The beginning.....and a baseball replay rant that may surprise you.

So, I went to a Jerry Saltz (http://nymag.com/nymag/jerry-saltz) lecture tonight at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.  I went to support my wife, as I'd never heard of Mr. Saltz before watching a couple of episodes of the reality show he was on this summer.  I didn't have any expectations, but came away inspired.  So, from that lecture on art and art critique comes a blog about--of course--sports!

How did an art critic inspire me to write about sports?  Hell, I don't know.  I supposed there are many layers to the thoughts and feelings that I walked away with, but the bottom line is, I came away knowing that I needed a forum to rant and rave about sports, and therefore, will start a blog.

This blog has been an idea for many months.  I had trouble defining what I truly wanted to discuss.  I wanted a niche topic, something I could become an expert on.  Mr. Saltz's lecture, however, made me realize I don't need to be an expert, I just need to have a thought.  I don't need a narrow subject, I just need to have something to post about.  And so, this blog is born....A Blade of Plastic Grass.

So, how did I name this blog?  Hell, it was easy.  It was the first thing that came to mind.  My wife cringed at the name.  I think that means I did well.  It is, after all, my place to rant and rave about everything sports.  Personally, I hate artificial turf.  Therefore, it's a controversial name to me, which is what I hope to bring to this blog.  I find that I'm often on the opposite side of an argument with most of my friends.  Therefore, I'm probably on the opposite side of the majority of the world.  Perfect!

I envision, eventually, allowing this to become a forum of debate.  I will bring up a topic and the reader/viewer (I see video in my future) can tell me how right/wrong I am.  There will be rules.  Only debate with me.  No debate amongst readers, because unlike today's sports radio and message board crowds, I don't want to stifle good discussion and debate.  This is another Jerry Saltz idea that I am stealing.........Thanks Mr. Saltz!

This blog is my opinion.  Therefore, there will be a lean toward my teams, and I will not make that a secret.  I am a graduate of the University of Oklahoma.  I am a Sooner.  I have been a Cubs fan since I was about 4 years old and have been a die-hard Colts fan since they moved to Indianapolis.  And, though I'm not a big NBA fan, Kevin Durant & Co. have stolen my heart since their arrival in OKC, and I "Thunder Up" every chance I get during the winter.  If you're looking for objective writing when discussing those teams, don't read here.  You won't find it.  I will, however, stick to general sports topics and conversations when possible as to not make this a team specific blog.  That's not my vision, nor do I think it's original.

So, without further introduction, my first rant:

Yesterday in Tampa....controversy!  A check swing heard around the world.  Chants of "replay" heard from the fans at "The Trop".  Yes, there were actually "fans" there today.  And so, as I'm listening to the talking heads talk about the need for replay, I start to ask myself, "Why"?

Why does baseball need to satisfy the need for non-baseball fans to see the correct calls all of the time?  Baseball is a game of human error.  The umpires should not be expected to be perfect.  The game is imperfect.  The game is open for interpretation.  The game itself is art.

My wife and I were discussing this earlier.  I think the thing that has me hooked on the game of baseball, and has pretty much since birth, is the fact that at any point during the game, the game can be decided.  In a big football game, I'll sit on pins and needles for about a quarter.  In a big basketball game, the final two minutes are crucial.  In baseball, however, it starts from the first pitch.  Any of the 27 outs can be the deciding outs and any of the 300 or so pitches can be the crucial pitch.  In an important baseball game, you're on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Don't get me wrong, if that were the Cubs, I'd be emotional and ranting the other way.  Baseball will break your heart.  As a Cubs fan, I know about broken hearts.  Walk off home runs, errors, fan interference and yes, blown calls.  Anything can be the deciding factor.  They're all human error.  To take any of the human error out of baseball is to suck the life out of the game.  It is not a perfect game.  It's not designed to be perfect.  It's designed to be human.

So, while I can sympathize with what the twenty-three true Rays fans are feeling, (Lord knows I've been there) it does not change my opinion on instant replay in baseball.  There's no place for it.  The game does not need to be fixed.  It's not supposed to be a perfect game.  It's just supposed to be baseball.

..........And there you have it, my first blog post.  Please feel free to add your commentary.  Tell me what you like.  Tell me what you don't like.  Tell me my opinion sucks.  Whatever.  Just be prepared to back up your arguments because I'll be prepared to defend mine!