I love a good practical joke, and it seems like baseball players do too. Give this a read, laugh out loud, and tell me what you think. I know we're reading about magical realism and dreams and magic and a crazy field filled with ghost players, but how do you think comedy plays a role in baseball? Can magic and pranks co-exist? How do they complement each other? How do they just make you laugh?
Here's a favorite video. Promise it's worth watching about 100 times.
Then check out this top list from bleacherreport.
If you've got a favorite from any sport, feel free to share.
Comedy and pranks are used for many reasons in baseball. They lighten the mood if a game or team has gotten too serious, they bond the team, and keep the hierarchy of rookies vs. veterans in place. I think pranks can enhance the magic of a game by creating a memorable experience, but if a fan is immersed in a game and it's magic, sometimes the prank pulls the fan out of their dream world and back to reality. Nevertheless, everyone enjoys watching them.
ReplyDeleteComedy is an integral part of baseball. Baseball is a game and games are meant to be fun, so taking out pranks is like taking the fun away from the game. Like what was stated in the article, pranks help with clubhouse camaraderie and can be a coalescing force. A tight clubhouse can ultimately make a difference in determining whether a team is successful or not. Obviously, the team that looks forward to playing the game and spending time with each other will do better than a team with a completely divided clubhouse. Also, pranks can help a team get national recognition and build a strong fan base.
ReplyDeleteI find that comedy plays a huge role in baseball; it plays a role in all sports. With so much pressure coming from the 24/7 news cycle and high expectations, baseball players deserve to unwind with a classic prank. Pranks, and comedy in general, help alleviate all the stress in the clubhouse by reminding the players that baseball is—after all—just a game. As we've been discussing in class, baseball has a magical aspect. Comedy helps balance this magical feeling and helps the fan stay connected; while not everyone understands the magic of baseball, everyone enjoys a prank.
ReplyDeleteFrom having experience playing baseball for many years, I know first hand that pranks come into practice throughout the baseball season. As a team, baseball is one of the best sports to bond because there is so much time in the dugouts to interact with your teammates. Games and practices are long, and team chemistry is more than important in determining a teams success. With that said, pranks voluntarily come into play. The worst one I remember was someone set a stink bomb off in the opponents dugout sending the team running out. I believe magic and pranks can coexist because they both reach into in the realm of surprise and creativity. They both can be used hand and hand in the same scenario. Pranks also help bring out the joy from seriousness, which is what baseball and sports in general should be all about.
ReplyDeleteI think that comedy and baseball work very well together because during a large portion of the game you aren't doing anything which allows you to play pranks on friends. Also, pranks can bring teammates together and create a better bond within the team. This can lead to stronger play and a better environment to improve your game. Of course, the pranks can just allow you to blow off some steam which adds to the fun of baseball. Sports are a great way to relax and put your mind onto something other can academics and pranks can enhance that experience. Overall, these practical jokes are a way to gain a stronger bond between teammates and just make the games/practices more fun.
ReplyDeleteI think pranking and hazing is an integral part to baseball. It teaches the younger players their place and brings a more light-hearted aspect to the game. My favorite prank was when Brian Wilson broke a bat on his beard and later messed with the relief pitchers in the dug out. Getting pranked or hazed is like a right of passage and is a funny tradition that most sports should continue. In fact most establishments with "freshman" should encourage playful hazing.......
Delete...god I miss the old MA....
think pranking and hazing is an integral part to baseball. It teaches the younger players their place and brings a more light-hearted aspect to the game. My favorite prank was when Brian Wilson broke a bat on his beard and later messed with the relief pitchers in the dug out. Getting pranked or hazed is like a right of passage and is a funny tradition that most sports should continue. In fact most establishments with "freshman" should encourage playful hazing.......
ReplyDelete...god I miss the old MA...
I think pranks and comedy are an essential part of baseball. Baseball can be a slow game at times and with 160, I mean 162, games in the season, innings can get borderline boring, especially as a starting pitcher. Pranks are a way of lightening the mood of a serious game. I think that rookie pranks, when played in good humor, are an effective way of welcoming them to the big leagues and making them feel a part of the team. My favorite prank is when the Washington Nationals made all of their rookies dress up in Team USA gymnastics leotards and take a team picture.
ReplyDeleteLink to article on Nationals prank:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2201535/Washington-Nationals-Baseball-team-makes-rookies-dress-gymnastics-leotards.html
Pranks are healthy for any organizations. A little bit of hazing never hurt anybody. On the last day of my summer internship at an investment firm, I had to eat a large number of donuts in under 3 minutes as everybody from the office stood around and watched. It was an awesome experience for me because, although it was my last day, it improved my relationship with every employee in the office. I felt like eating those donuts was like crossing a threshold into respect and (jn some cases) admiration.
ReplyDeleteHazing is a way for people to see if you're dedicated and if you're the real deal. Being hazed is simply a test to see if you're willing to be, "part of the team". And sometimes you've gotta eat a bunch of donuts to prove it.
Comedy and pranks can definitely exist in baseball because they only strengthen the camaraderie of the team, and develop a relationship with the fans. If a game is getting too serious, or it is clear that one team is going to lose, a little comedy might brighten the mood completely. Comedy is a reminder to never take oneself too seriously, which can be hard when you're a superstar athlete. If pranks and comedy allow these players to relieve stress, have fun, and strengthen friendships, then they only improve the quality of the baseball game and its magic.
ReplyDeleteComedy and pranks have existed since the beginning of baseball. Although I don't remember the specific instances, I remember the Ken Burns documentary talking about how early baseball players would perform wild shenanigans on the field. Although this sort of comedy has shifted somewhat toward pranks and practical jokes, the idea is still the same. Baseball is a game of brotherhood (or sisterhood), and this form of comedy serves to bring the team together. Hazing can help integrate a possibly nervous rookie into the team because at least they'll feel included in some way. Pranks between old friends can help to bring the team together as they watch the fight. Comedy has a way of bringing a more lighthearted feel to the game, which can help combat the otherwise very pressured environment.
ReplyDelete