We interrupt our commentary on the dreary and depressing world of politics to bring you an exciting and uplifting story from the world of sports.
In the first play-off start of his career, Phillies pitcher Roy "Doc" Halladay pitched a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. It was the first no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956, and only the second one in major league play-off history.
Professional athletes are obscenely overpaid. (The free market is doing its work.) Nevertheless, on a night like this in Philadelphia, it's easy to set aside that fact and simply savor a unique human achievement.
Halladay has been blessed with remarkable physical ability. But it is Halladay's work ethic, his focus and his self-discipline that have become legendary in baseball. No one in baseball prepares better or works harder than he does. Witnessing someone like Halladay accomplish something so singular in his field is truly inspiring. We human beings are generally flawed and weak creatures, so we are riveted and uplifted by those moments when one of us does something extraordinary.
The other thing that struck me as I watched the game was the teamwork of the Phillies and the sportsmanship the Reds displayed.
There are unwritten codes and rules that ballplayers abide by. No team likes to be no-hit, and they will do all they can to break it up. They will step out of the batter's box at the last second, change how they approach their hitting, try to bunt, work a walk - anything within the rules of the game.
Then, when the game is over, they are gracious losers and effusive in their praise for the opposing pitcher - willing to acknowledge greatness and ability even when they are the victims of it.
And of course Halladay benefited from the extraordinary support and excellence of his teammates, who all knew what was on the line and did everything that was expected of them to help him get there.
Of course, I couldn't help but compare this kind of sportsmanship to the tawdry world of contemporary politics. Here's how that would go:
Imagine President Halladay on the pitcher's mound with a chance to pitch the political equivalent of a no-hitter - or even to win a game. In politics - where there is no honor left - the opposing team (say, the Republican Party) would be hurling hand grenades from the dugout, planting land mines under the pitching mound, blasting insulting and incendiary language from the stadium loudspeakers and trying to buy off Halladay's teammates - all in an effort to make him fail.
Even worse, some of Halladay's own teammates would be trying to undermine him, either in order to enrich themselves or because their vanity can't suffer the success of someone other than themselves.
Now imagine that the well-being of the entire crowd depends on the success or failure of Halladay. If he pitches a no-hitter, they all get to keep their jobs, health care and pensions. If he fails, they all lose their jobs, their health care coverage and their pensions.
In politics, does this change the behavior of the opposing team? Not a chance. All they care about is foiling Halladay's success by any means necessary. The damage to the fifty-thousand or so fans is inconsequential to them.
Stranger still, fifty-percent of the crowd knows what they stand to lose if Halladay fails to get his no-hitter, yet they continue to cheer on the opposing team and root against him, having been convinced by the opposing team that their losses will subsequently be made better by the opposing team at some future time. This despite the fact that the opposing team has never kept this kind of promise before. Ever.
I know that "politics ain't beanbag," but it sure would be nice if some semblance of sportsmanship, honor and just plain decency could be restored to it.
A guy can dream, can't he?
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