The Average White Guy
So much crap, so little time.
Protest the Pittsburgh Pirates
Author: The Average White Guy12 Jun 2007
Well sports fans…who’d have ever thought it might come to this, but it has. On Saturday June 30, 2007, the truly faithful Pittsburgh Pirate fans intend to demonstrate their frustration with the team. I’m not talking about the team on the field; I’m talking of course about the ownership group (Kevin McClatchy & Bob Nutting) who is now responsible for 14 consecutive losing seasons and a jumpstart start on the 15th. Should the bucs make it to 15 seasons, they would tie the record for most consecutive losing seasons in professional sports history. Yes, that’s correct - not just a baseball record, a pro sports record.
The demonstration calls for all Pirate fans to sport green shirts to the game that evening. This would represent the money the fans generate through ticket sales and merchandising. At the end of the third inning all fans should get up and walk out of PNC Park. This demonstration signifies the exit of the money from the fans. I believe there’ll be a demonstration rally outside the ballpark following the mass exodus.
Of course this demonstration only works if the fans don’t return to the ballpark until the necessary changes are made. It’s kind of a pointless demonstration if all we did was miss 6 innings of baseball. (after having purchased tickets anyhow!) I’ve been a fan all my life, and in the face of all those who said I was a fool for believing every year, I continued to believe the team would be better this year than it was last year. Although the winning percentage fluctuates from season to season, the fluctuation never matters… all those seasons ended in failure.
If you’re not from Pittsburgh, or you’re not an avid baseball/Pirate fan, I should mention what really makes us mad. It’s not so much as it is the colossal profits the team’s ownership group is making from it’s failure. In 2006, the Pirates franchise was the 3rd most profitable team in the major leagues. Yes, you heard that right… The 2006 Pittsburgh Pirates were the third most profitable team in the league, while posting the 4th WORST winnning percentage. (.414) How is that possible?! Well it’s wholey possible because fans still showed up…. 1.) Because of the All-Star game, and 2.) Bobble Heads & Fireworks nights. Isn’t it about time that we demanded more than knick-knacks and explosives from our PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM?
I’ll be at the game that night. I’ll be wearing my green and I am prepared to leave the game between the 3rd and 4th innnings, although I hate leaving a ballgame early! I’ll demonstrate with my fellow fans afterward. I’ll even write the letters to the team. What I won’t do is contribute another bloody penny to that team by buying tickets, merchandise, or anything else until I see something worth spending my money on.
I encourage you to attend the game that evening if you can. I also encourage you to leave a comment on this post if you’re going to be there. It could be like a registry of those who are fed up. Whether you can or can’t attend, please forward this to everyone who you know would be interested. Since it’s a mass demonstration, the more we get, the better the results will be.
“Take me out to the ball game…
Take me out with the crowd…
Buy me some peanuts and cracker-jacks…
I don’t care if I ever get back….
For, it’s root, root, root for the Pi-rates…
If they don’t win, it’s the same…
For it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out…
at the old…ball…game!”
I’ sing this at the 7th inning stretch every time I go to a game… I’d love to sing it the way it’s supposed to be, so help me please?
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111 Responses for "Protest the Pittsburgh Pirates"
Looks like I’ll win another bet from the Average White Guy -
On a serious note, I would like to think this will have an impact, but it won’t. Since the Pirates are going o get X amount from top spending teams like the Yankees, and the idiot fans keep on showing up (sorry, white guy), they have *no* reason to make a better product. Since they exist in a business with only 29 other teams, they are in a powerful position.
Throw in the fact that they have some 25 years left on the lease, what would motivate them to have a winning team?
And it’s not just the ownership as well - it’s all of baseball. The Yankees don’t mind paying the Pirates that money because as soon as Jason Bay becomes a free agent, guess who’ll be there to get him? So to teams like the Yankees, the Pirates are an expensive farm team. This is why I hate professional baseball. It’s fun to play, but not the way those clowns have f*cked up the game.
