The World Series: the Good, the Bad, and the Despicable

It is rare that on one night we get to see both what is good and what is bad in baseball.  As millions sat in front of their TVs watching the Red Sox on the verge of a second World Series title in 4 years, led by a valiant pitching effort from cancer survivor Jon Lester and supported by a loveable cast of characters — veterans and rookies alike — it could be said that all was right in the baseball world.  The right team was on the verge of winning the World Series — they were the best in baseball all year, and they showed it until the final out of last night’s game.  

And while I waxing poetic about all that was good and loveable about baseball, FOX cut to a special announcement from Ken Rosenthal on the field:  Alex Rodriquez was opting out of his contract with the Yankees.   Did A-Rod not realize that there was a World Series going on?  I know the man has never played in one, but are you seriously telling me that he and Bor-Ass couldn’t have waited one more day?  This player and this agent are what is bad about baseball.  Isn’t this a team sport?  Shouldn’t the glory and attention go to those who succeed and are able to call themselves champions?  Why must baseball fans be forced to pay attention to the every move of A-Rod during a game in which he has absolutely no part? 

I have to believe that A-Rod is a complete creep, and the biggest egomanic in all of sports (and I’m not alone).   Look at me, I am even talking about it, instead of gloating, which I would much rather be doing.  Forget the bad:  A-Rod is despicable, and I hope the Red Sox are smart enough to stay out of his crazy bidding war.  Our team works, our team wins, and the last thing the Sox need is to disrupt their mojo with a cancer in organization.  And that’s what this man is. 

Let’s resign Lowell, and I can name a million reasons to.  The only upside of the whole A-Rod thing is this:  I get to hear Yankees fans say a variation on one of the following statements: 1)  “Good riddance! I never wanted him on my team anyway” or 2)  “He was never a real Yankee and we are better off without him.”  While I think both statements are actually true, hearing it come from the same people who held A-Rod out to the world as the symbol of Yankee greatness, the proof that the best players wanted to wear pinstripes, and that with A-Rod, the World Series rings would fall into their laps — well, that just makes my day.  Ha!  I didn’t want to say I told you so, but I did. 

Can you hear that?  It’s the sound of the Evil Empire crumbling.  Get your lifeboats people!  This Yankee ship is going down! 

Now, I don’t have time for a full gloating “We Won the World Series” post, but I promise, that is coming later today.