Today Curt Schilling endorsed Bush on Good Morning America. See diary:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/10/28/121256/94
And now, he's campaigning with Bush... Or so claims KJL at The Corner:
http://www.nationalreview.com/thecorner/04_10_24_corner-archive.asp#043757
As a Red Sox fan, this bothers me. However, there is a larger issue that bothers me as a Baseball Fan.
When did baseball become Republican?
After 9-11, baseball was no longer baseball - but a celebration of America. This was okay for a while (despite the fact that many players are not American). After all, we needed to pull ourselves together as a country and celebrate our strength of spirit. But as well all know, Bush exploited 9-11, and patriotism soon became Hawkish fundamentalism. To criticize Bush, to criticize the invasion of Iraq, was un-American, pro-Terrorist, and anti-Baseball
The World Series became all about NY - remember the tattered flag from the World Trade Center and Bush's heroic appearance (Is this when he went to war?).
Every game had to sing "God Bless America" instead of the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 7th Inning. I live in Chicago now, and somehow that just didn't seem right. Did Harry Carry every lean out of the booth and lead a stirring rendition of "God Bless us as we go kick Muslim Ass"?
The Hall of Fame canceled the anniversary celebration of Bull Durham because its Republican director (former Reagan staffer) did not approve of Tim Robbins & Susan Sarandon's politics. Despite the fact that Tim Robbins is a longtime contributor and honorary member. I guess liberals are no longer welcome.
Thankfully, "God Bless America" is no longer required at every game, but we still got it in the playoffs, and many teams do it anyway - or do both the anthem and God Bless before the game.
I don't really have a problem with the song--it's better than the anthem (but what isn't)--but how much nationalism (not to mention jingoist religion) do we need in a baseball game? We already sing the anthem & honor the flag. Can't we set aside nationalism and politics and war and strife for three hours to enjoy something purer than all that? ("purer" - if we overlook the advertising and overpaid players of course....) Can't sport lift us above what divides us at least for a few moment?
This is why I disapproved of canceling little league games after 9-11. I even think professional sports were canceled for too long. Why? Because we could only take so much of the endless 9-11 coverage and images. Just as now, we can only take so much of the endless attack ads and spin. We need moments when we can just play--especially when we are grieving or trying not to let fear control us--and especially if we're kids who don't understand the other stuff anyway but know that not all's well with the world. We need moments when we can be just human and moments when we are free to be American without being Americanist. True freedom includes the freedom to tune out all the rhetoric of freedom - and the freedom to watch or play baseball just because it is baseball.
"Take me out to the ballgame" celebrates the freedom that baseball gives us to escape (momentarily) the larger chaos around us: "I don't care if I ever get back..." As human beings, we need such moments.
I respect what Schilling has done as an athlete. I respect him as a team player.
But he cheapens the game when he uses it as a platform for politics, and he disrespects the fans. He also cheapens and disrespects himself--and his candidate.