On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 21:05:18 -0600, Don Sanderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Bob, you apparently missed the fact that I was responding to > Mishka's comment that as long as you play by the rules you > aren't an ass or whatever. <snip>
In 1970, Pete Rose was at the height of his career. "Charlie Hustle" was the personification of the "everyguy": not huge on talent, he got to the top on sheer determination and guts. (BTW, I'm talking baseball here, for those of you who don't know). That year, Rose was in the All Star game for the National League team. In the 12th inning of that game (overtime), Rose rounded third, and came home. A great throw got the ball to catcher Ray Fosse in plenty of time to tag Rose out, and Fosse moved up the line toward third to block home plate, to effect said tag. Rather than slide into home, Rose put his shoulder down, and steamrollered over Fosse, in an attempt to knock the ball loose (the only possible way for Rose to score). It was a horrible collision; Fosse ended up on his back, and couldn't hold onto the ball. Rose scored, the National League won. Although Fosse played again, his career was essentially over - he never really recovered from the blow. So, what has all this to do with this thread? Well, when a catcher moves up the line to block the plate, it's within the rules for a base runner to "run over him" to get to home. Rose was within the rules of the game. BUT, it was an All Star (exhibition) game. It meant nothing. Even if it was a regular season game, is it worth endangering someone's life, even if it's within the rules? Here's my point. Rose may not have broken any rules (on that play), but he was still an asshole. Rules often indicate only a minimum required behaviour, not a golden standard. Playing barely within the rules doesn't mean that one is being moral or is even much above reprehensable. Sorry for that long post, but I've long had a pet peeve WRT those that equate "legal" with "ethical"... thanks for listening to this rather long diatribe. cheers, frank -- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson
