This absolutely blew my mind. I've never seen anything quite like it. Coming home from the AC Milan-Montreal Impact soccer game, I sat down in front of the TV around midnight to catch some sports highlights. The baseball roundup held a wild surprise. In the game between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians, Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was one out from a perfect game. If he succeeded, it would be the third one this year in the Majors. Which makes me wonder, why is such a rare occurence becoming more regular in baseball? We're not exactly in the dead ball era. Anyway.
Long story short, the first base umpire called the batter safe when he was clearly out. Everyone in the stands, both benches and on TV knew this to be so. Even the reaction of the Cleveland Indians players told the whole story.
Naturally, this stunned the baseball world. Umpire Jim Joyce was extremely apologetic and even saddened by his error while Galarraga displayed nothing but remarkable graciousness. Talk about a guy keeping things in perspective. It makes you want to demand MLB somehow overturn this error.
Here's what I take away from this. Sports is filled with heartbreaking stories (see Ireland, Thierry Henry, World Cup soccer) but it really is in how you handle a difficult situation that determines what kind of athlete and person you are and will be. Galarraga has been exemplary. Joyce accountable. Everyone did everything as they should.
Maybe for this one time the sport can make it right and officially acknowledge the perfect game.
***
I don't think, speaking of human error, there's any real rational or logical reason to be against instant replay in sports. None. Harking on tradition is totally bogus. We have the technology use the fricken thing. That way we can save a lot of heartache.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Mysterious and anonymous comments as well as those laced with cyanide and ad hominen attacks will be deleted. Thank you for your attention, chumps.