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Where was King tonight!! All I got was a STUPID baseball game. When is the prememer???

dR Pepper wrote:

Are you for real? Have you been living on the sun for the past couple of months?

Did you by chance notice that after one hit in the middle innings of that ball game, the game -stopped- for 15 minutes? That the guy who hit the ball climbed up into the crowd and hugged a certain four people? That he was handed a microphone so he could speak to the fans there and the ones watching in (according to the commentators earlier in the broadcast) over 200 countries around the world?

Did you notice that the players from both sides came up to this guy with tears in their eyes, just to shake his hand or give him a celebratory hug?

In case you're entirely clueless, St.Louis first baseman Mark McGwire made sports history last night by breaking the most well-known record in all of major league sports. He hit his 62nd home run this year, breaking the record of 61 set by Roger Maris in 1961.

As the commentator said, you will never forget where you were at 8:18CDT on September 8, 1998. Unfortunately, for the more clueless of us, you'll remember that you were sitting there saying "KOTH was pre-empted by a 'stupid' baseball game".

KOTH is just a TV show. Even the non-sports-fans that I've read so far in this group are saying "I don't mind waiting a week". They understand how momentous this occasion was.

As for you, "dR Pepper".. surf to www.life.com and issue the "get" command.

Jason Low wrote:

] KOTH is just a TV show. Even the non-sports-fans that I've read so far in this ] group are saying "I don't mind waiting a week". They understand how momentous ] this occasion was.

I'm not sure _I_ understand. Is his next game even MORE momentous, because he might break even THIS record? How many games are left in the season (and how many of those are on Tuesday evenings)? How many times does the season premiere have to be postponed because baseball fans can't wait for the replay of the magic moment on the evening news? Is Cal Ripken still showing up for games? *There's* a new record every night. Give me _King of the Hill_ with a little flashing "63" in one corner and "Cal" in the other corner when appropriate.

On 9 Sep 1998 18:58:27 GMT, R J Valentine wrote:

Wow, that's a pointless statement. I hope you don't truly believe what you just wrote, becuase if you read it again, it doesn't make sense. This was a record that hadn't been broken since 1961. Its considered one of the most coveted records in any sport.

I wanted to see the premiere just as much as anyone. I don't care for the idea of waiting another week, but its not that big of a deal.

The game was a huge event and deserved to be on free, broadcast television.

Brad

Dancer wrote: ] On 9 Sep 1998 18:58:27 GMT, R J Valentine wrote: ] ]>Jason Low wrote: ]> ]>] KOTH is just a TV show. Even the non-sports-fans that I've read so far in this ]>] group are saying "I don't mind waiting a week". They understand how momentous ]>] this occasion was. ]> ]>I'm not sure _I_ understand. Is his next game even MORE momentous, ]>because he might break even THIS record? How many games are left in the ]>season (and how many of those are on Tuesday evenings)? How many times ]>does the season premiere have to be postponed because baseball fans can't ]>wait for the replay of the magic moment on the evening news? Is Cal ]>Ripken still showing up for games? *There's* a new record every night. ]>Give me _King of the Hill_ with a little flashing "63" in one corner and ]>"Cal" in the other corner when appropriate. ] ] Wow, that's a pointless statement. I hope you don't truly believe ] what you just wrote, becuase if you read it again, it doesn't make ] sense. This was a record that hadn't been broken since 1961. Its ] considered one of the most coveted records in any sport.

I read it again and it still makes sense. Last I heard there is even someone else within reach of the "record" and enough games left to set up a mini-series of dueling records. In my book it doesn't compare with Cal's record (which takes far more effort, is far rarer when he first broke it, gets rebroken every time he shows up, and doesn't need an asterisk). What is there about the record that couldn't be shown during a commercial break of the season premiere of _King of the Hill_? It's nice and all, but people hit home runs almost every game, and he's hit over sixty of them this year alone, so it's not like the experience is unique. The airing of the sixty-first rerun of "Death of a Propane Salesman" should pre-empt a baseball game, not the other way around.

] I wanted to see the premiere just as much as anyone. I don't care ] for the idea of waiting another week, but its not that big of a deal.

So baseball wouldn't have to wait until the commercial break or the evening news to experience the glorious moment vicariously? I ask again: is his next game even MORE momentous, because he might break even THIS record? Or is this record so insignificant that breaking it means practically nothing? How about if the OTHER guy breaks it instead?

