{"id":1140,"date":"2007-07-11T13:35:34","date_gmt":"2007-07-11T13:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/idolchatter\/2007\/07\/a-midsummer-nights-classic-in.html"},"modified":"2007-07-11T13:35:34","modified_gmt":"2007-07-11T13:35:34","slug":"a-midsummer-nights-classic-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2007\/07\/a-midsummer-nights-classic-in.html","title":{"rendered":"Why I Love the All-Star Game"},"content":{"rendered":"

Baseball’s All-Star Game was televised in prime time again last night, and it continues to endure as an underrated, understated institution that stands as the finest and brightest of all of the major sports\u2019 all-star games. Why is that?
\nA large part of the American viewing public–and, increasingly, the world\u2019s viewers–have a special spot in their hearts for this game, otherwise known as \u201cThe Mid-Summer Classic.\u201d The ratings show it, and the networks know it. Major cities (and their ballparks) vie in the very competitive world of who gets to host the future All-Star Games. Here are five possible reason why–at least among people of faith–the game is so enduring:
\n5. Tradition.<\/strong> As much as the newest generations and “cultural creative” types long for new and fresh experiences in life, there is comfort in traditio<\/a>n, especially those with meaning that don\u2019t put us to sleep. The introduction of the reserves, the introductions of the starting line-ups, the boos for the rivals and the cheers for the home-team guys, the ceremonial honoring of legends, the National Anthem, the ceremonial first pitch, and in some years the moment of silence are all components of the slow and non-boring lead-up to the game. I tuned in at 8 because that was the advertised time. The game didn\u2019t start until 9, and I didn\u2019t mind, because baseball is the only game that can do an hour of pre-game and get away with it. And when \u201cGod Bless America\u201d and \u201cTake Me Out to the Ballgame\u201d come in the 7th, all are patient, united and inspired, even when there\u2019s technical difficulties as there were last night.<\/p>\n


\n4. Authenticity.<\/strong> Baseball\u2019s All-Star game is played like a regular season game, just like any other. In basketball and hockey, there is no real defense. In football, the guys can\u2019t afford to hit each other, and the season is already over when it’s played. But in baseball, every pitcher is throwing the real stuff, every hitter wants to shine, and every position player on defense is looking to make a memorable play. And, the winning league of the game gets to play host to the extra game of the World Series, which means dollars, a competitive edge, and an extra game for their fans, so even the competitive spirit is real. Not so in other sports.
\n3. Heroics.<\/strong> For some reason, baseball players have long transcended the game and been considered heroes<\/a>, and it stands out in the All-Star Game. Some of the most heroic moments include five strikeouts in a row by Carl Hubbell (\u201934) and the Dodgers\u2019 Fernando Valenzuela (\u201986), Stan Musial\u2019s 12th-inning home run to complete a 6-5 comeback win in \u201855, Tony Perez\u2019 15th-inning homerun to win the \u201967 game, Pete Rose\u2019s 12th-inning bulldozing of Pete Fosse, separating Fosse\u2019s shoulder and winning the \u201970 game, monster homers by legends Robinson, Killebrew, and Jackson to win the \u201971 game for the AL, Fred McGriff\u2019s game-extending homer in \u201994, and Texas\u2019 Michael Young\u2019s two-out, two run triple to win last year\u2019s game.
\n2. Stability.<\/strong> Yes, it\u2019s a slow game, but it\u2019s always there, and the baseball game is a welcome chance to celebrate it. From the Big Train to the Big Unit, the Splendid Splinter (Ted Williams) to the Sultan of Swat (Babe Ruth), Sweet Lou to Joltin\u2019 Joe, Three Finger Brown to Dizzy and Daffy Dean, Stan the Man to Dennis the Oil Can, Mr. October to the Rocket, baseball players have the longest careers of all major sports (except golf, I suppose), allowing fans to grow attached and look forward to seeing familiar guys.
\n1. Hope.<\/strong> Baseball is the only major sport where the ending point is always in doubt. There\u2019s no clock. There\u2019s no set number of minutes, rounds, sets, laps, or points. This year’s game was almost over–before lasting another half hour, as the NL scored two runs, loaded the bases, and went through two pitchers before losing by one swing. As Yogi said, \u201cIt aint over \u2018til it\u2019s over.\u201d Also, old guys can still play with young guys. Short skinny guys can have long careers and shine, and it\u2019s the most diverse sport in terms of race and nation. Whether it\u2019s the Mid-Summer Classic or any game during the season, baseball brings hope in the Spring that lasts through the summer, at least as long as the All-Star Game.
\nAs it turned out, this year\u2019s hero was Ichiro Suzuki, who hit the first inside-the-park homerun in All-Star history as the American League won as they have ever since \u201996. But from even before the game, there was a lot more going on than runs, hits and errors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Baseball’s All-Star Game was televised in prime time again last night, and it continues to endure as an underrated, understated institution that stands as the finest and brightest of all of the major sports\u2019 all-star games. Why is that? A large part of the American viewing public–and, increasingly, the world\u2019s viewers–have a special spot in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,10,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-entertainment","category-sports","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy I Love the All-Star Game<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2007\/07\/a-midsummer-nights-classic-in.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why I Love the All-Star Game\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Baseball’s All-Star Game was televised in prime time again last night, and it continues to endure as an underrated, understated institution that stands as the finest and brightest of all of the major sports\u2019 all-star games. 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