Volume I No. 69
 04-19-03
 A Half-Hearted Apology From Baseball Hall Of Fame
 President Dale Petroskey
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2003

 "Bull Durham" is a great escapist film for those who believe
 in mom, apple pie, and baseball.  Which apparently aren't
 in the kind of  numbers baseball executives would like, 
 judging by the lack of popularity of this classic American 
 sport amongst today's youth. 

 Baseball is not a cool way to spend an afternoon anymore. 
 Television viewship and fan numbers trend downwards. 
 The balls are so obviously "juiced" that it seems some 
 new home run record is being set every single year. And 
 baseball fans regards the players and the owners as selfish, 
 and out-of-touch.

 This is a sport that definitely needs no new controversy.

 So, it came as a surprise to many inside and outside of
 baseball last week, when current Hall of Fame President, 
 Dale Petroskey, sent a letter to Bull Durham co-stars 
 Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon that a long-since 
 planned celebration of the 15th year anniversary of the 
 film was being called off because of the couple's stance
 { Robbin's and Sarandon have a long-standing romantic 
 relationship off-screen } against the Iraq War. 

 In the letter, Petroskey bizarrely stated that Robbins' and 
 Sarandon's comments, "ultimately could put our troops 
 in more danger." Petroskey who was a former assistant
 press secretary under the Reagan administration, was
 apparently offended by Robbins' and Sarandon's liberal
 politics. And their liberal activism as well, apparently!

 Politics has no place in Baseball's Hall of Fame. Which 
 because of Petroskey's conservative activism, became
 Baseball's "Hall of Shame." The boys over in Iraq are 
 fighting in the name of the very same political principles 
 that allow, and indeed encourage Americans of disparate 
 backgrounds and beliefs, to speak their minds. -- The "Bull 
 Durham" co-stars political beliefs should have no bearing 
 whatsoever on their participation in the celebration of the 
 film.

 Perhaps Petroskey saw the errors of his ways? Because 
 he has back-tracked a bit in order to quell the noise. This
 weekend he released an "open" apology to Robbins and
 Sarandon. And their supporters.

 Is Petroskey at all sincere? Afterall he did work for that
 die-hard of all liberal-haters. Ronald Reagan. Perhaps he
 simply found that tidal wave of negative press that was
 continuing to build, too uncomfortable. 

 It is not hard to miss that Petroskey does not directly 
 apologize to the "Bull Durham" co-stars for cancelling 
 the festivities. Or for criticizing them personally. Instead 
 stating, "...it is clear I should have handled the situation 
 differently."

 Hmmmm. Fancy footwork indeed.

 A half-hearted apology is certainly better than none. But 
 why is it so difficult for some Americans on the political
 right to understand that "freedom of speech" always includes 
 those individuals amongst us with whom we might actually 
 disagree.

 What a concept!
 

 ReadingPost.Com
 © Copyright 2003

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