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Monday, July 14, 2008

NBC: Celizic: HR derby is worth more than All-Star game

Back, back, back, back, back, back, back…stumbulina Celizic trips, loses hat…a crazed Jerry Lewis runs it over.

I love the home run derby. I love the grainy old black-and-white TV series. I love the All-Star Game version. The Derby, for my money, is better than the game itself.

I love it because there are no judges as exist for the NBA’s Slam-Dunk contest and no radar guns as the NHL uses for its hardest-shot competition. It’s just some of the best thumpers in the game seeing who can hit more balls over the fence.

Some people grumble about the contest, as they are wont to do about everything. It’s boring, they say. The best hitters don’t always compete, they whine. And Chris Berman really needs to take a Valium.

...A-Rod may want no part of it, but the young stars who are in the derby are thrilled to be there. Win HRD and you are a hero not just to the public, but to your peers. You are the king at performing the game’s most dramatic feat.

And that’s never boring.

Repoz Posted: July 14, 2008 at 04:08 AM | 13 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. Phil Coorey. Posted: July 14, 2008 at 04:57 AM (#2855589)

And that’s never boring.

I'd rather hang out with mother in law and wash the dishes

2. Willie Mayspedes Posted: July 14, 2008 at 05:15 AM (#2855593)

Some people grumble about the contest, as they are wont to do about everything. It’s boring, they say.

I grumble about your dismal attention to detail my good sir!

3. Repoz

Posted: July 14, 2008 at 05:16 AM (#2855594)

In my case...I'd rather hang out with the dishes and wash the mother-in-law.

4. Crashburn Alley Posted: July 14, 2008 at 09:25 AM (#2855661)

I like the Home Run Derby, though Celizic obviously exaggerates just how important it is. Watching these guys hit 500-foot home runs, even if it's just glamorous batting practice, is pretty sweet. The All-Star Game is too screwed up to even care about anymore.

5. 100 Years is Nothing Posted: July 14, 2008 at 01:01 PM (#2855698)

The contest itself is alright, but anything with Chris Berman announcing is unwatchable for me.

6. Dr Love Posted: July 14, 2008 at 01:04 PM (#2855700)

The contest itself is alright, but anything with Chris Berman announcing is unwatchable for me.

Hit the mute button, put on some music. It's not like you're missing the announcers telling you anything noteworthy, and half the time it seems like Berman is the last person to realize that a HR has been hit because he's too busy blathering on about nothing.

7. bunyon Posted: July 14, 2008 at 01:28 PM (#2855713)

Pretty much the whole three days is unwatchable, IMO. Since we're giving opinions. If it entertains you (as it clearly does a large number of people), great. But I'll be attending to my fungus infested garden and packing for a camping trip. Maybe paint the front door.

8. jwb Posted: July 14, 2008 at 03:42 PM (#2855829)

Camping >>> All Star Game, etc. Nice bit of planning!

9. Big Train Posted: July 14, 2008 at 04:05 PM (#2855857)

I remember one year Berman said "that ball was hit out so fast I couldn't even get all the "back, back, backs out"

I have never wanted to jump through the TV more than that moment.

10. JMPH Posted: July 14, 2008 at 04:25 PM (#2855881)

The contest itself is alright, but anything with Chris Berman announcing is unwatchable for me.

I've long hoped that we'll see the day when baseball broadcasts are like baseball video games and we can adjust volume on different parts of the audio. The homerun derby is a prime example of a situation where I'd love to mute the commentary and just listen to the sound from the stadium--the crowd, the crack of the bat, the obscenities that get past the censors when a player swings and misses on a batting-practice fastball. Muting the audio altogether during the contest cuts out some of the best parts of the event.

11. TVerik Posted: July 14, 2008 at 04:39 PM (#2855902)

In my case...I'd rather hang out with the dishes and wash the mother-in-law.

Bravo!

*claps*

12. Dr Love Posted: July 14, 2008 at 04:45 PM (#2855915)

I've long hoped that we'll see the day when baseball broadcasts are like baseball video games and we can adjust volume on different parts of the audio. The homerun derby is a prime example of a situation where I'd love to mute the commentary and just listen to the sound from the stadium--the crowd, the crack of the bat, the obscenities that get past the censors when a player swings and misses on a batting-practice fastball. Muting the audio altogether during the contest cuts out some of the best parts of the event.

If you have surround sound, mute the center speaker.

13. JMPH Posted: July 14, 2008 at 04:49 PM (#2855919)

If you have surround sound, mute the center speaker.

Sadly, I'm not this fortunate yet. I just recently entered the world of HDTV. Surround sound is the next step.

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Monday, July 14, 2008

NBC: Celizic: HR derby is worth more than All-Star game

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