And when you look at the NFL and how they can legitimately sell every year what MLB can’t: Hope. It’s the hope that this year, your team can go all the way, this simply isn ‘t true in MLB.
F Baseball, and the Pirates Ownership.
Thanks factpile…you’re absolutely correct. While the ownership currently has no reason to fix up the team, they won’t improve. The purpose of this demonstration is start a movement which will cut into the ticket sales and merchandise revenue which the ownership is making its profit on.
If the fans don’t show up, there’s no money. If there’s no money, it’s not worth it for McAsshole and Nutthead to keep putting the poop on the field.
As it applied to the revenue sharing/luxury tax monies coming from the other teams in the league: It won’t be long before those owners who are paying the Pirates their shares get bent over the owners pocketing their cash and demand the luxury tax be cancelled. I know I wouldn’t want to contribute to your personal wealth without getting anything in return.
As for the payroll model: I don’t think you can compare MLB with the NFL. It’s not really the same thing. With so much of an NFL team’s revenue coming from the TV deals and networks, and almost ALL baseball played on local affiliate stations, you can’t really see them the same way. You CAN however look at the model the NHL is using, wherein each team is required to spend a minimum payroll each year. If MLB said each team HAD to spend $70 million, baseball would be a whole different animal.
As this applies the Pirates ownership specifically, one of the conditions of the public money for PNC and the team, was that McClatchy was to spend $50 million minimum on building a competitive ball club. Last year he spent $43 million, which was the closest to that $50 million-dollar watermark they ever got, and a lot of that $43 million was spent paying the Oakland A’s for Jason Kendall’s ill-advised 10-year contract. McClatchy and Nutting aren’t just bad for the game, they’re outright liars, and we’ve had enough.
To anyone else who’s reading this and planning to join the revolt.. We ought to sing “We’re not gonna take it” on the way out. Stay hot, Pittsburgh.
It could work…
On the other hand, remember where you are - The Pittsburgh Pirate Ownership is banking on the fact that there are enough idiots within driving distance of PNC Park to keep the money flowing and so far, they have been right. Protests of this nature look good on paper, but like any boycott, there has to be total participation for there to be any real effect. The average Pirate fan (the ones still attending) doesn’t get it and probably never will.
If I attend this event, and I have not yet decided, my green shirt will read “I’m NOT coming back” on the back. As a true Pirate fan who can remember Forbes Field, attended the first night World Series game at 3RS, AND shook hands with Roberto Clemente just minutes after hit # 3000, I have closed my wallet to them for five years now. Due to the current state of baseball and professional sports in general, it not worth watching or spending a dime on… I hope this has an effect, but I really have my doubts. Pirate ownership is laughing at the fans all the way to the bank!
you are really stupid for doing this, you wont change anything and you arent going to demonstrate anything… you are just going to ruin the game and the pirates team for everyone else…
you are taking it way to seriously
I long ago walked out on the Pirates and haven’t returned. Your protest is years late but I wish you “green” anyway…
White guy, I appreciate your dedication and trying to making the Pirates a winning organization again. On the otherhand, I think walking out on the team is going to be a slap in the player’s faces. I realize that it is not your intent to insult the players. Those players go out every day and play as hard as they can and we know that it does not end in victory too often. The message that your “walk-out” is sending me is that the owners are not willing to spend the money on good players (which I understand) and the players we have now “suck”. I agree with a protest, but I feel we should still show up for the games and show support to the players but not buy the beer, cracker jacks, peanuts, etc. This is where they make their money.
