Do we dare hope??

by northstar at 04:49 PM on August 01, 2002

Keith Olbermann is reporting in Salon that as many as three teams may have voted NOT to authorize a strike by the Player's Union. While this fact, if true, will not prevent a strike, it does put the lie to the unified front that Donald Fehr would want. In a strike situation, the trite adage "United we stand, divided we fall" is generally a true statement.

I keep hoping against hope that the owners and players will come to their senses. Of course, you might also think that I believe in the tooth fairy. I don't, but I really do not want to have to deal with the fallout of another strike. There have been nine work stoppages since 1972, and baseball has survived in spite of itself. I don't know that it would be able to weather another strike.

Many people that I know have said unequivocally that if there is a baseball strike, they're done. No ifs, ands, or buts. They will not go to another game, though a few may watch games on television. Generally speaking, they see no reason to subsidize a gaggle of multimillionaires who are concerned only with themselves. Me? I wish I could be so unequivocal.

Last Saturday night, I sat in the right field stands at the Ballpark at Arlington and watched the Texas Rangers beat Oakland 10-6. Two weeks prior to that, I sat in the right field stands at Jacobs Field and watched my beloved Minnesota Twins beat Cleveland 8-5. Next week, I'm going to Minute Maid Park to watch Houston play Florida. Two weeks later, I'll be at the BOB in Phoenix to watch Arizona play Cincinnati. My point is not to brag, just to point out that I LOVE baseball. No matter how angry I would be if there is a strike, I just can't bring myself to swear the game off.

In a perfect world, the owners and players would recognize the breadth and scope of what they are jeopardizing and do the right thing. Given the depth of mistrust and hostility between the two sides, perfection is likely not in the cards. We all may have to find another summertime diversion...perhaps the XFL was a year too early....