BostonBaloo

They'll tell you it's about the fans... they really want you to believe it's all about the fans...

You ever notice that used car salesmen smile MLB wears on its face when they tell you that?

I'm in the process of watching yet another pathetic All Star Game. I'm honestly just watching so I can pray through the evening that none of my fantasy players get hurt. All I need tonight is Josh Hamilton running into another wall.

Anyway, I digress.

Let's face it, people. It's painfully clear the players don't want to be here. There are millions of dollars at stake to risk blowing an O-Ring during the Home Run Derby... Or spraining an ACL trying to get some leather on a seeing eye ground ball... or God forbid taking a 81 mph changeup in the hand like Jeter did tonight. The players will do the right thing - they'll do the interviews and talk about what an honor it is. They'll talk about how proud they are of representing their team and their league. And while I suppose all of that is true, the amount of errors in this game already tonight tell me that the honor doesn't outweigh the concern for their next big contract. And hey, who can blame them. So yeah, honor's great, but this game ain't about the players, either.

So it's not about the fans... it's not about the players... it, like everything else, is about the almighty dollar.

Yeah, I know... earth shattering revelation.

I'm not talking about the several hundred dollar ticket price. While I'm sure it amounts to a respectable number, MLB is way too big to have the gross income of any one game impact it tremendously. It's about the sponsors. Because of this year's All Star game, I now know that the Chevy Equinox gets 32 mpg. I don't want to buy a Chevy Equinox, but now some brain space that could quite possibly be used for better things is dedicated to knowing that this POS gets 32 miles per gallon.

If I come off as cranky, I apologize... but after staring at an almost subliminal sign behind home plate telling me to "think outside the bun" for the past 5 innings, I'm now hungry and jonesing for a chalupa. I don't even like chalupas. At least I don't think I do... I'm not even sure what a chalupa is come to mention it, but FFS I want one. Or Domino's... I wonder it they're still delivering.

Anyway, the quote of the night has to belong to President Obama. When asked if his being left handed meant he threw a good curveball, he quickly remarked that he'd never have run for President of the United States otherwise.

God Bless America.