Given the luxury tax, the owners will get their money no matter what. Has anyone thought of hitting them in other places? Don’t the Nuttings own Seven Springs? Imagine those slopes empty next winter. No luxury tax to save them there.
just go and dont buy the things there…. duh… your lame
you really think you are going to change the whole organization?
also you are blowing everything out of proportion… its just a game… and no true, faithful pirate fan would do this protest
you are taking the game of baseball way tooooooo seriously
if you dont want to get “robbed” by the pirates then just dont come ever to a game… why do you insist on making a big deal and interfering with the game that day…
there are better ways to express your frustration, even though your frustration is clearly misplaced and judgemental.
next thing you know you will protest movie ticket prices and how the movie wasnt up to your standards
Thank you all for your comments, both complimentary and critical; I don’t turn away any comment that’s legitimate. I’ve gotta respond to some of your notions however…
“The walkout is a slap in the face to the players…”
–Why do teachers strike during a school year? Wouldn’t striking while class is in session essentially be slapping the students in the face too? Sure, but that’s acceptable and it is understood that the reason they strike when they do is because if they went on strike in the summer, it wouldn’t have an impact.
“I take this way too seriously.”
–Isn’t it about time someone does take this seriously? There is an entire generation of Pittsburghers out there who are apathetic to the Pirates losing ways because they never knew it could be different.
“next thing you know you will protest movie ticket prices and how the movie wasnt up to your standards”
–If my tax money went into the movie theater where these movies are playing, you’re damn right I’d protest that too. We were sold an idea in exchange for our tax dollars. We paid, but didn’t get what we were promised. If you ordered an item from amazon.com, paid with your credit account, and never got the item you purchased, what would you do? Why should this be any different.
“I’m going about this the wrong way…”
–Do you have any suggestions? What else would work? Believe me, if there are ideas out there, I’d gladly support them.
“The profit money is coming from the MLB luxury tax.”
–This is true. At some point the other teams who are lining the coffers for McClatchy and Nutting will voice their frustration with the flaw in the system and demand MLB change the rule.
Folks, don’t you realize the Pirates have been selling us that “We Will” slogan for years now? “We Will” means: “We Will…at our convenience and discretion.” or “We Will…if only by accident” The ownership of this team “Will not” unless we stop feeding their profit machine. Join us.
Way to try and be foolish while the club is actually on the incline. You cant become amazing overnight. Progressively, the team is getting better and you need to stop being stupid while attempting a walkout. Until the MLB gets a set in stone cap, teams like the pirates who have the 4th(i believe) lowest payroll in the league will continue to blunder. FORGET HAVING A CONSISTENTLY WINNING TEAM BUDDY. Like Paul said, we are merely an expensive farm system for the teams that actually can throw money around.
I don’t mean to be harsh but, sometimes reality needs to be pounded into a true fan. I was once you, yes, i complained and whined every time we got rid of a good player and we went from decent back to crappy. BUT THEN, someone convinced me that ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.
Feel free to email me, i am a friendly person.
i will be at the game, but im not walking out on the team i grew up on. If you really want results demand the owners to sell the team to Mark Cuban.
Let me try to express my feelings in way that perhaps the owner can understand.Mr Nutting and other owners asked for a received a new place for their productions.Since that team the product has become dismal and less promising.The investors hasn’t received a divdend for their investments.As an investor by virtue of being a tax payer,I have chosen to place my income in another product.Hopefully other investors will take an agonizing look at ownerships results.If this team was listed on the New York Stock Exchange everyone could see the abysmal failures.Ownership and management together has not, cannot or will not keep the good faith promises they made.Local government opposed the wishes of the investors,leaving us with a less than desirable product. A product that can’t support itself in an open and free market. I’m cutting my losses and diverting funds into other markets. Regrettably the future of this business seems as dismal as the present. The horizon and future is void of hope.Mr.Nutting, Mr.Littlefield will you please consider selling your product before there’s a hostile take-over movement.
although i agree with the protest, dont you think its a little overdue???
i just hope it works…look at the detroit lions fans, they attempt a protest almost every other year, and no one ends up leaving…
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. THE FACT THAT THIS IS ON THE NEWS WEBSITES IT WILL REACH ENOUGH PEOPLE AND WILL WORK!
BOYCOTT PIRATES!!!!!
