Voting
The other day, one of my suitemates/friends from my alma mater brought up the voting for this year's MLB All-Star Game in Detroit. He pondered how Chicago Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra could play the field in a wheelchair. After all, he is the leading shortstop in the National League as of today's count. So what his groin ligament tore like a well-cooked batch of BBQ ribs, he's got to find a way to honor all of those fans that voted for him!
One of the greatest dilemmas in sports deals with their exhibitions of the best players. Scratch that, these all-star contest are riddled with problems. The biggest problem, however, lies in fan voting. It is well-chronicled that a few misinformed fans screw it up for all, yet has anyone in the league office or team offices brought a solution to the table? Probably not.
Each year, analysts of each of the major sports pick their "should be" all-stars and Pro Bowlers while also pointing out their snubs, players that are left out of the party despite bringing their own credentials. Rarely is a snub left hanging because there are so many potential all-stars. This tends to be because of two factors. One is the injured big-name filling up the starting spot. The other is the big-name voted off of reputation, not the current season.
I bet you a #2 big value meal at McDonalds that you remember the NBA's great dilemma four seasons ago. Grant Hill and Alonzo Mourning, both unable to participate at all in the season were the leading small forward and center in voting for the Eastern Conference. Hill, who had just signed with Orlando during that offseason, was offset from the ankle injury that plagued him in the Detroit Pistons' playoff run the previous season. Mourning had just begun treatment for the same kidney complications that nearly ended Sean Elliot's career. Two slightly less blatant snafus occurred with players who only played a few games before the All-Star game. Recently, Vince Carter, formerly of Toronto, was the leading vote-getter for the entire league in 2002, but had only played 16 games of the first half*. He was cajoled by media, fans and peers to relinquish the spot, which he eventually did before tipoff of the game (he gave the spot to Michael Jordan). Penny Hardaway only played 19 games in the first half of the strike -shortened 1998-99 season as he was voted as a East starter. Though Carter had been accused of being voted in for the sake of excitement (his dunks), the NBA is not as notorious in having players for the sake of recognizable names as other leagues.
Major League Baseball has been at this game for years. Cal Ripken Jr. is the prime example of this. In the final eight, hell, ten years of his career, he had been playing for the Iron Man Streak. Considering the decline of the Orioles' prominence coincided with the decline of Ripken's play, most younger fans like myself were amazed that he was still playing. But he did, and despite a MVP season in 1991, Ripken was not the same player that helped build Baltimore into baseball consciousness. Possibly because there was no strong third baseman in the American League heading into his final six years (or known third baseman), Ripken always held the starting spot. I won't even mention the tipped pitch from Chan-Ho Park in 2001. Others can be thrown in such as Mark McGwire in 2001, Ken Griffey Jr. two seasons ago, Kenny Lofton and Nomar (again) in 1997... you know, I only named those that really irked me, but every season presents the same problem in baseball.
And the NFL? Explain to me why Tony Parrish didn't get the nod in 2002 over Aeneus Williams, who hadn't been a dominant defensive back since his early years in Phoenix/Arizona. How did Warren Sapp get votes for the latter years in Tampa Bay when the only QB he sacks is Brett Favre? This past season, thre were snubs of Keith Bullock (Titans) and John Henderson (Jaguars). And it's not as if most fans can name their entire team's offensive line and punt teams. Again, only those that irked me.
I brought this together because it's the same dilemma each season. Since we can get weary of the same story, I figured out a solution to end this.
First and foremost, many fans tend to forget that this is an exhibition contest, a display of the best talents at that point of the season. It should NOT COUNT! I was disappointed when Major League Baseball decided to place homefield advantage in the World Series on the line after the game in Milwaukee ended in a tie because all players had been used. I must have been the only person who could have cared less about the tie; I wanted to go to bed anyway. Yet, homefield advantage should not be alternated each season between leagues nor decided in a game of players who may not even get a sniff of the playoffs. Homefield advantage can be left for another post.
