got our hopes up a bit too high. But they were there. Foam Steroid/Asterisks in a Major League Stadium. At least fifty fans unified in spirit and foam.<br /><br />Time passed as we plodded forth with our effort. More phone calls. More emails. We even sent one to every member of congress who was working on the steroid scandal.<br /><br />The season chugged along, the Cubs were constantly losing, and I began to fret… and the phone rang.Baseball Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765695050107699983noreply@blogger.com0