MLB reminds me of that wonderful “Honeymooners” episode when Ralph wins a spot on the “$99,000 Answer.” Through sheer nervous panic, he…
MLB reminds me of that wonderful “Honeymooners” episode when Ralph wins a spot on the “$99,000 Answer.” Through sheer nervous panic, he chooses to return next week to answer questions about something he knows little about: popular music.
He and Norton get to work, spending the week in preparation, — Norton playing on the piano every song they can find but prefacing every tune with a few bars of Stephen Foster’s “Swanee River” until Ralph demands he cut it out.
Showtime arrives, and Ralph smugly declares to the quizmaster that, “I intend to go straight on, forge ahead, to the $99,000 answer!”
The first tune he’s asked to identify is for the least amount, $100. It was, of course, “Swanee River.” Ralph’s mumbles in search of an answer until the quizmaster tells him he must have an answer. Ralph meekly answers, “Ed Norton”?
To that similar end, we have MLB, in the sustaining midst of a pandemic, smugly declaring it plans to “forge ahead!” opening an abridged, spectator-less season with a made-for-TV-money Yankees at Nationals game on July 23 in, of course, prime time.
Well, way down upon the Swanee River and good luck. Apparently MLB feels that on July 23, all 30 teams and its traveling parties and clubhouse crews — hundreds of people — will be immune from the deadly virus. All the busses, taxis, airplanes, airports, hotels and chairs thoroughly inspected and disinfected.
Then there’s chosen personal behavior, such as Cleveland’s Franmil Reyes, who apologized for his recent no-mask attendance at a no-distancing party.
But who cares? Play ball!
Of course, when the fresh cases arise and those infected have their travels and contacts examined, there will be a freak-out factor that the logical could predict but MLB ignored in favor of fingers-crossed millions in TV money, plus the sale of “MLB 2.0” caps.
Given that spectators will be banned, what else could drive the four-month delayed start of the season other than TV money? It’s certainly not the desire to best ensure the health of players and those who surround them.
