There’s nothing like America’s real popular culture to allow an
AWOL story to go AWOL. Maybe it has already dawned on Terry
McAuliffe and John Kerry that George W. Bush’s appearance at the
opening of the Daytona 500 last Sunday stemmed the assaults on the
president’s honor that that dynamic duo had unleashed. Pretty much
the same thing happened in the 2000 campaign when Bush’s appearance
on “Oprah” reversed the populist tide Al Gore had been riding since
the Democratic convention. By reclaiming a place in the public eye
at one of its popular focal points, a NASCAR race, Bush in effect
changed the subject.
So did another story. Now all that’s left is for Bush to throw
out the first ball at the New York Yankees’ home opener this spring
to mark Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez’s debut in pinstripes. The
indignities a president must suffer to remain a player himself!
Bush will probably emerge okay, as long as he doesn’t emulate
baseball commissioner Bud Selig’s style of leadership. It’s safe to
say Bush won’t soon appoint Selig to run the Justice Department’s
anti-trust division.
A few weeks ago we had “wardrobe malfunction” as a major
addition to the cynic’s lexicon. Now we have Selig’s mealy-mouthed
approval of the “trade” that sent the reigning American League MVP
to the Yankees along with a $67 million bribe from Rodriguez’s
former owner at the Texas Rangers. “I want to make it abundantly
clear to all clubs that I will not allow cash transfers of this
magnitude to become the norm,” Selig said by way of explaining why
this time — and this time only, is that clear?! I mean, I
really, really mean it this time, uh, really — he has been
willing to make an exception. But just this once. Keep it
up, Bud, and Steinbrenner might give you a raise.
So once again the rich get richer, even without the benefit of a
new Bush tax cut. The Yankees are currently carrying so many
all-stars some may not make the team or be allowed free parking at
Yankee Stadium. But the rest of us are paying a steep price
too.
Above all, we’re again reminded that New York is the most
self-absorbed media capital in the annals of mass communications.
The Rodriguez story even led the CBS radio news at the top of the
hour yesterday afternoon. Selig said one argument in the trade’s
favor was “the quality of the talent moving in both directions.”
Can anyone even name the player Rodriguez was “traded” for, let
alone cite a single story in the New York-dominated national media
about Alfonso Soriano and his thoughts about being relegated to the
junk heap of the American League?
The so-called trade, in other words, moved in only one
direction. It’s as if the rest of the major leagues existed only so
that New York might carry the championship team. Meanwhile, a lot
of shots are being taken at Boston, whose Red Sox, despite signing
some key free agents this off season, had failed to acquire
Rodriguez despite his previous availability. The common (meaning
New York-imposed) view is that the Red Sox are currently even
bigger losers than what’s his name Soriano.
Fortunately, the flip-side of self-absorption is self-delusion.
So the Yankees have acquired a star of stars, a statistical giant
who year after year racks up hits, home runs, runs driven in, and a
mightily impressive batting average. But take a look at the number
of Rodriguez’s annual at-bats — well over 600. He’s no Barry
Bonds, in short, someone whom opponents as a rule pitch around.
Rodriguez gets his swings because pitchers pitch to him. And why
would they do that? Because he has almost always played for losing
teams. When you’re behind, every pitch is like batting practice.
Both teams just want to get the damn game over with. His stats mean
nothing. Did even one of his 47 home runs last season occur in a
pressure situation?
He was an all-star shortstop. Now he’ll be playing at third
base, a good 20 to 30 or even more feet closer to any line drive
aimed at his head. Every single game he’s playing out position the
presence of the real Yankee star fielding next to him will remind
him why he’s no Derek Jeter. Oh, and good luck with the new
second-baseman. By all accounts the spot will be filled by a
volunteer summer intern. With every lost double-play Jeter will
resent Rodriguez more. For a while he and second-baseman Soriano
had had a good thing going.
Boston will be wise to say nothing and get on with the new
season. In the off-season it acquired excellent pitching while the
Yankees lost three starters. Its only mistake was to let clutch
second-baseman Todd Walker get away. Suddenly the Yankees don’t
appear all that smart. Walker signed with the Cubs, before it
registered with the Yanks that by rights Walker should be theirs.
This season it’s the ultra-spoiled rich’s turn to learn how unfair
life can be.
