SubscribeAnother crisis averted
I received a press release from the office of Dr. Jeffrey S. Gurock, the Libby M. Klaperman Professor of Jewish History at Yeshiva University and author of Judaism’s Encounter with American Sports (excellent book, by the way), taking both ESPN and Major League Baseball to task for switching the game between the Yankees and Red Sox, originally scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium, to 8 p.m. to accommodate the sports cable channel.
I include the statement in its entirety:
Once again, a major American sports enterprise has to be reminded that the religious interests of this country’s Jews, loyal both to their home teams and to their faith, demand respect. ESPN has apparently prevailed upon Major League Baseball to move the starting time of the Red Sox-Yankees game to 8 p.m. on the eve of Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day, inconveniencing those who observe this holiday.
It is a distant replay of a comparable problem several months ago when the National Football League initially scheduled the New York Jets at 4 p.m. The game would have concluded after the fast day commenced — again to the discomfort and chagrin of Jewish seat-holders. These long-term consumers of the professional sports product will — in due course, if not immediately — upbraid those who are so thoughtless or insensitive. And if the recent past provides a track record, the offenders will most likely back-pedal in the face of these ardent defenders of Jewish rights.
But whether or not the Jews “win” this time out, their efforts in protecting their rights, and yes, privileges, speak to their comfort zone within America. It is no longer a question of whether an individual Jewish ball player will be forced to play or be given a pass on his holy day. They turned that corner 44 years ago with Sandy Koufax’s iconic stance. That particular athletes might today choose to compete rather than to observe speaks more to the personal dilemmas of Jewish identity that trouble the community and not to external prejudice.
What the predictable Jewish response represents is an assertion that they are so much part of this country that all concerned must take cognizance of that minority group’s inviolable, if particular, religious clock and calendar. Sports activities, it has been said, are community-defining situations. Today’s American Jews count themselves squarely within that line-up. Let the protests begin.
I wrote an email to Pam Ganley, director of media relations for the Red Sox, mostly to ask what Kevin Youkilis might do on erev Yom Kippur. After all, it’s an annual problem and he’s a high profile J (the last big name to sit out for YK was Shawn Green, then a member of the LA Dodgers). There are several teams with Jewish players who are still — as of this writing — in post-season contention. There are no night games scheduled for Sept. 27, and just a handful involving JML on Yom Kippur day, including Ian Kinsler and Scott Feldman of the Rangers (scheduled for a 7:05 PCT start against the Angels and Feldman not not be scheduled anyway); Gabe Kapler of Tampa Bay (7:08 against Baltimore, although Kapler doesn’t start that much); and Brad Ausmus on the Dodgers (12:35 start against the Pirates, but he’s like Kapler).
Anyway, it seems like those protests won’t be necessary. Ganley sent me the statement issued by MLB this afternoon. Commissioner Bud Selig — who is Jewish — was actually proactive here, perhaps sensing the tumult this would cause.
Major League Baseball and ESPN have agreed to move the September 27th Boston Red Sox – New York Yankees game in New York from 8:00 p.m. (EDT) to 1:00 p.m. (EDT) so as to not conflict with Yom Kippur.
“I am pleased we were able to resolve this sensitive issue that impacted many baseball fans and are able to move the game at Yankee Stadium to 1:00 p.m. (ET),” said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. “I want to thank our broadcast partners at ESPN, especially ESPN President George Bodenheimer, for their support and for working with us to adjust the timing of this game which has allowed us to solve this conflict.”
(Wonder how much that cost.) Of course, none of this would have been necessary if they had just left the originally start time alone.
This wouldn’t have been a problem had ESPN not chosen a game that is ultimately meaningless to the standings anyway. Why not show us a game that features teams still in a playoff race (Tigers, Twins, anyone?)? Or maybe give the rest of the country the chance to see Zack Grienke, the best pitcher in baseball, in action?
Just goes to show how out of touch ESPN is with its viewership. When you don’t have competition, these things happen.
I hear ya, but I can see ESPN’s point of view.
What does ESPN want? Big ratings. Where are they going to get them? In the major markets, like New York and New England. That’s the same rationale that prefers the dull Yankees in seven games in the World Series rather than a Cinderella story club like the Rays.