November 22, 2004
BASEBALL BEHIND THE CURVE ON PLAYER DISCIPLINE
by Rex "The Wonder Dog" Duncan
This was an ugly weekend for sports. Repercussions will resound for years from two nasty incidents. The player/fan brawl that stopped the Detroit Pistons/Indiana Pacers game was a horrific example of how fans in close proximity to powerfully large professional athletes can exacerbate an already difficult situation. The players’ fight during the Clemson/South Carolina game was equally notable as players threw restraining police officers aside to get at one another and continue the fight.
The high points in these athletic low points, though, were the quick, decisive and powerful messages sent to the players by those who recognize the dangers presented to their respective sports by such behavior. Bud Selig, Bob Watson, and the rest of Major League Baseball should watch and learn how to handle such incidents. Their ineptitude during the past two years stands in stark contract to the leadership shown by the NBA’s David Stern and the presidents of Clemson and South Carolina.
In response to the fight at Detroit and Ron Artest’s rush into the stands to do battle with a “fan” who threw a cup at him during his hotdogging rest on the Detroit scorer’s table, Stern pounded Artest with a year-long 73 game suspension without pay. That’s about $5 million out of his pocket. Other participants in the brawl also received huge suspensions and fines. Stern is correctly going to visit the issue of fan participation in the fight, and how fan misbehavior will be handled in the future.
The fight between Clemson and South Carolina was just as ugly, and would have made the headlines had it not been for the front page violence in Detroit. The fight broke out in the fourth quarter and was a sad conclusion to the legendary coaching career of South Carolina’s Lou Holtz. The presidents of the participating universities have jointly declared their intentions to decline bowl bids because of the embarrassment both teams have caused for these proud institutions. Quick, decision and targeted sanctions of this sort are effective and memorable.
In learning of these sad reflections on our sports-driven society, my thoughts turned to two people who in my estimation reflected exactly the opposite philosophy in terms of handling ugly situations. Bud Selig and Bob Watson of Major League Baseball should be required to take elementary coursework in invoking firm discipline in the face of sport-threatening outbursts. Their grievous mismanagement of several incidents has called into question their real commitment to controlling player behavior.
I remain incensed and incredulous over the paradoxical examples of the Carlos Zambrano/Julian Tavarez cases. In the former, the Cubs starting pitcher intentionally threw at and hit Jim Edmonds twice during a game in Chicago. I regard throwing at and hitting another player with a pitched ball a very serious matter that could result in injury to the batter and is certainly incendiary to the fans. Selig and Watson do not share my aversion to this infraction. Zambrano received all of a five-game suspension. As a starting pitcher, he arguably missed on turn in the rotation and, with a little creative juggling of other starters, he missed no turns.
In contrast, Julian Tavarez threw no pitches, was accused of doctoring the ball from his hat by MLB umpire Joe West (Bennie Hill meets the national pastime), and was given a 10-game suspension by Major League Baseball. As a reliever, the Cardinals were without his services for every single game of the suspension. Texas Rangers reliever Frank Francisco threw a chair into the Oakland stands, breaking the nose of the wife of a taunting fan, and received a 16-game suspension that was reduced to 15. He also faces criminal charges.
In the topsy-turvy world of player discipline in Major League Baseball, jaywalkers get jail sentences and assaulters get slaps on the wrist. Selig, Watson et al cite precedent. Well, gentlemen, the NBA just redefined the rules for such matters, and the presidents of Clemson and South Carolina have declared war on player misbehavior. If Major League Baseball doesn’t reassess how it addresses player misbehavior, which is to essentially reward the more dangerous and violent outbursts, players, coaches, and fans at games will be placed at greater jeopardy and the fan base of the game which was so damaged during the 1990’s will again begin to erode.
I doubt very much that such behavior would be a problem in St. Louis. The players of Cardinal Nation have historically been good and respectable people. Cardinal ownership has been wise to avoid the talented head cases that other franchises with lower standards might pursue. Cardinal fans are the best, most appreciative, and understanding of any in baseball. That’s why it is so hard to watch Cardinal players take the beatings, then get the punishments. Take note, MLB. Your peers have gotten the message. You must do the same, or face the consequences of the monster you are creating.
Rex Duncan
rdunc221@yahoo.com