I never in a million years thought I would ever see the day when our Pirates would have to bribe people with free gifts to come watch them. It was a big thing to go see a game when I was a kid. We couldn’t wait to go because it was great to see them win a game! Now I have kids and the only reason they ever want to go is to get the stupid bobble heads they use to get people there. They sure are not going to see a winning team. I admire your ability to stand up and say enough is enough! I agree whole heartedly. I have not been to a game this year and I may not go to a game at all. I wish you the best of luck and hope that it will have some impact. I think everyone should just quit going to the games all together. That would get there balls. But, until people stop taking the bait on the “gifts” (bribes as I see it)and stand up like you have done and say enough it will continue to happen. I look forward to seeing just how many of you out there are mad enough to walk out on the 30th.
Not going to thegames would work better. If you walk out of the game you still have put money in the pot when you get the ticket.
Have something outside. tell others not to get tickets but to come to something out side the park.
When people spend the money on tickets thats is all they care about.
jt604 wrote: “Not going to thegames would work better. If you walk out of the game you still have put money in the pot when you get the ticket.”
I’m willing to bear the price of one ticket for the demonstration. The mission is to make this the last ticket until something changes.
Just adding my two cents…I live in Johnstown and go to Pirate games whenever I can. I would take part in your protest IF I lived in Pittsburgh AND made more money. But I can’t justify driving there (2 hours) buying the ticket and then only staying for three innings. If you said walk out after the 7th MAYBE I’d consider this. So not the best idea I’d say. But I’d be curious to see how many people actually do it.
Average white guy is 100% correct. However, his solution requires too much effort. The solution is, Stop showing up. Do not spend another penny toward the Pirates organization including parking tickets, merchandise, and concessions. The attendance will take care of itself. It will slowly decline over the next few years because their future is bleak. They have no talent in their minor league system, no one to scout talent, and no one to teach the players they have. So relax, ownership will start feeling the pinch.
Mark: The idea is to walk out on June 30, and stop spending on the Pirates then. It’s a public demonstration to kick off exactly what you’re calling for. It’s not too much work - at least I don’t think so. It’s worth the effort to raise awareness about the lack of effort being put forth by the ownership. It’s worth the cost of a ticket to show the other fans and team we mean business. Thanks for the comment.
Type your comment here. I think it is about time! It makes me sick that “we” built this stadium for a bunch of losers! Thank God I only went one time to see them lose! IF I was a die hard Pirate FAN, I wouldn’t go near the team with a ten foot pole!
I wanted to take my grandson this season, but opted out since I knew there was no chance of a win, but most important, was the idea of “paying them to lose.”
Good Luck, hope the strike is a WINNER!
Perhaps everyone protesting should also wear a paper bag over their heads. Imagine a stadium “full” of green shirted fans who are ashamed to show their faces in the park. I think this would make an even greater impact and be quite hilarious to watch on the sportscenter highlights.
Jason: I love it…I LOVE IT!
I’ll be at the game, it will be my sons first game, we are making the trip from Iowa to see the Pirates. I will gladly walk out of the playing area, but I hate to lose 2/3 of my sons first game due this ownership.
i am coming!…But I would like to know where this protest will be held???..at one of the statues?
The protest will be held on Federal Street.
Here are the specs for the protest:
FANS FOR CHANGE
Pirate Fan Protest: June 30th, 2007, PNC Park
• Pre-game protest & petition signing on Federal Street 5 PM – 7 PM
• Fan “walk-out” following conclusion of third inning
To obtain a Fans for Change protest flyer via email, contact: pittsburghforchange@yahoo.com
These flyers are currently being distributed around the Pittsburgh area…but we need to gain more support.
Contact the email address above and join the cause!
We need you Pittsburgh!
Everyone should throw their green shirts on the field before leaving, to symbolize throwing money away on this franchise for a decade and a half.
