2008 Woodie Awards
What is America's real pastime?
In search of our legacy: You can forget about baseball, taxes, freedom
Zach Blom
Issue date: 5/1/07 Section: Editorials
On April 15, 200 players, managers and coaches in Major League Baseball-people of all colors-wore the number 42 on the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut in the league as the first black player.
Mid-April also marks a less celebrated day in American history as the time when annual income tax forms are due.
The month of April is a very historical time in the U.S., but while we honor some pastimes like baseball-and even getting our tax returns back-we forget to include some of the more gruesome events in our nation's past.
The April 16 massacre at Virginia Tech rang in another infamous anniversary: eight years ago that week, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 classmates and one teacher in the worst high school shooting in American history.
Yet with as much attention as Virginia Tech and Columbine received in American news sources in the days immediately following the event, the media has already moved on to more current events. In fact, as of Monday, "sex" is the most searched item on The New York Times Web site. On Fox News' site, the most read stories include the Donald Trump - Rosie O'Donnell feud and one titled "How Much Abuse Can Katie Couric Take?" Both stories prove more popular than anthing relating to Virginia Tech or Columbine; in fact, there is only one report on anything connected to the event, and it's only been two weeks.
As April comes to a close, what, then, in this month of many anniversaries and much history, is America's true pastime?
Is it baseball, as we have often been told?
While baseball was once the institution that defied segregation laws by integrating the league years before our public schools were integrated, it no longer stands as the bastion of equality and fairness that it did in Jackie Robinson's day.
Barry Bonds, though never proven, probably cheated and juiced his way to the number two spot on baseball's venerated all-time home run leaders list. While in the twilight of his career, a time when most sluggers see a steep drop off in home run production, Bonds hit more dingers than he ever previously had in his time in the majors. This season he will likely break Hank Aaron's record of 755, and in doing so, he will set sports in America back decades and replace baseball's once sterling image of equality with a simple message: cheaters can win.
Mid-April also marks a less celebrated day in American history as the time when annual income tax forms are due.
The month of April is a very historical time in the U.S., but while we honor some pastimes like baseball-and even getting our tax returns back-we forget to include some of the more gruesome events in our nation's past.
The April 16 massacre at Virginia Tech rang in another infamous anniversary: eight years ago that week, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 classmates and one teacher in the worst high school shooting in American history.
Yet with as much attention as Virginia Tech and Columbine received in American news sources in the days immediately following the event, the media has already moved on to more current events. In fact, as of Monday, "sex" is the most searched item on The New York Times Web site. On Fox News' site, the most read stories include the Donald Trump - Rosie O'Donnell feud and one titled "How Much Abuse Can Katie Couric Take?" Both stories prove more popular than anthing relating to Virginia Tech or Columbine; in fact, there is only one report on anything connected to the event, and it's only been two weeks.
As April comes to a close, what, then, in this month of many anniversaries and much history, is America's true pastime?
Is it baseball, as we have often been told?
While baseball was once the institution that defied segregation laws by integrating the league years before our public schools were integrated, it no longer stands as the bastion of equality and fairness that it did in Jackie Robinson's day.
Barry Bonds, though never proven, probably cheated and juiced his way to the number two spot on baseball's venerated all-time home run leaders list. While in the twilight of his career, a time when most sluggers see a steep drop off in home run production, Bonds hit more dingers than he ever previously had in his time in the majors. This season he will likely break Hank Aaron's record of 755, and in doing so, he will set sports in America back decades and replace baseball's once sterling image of equality with a simple message: cheaters can win.
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