Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Still a Classic

I'm advocating truth in sportswriting. Less opinion. That's why I started a blog. To impart less opinion. Okay. Maybe not. But with all this data out there - and yes, there are different ways to interpret the same data - it bugs me when the facts aren't presented fairly.

No, the MLB All-Star game isn't quite what it was in 1958 when it was one of the few televised sporting events. When there weren't 200 games available on television or the internet every week. But this is the most relevant "exhibition" game this country still knows. I don't even have a problem with the winner hosting the World Series. Yeah, it's a little arbitrary. But alternating years isn't? Just about everybody would agree that the American League has been the stronger league the last few years, and they've also had the honor of hosting the Series. I'm not Selig's biggest fan, but his response to the "tie game" was an appropriate one. This game does and should mean something.

The ratings aren't the same as they were 40 years ago. Or 20 years ago. But as anybody in television will tell you - ratings are fractured. Network executives are clamoring for programming that can hold an audience. And while the price of televising big league baseball is through the roof, the All-Star game is still the summer's best bet.

Truth, served.