That song is a perfect example of why we love baseball. It's a game that binds us together, creates memories, and transcends generations. I love several other sports, but I have bonded over those with my father and my son in nearly the same way that I have over the game of baseball.
For those who are arguing who is and who isn't worthy of a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the following are the criteria per Wikipedia: "It is an award bestowed by decision of the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors"." In other words, a subjective judgment by the President for people the President thinks have made a meritorious contribution. You don't even have to be American, and recipients have included such as cellist Pablo Casals and Pope John XXIII. So Presidents can paraphrase MLB umpires and say "(insert name here) is worthy of the Medal of Freedom because I said so". P. S. President Obama was asked to consider revoking Bill Cosby's medal but declined to do so because there was no formal process for revocation established for the award.
My nomination for the Official JoeBlogs Baseball Song is "America's Favorite Pastime" by Todd Snider. It is a talking blues number that tells the story of Dock Ellis's (possibly apocryphal) No-Hitter thrown while tripping on LSD.
I’m hopelessly biased - but in the off chance it hasn’t been mentioned yet, my favorite baseball song ever is Home Run Willie by Bay Area musician Larry Hosford.
Wonderful song that tells the story of Willie Mays - not the catch, not the 4 HR game…but coming back to Candelstick as an old ballplayer in a Mets uniform.
Thought I’d share just a few days before Willie’s 93rd birthday. It’s beautiful.
I have to admit I’m a little disheartened by the increasing numbers of athletes being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I don’t mean to denigrate anyone, but so many of them feel like a sop. It cheapens the award.
Former recipients include four of the architects of the Vietnam War - LBJ, Robert McNamara, McGeorge Bundy, and Walt Rostow. Unless someone has info that Tiger Woods, Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky are war criminals, adding them as recipients raises the bar of the Medal of Freedom.
Oh, for sure some truly terrible people have received it, when they should actually have been sent to jail. But just because someone isn’t awful doesn’t mean they’re deserving.
I wasn’t wholly basing my point on how good a person was. Make an argument that the accomplishments and contributions to society of Tiger Woods, Katie Ledecky, and Simon Biles were less valuable than the contributions of McGeorge Bundy, Walt Rostow and Robert NcNamata. We just accept that a presidential advisor or a defense secretary is *obviously* worthy of the MOF and successful sports people aren’t. I reject that premise unless some can make a convincing argument otherwise.
Well, I guess I would expect for someone who is awarded the MOF to have done extraordinary work to advance the cause of "freedom," which is a vague term, to be sure, but would for me encompass activities that promote human rights and equality of access in the US and beyond. High-ranking government officials are in a position to do that, which is why it shouldn't be surprising for many to be considered for the honor. (Officials are also clearly in a position to horribly impede the cause of freedom, so while it might feel natural to consider them, that doesn't mean they should *obviously* be honored. I never argued that. Giving the medal to someone like McNamara, to me, cheapens the award even more.) It's hard for me to see how an athlete can advance the cause of freedom based solely or even primarily on their athletic accomplishments (as in the case of Ledecky or Jordan). Would you argue that Michael Jordan's basketball prowess promoted freedom in such an extraordinary way that he merits the highest civilian honor in the land? I'm not arguing athletes shouldn't ever be considered. Folks like Jackie Robinson, Magic Johnson, Kareem, Arthur Ashe? Absolutely worthy , but in those cases their athletic accomplishments are part of a larger body of work that materially bettered the world for many people.
The criteria for MOF isn’t freedom, it’s for individuals who have made “especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors".
Joe Henry’s “Our Song”, which imagines what it would feel like to run into Willie Mays in a Scottsdale Home Depot, might not be the best baseball song, but I believe it to be the best song that features a baseball player.
He hooked each spring beneath his feet
He leaned over then he stood upright
Testing each against his weight
For one that had some play and some fight
The song is really about what it means to be an American in the 21st century, and it is essential listening.
That song is a perfect example of why we love baseball. It's a game that binds us together, creates memories, and transcends generations. I love several other sports, but I have bonded over those with my father and my son in nearly the same way that I have over the game of baseball.
For those who are arguing who is and who isn't worthy of a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the following are the criteria per Wikipedia: "It is an award bestowed by decision of the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors"." In other words, a subjective judgment by the President for people the President thinks have made a meritorious contribution. You don't even have to be American, and recipients have included such as cellist Pablo Casals and Pope John XXIII. So Presidents can paraphrase MLB umpires and say "(insert name here) is worthy of the Medal of Freedom because I said so". P. S. President Obama was asked to consider revoking Bill Cosby's medal but declined to do so because there was no formal process for revocation established for the award.
In Canada, we did our very Canadian song. A few days late so will be missed by many, but here goes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJN3u1wAWIk
Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Burton Cummings...our version of musical Mount Rushmore.
My nomination for the Official JoeBlogs Baseball Song is "America's Favorite Pastime" by Todd Snider. It is a talking blues number that tells the story of Dock Ellis's (possibly apocryphal) No-Hitter thrown while tripping on LSD.
