Emails in on Madden & World Series

The new emails are in, and the subjects are John Madden, World Series start times, Sam Bradford and the Thunder.

Shannon wrote about the retirement of John Madden. “I give up John Madden and get Cris Collinsworth? I feel like I should throw in a sideline reporter to even this out. My conscience is tugging on me. That’s a heckuva of a trade for a sports fan.”

Let’s all hail Madden for knowing when to hang it up.

Josh, who is in his 20s, commented on my preference for Pat Summerall: “He’s the voice of Sports Stars of Tomorrow. He’s overrated. I’ve always thought he was, even growing up. He’s good but not the greatest. The greatest announcer, television and radio, is Marv Albert. I know he’s had his personal issues, but he’s gold for both football and basketball.”

Comparing Pat Summerall of 1996 with the Pat Summerall of 1975 is like comparing the Willie Mays of 1973 with the Willie Mays of 1957.

Chris wrote about the World Series: “I usually find your columns insightful and educational, but today’s missed the mark for me. Personally, I like having the games at odd times because it doesn’t interfere as much with the programs I want to watch that might otherwise be pre-empted by baseball. I used to be one of the bleary-eyed back in the day, watching whenever I had to, even to the point of sneaking around to get past my mom, but I cannot stand to watch baseball any more. Baseball turned me off long ago, and every time I start to think I might want to try it again, something new comes up to disgust me with the idea.”

Uh, you really haven’t been paying attention, have you. Baseball does pre-empt all those shows. The pre-game starts as prime time hits. The problem is the length of games.

Joel: “I agree wholeheartedly with your comments on the World Series. Too late, and too long! I am waiting for the day when baseball players look like baseball players again. These days they pull their pant legs down to the ankle and they look like they’re wearing pajamas. In my view, real baseball players wear knickers and long socks.”

I don’t care what they wear, as long as they play faster.

Don: “You had some really interesting baseball data. I was quite a baseball fan in junior high and high school. However, my interest has waned the past several years for several reasons. World Series time was quite exciting for us as kids. We would sneak our transistor radios into class, play hooky or fake an illness to listen each fall. Finally, most of our teachers just gave up and let us bring them out in the open, but we had better have our homework in on time or out went the radios. Baseball dominated the American psyche in a way that can scarcely be imagined now.”

What’s harder on a kid? Trying to watch the World Series during school or trying to watch the World Series two hours after bedtime?