Open Thread: 7.10.07 - 2007 All-Star Game

I never really did.

And yesterday reminded me again.

I decided to watch the game (at least the first 2 hours) and that was my first mistake.

The game starts 8 p.m. eastern so that should be 2 a.m. local i thought.
That was my second mistake.

So i waited till 2 o'clock to turn on the computer (for MLB.com) but no game.

I am in Romania visiting my girlfriend right now (holidays) and i forgot that it is even one hour later then in Germany.

My Girlfirend lying in bed next to the PC wakes up and murmurs:"Don't stay up too long."

I went to the kitchen for a late beer and smoked another one.

2.15 a.m. local:
Still 50 minutes. "So let's see the Pregame stuff", which i don't like, "i thought. Might be interesting to see who's playing." (I did not vote and i am not too much interested in all the voting hype.)

So i tuned in to MLBTV. Casey Stern and a guy with a moronic smile (I don't even want to know his name) waited for me. (Casey looks a bit like our Theo to me.)

Sure enough the promised Lineups came near to 3 o'clock and the maintime was filled with Fanfest, Homerunderby and other abolut useless information. OK, that JC has defended it's Mascot-HR-Derby-Ttile was the bright spot of entertainment in that time.

Finally some Lineups and i see that Beckket won't start.
Disappointing? Yes. Surprising? No.

I hope he will come second so that i can see him and go to sleep afterwards. "Estimated pitching time (EPT) for Beckett: 3.30 a.m.", i thought.

WRONG AGAIN!

Almost 3 o'clock i realise that there was no introduction till now (maybe it was only on FOX and not on MLBTV i hoped a little) and no national anthem.

I have to deal with that and correct my EPT to 4 o'clock.

That makes it 0 for 4 !

Girlfriend wakes up again:"Dont't make so late."
"No honey, will go to sleep soon."

The FREAK SHOW starts and looks like it is going forever.

Reserves introduction. Starting Lineups introduction. Willy Mays. (I really like it when the Oldtimers show up.) Hollywood script let the players follow Mays in a heartwarming scene.
Then the mandatory anthems.

And then?
"WHAT THE F*#K HAVE FIGHTERJETS TO DO WITH BASEBALL".
Really guys what is wrong with you over there. This is sports, S P O R T !!!
Is it like, applepie, Baseball and the "proud" Armed Forces what makes you fell so cozy?
I know that it is not your personal fault which i am hitting at, but for me as a european it looks definitely wierd when the formation of fighters is shown in Top-Gun-picture style to the anthem (right when the bombs burst int the air).
And btw, FOX doing stuff like that so often and still look like noobs to the original by Riefenstahl.
Sorry to put the politics in here but it is just so obvious ridiculous.

I laugh and the girlfriend wakes up again. Same procedure as every 3o minutes.

Almost 4 o'clock and finally the game starts.
But i am tired and i am not sure if i will reach the new EPT for Beckett, now at 4.30 a.m.

Sure enough i watch the first 2 innings and fall to sleep right before Beckett will come.
(I think the last out from Harden i saw was a K.)

Finally my girlfriend has won and i turn down the PC (don't know who's up and don't care anymore).

What a wonderufll experience this was. How i could live without it the last years?

I would really aprreciate when the best players would meet and play a hard game but this game is only a big show ("for the fans"?).

The best of it is the Al has won so we have advantage in the World Series and as a nice bonus, Beckett has earned the win.

Whoever likes it i hope you enjoyed it.
But for me the Show is over - let's get serious again. We have some business with Detroit out there so:

LET'S PLAY BALL !

Again.