I see by a story in today’s The
Athletic that a fight may be brewing between MLB players and owners over
pay. Right now, both sides have agreed
to a prorated pay formula based on the length of season, should there be one. But that agreement was predicated on the
assumption there would be fans in the stands.
Playing in otherwise empty venues will mean even less revenue, and
owners are the type who always want others to share their pain.
The temptation for fans may be to
say, That’s their problem. Don’t be so
sure. I can see a scenario where owners
and players unite in a push to charge fans to watch or listen to games. Imagine the ad campaign: “Do Your Part, Like Us” or “Rickey Henderson
Can Steal, Not You” or “Help Keep Us Out of the Poorhouse.” OK, not that last one, but baseball will make
it plain that fans have an obligation to pitch in these troubling times.
At which point I may have to
decide how baseball is worth to me, both in the literal and figurative
sense. Here’s hoping it never comes to
that.
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