Fear leads to anger…
…anger leads to hate…
…hate leads to suffering.
- Yoda, Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
It is no secret that one of my great passions in this physical world is that of the sport of baseball. And the team which garners much of my attention during the baseball season is the San Francisco Giants, a team that originated in New York back in 1883. This is a franchise that has had much success during its New York days, with periods of intermittent success after its move to San Francisco in 1958.
The team’s late 20th Century and early 21st Century history has generally been successful, having had playoff contending clubs in the late 90’s, culminating with a National League pennant in 2002 (we don’t talk about the events of that World Series beyond the 7th inning of game 6). And when it comes to this version of the Giants, any discussion of the franchise is incomplete without mention of its starting left fielder, who as of this day needs 6 home runs to tie the all time career home run mark.
Barry Bonds has been the face of this franchise since he signed as a free agent in 1993. The majority of the landmark moments in recent Giants history (as well as recent baseball history) have occurred with him at the plate, whether his home run chase in 2001 or the various HR milestones that have occurred, particularly at 500, 600, 660 (Willie Mays’ mark), 700 and 714 (Babe Ruth’s mark).
Yet the face of the franchise has also been beset with rumors of his steroid abuse and the possibility of perjury charges given to a grand jury investigating the usage of illicit performance-enhancing substances in baseball. Whether true or not (and this post isn’t going to debate this issue today), Bonds is a lightening rod of attention, positive and negative, at the ballpark at the dock of the bay. For all the negativity that surrounds him, Giants management continues to place its faith in the face, having agreed to a $15 million (give or take a couple of million) one-year contract for 2007, even though the team’s diehard fans have clamored for a rebuilding with younger, less expensive talent that can grow together the way other franchises have, such as Arizona, Milwaukee, and Detroit - all having solid seasons in 2007.
There has been a fear at Willie Mays Plaza - that once the face of the franchise is no longer hitting home runs, the fans will no longer come.
Management’s fear, however, has led to fan anger as the club settles solidly into last in the NL West this year, and for all the love and patience that the fans have given the management and ownership, the hate is not far away should the trend to surround Bonds with older and expensive players continues, particularly at the expense of young pitching in the farm system.
In this case, however, Yoda’s wisdom is incorrect, for Giants fans may have jumped ahead to suffering prior to exhibiting hate, especially as they have been in an 8 game losing streak going into today, having been swept by the Boston Red Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers during this streak. The Boston series was troubling, for it highlighted the Giants’ inability to hit - a trend that continued in Milwaukee.
All this, starting mainly because of management’s fear of what may happen once the face is gone.
It will be a long year at the ballpark this season, and the fear has led to suffering.
::
I know I have a tendency to play it safe partly because of my own fear of the unknown, and I don’t confront that fear head on. Yet if I settle myself in Jesus’s footsteps, there is nothing to be afraid of, for He has set my path before me.
I need to stay there, and know that He is my refuge and fortress.
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]
2 I will say [b] of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 91 (NIV)
By R. Sherman, June 25, 2007 @ 11:37 am
It’s not so hot in St. Louis this year either.
You know, the really sad thing is that I saw Mays, McCovey et al. play in St. Louis in the sixties.
Gosh, I’m old.
Thanks for this and the U2 post. That album came out when I graduated from law school, you schmoh. Way to kick me when I’m down.
Cheers.
By Peter Burch, June 26, 2007 @ 1:01 am
thanks for taking 2 out of 3 from the evil empire. my beloved sox now have a 12 game lead. did you get to attend one of those 3 games with hank? one baseball suggestion for your giants: make one huge free agent signing this winter and focus the rest of the effort rebuilding with youth. i recommend they get rid of bonds and invest the money in ichiro.
fear of the unknown is common and constant to all. this is why we need to try and live continually in the presence of God. the more we do this , the more we are able to abide in the peace of Jesus.
By Andy, June 26, 2007 @ 5:11 am
Randall - I did see McCovey play in the 70s…on TV…with memories of his final AB at Dodger Stadium, where the LA fans gave him a standing “O”…and just to kick you a tiny bit further…I was 10 years old.
Peter…you’re welcome. No I wasn’t there. But it was a good weekend of ball…