World Series

First of all, I'm glad my team, the Dodgers, is one step from making it to the World Series.

It's been a while and for a die-hard fan it would be great to see my life-long favorite team battle for the biggest prize in professional baseball. And chances are good the Dodgers might be facing the damn Yankees, the team which has always been their most hated American League rival.

But pholks, although I hate to admit it, the World Series ain't what it used to be. The Series used to be something so unique and special that the eyes and ears of the nation and even in some other countries focused on the great event. Red, white and blue bunting dressing up a stadium in late September or early October was a welcomed sight. Sure the Series still is a big event, don't get me wrong, it just isn't like it used to be.

With two layers of playoffs spread over at least two weeks, and college and professional football games, NASCAR and golf, hockey and professional basketball competing for fan attention at the same time, the World Series has lost its luster.

Baseball is still supposed to be America's Pastime and the Series something more than just a championship. It's supposed to part of the Apple Pie, Chevrolet and all that. Seems like Apple Pie is about the only one going strong, except for those serious about calories.

Gone are the days when school teachers or principals allowed the Series to be broadcast in the classroom, at least during the crucial games. In those days, getting to hear the Series could be considered a learning experience, not just an excuse to shorten a math or history lesson. But those days now are part of history itself.

Of course, I had the advantage of attending a two-room eighth grade school with an enrollment averaging around 26 to 30 students. The principal, Mrs. Perrin, lived next door to the school and had a television set. In 1955, when the Dodgers and the Yankees waged their annual Series battles and the Dodgers claimed their first championship, Mrs. Perrin hosted the fifth through eight grades, a total of around a dozen of us, into her home to watch the final game. I vividly recall that I missed the famed game-saving catch by Dodger left fielder Sandy Amoros because I was in the bathroom. Of course, I have seen that catch at least a hundred times since. It was several years later that the recording of that play and the celebration in Brooklyn became an iconic piece of baseball history. I think I saw it first on a movie screen, just before the cartoon prior to the feature movie.

You have to remember it would be years before instant replay, slow motion, Sports Center on ESPN, or anything like that.

In high school, we were listening to the seventh game of the 1960 Series when Bill Mazeroski slammed the ball over the fence giving the Pittsburgh Pirates the championship over those damned Yankees. It remains the only series-ending home run in World Series history. I don't recall what class I was in, but most classrooms had the game on via the schools intercom system.

Pholks, I would be shocked to discover that happening today. After all, most of the Series games are scheduled for prime time television and there are, I suspect, very few students who really care. School administration probably would not allow it, fearing criticism for allowing such “a waste of precious class time,” a factor which I would disagree with. What better way to improve a student's multi-tasking skills, improve bonding between classmates, promote and control friendly competition between students backing opposing teams while at the same time having a little fun. Those students not wanting to participate would go to the library, study hall or write a composition on “Why I hate sports,” or “Why should professional athletes make so much money and do some dumb things with what they get?”

I realize, of course, that today's students have full access to what is going on and can follow any game at any time, even during regular classroom hours. He or she can simply use their cell phone, iPod, Blackberry, blueberry, strawberry or whatever – even classroom computers if they want. They have the tools and the ways to do it without getting caught.

The adult world has the same options and there are ways to keep up to date without wasting productive work time to follow one's team.

So why isn't there more interest in the World Series?

Call me old-fashioned, call me over the hill, but unless it's really important don't call me during the World Series, especially if the Dodgers wind up playing those damn Yankees.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com