"Baseball is about going home ... and how hard it is to get there, and how driven is our need." — A. Bartlett Giamatti
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Natural: Post #1
One of the major themes of this novel is the conflict between myth and reality. How is this conflict present in modern day baseball? Be sure to identify specific attributes of both the myth and reality of baseball.
Obviously, baseball exists in the real word. No part of the game defies the commonly understood laws of the physical universe. The part of baseball that I think relates to mythology are the heroes. Almost every myth is about a single or set of heroes. The heroes of myths command respect and admiration from all who learn of them. Similarly, the stars on a major league baseball are heroes. They are role models to many and symbols of the game. The way they are elevated to an almost supernatural status makes them kind of like the heroes of myths.
The myth that pervades baseball, as Nate touched on, deals with the role of heroes in the game. Some select superstars are thought of as mythological heroic beings because of their amazing skill sets or the ways they command themselves on the field and off of it. These ballplayers are heroes to the common man because they represent America's national pastime, and American values to some extent as well. However, in recent past baseball has gone through an unfortunate transition. No longer do fans believe in superstars as heroes, but players like Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Mark McGwire have become villains. They betrayed fans and demonstrated that baseball is not longer about the love of the game, but purely business.
Conflict between myth and reality exists in modern day baseball. As Nate said, the idea of heroic figures, legendary in their prowess and skill, is one example of this. However, I think that this distinction has taken a dark turn. No longer is the challenge to separate what is true about ballplayers' feats and what is merely rumor or unfounded legend. The challenge now is to distinguish between what ballplayers accomplish on their own and what they accomplish while on performance-enhancing drugs; what is truly worthy of baseball legend and what is not. A good example of this is Barry Bonds. Bonds is a phenomenal athlete, a hitter whose record matches the likes of baseball greats such as Josh Gibson and Babe Ruth, but it's questionable whether that is the legacy he will most be remembered for. Once he was suspected of using steroids, his homers into McCovey Cove no longer were the wonders they once were; even if he never took steroids, the myth surrounding him and that scandal will linger on, effectively tainting his stature as a home run giant forever.
Everyone before me has hit the nail on the head about legends and heroes in baseball. With the steroid-era of baseball hopefully behind us, some of the newest big names in the MLB have, in reality, become heroes. For example, the intensely spirited Brian Wilson and the intensely talented Albert Pujols have become two of the biggest faces in baseball. As featured in a recent 60-Minutes profile piece, Pujols is not just a hero on the field, but also off the field. While the true nature of Wilson's beard might be myth, he has also been a role model, fan favorite, and a great closer. As previously mentioned, the game has also known many heroes that are based on myth due to steroids. For the sake of the sport and America's pastime, hopefully the future of baseball will be one led by true heroes.
There is definitely a conflict between myth and reality in baseball. Baseball players being idolized as heros is part of it. The players are seen as elevated beings, without problems or flaws. It is hard to picture a baseball player having a regular life outside of baseball. I think that there is also a conflict with how much faith is put on the game of baseball. Fans get so into their teams and the world series, sometimes believing that everything will be ok, just as long as we win this game. It is almost as if baseball can be the solution to all of our problems. When in reality, the world always continues on, no matter the outcome of the baseball game.
Though it has already been touched on, everyone is right about there being myths about heroes in baseball. Many people believe that the best players in the game are superhuman, never making mistakes and living the dream. While it is very true that baseball players make a lot of money, drive fancy cars, and live in beautiful homes, the truth is that many encounter the same problems that the average person faces. For example in the story, Roy is too shy to talk to Harriet, and when Whammer starts talking to her he becomes a bit jealous. In reality, even the game's greats have fears and problems. As a society we get sucked in to believing that superstars never make mistakes but we have to remember that every athlete has a life off the field and it is never perfect.
When I watch some of the best players in the game these days, it is almost superhuman the ability they have no only to play baseball, but to make us care about them and about the game. That is what is mythical. However, with the greatness of those players (usually) comes a price. Baseball has become so commercialized over its existence that it seems like for most players its not about a love of the game but a desire to make more and more money. I have also noticed a trend of more players now who are arrogant and sometimes nasty people, as opposed to the players of the older generations, when baseball was about the fans, not about them. Barry Bonds, I believe, is a prime example of this. When you went to the park and saw him play, it was magical. However, he was so unpleasant off the field that he isolated his fans, and dampened their feelings of him.
Today, Baseball is revered as a great game that everyone loves to watch and nothing is as exciting as the final games of a good World Series. In today's era of Baseball, money has become such a big component and many of the games great heroes are being paid outrageous sums of money. However Baseball still is conflicted between the reality of commercialization and the myths and stories that people still tell about the great teams and players that play(ed) the game. These stories have become glorified and have almost become tall tales in a way where they are altered to make the players look even greater. Such as the story with Cool Papa Bell where he got into bed before the lights went out. These myths and stories of the game keep drawing people back to telling them and give modern baseball a break from the financial components that have overcome it.
