Published: November 28, 2008 10:16 am      

SPORTABOUT - Nov. 28

What recession?

By Tom Daniels

Where but the world of sports do we transcend society and global trends. While cold wars are going on Egyptians and Jamaicans frolic at the Winter Olympics. Women race car drivers appear in countries where woman can't even vote. Baseball and football routinely have African American coaches and managers taking them to the pinnacles of their respective sports. Ichiro breaks our baseball records and we cheer. Where else but sports could we have had The Nigerian Nightmare, and The Commerce Comet. Records that will stand forever are broken every year. Someone gets a little faster or a little stronger or gets a better prescription. Who else could do something in Dubai but sports.

Once again sports turns its nose up at economics. What recession? The Mets and the Yankees are moving into new stadiums. As the Astros had to rename their stadium from Enron to Bankruptcy the Mets have already changed the name of their stadium from Citi Field to Bailout Field. The NY Giants have a new stadium as well. Their Billionaire Hundreds of Thousands Porsche-driving owner has imposed a seating license on his loyal fans. You know the people who went from 1964 to 1980 without a playoff appearance but still sold out every game. The price: $1,000 for the cheap seats, $5,000 for the regular and up and up until only corporate American can afford the seats with your money. By the way, you still have to buy a season ticket and the cheap ones are over $900 a seat.

The players aren't exactly tightening their belts either. Football has found out fining players for team violations amounts to chump change. Now coaches bench them thinking that will get to them. Silly coaches. Baseball free agents have tough decisions to make. Does C.C. Sabathia take 100 million and play in a city that he likes, or take 140 million and go to the Yankees. Does F-Rod take 45 million for three years or 60 million for five years. Poor Trevor Hoffman was only offered four million dollars.

As the seasons progress right now you can go to a high school soccer match or basketball game and in a few months baseball. The heck with recession, go ahead, spend that $5 bucks and go to a game. Happy Thanksgiving!