I think that the first correction lies in the printing of the ballots. Why so early? I understand that you want to get millions of people participating, but to be fair, no one should vote when teams haven't finished playing their own division at least once. For the NBA, late December is when teams begin to design their destiny (contender, middler, pretender, lottery). By late January, you know who's in and out. Voting should take place between the week of Christmas and two weeks prior to the festivities (end of January). There should also be a minimum amount of games a player has to play to be considered. By the break, each team has played an average of 50 games. Qualifing players should have played for 25 games by ballot printing. Internet ballots should be updated as a player is unavailable. Any hard copy ballot that still has the injured player's name would not be null-and-void, but the injured player would not be counted. Coaches would still be able to name reserves and substitutions, however would hold NFL like powers to remove a name if deemed necessary.
For baseball, teams are out of contention by mid-May and contenders become known by late June. The average team has played about 85-90 games by mid-July. Therefore, ballots should be release at those times, with players having to have played a minimum of 50 games. The same process for the NBA would apply, with the same judgement calls reserved for managers.
Other sports such as Major League Soccer and NHL just needs to maintain East vs. West when they return and copy the NBA as usual. Or in the case of MLS realize that they only play about 30 games.
The NFL has a great system, but not just because voting is determined by fans, coaches and players, but because by the time the Pro Bowl arrives, many players take themselves out due to nagging injuries and true respect for their peers. It is fortunate because the Pro Bowl takes places after the season ends.
Then again, maybe there should be two All-Star Games for the sports not named the National Football League. Your constant stars shine all season, not falter in the second half. The All-Star galas are, in all honesty, the fan's way of determining a star player's vacation spot for break. Let's just serve them right.
*This season as well found the repeat of the same story, only that Vinsanity did carry the Nets from his arrival after the trade.
"Say Word?!?!": My AL All Star catcher is tricky, but I decided to vote for AJ Pierzynski of the White Sox. If John Garland is going to start for the AL, then I'll go with the guy who calls the pitches. Even if the Giants once called him a clubhouse "cancer".
One of the greatest dilemmas in sports deals with their exhibitions of the best players. Scratch that, these all-star contest are riddled with problems. The biggest problem, however, lies in fan voting. It is well-chronicled that a few misinformed fans screw it up for all, yet has anyone in the league office or team offices brought a solution to the table? Probably not.
Each year, analysts of each of the major sports pick their "should be" all-stars and Pro Bowlers while also pointing out their snubs, players that are left out of the party despite bringing their own credentials. Rarely is a snub left hanging because there are so many potential all-stars. This tends to be because of two factors. One is the injured big-name filling up the starting spot. The other is the big-name voted off of reputation, not the current season.
I bet you a #2 big value meal at McDonalds that you remember the NBA's great dilemma four seasons ago. Grant Hill and Alonzo Mourning, both unable to participate at all in the season were the leading small forward and center in voting for the Eastern Conference. Hill, who had just signed with Orlando during that offseason, was offset from the ankle injury that plagued him in the Detroit Pistons' playoff run the previous season. Mourning had just begun treatment for the same kidney complications that nearly ended Sean Elliot's career. Two slightly less blatant snafus occurred with players who only played a few games before the All-Star game. Recently, Vince Carter, formerly of Toronto, was the leading vote-getter for the entire league in 2002, but had only played 16 games of the first half*. He was cajoled by media, fans and peers to relinquish the spot, which he eventually did before tipoff of the game (he gave the spot to Michael Jordan). Penny Hardaway only played 19 games in the first half of the strike -shortened 1998-99 season as he was voted as a East starter. Though Carter had been accused of being voted in for the sake of excitement (his dunks), the NBA is not as notorious in having players for the sake of recognizable names as other leagues.
