I was glad to see Rick Morrissey’s column in the July 30 Tribune declaring that baseball players pointing to the sky on their home run trot misses the point. What has always bothered me about this practice is the illogic of it all. Is the home run hitter telling us that God somehow favored him in helping him hit that homer–while condemning the pitcher on the opposing team who gave it up? How do you think that makes the poor pitcher feel to know God was frowning upon him? We must remember that God is not the captain of either team, and we would all be better off if the practice were discontinued throughout the majors.
It’s interesting to note that this sky-pointing practice was long ago outlawed in the NFL. When a player scores a TD, he is free to run all around in the end zone, hug the fans, embrace his teammates, roll around on the turf, whatever, but he may not indulge in any religious gestures including pointing to the heavens.
Come on, Commissioner Selig, let’s outlaw it in Major League Baseball too! Let the players take credit for their skills and their talent. That’s where it belongs.