The pirates current ownership has proven themselves miserably. I also am willing to participate(unless the bucs are up 3 runs…j/k)but have my doubts about the impact this will have. What needs to happen is to make the nuttings and co feel unwelcome in their own house, and the best way is through their pocketbooks. We must see if there is any shame in getting rich…at the expense of thousands of others. Best of luck, Im with you. Lets give these bastards more than a piece of our minds…lets take dollars away from them. As far as the players go, do you think Jack W. enjoys losing 6 of every 10 games? I think our sentiments will be appreciated.
i might not go to the game, but i would where a green shirt outside just to say “this is the money that isn’t and has never gone to your organization”, i think that 10% or better of pittsburgh’feels that way even if they don’t say it….
Finally! I’m glad to hear some Pirate fans are going to take a stand. I sincerely hope the protest has many participants. I moved from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles about 3 years ago. I have wrote letters to the Post-Gazette asking the fans why do they put up with such an inferior product. I now hope for the Pirates to lose thinking the fans will come to their senses and stop going to games. The Pirates are the most embarassing team in professional sports. I was in awe when I found out the team was just starting to scout players in the Dominican. That is unbelievable. I hope the class action lawsuit sticks and the owners are forced to sell. Good luck on the 30th!
I just moved out of pittsburgh and wish I could get back for this. Make sure you bring extra green shirts in case anyone you meet outside before the game wants to join in!
The best way to protest is not go to the games. Dont watch on TV or listen on the radio either. You can not shame this ownership group. When Mike Keaton ripped them and it was the lead story on the news, nothing happened. Indifference and apathy is what hurts and in the end that drops revenue which is what will get Nuttings attention. Some make a point about MLB’s screwed up economics which gives owners like the Nutting’s welfare and they have no incentive to win and are in the black before a ticket is sold. That may be true but less tix sold means less revenue. Two wrongs dont make a right. If you dont like Wal-Mart do you still buy from them? So why buy a ticket from Nuttings to protest?The Pirates have you emotionaly tied to them, and the owners know it and count on your emotions. Tough love is needed. Seperate, get away and dont come back untill you feel they truly want to win. Or are you too weak?….like a addict who needs the fix? Your choice.
Like Dana posted in comment #22, I’m coming in from four hours out for the one Pirates homestand I catch a year…there’s no way I can justify walking out in the 3rd in protest…besides fans of the Royals did something similar to this a few years ago during a Yankees series and look what good it did for that team.
This will be a noble but futile jesture…my heart may be with you, but my body isn’t moving from my seat. If I lived in the city or nearby, that’d be a different story, but not when I’m coming in from so far away, sorry.
I will be there. I live in TX now and I am making the trip up to protest. I come back to Pittsburgh two or three times a summer to go to Bucco games. I stay in hotels and eat at local restaurants. This will be the last time until this ownership shows a commitment to winning.
The unfortunate side of this is that the hotels and other businesses I frequent on these trip will suffer as well, but maybe local businesses need to suffer so they can start putting pressure on this horrible ownership.
I’ve seen people say this protest will not work and maybe it won’t but I will feel better knowing that at least I tried to be part of the solution instead of contributing to the problem.
I have lived all over the country and I am proud to tell others that I grew up Pittsburgh. I am no longer proud to tell others I am a Pirates fan - this has too change.
I will be there with my green shirt.
Why not walk-out after the first pirates batting out in the third? People leaving during the middle of an inning says more. Plus then the cameras will definately be on. Walking out.
White Guy,
I both agree and disagree with what you’re doing, if that’s possible.
I agree that something should be done. I disagree, however, with your underlying assumption here, which is that the Bucs stink because of cheapness/greed alone (or mostly because of that). I would argue that the crux of the problem has been player evaluation and personnel decisions — most of them having little to do with money.
To boycott the team would simply ensure that they will never be successful. If the fans stay away, there will be even less money. This is a no-win situation for you, and for all of us, until management is overhauled. Crying about money only goes so far when plenty of other teams have succeeded in short stints with payrolls not unlike the Pirates’.
