What a great take on what's missing in most of our country's displays of "nationalism." You're the best. I don't like Springsteen half as much as you do, but that one passage about first responders and Cincinnatti chili and Singing in the Rain and Charlotte's Web and whatnot read like my favorite passages in my favorite Springsteen songs. Perhaps The Boss can put these feelings to music for you, for us!
Team USA is uptight because everybody in this country expects them to win and they know they’re really not much, if any, better than some of the other teams in the tournament. They’re not the Dream Team.
This was great because it wasn't really a critique of US militarism. At least, I didn't think it was. We should be proud of the military and thankful that they are fighting for our freedoms, and that was neither the point of Joe's writing or something he was arguing against. No, this was a great article becasue it made it clear that the best way to thank the military is to actually enjoy the freedom! That's what is always missing, and was definitely missing from the US team. Show that you appreciate the freedom. Don't be ashamed of it. Be joyful and appreciate those around us that share joy and love and a deep understanding of how lucky we are to have that freedom.
If you read the other comments, you will see that your opinion is not shared by the vast majority of Joe’s readers. You’re certainly entitled to that opinion though.
Exactly. 100 percent. It’s why I’m hoping Tony Vitello can bring some of that magic to the Giants this year. You may not have liked his Tennessee teams, but they were colorful and had personality. It’s why the Vol fans loved and supported him. If he can bring some of that magic enthusiasm to the Giants, it will make them interesting … which is more than I can say about a lot of MLB teams. Of course, when you have a commissioner who doesn’t like baseball and only sees it as a money-making avenue, fun isn’t high on the priority list.
I love this column so much! You express these feelings I have had for years but have been unable to articulate. I will say, though, as a Padres fan, you should come to a game at Petco on a Friday night (or any night). That place still loves baseball.
I wouldn't be so hard on Skenes. I appreciate his acknowledgement of the armed forces. But I agree that baseball needs to pay more attention to celebrating the pride of the fan bases around the country and the role sport can play in bringing people together who might disagree about everything else. People may have strong and contrary views about national politics or other hot button issues, but Indians/Guardians fans are united in a painful longing for the team to win a World Series before we walk into that Iowa cornfield. We mourn the trading of Rocky Colavito to that baseball team up north for a past his prime singles hitter (and fans who weren't born when that trade occurred hear about it from their parents). We rise as one to warn ownership to not even think about shopping Stephen Kwan. We hate the Yankees (and even hated them when they went through a bad patch). We remember the grey ballpark mustard the way that Proust remembered his madeleine. We love to hear the voice of Tom Hamilton (while remembering Joe Tait, Herb Score, and Jimmy Dudley). And we who loved Tito Francona, loved that his son came back to manage the team.
In recent years, the love and loyalty has been tested by free agency (and agents), PEDs, gambling, and other types of misbehaviour, and lunatic ideas coming from the Commissioner's Office (God forbid the "Golden Bat" but it perdures over time. It connects us with our families and people we encounter randomly around the world. We are chuffed when we pass someone outside the Rogers Centre in Toronto sporting a smiling Chief Wahoo on his hat or encountering some fans wearing Indians gear in the Kenmore Square MTA station after Dave Justice smacked a 9th inning home run to beat the Red Sox in their home park and getting them to join in chanting "No Peace! Dave Justice!"
The WBC this year reflected these sentiments from the fans of the various national teams, and I was delighted to see Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni acknowledge Team Italy in the Italian parliament. In most of the world (including most of the countries outside of the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic) soccer plays a similar role in bringing together people of all social classes and political, religious, and cultural divisions, but the WBC showcased what many of us see as the real "beautiful game".
Exceptional piece! Thanks for putting into words what I felt, plus a whole lot more, watching the WBC. I hope the American players will find the same passion as essentially every other country in future tournaments. If so, hey, they might end up winning it all, or at least have a lot more fun playing!
Exquisite, Joe. And what's wrong with a silver medal?
What a great take on what's missing in most of our country's displays of "nationalism." You're the best. I don't like Springsteen half as much as you do, but that one passage about first responders and Cincinnatti chili and Singing in the Rain and Charlotte's Web and whatnot read like my favorite passages in my favorite Springsteen songs. Perhaps The Boss can put these feelings to music for you, for us!
