A Dang Good Reason...

When it comes to rating All-Star games in the professional ranks, I’m sure most people would rate football as the hands down worst of the lot simply because most players don’t want to be there and the defense usually leaves a lot to be desired.

A lot of fans like hockey and basketball because scoring is off the charts. An all-star basketball game might end up 153-148. A regular season game with that kind of score usually has four overtimes attached. Great ballplayers will work their butts off on the offensive end and yet are a bit nonchalant on the other end of the court.

Hockey all-star games can end up 11-10, which is unheard of in the regular season. During the playoffs there can be a number of 1-0 games decided in two overtimes. The whole object of these all-star games is to score a bunch of points or goals that bring a great deal of excitement to the fans.

When it comes to baseball all-star games, the players bring their best effort and will not relax on defense in order for more runs to cross home plate. The pitchers’ egos are way too big to throw batting practice to the great hitters knowing full well that they merely have to make one mistake and the ball will fly out of the park. Their job as they see it is to throw a no-hitter for the limited innings they are on the field.

I happen to like the way baseball deals with this issue and it makes for a very good game. Now a lot of fans complain because they want to see a bunch of scoring and home runs. The home run issue is helped out with the home run derby competition the day before the game. Hopefully that competition satisfies the long ball enthusiasts. Baseball purists want to see great plays and often, those plays are made by the defenders.

The American League defeated their National League counterparts 3-0, limiting the NL to only three hits. There were no home runs hit and only one run was scored on a base hit while the other two were scored on a sacrifice fly and the other by a fielder’s choice groundout.

There were no huge standout performances with maybe one exception that was the entry to the game in the bottom of the eighth inning by New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera. Rivera is more accustomed to the ninth inning in a game of this nature but AL Manager Jim Leyland wanted to make sure Rivera got his due from the fans and the long standing ovation for Rivera was a special moment in time. Out of respect, Rivera was the only player on the field as he entered the field of play from the bullpen and was applauded by all the fans and every player, coach and manager from both teams. Moments like this are things of legend and very respectful. This will also be the last time the number 42 will grace an all-star game as Rivera is the last player allowed to wear the number until he retires. The number has been retired for every other team in honor of Jackie Robinson.

It may have been a ho-hum moment as the future hall of famer pitched a no hit eighth inning and I’m sure the boys on the home side of the field could only hope they would see a mistake but no, that wasn’t going to happen on this night.

Rivera was touched by the love showed in the New York Mets home stadium and it was well deserved. His easy performance would lead to a MVP award and a new Corvette. Rivera didn’t necessarily win this award last Tuesday night, but over a long career that has made him the greatest closer of all time.

Honestly, I’m not a fan of Rivera because when he appears in a game that interests me he more often than not comes out on the winning side. But that hasn’t stopped me from having the utmost respect for a great ballplayer that is a true professional with great integrity.

Let’s just say I like the player and hate the uniform. There were a lot of dang good reasons that Rivera won the MVP award in the all-star game and you really can’t argue with any of them.