News shows, last night and this morning, were abuzz over the special election being held in Massachusetts today to fill the seat of the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy.
Many assumed the election in a heavily Democratic state would be a shoe-in for Attorney General Martha Coakley, the party’s candidate. But the race tightened up near the end.
Not being a Massachusetts resident with voting privileges, I have not closely investigated the political positions of the two candidates. But I did hear of two verbal errors committed by Ms. Coakley late in the game.
First, she referred to former Red Sox pitcher and World Series hero Curt Schilling — whose bloody sock is displayed in Cooperstown — as a New York Yankees fan. Her campaign keeps claiming it was a failed joke.
Second, she made a dismissing comment about campaigning outside Fenway Park, Boston’s beloved historic ballpark.
To me, that sounds like an 0-2 count — an unenviable position to be in whether facing Schilling in his prime or Republican candidate Scott Brown today.
Later tonight we will know the results of the race. Pundits will talk about the implications of the election as they pertain to partisan balance, filibustering and pushing though a legislative agenda.
But the election could be impacted by something else very American: baseball.
As one political pundit, George Will, wrote years ago in his book, Bunt: “…Baseball is a pretty sight and a nice experience, win or lose, particularly if it is watched in a nice park.”
So win or lose tonight, Martha, I hope you will find your way to Fenway this spring to learn a little more about the American pastime. It could benefit your political career and enhance your overall well being.
And here’s a hint: wear the cap with a “B” on it.
6 comments:
And never underestimate the ire of a Red Sox fan!
Johnny Pierce:
If you don't have time to go yourself, send a runner out to the Makin--that's the way Paris Trout says it in the movie--Library and get a copy of Halberstam's The Teammates. You cannot continue to talk about Baseball, reference a 2nd rate writer like George Will on the subject and not have read Halberstam's short but magisterial book, especially if you are gonna talk about the Bosox and Fenway park.
As a friend I have to say on this subject you just aren't qualified.
Let me give you three sentences; and all this as I have reported before goes right to Rome, Ga home of your beloved Berry.
Three sentences from pages 149-162 of Teammates
1)To no small degree, the game turned when Leon Culberson went out to centerfield to replace Dom Dimaggio, who was, along with his brother Joe, one of the two best defensive centerfielders in the American League
2)PAGE 154 The noise in the ballpark was fearsome. The Cardinal fans knowing Slaughter, knowing the way he played sensed what was happening before the Red Sox players did and they were cheering wildly.
3)Bobby Doerr agreed. "All these years later people are still talking about that play and they ask, why didn't somebody yell out to Johnny Pesky"
page 157 from conversation in October 2001 talking about 46 World Series.
And the next greatest anecdote about the BoSox is Doris Kearns Goodwin talking about Roy Campanella and how that affected her Catholic Faith, in a new collection from Kerry Kennedy about Progressive Catholics and their religion.
Get that book and Read Dan Akroyd's hilarious testimony as well.
Point bein I can only preach the Halberstam Baseball gospel; I can't force you to read the book; just trusting the Holy Spirit, including the Holy Baseball spirits to convict you to partake of this particular grand parable.
PS for fuller substantive understanding of the Coakley moment in Mass and what it means for the United State; check the strong religiondispatches.org piece up now on the Obama presidency one year end.
Even so with the reservations in the RD piece, President Obama did a grand job Sunday at the Vermont AVe Baptist Church; and as people of faith we can be proud of Obama and Proud to be a Baptist for the grander reverberations of that Historical Sermon here on King Weekend.
I should stop somewhere so I will.
With you, God Bless Baseball, God Bless Rome,Georgia and God Bless the United States of America
Now that I rechecked the title,RD piece even more timely and kerygmatic for your blog.
Google Religion Dispatches: Coakley vs Brown; Democrats search for their Souls.
Great piece, even better if read in tandem with Fall 09 Claremont Review Cheryl Miller piece on the novels of Marilynne Robinson.
You can quote me "Quotation Remarks" page of FEb issue of Baps Today if you like, March at the latest.
(insert smilie emoticon)
Fox- I've read Halberstam and have a Dom Dimaggio card. You let your political views limit your appreciation for Will's words about the pastime. He gets it.
JP
JP:
My pontifications were intentional, going for absurd arrogance that I thought would be seen as self deprecating.
I apologize if I didn't pull it off.
Your point about Will is well taken, at same time want to say the RD piece is not an advertisement for the Obama Presidency. It is one of the more virtuous stout critical looks at Obama administration and where the country is at this moment I have seen at some time.
I think it will even give our friends Randall Balmer and Mark Noll pause.
Even so I have high hopes for Obama, claim everything Thomas Frank said Friday night on Bill Moyers journal.
I never understood before you had read Halberstam's The Teammates. Not surprised at all you have read Halberstam, just never registered you had read his glorious book on Bobby Doerr, Pesky, Dom and Ted, The Teammates.
I apologize for maybe suggesting it one time too many.
Hope things otherwise are well.
Do join Heath and Gourley for lunch later this month.
Fox
We now have the results and "the mighty Democrats have struck out."
This election was not really local to Massachusetts, but all the might and power of Republicanism was focused in the last weeks to make a political point against President Obama.
I get Tax Day Teaparty material here in NC. They were soliciting me to make calls on behalf of the Republican candidate so healthcare legislations could be defeated. What the heck should a NC resident be doing to sway something in Massachusetts.
I smack of the ethics of the Moral Majority sending all Baptist churches a bulletin insert depicting the Democrats as demons and Republicans as saints.
It seems the Republican got his greatest boost from driving a pick-up truck. Today they cost as much as a Cadillac and sell based on a luxery-macho image. Give me a break!
One thing is clear to me: the American voter becomes less intelligent and discerning with every passing election/generation.
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