HISTORICAL: To go back to a simpler time when “baseball” was fun and relaxing

Friday, August 21, 2026

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On Aug 19, 2026, at 5:24 AM, reinkefj via gmail wrote to LUDDITE:

Brewers match modern-era record with 22-0 beatdown of Mariners https://nypost.com/2026/08/18/sports/brewers-match-modern-era-record-with-22-0-beatdown-of-mariners/

No mercy rule??? Pity the poor losing team’s fans!

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On Wed, Aug 19, 2026 at 8:00 AM LUDDITE wrote:

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Laugh mercy rules are for kids, like participation trophies! They just have to suck it up!

Sent from my iPad

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I guess that when they went from the “boys of summer” to MP4Bs [MP4B = “Millionaires Playing For Billionaires”], they lost the “mercy rule” from their playbook.

In the old old days, I remember when if a team “embarrassed” an opponent, the next time they met (ever) the lead off batter would get a deliberate “wild pitch”.

If the manager was Casey Stengel or Billy Martin, and they were really <synonym for having produced lots of urine output>, the lead off batter would get a “head shot”. Or even maybe other batters sprinkled through out the line up so no one knew when or what was coming.

“Come backs” from BIG leads (I think it was like 6 runs) were rare because both teams fiollowed the “unwritten rules” of baseball etiquette. Everything is different now that Big Bucks are in play.

Argh! To go back to a simpler time when “baseball” was fun and relaxing and not a “money grab”?

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INSPIRATIONAL: A negative example should trigger positive responses?

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

On Oct 2, 2022, at 9:15 AM, Ferdinand Reinke\ wrote:

Greg Schiano, Ryan Day have words after Ohio State’s fake punt

https://nypost.com/2022/10/01/greg-schiano-ryan-day-have-words-after-ohio-states-fake-punt/

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On Sun, Oct 2, 2022 at 9:54 AM my Old Luddite friend wrote:

Arrogant Ohio State, and they wonder why they are hated

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Agree.  But “hated” is imho to strong a word; “not admired” would be my word.  I “admire” true sportsmanship.  Special Olympics, big pros who try to help and inspire little kids, Roberto Clementi, Sadio Mane with his broken iphone11 are the ones who exemplify the essence of humanity I hope I can emulate.

Crazy Old Ferd

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Hope more MP4B = “Millionaires Playing For Billionaires” can emulate good sportsmanship and remember that we are all brothers.

Isn’t there a saying “to whom much is give, much is expected”?

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RANT: Sportsmanship missing

Sunday, January 29, 2012

5:27 first half of Michigan Ohio State …

… in real time in looked like the Michigan guard creamed the Ohio State player …

… on replay it’s obvious that it was a flop …

… the refs were ready to call a flagrant, but went to the video replay …

… changed it to a no call …

 

Sorry not good enough for me.

The flopping player should get a technical for “bad acting”, delay of game, or unsportsmanlike conduct.

If the refs were going to toss the Michigan guard for rough play, then the Ohio State player should be at risk of the same penalty.

 

Argh!

 

Play hard, but it always has to be “honest”.

 

Argh!

 

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