I’d also like to point out that looking at this team from any vantage point, it is much improved from previous years, even though the wins and losses have yet to bear that out. In fact, the Bucs made moves last offseason that were lauded by sabremetricians and regular fans alike, and they shunned the foolishness of signing folks like Randa and Burnitz.
Who cares what the players think? Are you really concerned about their feelings? Will they become depressed and cry to their wives/girlfriends all the time? IT’S NOT FAIR. Give me a break.
I hate the ownership just as much as you do, but I could care less whether they improve or not. I like having section 511 all to myself whenever I go to games. Protests are meaningless. Why would the Nuttings think twice about you not you going to the games? I think it’s been well documented that they’ll be compensated one way or another. They have the power to make the decisions, and unfortunately for us, they also have the power to not care. That’s just the way it is. Choose not to go, but don’t think you’re doing anything great by staging a protest and signing a petition. Just stop caring. Do something else with your time. I did.
I’m not mad. I’m not frustrated. I just know when to cut my losses and move on. That’s what I did with the Pirates. I would advise you all to do the same.
Also, I’ll be out of town, but if any of you in Pittsburgh were smart, you’d be printing up a bunch of cheap green protest shirts and sell them in the parking lots before the game.
I am 25 years old, and I have been a Buccos fan my entire life. I grew up in Greensburg just outside of Pittsburgh. I can say I’m guilty of truely believing they are going to be better EVERY year!!! And every year I get kicked in the balls! I have recently moved to New Jersey where I am surrounded by Yankees and Phillies fans, and these people think i am COMPLETELY NUTS when I tell them I like the pirates! I will never become a fan of these other teams however, I am thinking about never coming back home to go to a game. Especially till something changes! Pittsburgh fans are to good of fans and people to be getting crapped on like this for 15 years!!
WE WANT MARK CUBAN!!!!
I think the walkout is a great idea and I’m glad someone finally is doing something!!! I wish i was there to take part in the festivities. I’ll will be wearing my green shirt that day.
F the pirates management!!!
I am fifteen years old and i play a few sports but by far baseball is my favorite. I loved the pirates every year of my life and hoped that next year would be the year they would break .500. I didn’t understand up to a month ago why they could never get better players to make a better team. I am not used to watching my beloved Pittsburgh teams i.e. The Pens and Steelers, lose. It breaks my heart to go and watch a pirates game but i continue to do so every year. When i found out Mark Cuban was trying to buy the pirates i was ecstatic and when i heard that they wouldn’t sell the team to one of Pittsburgh’s own i was outraged. McClatchy and Nutting have pissed me off for to long. For those of you who say that this is useless and it will never work, would you rather sit on your ass and do nothing. If anything this will at least make a statement to the management that we are fed up with their shit. I WILL be there June 30th and I WILL be wearing a green shirt, and I’ll be damned if my exact feelings aren’t written on the back. I have suffered for far to long which has been all my life (i was born the year the pirates last had a winning season). Mark Cuban was the answer and the management turned them down for their own selfish wants. As much as I love my pirates I think some tough love is needed and i will be there. Haha i like the comment about wearing paper bags and i will have to oblige
Ah by the way here is a great video i have shown the people around me to support the protest and come out on June 30th
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM1QLEA5oUA
The pirates have been terrible since I was 12. In the last 15 years, I’ve purchased one ticket, only to see PNC park in person. I spent half the game in the hallways watching the Penguins on the tube.
The point - I’ve been boycotting the Pirates for 15 years and they still fill the park with a bunch of firework and bobble-head loving ass clowns, many of which commented here. Nothing will change.
One of the ass clowns here said the Pirates are on the “incline” and “you can’t become amazing overnight.” He must have been a pre-pubecent dreamer. No rational, grown man would use “Pirates” and “amazing” in the same sentence, unless of course connected by “sure as hell aren’t, and will never be.”
The MLB is a poorly run organization that could learn a lot from the NFL and NHL economic model case studies. It’s not fact, but is certainly the consensus of the majority. That said, the author is right. The luxury tax is enough to support a much higher payroll. But, who would do that for a farm team like the Pirates? Someone who cared about the game.. and the fans in the city of Pittsburgh - i.e. not the current ownership.