JoeBlogs Baseball Song suggestion...Paradise By The Dashboard Light
How can you discuss We Are The World without mentioning Kevin Meaney? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1MEwm-o4fQ
Song of the blog? It IS about balls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuoFsi2iIi0
Hi Joe:
It’s Dave Flemming with the Giants.
I’m hopelessly biased - but in the off chance it hasn’t been mentioned yet, my favorite baseball song ever is Home Run Willie by Bay Area musician Larry Hosford.
Wonderful song that tells the story of Willie Mays - not the catch, not the 4 HR game…but coming back to Candelstick as an old ballplayer in a Mets uniform.
Thought I’d share just a few days before Willie’s 93rd birthday. It’s beautiful.
https://youtu.be/YWjUbquHQgs?feature=shared
And a live version
https://youtu.be/BGObxbker5A?feature=shared
Oh man Joe – it looks like I can now verify that There is such a thing as the dreaded JoeBlogs Curse. Proof-
> Joe’s comment about the Tigers’ surprising start to the season: ‘Will Jason Foley keep up his Mariano act?’
> Tonight‘s game at the Yankees, the Tigers take a two hit, 1-0 gem into the bottom of the ninth. The play-by-play:
Yankees Bottom 9th
J. FOLEY PITCHING FOR DET DET-NYY Judge singled to center. 1-0
Verdugo reached on bunt single to third, Judge to second. 1-0 Stanton doubled to right, Judge scored, Verdugo to third. 1-1
Trammell ran for Stanton Rizzo singled to right, Verdugo scored, Trammell to third. 1-2
2 RUNS, 4 HITS, 0 ERRORS
——————
Geez, thanks a LOT…….
I have to admit I’m a little disheartened by the increasing numbers of athletes being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I don’t mean to denigrate anyone, but so many of them feel like a sop. It cheapens the award.
Cheapens an award that was given to Rush Limbaugh? Come on...
Former recipients include four of the architects of the Vietnam War - LBJ, Robert McNamara, McGeorge Bundy, and Walt Rostow. Unless someone has info that Tiger Woods, Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky are war criminals, adding them as recipients raises the bar of the Medal of Freedom.
Oh, for sure some truly terrible people have received it, when they should actually have been sent to jail. But just because someone isn’t awful doesn’t mean they’re deserving.
I wasn’t wholly basing my point on how good a person was. Make an argument that the accomplishments and contributions to society of Tiger Woods, Katie Ledecky, and Simon Biles were less valuable than the contributions of McGeorge Bundy, Walt Rostow and Robert NcNamata. We just accept that a presidential advisor or a defense secretary is *obviously* worthy of the MOF and successful sports people aren’t. I reject that premise unless some can make a convincing argument otherwise.
Well, I guess I would expect for someone who is awarded the MOF to have done extraordinary work to advance the cause of "freedom," which is a vague term, to be sure, but would for me encompass activities that promote human rights and equality of access in the US and beyond. High-ranking government officials are in a position to do that, which is why it shouldn't be surprising for many to be considered for the honor. (Officials are also clearly in a position to horribly impede the cause of freedom, so while it might feel natural to consider them, that doesn't mean they should *obviously* be honored. I never argued that. Giving the medal to someone like McNamara, to me, cheapens the award even more.) It's hard for me to see how an athlete can advance the cause of freedom based solely or even primarily on their athletic accomplishments (as in the case of Ledecky or Jordan). Would you argue that Michael Jordan's basketball prowess promoted freedom in such an extraordinary way that he merits the highest civilian honor in the land? I'm not arguing athletes shouldn't ever be considered. Folks like Jackie Robinson, Magic Johnson, Kareem, Arthur Ashe? Absolutely worthy , but in those cases their athletic accomplishments are part of a larger body of work that materially bettered the world for many people.
The criteria for MOF isn’t freedom, it’s for individuals who have made “especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors".
I would like to see JoePo do a rating of the "We are the World" performances in a future Blog.
Joe Henry’s “Our Song”, which imagines what it would feel like to run into Willie Mays in a Scottsdale Home Depot, might not be the best baseball song, but I believe it to be the best song that features a baseball player.
He hooked each spring beneath his feet
He leaned over then he stood upright
Testing each against his weight
For one that had some play and some fight
The song is really about what it means to be an American in the 21st century, and it is essential listening.
All the Bush League batters
Are left to die on the diamond
In the stands the home crowd scatters
For the turnstiles
Neil Young. Haven't listened to that in years. I shall tonight!
Anyone mention "Talkin' Softball" for the official song? "Mike Scioscia's tragic illness made us smile..."
Sounds perfect.
Thank you for “Willie Mays best baseball player ever in my opinion”. Completely agree.
Well he declared this quite publicly in his Baseball 100 book! 😀
No mention of the We Are the World draft? I'm disappointed. So is Brandon McCarthy.
Look up Joe's Willie Mays Hall of Fame. Great read with several chuckles towards the end.