Insider | Short Hops | Love Letters
Let's start with a mea culpa. In a column last week blistering the current atmosphere in many segments of this country for discouraging dissenting voices over some of our current policies, I was critical of Clear Channel Communications for banning music by the Dixie Chicks on some of its radio stations. On that matter, I was wrong -- it wasn't Clear Channel who banned the Chicks, it was Cumulus -- a corporation based in Milwaukee that owns 42 country music stations. And needless to say, more than a few e-mails have flowed in this week ...
From: Chuck Sampson
Your "Big Brother" column was hilarious. I won't even attempt to figure out what the opening paragraphs had to do with the whiny leftist drivel that followed. Instead I'll simply attribute it all to a sportswriter attempting to appear profound. (BTW, are you an intern or do you actually get paid for this stuff?)
I'm the night janitor who broke into the computer system and went to work.
From: Herb Crehan
Dear Scott, thank you for your well-written and well-thought out column. You articulated a number of important points. It is a sign of the times that I feel I must commend you for your fortitude.
I truly believe that the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy is down in Hell looking up at us and laughing like hell.
Let freedom ring!
Tell you the truth, I'm not quite sure where Joseph McCarthy is.
From: Donnah Lee
It was Cumulus who dropped the Chicks, not Clear Channel. Even clearchannelsucks.org doesn't make that claim.
Yep. Clear Channel was the corporation who compiled a recommended list of songs that its stations not play following 9/11, such as Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Water.
From: Lenny Eskin
I don't know what responses your story are receiving from people around the country who read it, negative or positive; however, I am very grateful for your willingness to put your opinion out in the open for public scrutiny. Too few people in the media are strong enough to take a possibly "dangerous" stance against the way our country does its business.
Personally, I am against the war in Iraq, but I am not offended or enraged by those who are not or even by the ideas they believe in. I believe that protest is what made this country and our opinions are what make differences in the way people run it. Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, the only truly un-American position is not allowing for there to be an opinion. Thank you again for your article, and, I hope you have many more great ones in the future.
It's nice to work for people who allow me to write on a wide range of topics.
From: Max Humbert
Thousands and thousands objected to the Dixie Chicks' stinking comments. Seems you want it only one way. Why cannot those who are offended with these wacko comments voice their objections?
As for radio stations, they were swamped with objections. Why shouldn't they pull the records. Didn't you see fans destroying records in public?
Stick to baseball where you are actually over your head.
See, I'm offended by your wacko comments but I still allow you to voice your opinion.
From: Tom Faulhaber
Well, I'm not sure if the sports page is the right place for the "big brother" discussion, but right now I think it needs to be said everywhere and you said it just right. Thanks!
I sure hope the only big brother I'll write about in the future is Jason Giambi and his little brother, Jeremy.
From: Tom Fiorito
Scott, in regard to your column about Big Brother, I would like to make a point that people like Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon are allowed to express their views no matter how far to the left they are, they can say whatever they want and do not put value on the people who disagree with them. Mr. Dale Petroskey (president of the Hall of Fame) did not want Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon to attend the 15th anniversary celebration of Bull Durham. Does Mr.Petroskey not have the same rights that Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon have? Let us try to remember that this is still America and the people on the left, right and in the middle still have the right to voice their opinions.
My point exactly. I just think Petroskey bumbled his end of it.
From: Robert Darling
I was not expecting to find this on CBS SportsLine -- you'll probably hear that from others. But I was delighted. While it is a sad day when one has to depend on sportswriters for clear political thinking rather than on political analysts, I congratulate and thank you for taking the step. Amid all the madness, at least I can still find a bit of sanity in baseball, or at least in some of its writers.
But don't expect me to be applying for Dan Rather's job anytime soon.
From: Mike Gutierrez
Right on brother! I'm sure you are going to get some hate mail for that piece, but you hit the nail right on the head. It took some guts for you to say it in this climate. Great job.
Hey, at least there were no direct threats.
From: Doug Herman
Thanks Scott! Your column made my favorite www.antiwar.com site -- and SportsLine is my favorite sports site too!
Do you have a favorite stocks tip site?
From: Sharon Smith
I agree with you. The transformation of our country into a Nazi-like police state is creepy. However I beg to differ on just one point. I don't think the low voter turnout indicates that people are lazy or don't care about the result. I think it means that voters have realized that they are not offered a meaningful choice at the polls. The two major parties are two heads -- or whatever -- of the same animal. Why bother to vote if it won't make any difference?