Major League Baseball has been at this game for years. Cal Ripken Jr. is the prime example of this. In the final eight, hell, ten years of his career, he had been playing for the Iron Man Streak. Considering the decline of the Orioles' prominence coincided with the decline of Ripken's play, most younger fans like myself were amazed that he was still playing. But he did, and despite a MVP season in 1991, Ripken was not the same player that helped build Baltimore into baseball consciousness. Possibly because there was no strong third baseman in the American League heading into his final six years (or known third baseman), Ripken always held the starting spot. I won't even mention the tipped pitch from Chan-Ho Park in 2001. Others can be thrown in such as Mark McGwire in 2001, Ken Griffey Jr. two seasons ago, Kenny Lofton and Nomar (again) in 1997... you know, I only named those that really irked me, but every season presents the same problem in baseball.
And the NFL? Explain to me why Tony Parrish didn't get the nod in 2002 over Aeneus Williams, who hadn't been a dominant defensive back since his early years in Phoenix/Arizona. How did Warren Sapp get votes for the latter years in Tampa Bay when the only QB he sacks is Brett Favre? This past season, thre were snubs of Keith Bullock (Titans) and John Henderson (Jaguars). And it's not as if most fans can name their entire team's offensive line and punt teams. Again, only those that irked me.
I brought this together because it's the same dilemma each season. Since we can get weary of the same story, I figured out a solution to end this.
First and foremost, many fans tend to forget that this is an exhibition contest, a display of the best talents at that point of the season. It should NOT COUNT! I was disappointed when Major League Baseball decided to place homefield advantage in the World Series on the line after the game in Milwaukee ended in a tie because all players had been used. I must have been the only person who could have cared less about the tie; I wanted to go to bed anyway. Yet, homefield advantage should not be alternated each season between leagues nor decided in a game of players who may not even get a sniff of the playoffs. Homefield advantage can be left for another post.
I think that the first correction lies in the printing of the ballots. Why so early? I understand that you want to get millions of people participating, but to be fair, no one should vote when teams haven't finished playing their own division at least once. For the NBA, late December is when teams begin to design their destiny (contender, middler, pretender, lottery). By late January, you know who's in and out. Voting should take place between the week of Christmas and two weeks prior to the festivities (end of January). There should also be a minimum amount of games a player has to play to be considered. By the break, each team has played an average of 50 games. Qualifing players should have played for 25 games by ballot printing. Internet ballots should be updated as a player is unavailable. Any hard copy ballot that still has the injured player's name would not be null-and-void, but the injured player would not be counted. Coaches would still be able to name reserves and substitutions, however would hold NFL like powers to remove a name if deemed necessary.
For baseball, teams are out of contention by mid-May and contenders become known by late June. The average team has played about 85-90 games by mid-July. Therefore, ballots should be release at those times, with players having to have played a minimum of 50 games. The same process for the NBA would apply, with the same judgement calls reserved for managers.
Other sports such as Major League Soccer and NHL just needs to maintain East vs. West when they return and copy the NBA as usual. Or in the case of MLS realize that they only play about 30 games.
The NFL has a great system, but not just because voting is determined by fans, coaches and players, but because by the time the Pro Bowl arrives, many players take themselves out due to nagging injuries and true respect for their peers. It is fortunate because the Pro Bowl takes places after the season ends.
Then again, maybe there should be two All-Star Games for the sports not named the National Football League. Your constant stars shine all season, not falter in the second half. The All-Star galas are, in all honesty, the fan's way of determining a star player's vacation spot for break. Let's just serve them right.
*This season as well found the repeat of the same story, only that Vinsanity did carry the Nets from his arrival after the trade.
"Say Word?!?!": My AL All Star catcher is tricky, but I decided to vote for AJ Pierzynski of the White Sox. If John Garland is going to start for the AL, then I'll go with the guy who calls the pitches. Even if the Giants once called him a clubhouse "cancer".
posted by Jason Clinkscales @ 3:13 PM
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