By Martie Hevia | Blue Beach Song™

“It’s supposed to be fun, the man says ‘Play Ball’ not ‘Work Ball’ you know.”

~Willie Stargell

Suggestion #5: Anger Management Classes

No doubt, at some point in your life of watching ballgames, you have seen the occasional expressions of disdain, frustration, or anger. It’s quite understandable when you have a whole lot of testosterone (no I didn’t say steroids, but, okay, let’s say it: steroids) coursing through the veins of some very competitive, talented, and highly paid athletes. A great deal could be on the line like a World Series championship; or, on the other hand, sometimes it’s as simple as the pride of an engorged ego.

Whatever the case, at some point we have all seen the hit-less batter dangerously throw a bat in frustration or charge the mound because he got hit by an errant ball. You may have also seen the typically mild-mannered manager who wants to make a not-so-subtle point by kicking some dirt on the shoes of the umpire or the not-so-subtle crazy coach who goes on a tirade, throws a base, and gets himself thrown out of the game. (If not, I included the video.) And, you have no doubt seen, the media-popular free-for-all-dugout-clearing brawl that breaks out in the middle of the field, for some unclear injustice, and gets replayed over and over again on television the next day. And, sadly, we have seen that anger jump from the field to the stands, expressing itself amongst opposing fans, as well, with tragic results.

The professionals need to lead their fans by example, but they may need some help. I propose that Major League Baseball offer mandatory, preemptive, anger management classes for all the players, coaches and managers… even the umpires. Ultimately, these classes will help return us to the game of baseball.

So, let’s bring it down a notch. In the end, it is supposed to be a game.

(Dodgers and Giants fans, are you listening?)

NOTE: This was the fifth of a 30-part series of posts offering suggestions (sometimes tongue-in-cheek) on how I would improve the game of baseball. This series is based on my original (very long) post: Baseball: How I (A Girl) Would Improve America’s Pastime, it provides the context for this series of posts. I hope you enjoy the series and offer your own suggestions! All the best, -Martie

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