Idiots Write About Sports

Word on the street is the 2006 All-Star Game is headed to Pittsburgh, which beat out San Francisco and Phoenix for hosting duties. Apparently, the Buc-os were able to convince Chairman Bud that an All-Star Game would help boost the team’s dismal attendance figures (though fielding a competitive team can also help). And that was enough to persuade Bud to end Pittsburgh’s seemingly endless 12-year drought between All-Star Games. (By way of comparison, next year’s host — the Detroit Tigers — haven’t staged an All-Star Game since 1971.)

I’m willing to take Major League Baseball at its word that Pittsburgh got the nod over San Francisco because Giants games are already well-attended and Pirates games are not. And I’m almost certain that the fact the Pirates play in a taxpayer-funded stadium while the Giants defied MLB’s welfare-state mentality by paying for stadium construction all by their lonesome had nothing to do with the fact that San Francisco is still waiting to host its first All-Star Game in 20 years.

After all, why would anyone question Bud Selig’s integrity? It’s not like he’s the sort of guy who only cares about rewarding toadies and cronies, right?

Hack Alert! That damn Caple had his hand in a Sportoon with Kurt Snibbe, laying out a Cubs board game. Spaces include:
*"Wood shakes hands with Alou before game, develops mysterious illness. Lose two turns." (Yes. I know Alou peeing on his hands isn't on the Hack-O-Meter yet. It is now, you hear me, Michaels?.)
*"Bartman runs into Prior, putting him back on DL. Lose two turns."
*"Alou forgets to wash hands before pre-game spread. Whole team develops mysterious illness. Back to Start."
*Four-- count 'em, four!-- different "Sammy Sosa sneezes, goes on DL" spaces. (That's not on the Hack-O-Meter either, and it probably won't be added, but I just thought it deserved mention.)

Seeing as I ATTENDED the Cubs game yesterday, and Pujols went off and made the difference in the loss, I'm especially miffed.

Wouldn't it make far more sense for San Francisco to host the game in 2006 if it becomes clear that will be Barry Bonds' final season? (Of course, maybe he will retire at the end of next year which would make this a moot point..)

There are precedents for this sort of thing. For example, the Open golf championship is being held at St Andrews partly to give Jack Nicklaus, aged 65 next year, the chance to compete in the game's greatest championship one last time.

If Selig had a bit more class he'd do something similar for Bonds in 06. After all, players like him don't exactly come along every day.

And if Bonds were anything resembling a nice guy to work with, I'm sure Selig would have told Pittsburgh that PNC will be there a lot longer than Bonds will. But you have the asshole thing, the BALCO thing, the resigning-from-MLBPA-so-he-can-charge-his-own-wages-of-the-media thing (see the current crop of baseball video games. You won't find Bonds because EA and 989 and Microsoft didn't feel like taking that kind of crap.), and so on.

Alex -- it'd make sense, I suppose, but it would require more long-term planning than Major League Baseball is capable of. Plus, I don't think the Selig gang is in an hurry to reward the Giants for funding their own stadium construction.

My bet? Phoenix hosts the 2007 game. And I wouldn't be surprised if Cincinnati or San Diego jumps ahead of San Francisco for 2008.

Guys, you're dead on. Seligula will never let PacBell be bathed in the national spotlight, at least not in a game that he has a choice (if they get to the WS, at least no one can say he set the Giants up so their ballpark can be so lovingly portrayed.

Seligula has no integrity, least no the kind I am familiar with, where your actions match up with your words, or more important, your job description. Just my two cents, anway.......