The real problem - Pittsburgh faithful are die hard fans of all our sports teams. When we stink, enough of us still show up to keep the lights on.
Personally, I never gave up on the PIrates, just the MLB. The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs are my baseball team now. They’re the Phillies farm club right down the street. Tickets are $9 and the beer is plentiful. I hate the Phillies, so the fan-player relationship will always be delicate, but the team… the colors…the logo… I’m die hard. First game is 2008.
Adam
I think this is a good thing to do. Even if it doesn’t have a “devastating” economic impact on the organization (or any impact at all), it is a show of frustration coming out into the open. It will be on every local news channel, and most likely Sportscenter and all the ESPN talkshows. Things like this are bad for the Pirate organization and they know it. It’s a sure sign that a “mutiny” is brewing.
There are some who say it’s a slap in the face of the players. They give you the ol’ “You don’t support the troops” line. I disagree. Demonstrating like this is meant to send a message to the organization, not the players, and the players know that. I’m sure they’re all aware that they began the season playing on a bad team, are currently playing on a bad team, and will continue to play for a bad team so long as they wear a Pirates uniform. I’m sure these guys would like the organization to change as well if it means having a legitimate shot at winning.
I am a 45 year old man now residing in Shreveport, La. I was born in Wheeling and lived in northern WV until 1985. My grandfather, while he was alive, took me to literally hundreds of Pirate games. I also work in the newspaper industry and am familiar with the “no balls” approach both of our owners run this team as well as their newspaper groups. It’s very difficult for me to stomach the product that we consistenly put on the field when I think of Stargell, Clemente, Murtaugh, Zisk, Van Slyke, et al wh o produced wonderful memories of an organization that transcends history and in no way deserves the ignomy of a record number of losing seasons. May McClatchey and C Ogden Nutting rot in hell, which I believe too lenient a fate for either of these self-serving imbeciles. I only wish that I could travel north to support your long overdue boycott of an ownership group whose management of this organization needs to be exposed for the unbelievable farce that it is.
It just so happens that I have tickets for the June 30 Pirate game. I agreee with you that it’s time the fans did something in protest. However, I am suggesting that we take this a little further. I feel a boycott of the concession stands would make a big difference in the pockets of Mr. Nutting. Let’s face it. We can all eat before the game and bring in a bottle of water. We can all survive for a few hours without food, beer, etc. I just think this added to the walkout would really send a strong message. Hope this idea takes hold. See you at the game!
I commend all of you involved in this protest. I have put up with this embarrassment of a professional baseball team for 12 years now.
The protest is an effective “short-term” solution. I may have a “long-term” solution. The “Succo” organization makes the bulk of their money through season ticket sales. That is guaranteed money for them whether the team wins or continues to suck. They dont care if you make the turn-styles move–they already have your money. We should stop buying season tickets, and instead take the individual game tickets route. If we dont like the decisions they are making or the team they are putting out on the field, we don’t go and they get the message–make changes or this will continue. That will hit them right where it hurts most–their wallets.
“WE WILL” stop buying Season Tickets.
This post is directed to #7 “MT”
You think the players go out and play as hard as they can? Talk to Ronnie Paulino. Talk to Jason Bay who seems to care less and less. Talk to Jack Wilson. The list goes on. The only guys that seem to care anymore are Ian Snell and Jose Bautista. Bautista you can tell he cares because of his reactions after screwing up. My only hope is that one day, these players will play for a team that can compete so their efforts actually pay off.
I’ll be there, ironically it was a year ago to the month I bought a $15 or so ticket in the outfield bleachers and met my Idol Mark Cuban who was sitting in the same section a couple rows down, Mark Cuban buying the team would make me as happy as the pens winning the cup, steelers winning superbowl, pens getting crosby, and pens getting an arena
The June 30 game at Pittsburgh has great seats behind home plate for $27. They are the second best group of seats in the park. The Buccos are 12 1/2 games out. The June 30 game at Yankee Stadium has those same seats from $255.50 a seat and the Yankees are 11 games out.
