Holiday cheer from MLB

 

Like it or not, sports news doesn't stop.

So, when the word came out that owners in Major League Baseball are looking to delay the start of the 2021 season, it was hardly surprising.

The owners want vaccinations for players before spring training, but obviously, it doesn't take the sharpest cleats on the basepaths to figure out why.

Vaccinations get things that much closer to having fans in the stands, which means *ka-ching!* for the owners.

It's about the money, genius!

It's almost as if those not getting it have forgotten that baseball is, wait for it...grab a partner and do si do!...

A BUSINESS.

I mean, the number of tweets I see per day that seems to forget this little nugget just indicates that those in question literally have no clue. 

There's an element of Peter Pan to it, mixed with Pollyanna.

Baseball -- all sports -- has been a business since the 1800s.

Shocking, I tell you!

Unfortunately, business goes on. Regardless of the holidays.

Regardless of a pandemic.

It has to go on or go out of business.

The part that those who truly get it understand is that this shouldn't be played out in the media.

So, sometimes that means both the players and the owners will appear to seem clueless to the public eye as they battle over things that seem foolish.

The NHL players and owners, for what it's worth, are quietly having some disagreements, but you wouldn't know it as minimal information has leaked out.

But not baseball. It's being fought openly.

And here we go again. The players want spring training in February. The owners don't want it without vaccinations.

The players want first pitch in April. The owners are suggesting May.

We've been here. 

We're here again.

You and I both want the myth of the birds chirping and bees buzzing. We both want to hear the crack of the bat and pop of a glove. We both want the smell of hot dogs and popcorn. We want to hear kids laughing and friends batting over trivia and trivial matters.

I want to sit in a booth -- or any place -- and call all of this. It doesn't matter where or what the view is. I'll leave it at that.

But I can't say it any clearer -- regardless of who you are.

It.

Is.

A.

Business.

Buckle up.