And that might be the most depressing reason out there.
From: Jeff Bangs
I am a huge Braves fan, and I agree that the trade for (Johnny) Estrada wasn't the most attractive-looking. But, here's a scenario for you. Granted, the Braves may struggle this year against the Phillies and the rest of the division and finally not win the East, but who's to say that after this season the Braves won't let (Greg) Maddux walk and make a big attempt to re-sign Millwood? Just a thought, let me know what you think.
I think is you've been spending far too much time in the sun.
From: Alex Boisvert
Hey, Scott, I read your column about the Millwood trade and I have a thought -- everyone needs to let this thing play out. After all, the Phillies will get one year of Kevin Millwood while the Braves (maybe) have their catcher of the future. If the Braves win the division this year, and next year Millwood leaves the NL East (or rejoins the Braves!) and Estrada becomes the Braves' primary catcher, well, I'd say things worked out awfully well for Atlanta.
If not, then like everyone else, I will have spoken too soon.
Funny thing about sports: No matter what side of the argument any of us takes, things usually play out in such a way as nobody could have predicted.
From: Matthew Jones
Scott, I'm a Braves fan and I understand that I'm going to be biased, but I find it amazing how desperate most sports writers are to see the Braves fail. I mean, the team chokes almost every year in the playoffs, what more do you need?
This year has been even more preposterous because there was significant turnover in an area that used to be the team's strength (and may still be). I agree that this year is no gimmie and there are a lot of unknowns, but why is everyone so giddy to write the Braves off?
My biggest gripe is the continued overemphasis on things that just aren't that huge. Your stuff about Millwood is indicative of that. Millwood has only had two seasons in which he really defined himself as an excellent pitcher. Those years occurred with a three-year gap in between.
First let's make it clear that I'm not pulling for the Braves to fail. I like the Braves. They're real professionals, and it's a classy organization. Your point about Millwood, I think, is a bit off: Losing him was bigger than you make it out to be in the context of losing Tom Glavine, too. Taken together, that's a big loss. And it will be intriguing all season to see how their rebuilt rotation performs. I never said they would fail.
From: Kevin Ledig
In Response to John Hartrey, Puerto Rico is both a country AND a commonwealth of the U.S.
Aside from having their own separate culture, Puerto Rico also fields its own Olympic team and Miss Universe contestant. It's also listed separately in the CIA World Factbook. If you'd like to learn more about Puerto Rico, there are many fine books in your local library.
I don't care about the Olympic team, but what's this about Puerto Rico's Miss Universe contest?
From: Lawrence
Regarding your comment on Pudge's increase in passed balls from last year for the Rangers, two reasons he only had six last year is because 1) His pitchers now have life on their fastballs and 2) In Texas, the other pitches got knocked out of the ballpark.
Excellent second point. See, this is the kind of thinking we encourage in this space.
From: Darin Bratsch, Danube, Minn.
Hi Scott! I enjoy reading your columns. My thought about playing ball in cold weather leaves me with this question: Why can't MLB schedule the first week of games for either warm weather cities and dome stadiums? I don't think a team opening a season with six or seven road games is all that negative. Thanks.
Because it makes too much sense.
From: Darrell in Phoenix
Scott, I enjoyed your article about the cold April season. However, I find I need to correct you on the terminology you used to describe Brother Marius. You said he had a "hairlip" - the actual term is "harelip" referring to the cleft seen on rabbits between their mouth and nose (rabbits don't actually have lips -- but I digress). In this age of political correctness, the term you should have used would be "cleft lip."
Thanks for the lesson. Now I'll be hopping along.
From: Bro. Marius
Scott, after all these years, you still fail to get my point. Here is a new one: Just because you get paid to write, doesn't mean you are a writer.
God Bless, Bro. Marius
Everybody's a comedian. I'd be really touched by this note, except Bro. Marius has been dead for several years.
From: Jim Yancey
The best start in the history of the Yankees was bought and paid for with 170 million in cash. What should be written into the history books is the disparity between the Yankees and any other team, All the records they set this year will be an insult to the game and the fans of baseball. They really do deserve to be in a league of their own.
The Yanks certainly have the money to commission their own record book.
