# "It's Just a ball", umm, no it isn't **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 8, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320 "2011-07-08T15:37:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/101 "2011-07-09T20:15:01Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > It’s only in the last, what, thirty years or so that athletes began to make millions. In other words, the entire or majority of the lifetimes of most people posting here. And if I had been writing what I wrote back 30 years ago on the SDMB, I certainly would have said something completely different. But I’m sure you knew that already… > [@](#): > > A lot of these franchises bring revenue to their city, many of them establish charitable organizations, but oh right. Every single one of them is a coked out loser spending all of his money on whores. First off, whether or not sports is a net gain or net loss to a city in terms of revenue is not decided by the studies I’ve seen. Second off…oh, never mind. > [@](#): > > How is this any different from actors, or musicians? Should one forgo buying music by professional musicians, and only listen to local bands at clubs? Or only go to local playhouses? I said people could and should enjoy both: > [@](#): > > [QUOTE=Me] > The difference between supporting a local Little League team and getting the dust of the field in your hair, or sitting in a luxury box with beer in hand lazily cheering for the millionaire playboys. > > And someone can certainly do and enjoy both. I merely call for the average “sports fan” who hasn’t or doesn’t already do so to make that stretch and reconnect with the heart of sports. Perhaps that is Wrong Thinking, and must be punished, but so be it. [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > No, **BigT** , that wasn’t “uncalled for”. This is the Pit, **Una** is being a sanctimonious twat and should be called on for it. Quit being so wishy-washy. :dubious: Just how far do you want to go with this latest round of you insulting me online? ---
**Author:** ![stegon66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@stegon66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stegon66)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/102 "2011-07-09T20:25:56Z")
Cherish this moment because you’ll probably never hear my klutzy, nerdy self defending sports again. Where did the idea that sports are kids games come from? Sure, kids can enjoy and play baseball (for example) but it is really only adults who can truly appreciate the complexities of the game, let alone the talent needed to play it well. Just sayin… ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/103 "2011-07-09T20:40:47Z")
> [@stegon66](#): > > Cherish this moment because you’ll probably never hear my klutzy, nerdy self defending sports again. Where did the idea that sports are kids games come from? Sure, kids can enjoy and play baseball (for example) but it is really only adults who can truly appreciate the complexities of the game, let alone the talent needed to play it well. Just sayin… I for one believe your viewpoint is perfectly valid. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/104 "2011-07-11T13:38:39Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > In other words, the entire or majority of the lifetimes of most people posting here. And if I had been writing what I wrote back 30 years ago on the SDMB, I certainly would have said something completely different. But I’m sure you knew that already… Actually, probaly not. Complaining about the irrelevance of pro sports, its separation from “The real game” and “the best of sports,” and the high salaries professional athletes make is quite a lot older than 30 years. Even prior to million-dollar salaries, pro ballplayers could make salaries vastly higher than normal working schmoes, were ripped in the press for salary battles with their teams, and were criticized for making money just for “playing a game,” and the enterprise was criticized for a lack of purity and connection to the sport as played at an amateur level. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/105 "2011-07-11T13:40:23Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Actually, probaly not. Complaining about the irrelevance of pro sports, its separation from “The real game” and “the best of sports,” and the high salaries professional athletes make is quite a lot older than 30 years. Even prior to million-dollar salaries, pro ballplayers could make salaries vastly higher than normal working schmoes, were ripped in the press for salary battles with their teams, and were criticized for making money just for “playing a game,” and the enterprise was criticized for a lack of purity and connection to the sport as played at an amateur level. Seriously. Does no one remember a reporter telling Babe Ruth that he made more than the President? “I had a better year than Hoover.” ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/106 "2011-07-11T14:13:17Z")
