411 Love of the Game Special: Yayo on Baseball
Posted by J. Yayo Hernandez on 04.17.2006
Baseball isn't all steroids ya know...
LOVE OF THE GAME: BASEBALL
J. "Yayo" Hernandez
- Why do you love the game of Baseball?
The history of a sport so rich in history can't be discounted as part of it's appeal. Where the other major sports league didn't come into the mainstream until the latter half of the 20th Century, Major League Baseball had already hit it's stride. And even though the people running and playing baseball may commit a heinous travesty every once in a while (e.g. betting, strikes, steroids, etc.) it's the indelible qualities of the game that always allow it to rise again like the phoenix.
- Who's your favorite Baseball team, current and all time, and why?
1997 Florida Marlins – Although it would also become one of the most hated symbols in Miami due to the fire sale that commenced immediately after winning the World Series, this was the first professional championship the Magic City had seen in 20 plus years. It happened within five years of the team beginning play, and the team was a virtual who's who in baseball. But I think it's especially significant to me because the team was led by recent acquisition, Livan Hernandez. And although Hispanic players have enjoyed a successful heritage in baseball for many years, it was really special in a community that is overwhelmingly Hispanic. And although their 2003 run maybe remembered more fondly by fans because that fire sale didn't start for a year, the first is always the most special.
- Who is your favorite Baseball player, current and all time, and why?
Roberto Clemente. Although I never got to see Roberto play, it was both his on and off the field contributions that have made him a personal favorite. Clemente played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and excelled on the field (so much so that upon his untimely death in 1972 the Hall of Fame waived the five year wait period and he became the first Latin American player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame). But beyond his amazing on the field skills came a heart of compassion and giving. It was this amazing heart that led to his passing, when after learning that supplies which were to be sent to victims of an earthquake Nicaragua were never received he took a plane on December 31, 1972 full of supplies to personally ensure they arrived in the hands of those that needed it the most. Unfortunately poor weather and an unstable cargo plane led to his death only months after surpassing 3,000 hits.
- What is your favorite Baseball moment of all time?
Watching the opening pitch of the Florida Marlins inaugural season. On that cool spring day, knuckleballer Charlie Hough led Florida to it's first victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- What are your thoughts on the last decade (1995 – 2005) of Baseball?
From the low of following up the 1994 strike shortened season to the high of the home run chase baseball has always been a relationship of valleys and peaks. Unless they do something ridiculous like strike again, baseball was able to pick it's self off the ground with the help of Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and a blind eye and they will certainly stay in America's mainstream conscious. Its obvious America is not as outraged about the steroids epidemic as Congress is, and is more then willing to ignore and whisper about shortstops looking like linebackers. And this is the beauty of baseball, no matter what they do wrong we will always come back.
