By Tim Clark / / Column, Tim's Two Cents
Two

I spent the last week here in Central Pennsylvania suffering through a week of unbearable 100 degree days. Stifling. Miserable. Unpleasant.

The heat made me cranky. Crabby. Even cantankerous.

While in that negative frame of mind consuming my days, it got me thinking about irritating things in the sports world.

World Cup

The World Cup draws more eyeballs to it than any other sporting event. It is huge. Fans from countries the world abroad show up to cheer for their boys, hoping they can win it all. That’s all cool. Except I don’t like soccer. I’m not going to start liking soccer once every four years.

I am not unpatriotic because I don’t watch the World Cup. It is simple. I don’t like soccer. Spare me the self righteousness.

The Americans are coached by an Argentinian. They have 6 players born outside the United States.

More importantly the World Cup is run by FIFA, the most corrupt organization in sports, or anything. To emphasize that point, FIFA has announced the reversal of a red card handed out the U.S. men’s team star Folarin Balogun. Most experts, who I have to follow because I don’t fully understand soccer, suggest the red card was appropriate.

Then the most corrupt President in American history makes a call to the most corrupt organization in the world —FIFA— to get them to overturn the red card. America first, baby. This would be like a call in the Super Bowl —good or bad, because I know there was some debate— getting overturned only after the President calls Roger Goodell and says to overturn it or else. I know zero about soccer, but the folks I follow that are soccer nuts said it was a legit red card. That aside, it undermines the event. The European football governing body put it best.

 


Look, just because I’m not a soccer fan doesn’t mean I don’t get the enormity of the event. It is the world’s game being played on the world’s stage. It brings people together while allowing people to display pride for one’s country.

Unfortunately it is run by a crooked organization. Just tone down the contempt for those of us who just aren’t interested. The Americans are coached by an Argentinian, have six players who qualify under birthright citizenship to qualify to play for America, and had their bacon saved by a President who wants to delegitimize that very law. Enjoy the games, cheer hard for your country, but spare me the patriotism lecture.

Golf

Golf is supposed to be the “civilized” sport. Why is it, then, that golf fans are acting so reprehensible?

The Ryder Cup behavior last fall was embarrassing. Cheering for the U.S. was obvious and clearly expected. Hurling vile comments at the European team and their families, often yelling in the players’ backswings was a bridge too far. That type of behavior has reared its ugly head on the PGA Tour this year. It has gone from cheering for your guy to actively rooting for his competitor’s demise. Some players are popular and fan favorites, while some players are not. Still, etiquette has always been one of golf’s golden tenants.

This isn’t Happy Gilmore or LIV golf. Be better golf fans.

NBA/NHL

I am going to keep this one simple.

I am thrilled that you have salary caps, but could you make your systems a little easier for fans to follow.

The Flyers are offering 45 draft picks as compensation to Anaheim after signing a player to an offer sheet. Anaheim can match. The Pens want Jason Robertson from Dallas, but he may sign a one year tender then become a free agent next year.

In the NBA players get added to trades simply as financial pieces. There are thresholds teams try to stay under, yet the players still make a bazillion dollars.

Simplify your systems.

Baseball

As usual, baseball has me very cranky, and it isn’t even all Pirates related.

First, is the ABS system. If umpires would be better at their jobs, this wouldn’t have been necessary. Ironically, it turns out most of the umpires aren’t bad. The ABS system is splitting hairs, literally. If so much as the lace off a baseball nips the strike zone it registers a strike, despite the rest of the ball being out of the strike zone. Once again, baseball is using replay to trump common sense.

The system has become a strategy. When should teams use challenges? I remember the good old days when strategy included whether to bunt, pinch hit for the pitcher, or hit and run. Now strategy involves how to use modern technology.

There is a silver lining. Remember those umpires who aren’t doing their job?

 


Finally, some accountability for umpires. Of course it comes with a buyout, but at least it rids the game of dead weight.

Next up on my cranky list is pitch count. Pitch count may be the biggest single thing that has ruined the game. Last week, Zach Wheeler wasn’t permitted to finish the fifth inning to qualify for a win because of pitch count. If veterans like Wheeler are controlled by pitch count, imagine what it’s like for the young up and coming pitchers.

One of the more egregious examples of pitch count craziness happened just the other day. Marlins pitcher Eury Perez was throwing a perfect game through seven innings. He was at 92 pitches. He was pulled. Even the A’s fans were disgusted that they were prevented from potentially watching one of the great accomplishments in baseball.

 


True absurdity at its best.

The last thing that I am cranky about is the all star game selection. The Midsummer Classic hasn’t been a classic for awhile, but it is the one all star game that still matters. Baseball is the longest season, so the all star break is necessary. The game itself should be treated as meaningful even if it really is not.

Selecting the most deserving players is a great start at meaningful. I actually only have one obvious complaint.

Paul Skenes.

Skenes is, in no way, shape, or form, an all star this year. He has been, in a word, mediocre. Players shouldn’t be rewarded because of their name or their past success. Each year is different and requires a unique evaluation. Skenes wasn’t even the best choice from the Pirates rotation. That honor would belong to Braxton Ashcraft.

Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe deserved all star recognition, but the players selected ahead of them were good choices. Maybe increasing the rosters by five would allow all worthy players to be included.

I have always loved baseball, but the sport has always made me cranky.

A week worth of 100+ degree temperatures, topped by some rip-roaring storms had me in a bad mood. Cranky, if you will. Luckily I had an outlet to blow off steam.

Tweet of the Week

Again, increase the size of the rosters.

 



The Weekly Shiny Penny

How is it possible that Troy Polamalu’s son is going to college? I was just watching Troy playing for the Men of Troy in college himself.

 


A Penny For My Final Thoughts…

Some random final thoughts coming at you…

  • Why isn’t America better at soccer? Kids start playing almost as soon as they start walking.
  • America is out of the World Cup.

 

Maybe that answers my first question. It just doesn’t matter like it does to the rest of the world.

  • People like my good teacher hating buddy Dave Portnoy thought it was great when their boy Trump got the red card overturned and immediately started talking trash. Then when it was clear the U.S. team wasn’t up for the challenge, they started bashing the American team. True Americans.
  • Christopher Sanchez got bombed for 9 runs yesterday, and he still has an ERA of 2.62.
  • Kyle Schwarber was tossed after this terrible call and an under his breath “F**k that”. Soft umpires.

 

  • Jaylen Brown and maybe LeBron to the Sixers. Still won’t win a championship. Mark it down.
  • Khalil Taylor, a four star receiver from Pine Richland, taunted Penn State during his school reveal by putting on then tossing aside the Penn State hat in favor of…..Nebraska. That just isn’t the burn you think it is Khalil. Nebraska and Matt Rhule are on life support and you aren’t going to change that.
Just my two cents…