] The game was a huge event and deserved to be on free, broadcast ] television.

Well, it was broadcast free here. I think I watched a rerun of _Frasier_ instead (but it was no _King of the Hill_).

On 9 Sep 1998 20:56:38 GMT, R J Valentine wrote:

The home run race was part of the excitement with the two players. Who needs an asterix? McGwire hit 60 homers in fewer games than it took Babe Ruth! You're thinking of Maris - he originally had an asterix.

The experience is unique - this record hasn't been broken since 1961! Whether you like it or not, this is one of the most coveted records in baseball. Certainly one of the best known. Not to take anything away from Ripken who has done great things for baseball, his record will never be as well known in and out of the sporting world as McGwire's will be. I think Ripken did something no one will ever duplicate - and there is no one more deserving, but the fact is the home run record has been hanging out there for a long time waiting for someone to break it. Plus, it was unknown when it would happen, creating suspense. We all knew when Ripken would break the record.

You're statement is still pointless! Its about the moment, when he breaks the record. Is every game of Ripken's more momentous? No, but when he first broke the record it was about the moment in time.

I guess that makes sense.

Brad

Dancer wrote:

I think what this joker's getting at, Dancer, is the so-called drug scandal. People have conveniently forgotten that McGwire was hitting homers long, _long_ before he started taking the *legal* medications he's on right now.

I was pleased to notice that while the game was stopped last night, nobody even remembered to mention andro or creatine.

To "R J Valentine" (I'd use 'Mr' or 'Mrs' but you don't seem to give that up that easily): No, his 63rd home run won't cause as much fanfare. I would imagine that Sammy Sosa's 62nd might cause a stir, though. In any case, you're missing the goddamn point: this man has done something that no one else has been able to do in 37 years. And before you whine "but what if he hits 63 tonight, isn't that even more special?".. yes, it is, but it doesn't hold the same magic that shattering a nearly-four-decade-old record does.

Anyway, "R".. why don't you go ahead and keep on watching Frasier reruns. Find some time to grab a life in there too. I don't know about your part of the world, but up here in the Great Wet North, the sun rose this morning, and the world had not fucking -ended- because King of the Hill wasn't on last night.

Oh, BTW, just to piss you off.. Global TV up here in Canada shows KOTH on Sundays, not Tuesdays, so I'll get to see the season premiere three days ahead of you anyway. They (Global, that is) -were- going to show it this Sunday, but they correctly deduced that Fox was going to put the Cards game on instead, so they pushed it back a week. So proves the TV-guide-editor relative of mine.. >:P

On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 16:34:24 -0600, Jason Low wrote:

Yes but he wasn't breaking records,

Rob Merritt wrote in article ...

Here are some facts I found on the backs of some old baseball cards for you, Mr. Merritt:

"October 4, 1987: Oakland A's Mark McGwire has completed the season with 49 Home Runs, a new major league standard for rookies."

"Broke Oakland one-season HR record and tied RBI marke in 1987, both of which were set by Reggie Jackson in 1969"

" (he was) AL Rookie of the Year in '87 establishing major league record for most HR by a rookie."

"Mark is the only player in baseball history ever to hit 30 or more home runs in his first four seasons in the majors." (Aug. 15, 1990)

"...led AL in walks in 1990, while finishing 2nd in HR, 3rd in RBI..."

"...led A's in HR in 1989 ranking 3rd in the AL..."

"In 1995, his HR-per-AB ratio of 8.1 was the best in Major League historytoppine Babe Ruth's mark of 1 HR for every 8.5 at bats in 1920..."

"In 1996, he set a new Major League record by homering in 20 consecutive series"

I think this says it all, but that is just my opinion, of course. McGwire is a helluva ball player.

On 10 Sep 1998 01:00:55 GMT, "amy" wrote:

I don't ike your rude tone.

<snip>

ok, looks like I'm wong on that count. Teaches me to get my ideas from ESPN.

Still, I wish he could have done this latest feat without drugs.

I'm pretty sure that Global gets their feed from Fox so I think we will be watching on Tuesdays just like everyone else.

Mike

On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 21:31:30 GMT, [email] (Dancer) wrote:

I believe McGwire is going to get an asterix for his use of musicle building drugs.

