MLB
Since the last time I wrote, my schedule has changed
back to working at night, instead of during the day. I’m personally ambivalent about the change,
but it has allowed me to watch quite a bit more baseball, which is an upgrade
in that respect. The downside is that I
don’t know what to do with myself during the day before I go to work. I had no idea I was writing so much
before. Apparently, that was most of
what I used to do. Instead, I’ve been
drawing. I’ve already posted some
sketches. I’ll be posting some more after
this.
After the debacle of MLB’s opening weekend social justice
extravaganza, they mostly settled down to just broadcasting the games. They’ve tried some unsubtle BLM sign
placement at times. One was a white guy
in a BLM t-shirt strategically placed for a constant camera view during a FOX national game. The A’s
have put a BLM logo on their mound.
(Most teams have put additional advertising there.) The damage has likely already been done to
their ratings. At least MLB has been
smart enough to basically stop the messaging.
The NBA’s continued BLM
flogging is killing their playoff TV viewing.
I’ve been able to watch parts of several games every night
at work. One night, I saw four games,
including two walk-off wins. MLB.TV, MLB Network, FOX Sports AZ
(Diamondbacks), FOX, ESPN, and FS1 are all showing games at night
during the week. When the season is
over, it’s going to suck and get real boring.
I’ll just comment on a couple of game items. The “Slam” Diego Padres have been awesome lately.
They hit grand slams in four consecutive games. No other team has ever done that. A potential coincidence was that they were
playing the hapless Rangers at the
time. Fernando Tatis Jr. caused a small unwritten rules controversy by
hitting one of those slams on a 3-0 count with the team already up big
late. I have no opinion.
On the weekend, a Mexican station has been showing games
on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately,
the Sunday game usually conflicts with seeing dad, but I’ve been able to see
the Saturday night games. Tonight, I saw
my first Braves home game. They’ve already had to change the name on
their stadium. I guess their sponsoring
bank got bought out. Their mascot, Blooper, is the only one I’ve seen
working a game. You could see him in the
background heckling Bryce Harper of
the Phillies whenever he came to
bat.
WWE
Still the most entertaining sport this summer. If you say that it’s not a competition and
that the outcomes are predetermined, why do you watch the NFL? The closest the WWE has
come to any social justice messaging was having a bunch of BLM-like thugs
attack their performance center in a riot.
I wasn’t able to quite follow that storyline, but I think some wrestler
was behind it. They have moved their
matches to an arena with a bunch of video screens in the stands with video
camera views of fans in the audience.
Interesting concept.
MLS
I’m certain this will be the only time I ever mention
Major League Soccer. They allowed a few
fans at one of their matches and proceed to kneel in front of them during the
Anthem. The crowd promptly booed and
then chanted, “USA! USA!” Afterward in an interview, a player referred
to their own fans as “disgusting.” Apparently, they’d embarrassed them in front
of the other team. Meanwhile, I’ve
noticed in Mexican soccer, they’ve superimposed fan cam videos in the stands
for their broadcasts.
NHL
Hockey initially had their players standing for the
Anthem, which included the Canadian Anthem.
Then NBC got a hold of them
demanded social justice. A couple of
players kneeled at a game. One confused
player even did it during the Canadian Anthem.
Canadian viewers likely had a confused reaction, “What’s up with that,
eh?”
During an intermission period of a game, they had a black
actor/singer/whatever lecture all the players and viewing audience on how
racist they all are and how disadvantaged he was. This was certainly the case. Here he was all rich and famous and me, and
probably most of the people watching, didn’t know who the F he was.
The NHL was flashing a “We skate for black lives” sign
during games. This weekend, they changed
it to, “We skate for victory.” I don’t
know if there’s more to the message, if it means anything or is just a playoff
marketing slogan. In any case, they no
longer seem to be pushing The Agenda.
UTEP
Briefly, I thought there was a possibility of seeing live Volleyball or even Women’s Soccer (damn, I’m desperate, aren’t I?). Up until Friday, Conference-USA had not canceled their fall sports. Perhaps me and Ron could maybe go to a game
in El Paso and see UTEP volleyball. (It’s
not a total betrayal. Their coach was a
former Aggie assistant coach. Their graduate assistant is a former Aggie
star player.) Unfortunately, under New
Mexico’s current quarantine rules, I’d be under house arrest for two weeks if I
went out-of-state to go (unless I could call it a business trip).
By Friday, it didn’t matter. Their conference went ahead and canceled
volleyball and soccer. Football, meanwhile, is still going
forward. The Miners have a full schedule, albeit including several FCS
teams. I don’t know if I’m desperate
enough for live sports to go and see bad college football, but end the
quarantine and who knows? On a slightly
related note, the El Paso Locomotive
will be allowing a limited number of fans for their games in Southwest University Park. For their sakes, here’s hoping there’s no
kneeling. Most of their players are
international anyway. Why would they care
about American social issues?
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