Baseball. Major League Baseball. The World Series!Did you know that your old friend Patrick Pretty was a baseball nut? I wholeheartedly support the Scott Boras plan to expand the World Series to a best-of-nine format, while involving neutral cities and creating a big, nationwide party.
Hey, I made it as a poster model and commercial spokesman; I've been on more than 4,000 magazine covers and have appeared on more than 300 TV shows. I had my own Saturday morning cartoon series.
I've sold millions of posters and millions of Patrick Pretty Action figures.
A fragrance is named after me; I'm a celebrity across the board, including on the Internet.
All of these things have happened to me. And yet I'm still a small-town boy at heart, a boy from Siverly, Pennsylvania.
I live and breathe the Pittsburgh Pirates; I cried like a baby when I learned on New Year's Day 1973 that Roberto Clemente had been killed in a plane crash the day before.
So many baseball memories: a Willie Stargell tape-measure homerun at Three Rivers Stadium; a near N0-Hitter by Luke Walker against the Los Angeles Dodgers; Steve Blass leaping into Bob Robertson's arms after pitching a 7th-game gem in the 1971 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles; a second series win against the Orioles in 1979.
Baseball is something I could talk about all day long.
This morning I was blown away when I read a report by Ron Blum of the Associated Press that Scott Boras had a plan to expand the World Series to a best-of-nine extravaganza.
I have already emailed Scott Boras; I am all for this plan and hope you will be, too. I plan to contact Commissioner Bud Selig this afternoon -- even though it's Sunday.
Scott Boras wants to inject an element of the Super Bowl into the World Series.
He wants to play two of the games in a neutral city and create a national celebration -- the sort of thing that occurs over Super Bowl weekend, even among people who don't like football or are only marginally interested.
This is a masterstroke by Scott Boras.
Man, I hope MLB gives this serious consideration. The owners need to get on board. This could create a new age for baseball, bring it back to kids who have their attentions and passions directed elsewhere.
Scott Boras wants to have a TV special on Friday night. The MVPs, Cy Young Award winners, the Rookies Of The Year and the Managers Of The Year would be announced on this program.
Five candidates for each award would be in attendance.
It's a fantastic idea.
On Saturday, prior to Game One being played in a neutral city, the Hall Of Fame voting would be announced.
Game One then would commence in the neutral city. So would game Two, creating some high-energy excitement on Sunday, too.
After that, the World Series would revert to the 2-3-2 format in the home cities of the participating teams.
Look, I'm prepared to throw my weight around on this matter. It deserves the most sincere consideration by the commissioner, the baseball owners and baseball executives across the board.
Congratulations, Scott Boras. This is a superb idea!
Fellow Fans, do whatever you can to promote this idea.
I urge you to contact the Commissioner and the owners of your favorite team and voice your support.
Here's a copy of the text I sent Scott Boras. Perhaps you may find it useful in your communication to the Commissioner and club owners:
Dear Mr Boras:
I've just read Ron Blum's AP story on your idea to make the World Series a best-of-nine affair, letting other cities be a part of the extravaganza and injecting some Super Bowl-like excitement into the Fall Classic.
This is a wonderful idea! In fact, adoption of it could signal the dawn of a new Baseball Age.
Please count me among those who back this idea with enthusiastic support.
If I could help in any way -- perhaps by creating a Blog -- please let me know.
This idea deserves widespread support and the most serious consideration by Commissioner Selig, club owners and baseball executives across the board.
Sincerely,
Patrick Pretty
Hollywood, CA
Sincerely,
Patrick Pretty
Hollywood, CA
