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THE MAGIC OF BASEBALL

I saw Billy Crystal's awesome movie, "61*," on HBO this weekend -- the story of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle during the summer of 1961, both team-mates on the Yankees trying to break the homerun record of the greatest Yankee who ever lived, Babe Ruth. What is it about baseball that makes it such a wonderful subject for stories of emotion and mythic charm?



Baseball's history and pastural nostalgia make it the perfect setting for such fantasy tales as Field of Dreams or The Natural. There's something about being out there under an open sky, playing on the green grass and brown dirt, smelling the hot peanuts and cotton candy and hotdogs and beer, hearing the crack of the wooden bat or the slap of the leather glove catching the stitched hardball. (Forget the blasphemy known as artificial turf and domed arenas.) It takes us back to another time, maybe even another place, a dreamland where time is changed and is counted by strikes and balls and outs and innings instead of seconds and minutes and hours. Even baseball movies without a fantasy element somehow have a magical aura about them -- movies like Pride of the Yankees and Bull Durham and yes, even something as silly as The Bad News Bears or Angels in the Outfield or even Major League (okay, I'm stretching it with Major League, but you get my point).

Other sports have arguably had some great movies made about them (although I'd have to think hard to name some true classics), but there's something about baseball. Maybe it's baseball's unique nature. It's not just a physical game, it's a thinking man's game as well. It's so unlike other goal-oriented sports. But above all, it's a unique little game that combines the elements of teamwork and individual accomplishment like no other.

So "61*" really struck a nerve with me. I hope you all got a chance to see it. It really captured the spirit of why this game has been called America's national pastime. And in an age of videogames and television and the Internet, it reminded me exactly why people like me still love this game so much and why on any given summer evening before the sun sets and gives way to darkness, you'll see and hear dads and sons, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors going outside for a game of catch.

Play ball...
posted by Nick at 5:37 PM [edit]

KRAMER FOR MAYOR?

Kenny Kramer, the crazy real-life dude who inspired SEINFELD's zany character Cosmo Kramer (pictured below), has announced that he will run for Mayor of New York City in the next election as the official candidate of the Libertarian Party. He is just one of many celebrities who have been tempted to enter the political arena. Is this a good thing, or just another sign of the apocalypse?



What's wrong with celebrities running for public office, you may ask. If they're citizens, they have ever right to represent us and be our leaders. Weren't Sonny Bono and Clint Eastwood and the LOVE BOAT's Gopher fine examples of politicians? (Not to mention that b-movie actor, what was his name, oh yes, Ronald Reagan.)



The problem isn't that celebrities are any worse than the other politicians we have out there now. Political scandals and corruption and ineptitude have caused the populace to view our political leaders with skepticism, cynism, and at times outright disgust. And celebrities, like actors, musicians, sports stars, etc., are familiar personalities, often no worse than the suits in Washington or local governments that they attempt to replace. I don't think professional wrestler/action star Jesse "The Body" Ventura has necessarily done a bad job as Governmor of Minnesota for example. (He's actually managed to finally put that small state in the national spotlight, a feat last accomplished by the Coen Brothers in the movie FARGO.) But that's saying something, isn't it, when a performer, an entertainer, with limited legislative and governing experience can run a State without running it to the ground?



Now there's word that Arnold Schwarzenegger might someday run to be Governor of California. Yes, the Terminator heading one of America's largest states. Hey, don't get me wrong, I like Arnie. Ahnold knows how to pump us up at the box-office (he needs a big hit after a string of recent flops, but that's a discussion for another day). But isn't it sad that you seem to need to be a millionaire or a celebrity to run for major public office nowadays?



Our founding fathers never intended for our country to be run by career politicians. Nowadays, you need to be rich just to afford television advertising. A system should be created to encourage the media to mix more public service enlightment with its commercial culture entertainment. A poor small business owner or a brilliant but far from politically connected college professor with innovative ideas and proven leadership skills who care about their communities should not be hindered from seeking high public office simply because they can't afford to run a campaign. If we don't realize this, then what's next? Britney Spears for Mayor? Tom Green for Governor? Howard Stern for President of the United States of America? Hey, they might do a good job. But other non-celebrities might do a GREAT job if only they got the chance.

Peace out.

-- The Wit and Wisdom of the Great and Powerful Kik.

posted by Nick at 4:57 PM [edit]

Ladies and gentlemen, drumroll please...

WELCOME TO THE CITY OF KIK!

This will be my cyber-home, where I'll post my "official" commentary on the world of media and entertainment. So all you Kik Fans and Foes who have been mourning the loss of Kik's Picks and Pans Website, rest assured, it's slowly coming back. I'll be posting my little essays here every weekday God-willing (with weekends and holidays and vacation days off unless something major sparks me to write). The City-of-Kik e-mail list is still in full force, so if you haven't done so, sign up (it's free) and join in the conversations. I'll be adding some of the best tidbits by the Kik citizens right here for all to see. So add your voice to the debates and you just might see your name in lights! In the meantime, drop me a line at kikstad@aol.com and share your thoughts, suggestions and feedback. Remember, don't just be a Naysayer of Doom. By all means, view the world with a critical eye, but see the rainbows too. As you analyze the good and the bad, point out ways to make the crap good and the good even better. Peace out.

-- The Wit and Wisdom of the Great and Powerful Kik.
posted by Nick at 10:31 PM [edit]

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Welcome to the City of Kik, the place to discuss media, entertainment, and speculative fiction.

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posted by Nick at 1:35 PM [edit]