I agree with what everyone has said about the idea of heros in baseball. I, like Megan, was thinking about steroid scandals, specifically with Barry Bonds. Since baseball is the American pastime, and symbolizes American ideals (for many people) such as patriotism and hard work, scandals like this can be blown out of proportion. First of all, the need to use steroids shows that the desire to be a "hero" in baseball is stronger than the desire for integrity. Additionally, the way that the whole scandal was portrayed shows how hard it is for people to accept that a baseball "hero" was not in fact the hero that they thought he was.
There is definitely a lot of myth in the game of baseball today that conflicts with the reality of the sport. One way that myth works its way into the reality of baseball, which has been mentioned, is with the current heroes. Players today are regarded as superhuman without much told about them beyond their baseball ability and achievements. The line between reality and mythology is blurred when their actions will continue to be retold to future baseball fans, and as time progresses the accurate stories will begin to take the form of legends and myths, with the details blurring. This is the case with Babe Ruth’s called shot, and this same process will occur with some of the “myths” that happen in baseball today. Although we all can say exactly what happened in a game last week, the myth and folklore of baseball will ultimately vary from the reality of the moment. This creates the contrast between the myth and the reality of baseball.
In present day baseball, players are made out to be idols by society. The idea that a baseball player can be made out to be a hero has brought the conflict of myth vs. reality in baseball to light. It is hard to imagine your favorite baseball player, possibly your hero or idol, doing anything but representing your team. It is this reason that players are made out to be something they are not. Baseball players are not meant to be heros, but rather symbol of a heroic game. With crazy 100+ million dollar contracts and steroid use, the pressure from the fans has turned professional baseball into a game where myths have become more prevalent than reality.
Ever since baseball became a business, there has always been a conflict between myth and reality. The myth is that baseball is a fair game, and anyone with tremendous talent and persistence can make it in the big leagues. The myth makes us believe that someone like Roy Hobbs, who was a small town nobody, could strike out a superstar MVP like the Whammer. The reality is that in modern day baseball it is not enough to just be hardworking and talented, but players have had to cheat using banned substances in order to make it big.
Baseball players all around america have revered baseball players as gods. This idea that players are seen as these superhuman brings conflict to the idea of myth vs. reality. Players today are seen by most people only on the field. Th only way to see this person is by paying an overpriced ticket to the game. These fans are expecting their godlike player to have a a good game and help the home team win the game. Sometimes one does live up to expectations and must seek second hand aid to satisfy the fans. In reality, these godlike players are human beings who make mistakes.
There is and will always be a connection between myth and reality in baseball. Professional baseball players are able to achieve this myth and godly status because when they play ball the average fan just watches in admiration wondering how they throw 95 miles per hour, or even harder, hit something so small moving 95 miles per hour. At the same time though the players, if they were just walking around on the street, do not necessarily stand out too much. The players look very much like an every day person, which makes regular fans realize that these players are normal people and the players are part of reality.
Seeing as I am one of the last to post, the idea that I had has already been repeated several times. But since a simple, "What they said," or "See above," probably won't fly, here's my go at it: The conflict between myth and reality exists not around the game itself, but around the players of the game. There's nothing particularly mythical or special about the game, seeing as it has been played basically the same way for a very, very long time - nothing has really changed about it. But the players are the part of baseball that come and go - they change with the seasons (of baseball, that is) and they seem to have a shelf-life. Where the conflict comes out to play is surrounding what a player makes of himself in that short amount of time when he is at the prime of his life and at the peak of his ability. The decent ones are just decent, but the incredible ones, well, people tend to no longer attribute their abilities solely to talent, but rather to some otherworldly forces as well. Their abilities seem so far out of range of what a normal human could do, and the average person and baseball fan cannot relate. Here, the line between myth and reality gets blurred, and baseball players are no longer just supremely talented and great; they are idolised and revered as if there is something preternatural about them, as if they are heroes who have been blessed by the gods.
In HCI the other day we were talking a lot about how "M"yth is a big part of our lives, and ho we are fed ideologies and advertisements all the time to try and make us believe in something that may not be true. This is consistent in baseball as well. Announcers use myth all the time such as, "that ball was hit a mile." Now obviously this cannot be the case considering that is way farther than any person can hit it, but through saying this quick phrase he presents us with a myth that adds exaggeration and excitement. I think one place where we see the distinction between myth and reality is through injuries. Baseball players are made to look like gods but when we see that they are injured, they bring us back onto our level.
Obviously, baseball exists in the real word. No part of the game defies the commonly understood laws of the physical universe. The part of baseball that I think relates to mythology are the heroes. Almost every myth is about a single or set of heroes. The heroes of myths command respect and admiration from all who learn of them. Similarly, the stars on a major league baseball are heroes. They are role models to many and symbols of the game. The way they are elevated to an almost supernatural status makes them kind of like the heroes of myths.
ReplyDeleteThe myth that pervades baseball, as Nate touched on, deals with the role of heroes in the game. Some select superstars are thought of as mythological heroic beings because of their amazing skill sets or the ways they command themselves on the field and off of it. These ballplayers are heroes to the common man because they represent America's national pastime, and American values to some extent as well. However, in recent past baseball has gone through an unfortunate transition. No longer do fans believe in superstars as heroes, but players like Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Mark McGwire have become villains. They betrayed fans and demonstrated that baseball is not longer about the love of the game, but purely business.
ReplyDeleteConflict between myth and reality exists in modern day baseball. As Nate said, the idea of heroic figures, legendary in their prowess and skill, is one example of this. However, I think that this distinction has taken a dark turn. No longer is the challenge to separate what is true about ballplayers' feats and what is merely rumor or unfounded legend. The challenge now is to distinguish between what ballplayers accomplish on their own and what they accomplish while on performance-enhancing drugs; what is truly worthy of baseball legend and what is not. A good example of this is Barry Bonds. Bonds is a phenomenal athlete, a hitter whose record matches the likes of baseball greats such as Josh Gibson and Babe Ruth, but it's questionable whether that is the legacy he will most be remembered for. Once he was suspected of using steroids, his homers into McCovey Cove no longer were the wonders they once were; even if he never took steroids, the myth surrounding him and that scandal will linger on, effectively tainting his stature as a home run giant forever.
ReplyDeleteEveryone before me has hit the nail on the head about legends and heroes in baseball. With the steroid-era of baseball hopefully behind us, some of the newest big names in the MLB have, in reality, become heroes. For example, the intensely spirited Brian Wilson and the intensely talented Albert Pujols have become two of the biggest faces in baseball. As featured in a recent 60-Minutes profile piece, Pujols is not just a hero on the field, but also off the field. While the true nature of Wilson's beard might be myth, he has also been a role model, fan favorite, and a great closer. As previously mentioned, the game has also known many heroes that are based on myth due to steroids. For the sake of the sport and America's pastime, hopefully the future of baseball will be one led by true heroes.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely a conflict between myth and reality in baseball. Baseball players being idolized as heros is part of it. The players are seen as elevated beings, without problems or flaws. It is hard to picture a baseball player having a regular life outside of baseball.
ReplyDeleteI think that there is also a conflict with how much faith is put on the game of baseball. Fans get so into their teams and the world series, sometimes believing that everything will be ok, just as long as we win this game. It is almost as if baseball can be the solution to all of our problems. When in reality, the world always continues on, no matter the outcome of the baseball game.
Though it has already been touched on, everyone is right about there being myths about heroes in baseball. Many people believe that the best players in the game are superhuman, never making mistakes and living the dream. While it is very true that baseball players make a lot of money, drive fancy cars, and live in beautiful homes, the truth is that many encounter the same problems that the average person faces. For example in the story, Roy is too shy to talk to Harriet, and when Whammer starts talking to her he becomes a bit jealous. In reality, even the game's greats have fears and problems. As a society we get sucked in to believing that superstars never make mistakes but we have to remember that every athlete has a life off the field and it is never perfect.
ReplyDeleteWhen I watch some of the best players in the game these days, it is almost superhuman the ability they have no only to play baseball, but to make us care about them and about the game. That is what is mythical. However, with the greatness of those players (usually) comes a price. Baseball has become so commercialized over its existence that it seems like for most players its not about a love of the game but a desire to make more and more money. I have also noticed a trend of more players now who are arrogant and sometimes nasty people, as opposed to the players of the older generations, when baseball was about the fans, not about them. Barry Bonds, I believe, is a prime example of this. When you went to the park and saw him play, it was magical. However, he was so unpleasant off the field that he isolated his fans, and dampened their feelings of him.