Dancer wrote:

] The home run race was part of the excitement with the two players. ] Who needs an asterix? McGwire hit 60 homers in fewer games ] than it took Babe Ruth! You're thinking of Maris - he originally ] had an asterix.

THAT's the guy. Thanks. As far as I'm concerned, Babe Ruth had the record to break, and breaking it in fewer games is an accomplishment worthy of note, as is equaling a record without an asterisk that was held with an asterisk, as is beating even that. I suppose that people who watched Babe Ruth point out to right field didn't get all that excited when Mickey Mantle broke his record, and I know I haven't paid much attention to home-run records since Mickey Mantle's.

] The experience is unique - this record hasn't been broken since ] 1961! Whether you like it or not, this is one of the most coveted ] records in baseball. Certainly one of the best known.

I understand what you say, and even agree with you here. I even understand the ratings argument, because ratings mean advertising dollars and that's what runs the machine.

I even understand in the abstract that some people like to watch baseball on television. That some people want to or get paid to PLAY baseball, I can understand. As a spectator sport, baseball has a certain magic when viewed LIVE (that's in the same stadium with a clear line of sight, not as one poster suggested, on television). There at least the grass is GREEN in a way that television can't capture, and you can see a wave starting across the stadium and predict when you're going to be a part of it.

But baseball on television is not quite football on television, and only slightly better than golf on television. So to read cutting remarks about watching cartoons in preference to baseball on alt.tv.king-of-hill is better entertainment than television baseball, and even better than _Frasier_ reruns, which is all that is left of _Cheers_ (which was partially *about* baseball, and way better in my opinion than watching baseball on television, and slightly better than reading cutting remarks about watching cartoons in preference to baseball on alt.tv.king-of-hill).

] Not to take ] anything away from Ripken who has done great things for baseball, ] his record will never be as well known in and out of the sporting ] world as McGwire's will be. I think Ripken did something no one ] will ever duplicate - and there is no one more deserving, but the ] fact is the home run record has been hanging out there for a long ] time waiting for someone to break it. Plus, it was unknown when ] it would happen, creating suspense. We all knew when Ripken ] would break the record.

And I don't think it pre-empted a season premiere of _King of the Hill_. But I agree with your points here, too. I add only that this is being posted to alt.tv.king-of-hill and not to alt.tv.baseball or alt.tv.pre-emptions.

] You're statement is still pointless! Its about the moment, when he ] breaks the record. Is every game of Ripken's more momentous? No, ] but when he first broke the record it was about the moment in time.

I can see your point about the moment, but it's only a moment for those who care at least a little. I'm happy it worked out for you. For me it was a minor disappointment.

]>Well, it was broadcast free here. I think I watched a rerun of _Frasier_ ]>instead (but it was no _King of the Hill_). ] ] I guess that makes sense.

It was better than watching baseball on television, though not as good as watching baseball live. In retrospect, taking a walk might have done me more good, so I guess I'll keep that in mind for next Tuesday, in case the other guy is in a position to break this record.

R J Valentine wrote:

It's teh fact that the older and original record was broken. Every "extra breaking" is anti-climatic. A good analogy is why we celebrate peace teh day a war is over, but not every following day we have peace. You only get one chance to break the original.

People wanted to see history LIVE. KOTH isn't even alive, as much live. People always want to see important events at the time of their happening.

I ask again:

After this if he hits another, yes, it's another record, but it is his record, it's not 37 years old, and it was expected. See the peace exlanation. If Sosa breaks 61, it's not a record, because he will still be in second. It';s the barrier which is important, not hte road ahead of it.

Congratulations. I for instance didn't watch the Presidents knob-slob address, I watched somethign else. Does that mean the President's speech was not historic or important, no. It means I didn't care about it.

R J Valentine wrote:

Did you happen to read before you posted--either my message *OR* yours?

Roger Maris' record stood for 37 years. It is, as I already said, the most recognized record in all of major league sports. Do me a favor: Go check any local or national newspaper in your area. See if Mark McGwire's image is on the cover. Now see if Hank Hill's mug is there. Do you realize the importance of this yet?

Hell, even your country's absurd tax department wanted to get into the act..

On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 05:37:37 GMT, [email] (dR Pepper) wrote:

Next week, try paying attention to the news.