You freaky bastards arent going to believe this shit, but look at this [http://www.baseballsavings.com/customer/search2.jsp?scid=1051&sortmfr=N&a1000001085=baseballs&CP=ILC-MENU](http://www.baseballsavings.com/customer/search2.jsp?scid=1051&sortmfr=N&a1000001085=baseballs&CP=ILC-MENU) HOLYJESUSMOTHEROFUCK, this changes everything. You can actually buy the things on the internet, holy shit!!! Now you dont have to become a professional baseball player or embarrass yourself fighting kids to get your hands on one, you can just BUY one!!! Be quick though, I doubt that site will be up long, it couldnt legal to sell special things like baseballs on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/107 "2011-07-11T14:18:05Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > You freaky bastards arent going to believe this shit, but look at this [http://www.baseballsavings.com/customer/search2.jsp?scid=1051&sortmfr=N&a1000001085=baseballs&CP=ILC-MENU](http://www.baseballsavings.com/customer/search2.jsp?scid=1051&sortmfr=N&a1000001085=baseballs&CP=ILC-MENU) > > HOLYJESUSMOTHEROFUCK, this changes everything. You can actually buy the things on the internet, holy shit!!! Now you dont have to become a professional baseball player or embarrass yourself fighting kids to get your hands on one, you can just BUY one!!! > > Be quick though, I doubt that site will be up long, it couldnt legal to sell special things like baseballs on the internet. Congratulations, you didn’t even read the entire OP. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/108 "2011-07-11T22:03:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Actually, probaly not. Complaining about the irrelevance of pro sports, its separation from “The real game” and “the best of sports,” and the high salaries professional athletes make is quite a lot older than 30 years. Even prior to million-dollar salaries, pro ballplayers could make salaries vastly higher than normal working schmoes, were ripped in the press for salary battles with their teams, and were criticized for making money just for “playing a game,” and the enterprise was criticized for a lack of purity and connection to the sport as played at an amateur level. You are correct. I could give additional examples in my sport as well, but it’s not worth it in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/109 "2011-07-12T09:41:13Z")
We can only hope that if nothing else, maybe we at least [learned something](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/12/national/main20078670.shtml?tag=cbsContent;cbsCarousel) from this horrible accident. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/110 "2011-07-21T21:44:28Z")
[Saw this on Yahoo today and immediately thought of this thread](http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Play-of-the-day-Selfless-young-fan-returns-ball?urn=mlb-wp13421) Maybe we can all learn something from this young man. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/111 "2011-07-21T22:18:39Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I don’t get the whole “give it to the kids” thing. That ball is fair game until it’s securely in someone’s hands. There’s no reason an adult has to forfeit that fight just because kids are involved. > > Fighting or knocking people over is one thing. But I’ve never seen or heard of that outside of someone’s exaggeration. But just reasonable jostling? Nothing wrong with that. I’ve seen it many times. I saw a kid, no more than three years old, knocked to the concrete, kicked and trampled in a scuffle for a Carolina League (Frederick Keys) foul ball two weeks ago. The guy who got the ball and his friends were crowing and slapping each other on the back while the little boy sobbed and bled (his mother tried to console him, and eventually a paramedic turned up). I pointed out to them that a small child had been injured to secure the souvenir. They said it wasn’t _their_ guy who had actually knocked the kid down, somebody else stepped on him! This may have been quite true, but if so it was a matter of chance; none of those adults and teenagers lunging for the ball was looking out for anybody else. So I told them, everyone in the scrum was to blame. The little boy had in fact been the closest when it first came down . He _should_ have gotten the ball. At most, the nearest adult could have helped him corral it as it bounced around under that awning. If you have to run and scuffle for a ball, you were too far away. It wasn’t meant for you. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320/112 "2011-07-22T00:21:02Z")
> [@Penderel](#): > > I hope there isn’t some knee-jerk reaction by the MLB to “prevent” this in the future - accidents are accidents and all the planning in the world can’t prevent every eventuality, especially after the fact. Well they could say that you have to toss the ball to the cheapest seats you can reach. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-just-a-ball-umm-no-it-isnt/588320.md?page=5)