Better to be at the dogs, or Molly's
TAMPA, Fla. – This is an abomination. Spring training baseball games at night. What could be more ridiculous?
No wonder the dog-racing industry in Florida is in trouble.
Once again, call me old-fashioned, but spring training games, which are never, ever to be taken too seriously at the best of times, are meant to be played in daylight, after which you go to Derby Lane, the world capital of greyhound racing, or to Molly Goodhead’s for grouper and gator tails or the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs to get the Greek food.
Yes, the reason probably has something to do with money and there are games being televised back to Northern cities – although Rogers, the communications giant that owns the Blue Jays, hasn’t been able to figure that part of it out yet – and there probably is a market for night ball games someplace.
But there’s a practical side to hating it, too: With the possible exception of the Yankee digs here and maybe the Phillies’ palace over on Highway 19, you’re dealing with minor league parks with minor league lighting. There’s a vast difference in candlepower between the minor league parks and the big-league parks. We don’t want the poor millionaires straining their eyes.
Yes, it is here to stay, but that doesn’t mean it’s not just wrong.
Speaking of wrong, how nice to see your friends at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment going out and securing the soccer title game for Scheme-O Field. Let’s see now: The MLS soccer championship and they want more all-star games and one of those outdoor NHL games, all of them money-makers for good old MLSE.
But how about this: How about some playoff games for the Maple Leafs?
How many years has it been?
Forget about the Stanley Cup. How about one lousy playoff series? Is that too much to ask after all the money they’ve removed from fans over the years, not to mention taxpayers?
It’s great that MLSE keeps the focus on all those money-making one-offs that matter – or at least matter to them. Meanwhile, the competitive record of all its teams keep embarrassing the city.
Wouldn’t it be great to have an accountable owner who acts as if he understands what the only priority should be?
No wonder the dog-racing industry in Florida is in trouble.
Once again, call me old-fashioned, but spring training games, which are never, ever to be taken too seriously at the best of times, are meant to be played in daylight, after which you go to Derby Lane, the world capital of greyhound racing, or to Molly Goodhead’s for grouper and gator tails or the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs to get the Greek food.
Yes, the reason probably has something to do with money and there are games being televised back to Northern cities – although Rogers, the communications giant that owns the Blue Jays, hasn’t been able to figure that part of it out yet – and there probably is a market for night ball games someplace.
But there’s a practical side to hating it, too: With the possible exception of the Yankee digs here and maybe the Phillies’ palace over on Highway 19, you’re dealing with minor league parks with minor league lighting. There’s a vast difference in candlepower between the minor league parks and the big-league parks. We don’t want the poor millionaires straining their eyes.
Yes, it is here to stay, but that doesn’t mean it’s not just wrong.
Speaking of wrong, how nice to see your friends at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment going out and securing the soccer title game for Scheme-O Field. Let’s see now: The MLS soccer championship and they want more all-star games and one of those outdoor NHL games, all of them money-makers for good old MLSE.
But how about this: How about some playoff games for the Maple Leafs?
How many years has it been?
Forget about the Stanley Cup. How about one lousy playoff series? Is that too much to ask after all the money they’ve removed from fans over the years, not to mention taxpayers?
It’s great that MLSE keeps the focus on all those money-making one-offs that matter – or at least matter to them. Meanwhile, the competitive record of all its teams keep embarrassing the city.
Wouldn’t it be great to have an accountable owner who acts as if he understands what the only priority should be?
Umm, don't hockey and soccer both have salary caps? Seems to me the issue isn't that they don't spend enough, just that they don't spend well enough.
Posted by: Sgc | 03/30/2010 at 10:29 PM