Springer's Assault On Bonds Tinged With Racism
THE LAST THING WE NEED IS BONDS TO WIN SYMPATHY
This may sound strange coming from one of Barry Bonds’s most vocal detractors, but Russ Springer’s five-pitch attack Tuesday on the steroid slugger may have been racially motivated.
The apparent single-mindedness of Springer to plunk Bonds is the determining factor. Bonds is hated and, in some places, loathed unlike any athlete, but that anger has never filtered onto the field in such a personal manner.
Generally, the gentlemen’s agreement amongst clubs is that the simple brush back is an acceptable tool in self-regulation. The first Springer pitch, a whirling slider that swung behind Bonds should have been enough to say “you’re a cheat” or we’re just plain unhappy because your Giants are whipping the tar out of us.
When Springer again threw up-and-in and actually grazed Bonds’s bat the act begins to become sinister. Succeeding with the fifth pitch activates problematic reasons for why such a punishment was deserved by Bonds.
Pinning the episode on racism is problematic and uncomfortable but suspicious. The hatred for Baroid goes beyond skin color. The values of honesty and integrity are held by every skin color. Blacks dislike him as much as whites. But, the blatant assault by Springer and the Astros (such an act was sure to have been discussed in the dugout) causes concern.
That the Houston crowd was understandably booing Bonds only becomes complicated when the stadium erupted in ovation for Springer as he walked to the dugout after being ejected by the home plate umpire. Crowds are fickle, but when they wildly rejoice in Bonds's bodily pain, they run the risk of allowing him some sort of sympathy, when within the big picture of this steroid scandal he deserves none.
While Bonds rests one homer shy of Babe Ruth’s homerun tally, the anxiety and focus began to build with every at-bat. The main factor, though, in speculating a racial factor is that Ruth’s 714 homeruns is second all-time and technically the American League record. Would passing the rusher with the second most yards in NFL history garner such outrage?
When Henry Aaron passed Ruth’s mark 32 years ago, the racial aspect was more vociferous than today even with the specter of steroids looming over the game. Has America become less color blind or was the drama in 1974 dealing with an African-American eclipsing the quintessential white superstar athlete. Babe Ruth and the vaunted homerun record was 1920s America at the dawn of superpower status.
Conversely, Aaron’s record of 755 evokes the dismal, do-nothing era of the 1970s, which in some ways mirrors the 2006 with high energy prices and bitter entanglement in the Middle East.
By drilling Bonds, Springer wasn’t protecting that romantic version of pre-depression America as the enemies of Aaron believed in 1974, but he was protecting the perceived racial superiority of the caucasian Babe—the second greatest homerun hitter of all-time.
This may sound strange coming from one of Barry Bonds’s most vocal detractors, but Russ Springer’s five-pitch attack Tuesday on the steroid slugger may have been racially motivated.
The apparent single-mindedness of Springer to plunk Bonds is the determining factor. Bonds is hated and, in some places, loathed unlike any athlete, but that anger has never filtered onto the field in such a personal manner.
Generally, the gentlemen’s agreement amongst clubs is that the simple brush back is an acceptable tool in self-regulation. The first Springer pitch, a whirling slider that swung behind Bonds should have been enough to say “you’re a cheat” or we’re just plain unhappy because your Giants are whipping the tar out of us.
When Springer again threw up-and-in and actually grazed Bonds’s bat the act begins to become sinister. Succeeding with the fifth pitch activates problematic reasons for why such a punishment was deserved by Bonds.
Pinning the episode on racism is problematic and uncomfortable but suspicious. The hatred for Baroid goes beyond skin color. The values of honesty and integrity are held by every skin color. Blacks dislike him as much as whites. But, the blatant assault by Springer and the Astros (such an act was sure to have been discussed in the dugout) causes concern.
That the Houston crowd was understandably booing Bonds only becomes complicated when the stadium erupted in ovation for Springer as he walked to the dugout after being ejected by the home plate umpire. Crowds are fickle, but when they wildly rejoice in Bonds's bodily pain, they run the risk of allowing him some sort of sympathy, when within the big picture of this steroid scandal he deserves none.
While Bonds rests one homer shy of Babe Ruth’s homerun tally, the anxiety and focus began to build with every at-bat. The main factor, though, in speculating a racial factor is that Ruth’s 714 homeruns is second all-time and technically the American League record. Would passing the rusher with the second most yards in NFL history garner such outrage?
When Henry Aaron passed Ruth’s mark 32 years ago, the racial aspect was more vociferous than today even with the specter of steroids looming over the game. Has America become less color blind or was the drama in 1974 dealing with an African-American eclipsing the quintessential white superstar athlete. Babe Ruth and the vaunted homerun record was 1920s America at the dawn of superpower status.
Conversely, Aaron’s record of 755 evokes the dismal, do-nothing era of the 1970s, which in some ways mirrors the 2006 with high energy prices and bitter entanglement in the Middle East.
By drilling Bonds, Springer wasn’t protecting that romantic version of pre-depression America as the enemies of Aaron believed in 1974, but he was protecting the perceived racial superiority of the caucasian Babe—the second greatest homerun hitter of all-time.
Very cool design! Useful information. Go on! mcse guide to microsoft windows 2000 networking ca http://www.educationaltoys4.info/Zyrtec-clarityn-loratadin.html Alabama football photo Mirage microfiber sofa jc penney 20 fm gb mp3 player tuner fat woman in the nude
Posted by
Anonymous |
Friday, February 16, 2007 4:16:00 AM