Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

tom davis, Argentine Michigan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:05:39 GMT

Home Run Derby. Starting in May, an 8 week taped series of half hour shows pitting the top 8 home run hitters in each league against each other (just like in the 60s).

This culminates with the 8 winners facing each other in the finals at the All-Star game.

Go Marcus Thames

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

John, MI — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:41:56 GMT

You actually report on sports! Its a new day!

I agree with you though, the fact that A-Roid wouldn't get in this thing is ridiculous, its in Yankee Stadium (the last year for that wretched place) He just doesn't want to hear more media pressure when he couldn't get out of the first round is my guess. Why risk looking like a fool by missing a few Homeruns when you can always look like a fool and total @$$

Red Sox in 08...AGAIN!!!

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

ANTHONY WILLIAMS, BOLINGBROOK , IL — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:00:15 GMT

Well,that just goes along with everything else we as fans see with star athletes. They will never be like the REAL STARS of Old and I don't mean that as a knock against the former players. With these new age stars it's about "my contract," "my money" and "where is my pacifier." They don't have good personalities, a love for the game, love for your team or teammates.
They should be made to play for their money instaed of it being given to them on a platinum platter. Signing bonus? Pay them after the season according to what they do during the season. You pay the b4 and they get hurt, they don't produce and /or they can't come through for the reason you paying them for.
If the owners start to re-think their actions it may cause the players to re-think theres and really start to play the game. OH, and that goes for all sports not just baseball !!!
Be Blessed

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

dude, new york, new york — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:35:33 GMT

So how come no indignation or any mention of Utley's
bush league expletive last nite when he was introduced?

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

Tom Kaye — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:52:33 GMT

Does anyone remember the old TV series called (I think) HOMERUN DERBY?

It had all the power-hitters from the late 50s/60s banging out homeruns. Mickey Mantle! Willie Mays! Hank Aaron! Rocky Calovito! Harmen Killebrew! and many others.

Now that was a home-run derby and none of those hitters would have begged out of the HRD in an All-Star game.

What the heck is wrong with many of today's athletes. Doesn't the game mean anything beside how much many you can make?

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

Mary Piggott — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:23:02 GMT

It was refreshing to see a bunch of excited young players in the derby..let the so called stars sit....Josh Hamilton was star enough!

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

ANTHONY WILLIAMS, BOLINGBROOK , IL — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:35:15 GMT

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

Grace McAndrew — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:51:23 GMT

i think it's too bad Arod did not participate as well. After all he IS a Yankee and the derby was at the stadium.

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

RD Hogue, Richland, WA — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:06:14 GMT

You're so right brother. Does the HRD represent where we are as a society? Where's the emotion, the excitement? How come ballplayers aren't complaining of being left off the HRD list? Can't you just picture Ruth and Foxx waiting to swat a few? Would Cobb have begged out?

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

Baseball Fan, Mesa, Arizona — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:29:03 GMT

Coming from an A's fan, not a Reggie fan, he has certainly come around. I was most impressed with Reggie and his more mellow persona. He never spoke truer words, thank you Reggie, may the dieing breed of baseball players also take note, your days are numbered...

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

Kim Perkins — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:34:24 GMT

Open Mike: Every now and then you say something that is spot on. This is one of them times. A-Rod and those other guys should man up and compete in this thing. Sheesh. Get a clue, big guys. This is america. baseball is america's favorite passtime. And home runs are at the apex of the sport.

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

HERVE — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:49:03 GMT

Celzic, LATELY I FOUND YOUR ARTICLES MORE BETTER SUITED FOR RUBBISH THAN READING, I HAD RESPECT FOR YOU, THEN YOU PUT OUT A ARTICLE LIKE THIS WHERE YOU
HAMMER A GUY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO MESS HIS SWING UP WELL GO ASK DAVID WRIGHT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS SWING IF THAT ISN'T ENOUGH ASK ABREU. IF MLB CARED SO MUCH WHY DIDIN'T THEY ACCEPT GIAMBIS PLEASURE TO COMPETE. PLEASE WRITING ABOUT SPORTS AND NOT WHAT YOU THINK SOMEONE ELSE SHOULD DO, I THINK YOU SHOULD STOP WRITING ABOUT SPORTS AND TRY WRITING ABOUT KNITTING.