ReplyDeleteToday, Baseball is revered as a great game that everyone loves to watch and nothing is as exciting as the final games of a good World Series. In today's era of Baseball, money has become such a big component and many of the games great heroes are being paid outrageous sums of money. However Baseball still is conflicted between the reality of commercialization and the myths and stories that people still tell about the great teams and players that play(ed) the game. These stories have become glorified and have almost become tall tales in a way where they are altered to make the players look even greater. Such as the story with Cool Papa Bell where he got into bed before the lights went out. These myths and stories of the game keep drawing people back to telling them and give modern baseball a break from the financial components that have overcome it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what everyone has said about the idea of heros in baseball. I, like Megan, was thinking about steroid scandals, specifically with Barry Bonds. Since baseball is the American pastime, and symbolizes American ideals (for many people) such as patriotism and hard work, scandals like this can be blown out of proportion.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, the need to use steroids shows that the desire to be a "hero" in baseball is stronger than the desire for integrity. Additionally, the way that the whole scandal was portrayed shows how hard it is for people to accept that a baseball "hero" was not in fact the hero that they thought he was.
There is definitely a lot of myth in the game of baseball today that conflicts with the reality of the sport. One way that myth works its way into the reality of baseball, which has been mentioned, is with the current heroes. Players today are regarded as superhuman without much told about them beyond their baseball ability and achievements. The line between reality and mythology is blurred when their actions will continue to be retold to future baseball fans, and as time progresses the accurate stories will begin to take the form of legends and myths, with the details blurring. This is the case with Babe Ruth’s called shot, and this same process will occur with some of the “myths” that happen in baseball today. Although we all can say exactly what happened in a game last week, the myth and folklore of baseball will ultimately vary from the reality of the moment. This creates the contrast between the myth and the reality of baseball.
ReplyDeleteIn present day baseball, players are made out to be idols by society. The idea that a baseball player can be made out to be a hero has brought the conflict of myth vs. reality in baseball to light. It is hard to imagine your favorite baseball player, possibly your hero or idol, doing anything but representing your team. It is this reason that players are made out to be something they are not. Baseball players are not meant to be heros, but rather symbol of a heroic game. With crazy 100+ million dollar contracts and steroid use, the pressure from the fans has turned professional baseball into a game where myths have become more prevalent than reality.
ReplyDeleteEver since baseball became a business, there has always been a conflict between myth and reality. The myth is that baseball is a fair game, and anyone with tremendous talent and persistence can make it in the big leagues. The myth makes us believe that someone like Roy Hobbs, who was a small town nobody, could strike out a superstar MVP like the Whammer. The reality is that in modern day baseball it is not enough to just be hardworking and talented, but players have had to cheat using banned substances in order to make it big.
ReplyDeleteBaseball players all around america have revered baseball players as gods. This idea that players are seen as these superhuman brings conflict to the idea of myth vs. reality. Players today are seen by most people only on the field. Th only way to see this person is by paying an overpriced ticket to the game. These fans are expecting their godlike player to have a a good game and help the home team win the game. Sometimes one does live up to expectations and must seek second hand aid to satisfy the fans. In reality, these godlike players are human beings who make mistakes.
ReplyDeleteThere is and will always be a connection between myth and reality in baseball. Professional baseball players are able to achieve this myth and godly status because when they play ball the average fan just watches in admiration wondering how they throw 95 miles per hour, or even harder, hit something so small moving 95 miles per hour. At the same time though the players, if they were just walking around on the street, do not necessarily stand out too much. The players look very much like an every day person, which makes regular fans realize that these players are normal people and the players are part of reality.
ReplyDeleteSeeing as I am one of the last to post, the idea that I had has already been repeated several times. But since a simple, "What they said," or "See above," probably won't fly, here's my go at it: The conflict between myth and reality exists not around the game itself, but around the players of the game. There's nothing particularly mythical or special about the game, seeing as it has been played basically the same way for a very, very long time - nothing has really changed about it. But the players are the part of baseball that come and go - they change with the seasons (of baseball, that is) and they seem to have a shelf-life. Where the conflict comes out to play is surrounding what a player makes of himself in that short amount of time when he is at the prime of his life and at the peak of his ability. The decent ones are just decent, but the incredible ones, well, people tend to no longer attribute their abilities solely to talent, but rather to some otherworldly forces as well. Their abilities seem so far out of range of what a normal human could do, and the average person and baseball fan cannot relate. Here, the line between myth and reality gets blurred, and baseball players are no longer just supremely talented and great; they are idolised and revered as if there is something preternatural about them, as if they are heroes who have been blessed by the gods.
ReplyDeleteIn HCI the other day we were talking a lot about how "M"yth is a big part of our lives, and ho we are fed ideologies and advertisements all the time to try and make us believe in something that may not be true. This is consistent in baseball as well. Announcers use myth all the time such as, "that ball was hit a mile." Now obviously this cannot be the case considering that is way farther than any person can hit it, but through saying this quick phrase he presents us with a myth that adds exaggeration and excitement. I think one place where we see the distinction between myth and reality is through injuries. Baseball players are made to look like gods but when we see that they are injured, they bring us back onto our level.
ReplyDelete