Dwindling Thoughts About Baseball's All-Star Game: Taking the "fun" Out of Exhibition

America is too competitive.

There, I said it. We, as a sporting nation, are too stinking competitive. Why does everything have to count for something? Why must there be constant pressure? Is there a sporting event besides midnight cow tipping that DOESN'T have a hype machine attached, spewing mud almost like those contestants on "Wipeout?"

As a competitive lad, I suppose I should know why. Growing up, I was too relentless for the victory. I'd get made at the Playstation because Crash Bandicoot died again, causing me to restart the stinkin' level. Or if the whiffle ball game wasn't going my way, I'd start to get ticked at myself because it was usually 2 people playing so I was the cause of the failure. I always had and have to prove myself to others, because I'm afraid I might be tossed aside like my middle school days if I don't.

But maybe this is part of that stupid thing they call maturity. See, lately, I've noticed a subtle change in my thinking. During intramural basketball, I didn't care about winning, I just wanted to get on the court and shut down somebody on defense in front of my friends. When I flipped on the Wimbledown final, I didn't care who won, but instead I enjoyed a fantastic tennis match. And while watching the All-Star game, I wanted to bask in the sheer star power on one field.

But I couldn't. Because as the innings dragged on, and worries from both sides mounted about who could play, the order was sent from Selig: "Finish the game".

Well screw you Selig. Did you notice the lack of smiles around the field as the game progressed? The tension was building. At some point, I was on the edge of my seat, hoping the NL could get out of another jam miraculously. But it wasn't fun for me to watch, nor was it really that fun for the players and managers, from what I could tell. It was a less-meaningful business-as-usual thing.

I remember sometime ago, when I believe (I could be mistaken) Randy Johnson was pitching against some big batter, and he told the batter/catcher- "I'm throwing all fastballs. Can you hit me?" with a mischievous grin on his face. The announcers loved it. The players loved it. I loved it.

With something on the line, though, moments like that won't ever come about. The fun factor has been erased. You know why more people watch the Home Run Derby? Because it's strictly for fun. Sometimes, it's nice just to kick back, relax, and have fun. Take a break from the grind. Why can't the players have the same with each other?

Because greed has struck again. I can't wait for Selig to leave. Maybe his successor will have some humanity.