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

Tim Mitchell, Springfield, IL — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:34:11 GMT

I don't think you can lump Pujols in with A-Rod. Pujols wanted to go but baseball said No. At least that's what I heard

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

Robert , Anchorage, AK — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:52:47 GMT

So, mike, would you like to expand on your comments from a short while ago:

"Posted: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 7:56 PM

I don’t know what Mets owner Fred Wilpon is waiting for, unless it’s for his underachieving team to go on a 10-game winning streak and save Willie Randolph’s job. But it ain’t gonna happen, and all Wilpon is accomplishing is the public torture of one of the finest men ever to play sports in New York.

I hate to say it, but Randolph is done in New York. The sooner Wilpon and general manager Omar Minaya fire him, the sooner the Mets can get on with the business of messing up this season. And I’m pretty sure that’s what they’ll do, because the Mets problem is on the field, not in the dugout."

Here we are with the Mets just completing their 10th straight win, in first, and evidently the problem was not on the field. Hmm. Care to offer some more penetrating, incisive, analysis?

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

Michael B Ga — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:32:14 GMT

I guess ARod would have never appeared on the old TV show HOMERUN DERBY. It was a little before my time but I loved the re-runs on ESPN a few years back.

Professional Sports has come a long way since those days, much of the time in the wrong direction.

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

Edward Perez, Long Beach, CA — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:31:26 GMT

Hey Mike, My friend who is a Raider fan is not sure if the San Diego Chargers still have a restriction on the purchasing of tickets to the Chargers/Raider game in San Diego where they force Raider fans to purchase extra tickets. No other team has this restriction. Is this still in effect? If so where can he complain because he feels discriminated. He is not a gang member nor does he have a criminal record.

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

mari keeseville ny — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:19:00 GMT

the homerun derby should be considered a separate event from the all-star game to allow whoever wants to participate to do so. Don't limit it to just the all star player as too many of them have the swelled heads and think they are too good to be swinging a bat just to see how far it goes. the derby also aided the boys and girls club so even if you don't win after the 9th out, there was a chance to make money for the charity-- so many times you see players advertise they are for charities- the homerun derby was a chance to prove it

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

beavo st louis — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:56:24 GMT

I see you're on the bash A-Rod bandwagon. I'm surprised you didn't mention the secret sex tape a foreign reporter supposedly has. Timing and rythym are a big part of a swing. He's paid alot of money to produce during the season so I think it's very understandable. Did someone hit one out last night? Give the man a little credit. What, Mick and Whitey never did any carousing. Write about baseball that really counts. I'm from St Louis and I can't understand you NY writers. We loved having Roger after you ran him out of town. Any other city would love to have A-Rod in their uniform. Yankee tradition is awesome. I loved the historical special on Yankee Stadium during the all-star game. Too bad the writers there don't show a little more Yankee class.

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

Legend Homolka — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:20:21 GMT

The NBA doesn't require the particpants in the 3 point contest or dunk contest during All Star weekend to be on the All Star team. MLB requiring particpants to be named to the All Star team is almost as lame as determining something as critical as home field advantage in the World Series by the winning league of the All Star Game. MLB has serious issues and the HRD set up is just another example.

Big stars shouldn't duck the derby

Leroy Mitchell — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:03:15 GMT

Reggie will always be the greatest.A-Rod is a prick.What has he done to justify the money that the fans are paying him.When A-Rod is up to bat you go to the bathroom. In his days when Reggie is up to bat nobody goes to the bathroom if even you piss yourself.