“Featuring ‘We Are All Prostitutes’ and ‘Nag, Nag, Nag’. But where’s ‘Mind Your Own Business’?” asks the supplier of the above headline, Sam Frank, who calls our attention to Chass’ latest bit of Selig-baiting in tomorrow’s New York Times.
The A.L. winning streak has been interrupted only by an embarrassing 11-inning 7-7 tie in 2002, a game played in Commissioner Bud Selig™s hometown, Milwaukee, in the brand-spanking-new park Selig worked so feverishly to get when he owned the Brewers.
The outcome was so embarrassing to Selig, who took the fall for the managers (Joe Torre and Bob Brenly), who misappropriated their pitching staffs, that he worked to spice up future games by creating a link between the All-Star Game and home-field advantage in the World Series. In case you™ve been asleep the past three Julys: The team from the league that wins the All-Star Game gets four home games in the World Series, if it goes the maximum seven games.
The link didn™t come from embarrassment alone. The Fox people wanted to attract viewers to watch the All-Star Game by promoting its importance.
If there™s one viewer out there who has watched any of the past three games or plans to watch tonight because the winning league gets the World Series home-field advantage, please send me an e-mail message at [email protected]. Include your telephone number so I can call and ask if you™re gullible about other things as well.