Joe, you nailed it-in many ways.
Team USA is uptight because everybody in this country expects them to win and they know they’re really not much, if any, better than some of the other teams in the tournament. They’re not the Dream Team.
This was great because it wasn't really a critique of US militarism. At least, I didn't think it was. We should be proud of the military and thankful that they are fighting for our freedoms, and that was neither the point of Joe's writing or something he was arguing against. No, this was a great article becasue it made it clear that the best way to thank the military is to actually enjoy the freedom! That's what is always missing, and was definitely missing from the US team. Show that you appreciate the freedom. Don't be ashamed of it. Be joyful and appreciate those around us that share joy and love and a deep understanding of how lucky we are to have that freedom.
Jesus, what a blowhard article. I'm not a born American and it still kind of embarrassed by it. What's with Joe lately going into long rants?
If you read the other comments, you will see that your opinion is not shared by the vast majority of Joe’s readers. You’re certainly entitled to that opinion though.
Exactly. 100 percent. It’s why I’m hoping Tony Vitello can bring some of that magic to the Giants this year. You may not have liked his Tennessee teams, but they were colorful and had personality. It’s why the Vol fans loved and supported him. If he can bring some of that magic enthusiasm to the Giants, it will make them interesting … which is more than I can say about a lot of MLB teams. Of course, when you have a commissioner who doesn’t like baseball and only sees it as a money-making avenue, fun isn’t high on the priority list.
Your best column yet, Joe. And I love them all—well, almost all of them.
Beautiful. Nothing else to say
I love this column so much! You express these feelings I have had for years but have been unable to articulate. I will say, though, as a Padres fan, you should come to a game at Petco on a Friday night (or any night). That place still loves baseball.
I wouldn't be so hard on Skenes. I appreciate his acknowledgement of the armed forces. But I agree that baseball needs to pay more attention to celebrating the pride of the fan bases around the country and the role sport can play in bringing people together who might disagree about everything else. People may have strong and contrary views about national politics or other hot button issues, but Indians/Guardians fans are united in a painful longing for the team to win a World Series before we walk into that Iowa cornfield. We mourn the trading of Rocky Colavito to that baseball team up north for a past his prime singles hitter (and fans who weren't born when that trade occurred hear about it from their parents). We rise as one to warn ownership to not even think about shopping Stephen Kwan. We hate the Yankees (and even hated them when they went through a bad patch). We remember the grey ballpark mustard the way that Proust remembered his madeleine. We love to hear the voice of Tom Hamilton (while remembering Joe Tait, Herb Score, and Jimmy Dudley). And we who loved Tito Francona, loved that his son came back to manage the team.
In recent years, the love and loyalty has been tested by free agency (and agents), PEDs, gambling, and other types of misbehaviour, and lunatic ideas coming from the Commissioner's Office (God forbid the "Golden Bat" but it perdures over time. It connects us with our families and people we encounter randomly around the world. We are chuffed when we pass someone outside the Rogers Centre in Toronto sporting a smiling Chief Wahoo on his hat or encountering some fans wearing Indians gear in the Kenmore Square MTA station after Dave Justice smacked a 9th inning home run to beat the Red Sox in their home park and getting them to join in chanting "No Peace! Dave Justice!"
The WBC this year reflected these sentiments from the fans of the various national teams, and I was delighted to see Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni acknowledge Team Italy in the Italian parliament. In most of the world (including most of the countries outside of the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic) soccer plays a similar role in bringing together people of all social classes and political, religious, and cultural divisions, but the WBC showcased what many of us see as the real "beautiful game".
Politics out of sports!
It's long past time we get rid of the National Anthem and military flyovers at sporting events.
Save them for baby showers and funerals, where they belong.
Arrested Development, Seinfeld and Cheers were all things you could have included
The militaristic bullshit was also incredibly tone deaf. The war we unnecessarily started isn’t exactly popular.
Exceptional piece! Thanks for putting into words what I felt, plus a whole lot more, watching the WBC. I hope the American players will find the same passion as essentially every other country in future tournaments. If so, hey, they might end up winning it all, or at least have a lot more fun playing!
Anyone else rooting for a Venezuela v Dominican final, just because it would have been more fun? The roof would have blown off the place.