…but the Yankees haven’t put together the most pathetic string of losing seasons in the history of all sports. I’m sure if the “succos” would have sprinkled in a few championships or at least a few playoff berths, the fans would be willing to spend that kind of money.
I absoulutley agree this pirate protest is nessasary. We pay alot of money and the pirates haven’t had a good season for 15 years. They dont work hard and they don’t care about working hard. They’re in it for the money. They embarrass Pittsburgh and all of their fans I refuse to go to a Pirate game unless they shape up. I love them dearly and I watch every game, but come on it is getting harder and harder to follow them because I know there going to disapoint Pittsburgh..
After 14 years of futility and broken promises, this is a great idea. I can’t do my job half-assed and expect to keep it. Lets make these guys poor people like the rest of us who have to actually work for a living, not play a game. PNC Park is a beautiful place to see a game, but with gas at $3 a gallon, paying for parking, paying for seats, and sinking $20 on a hot dog and a couple beers, I personally want to see a competitive product on the field. We have not for 14 years, now.
I think a protest is needed, indeed. But, I think that it is not the smartest way to do the protest. You do realize that you are still spending money to actually get into the game. Leaving after 3 innings won’t matter because the Pirates already got some of your money when you walked through the gate. You should try to get people not to show up at all. That would actually hurt them a little bit. No money for tickets and no food revenue. Your have the right idea, but you are still giving them money.
If the nuttings run seven springs anything like they run the buccos then the county of Somerset will turn a profit. But, you will have to over pay to rent two 2×4’s to ski down the hills, that will be made of mud and not snow because, the nuttings will trade the snow machine to Joe Hardy in exchange for the 2×4’s. I love baseball and the pirates but the nuttings have made me not even want to go to the most beautiful stadium in baseball.
Jack Wilson is currently the highest paid Pirate. He batted ninth over the weekend. That’s funny.
Pittsburgh’s problem is their scouts. Can anyone think of a high pick that has done anything for the Pirates recently. The did draft Chris Young but gave him away for someone who didn’t even make the team.
Maybe we could talk a local Dollar Store into carrying some sort of Pirate bobblehead, that way people wouldn’t have a reason to attend games.
I am attending the game on 6/30 and have read all about this site, the protest and some of these “great responses”. I have not yet decided if I will walk out. I have done my part for the past few years not to give my hard earned money to the owners. This year I bought the DIRECT TV MLB package for $200 dollars instead of spending the $200 on games/beer/etc. I have read this website and all about ‘the average white guy’, my only concern is that this is only a selp fullfilling scheme to try and get a little recognition and a little money. I hope that that is not the case. I hope that this is a guy that I can buy a beer for, talk baseball and explain why being engaged for that long is a great idea (I was dating my fiance for nine years before popping the question. I will see you there and at the least… step out for a walk and a smoke (oops cant do that anymore)for a few innings after the 3rd.
I walked out on the Pirates years ago. I miss them. It’s hard to stay away. But the game has changed, at least here in Pittsburgh.
The few times that I’ve been in the new park it seemed as though the game was just a sideshow to everything else that’s going on. It’s a yuppie-like, carnival atmosphere. Not MLB.
You wanna see baseball? Go to Wrigley or Fenway. You wanna go to a street fair? Go to PNC!
Honestly, the walk out doesn’t make sense! Not one bit!
What is the walk out going to tell ownership? That fans that disagree with their product but will spend money on tickets, magazines, memorabilia, hot dogs, coke, candy and what ever else they might purchase in three innings and then leave? That honestly doesn’t make much sense to me.
How about boycotting the games, the memorabilia, the jerseys or by god anything that might increase the ownerships profits?
If you are going to the game then your just putting money into their pockets? Doesn’t that seem to defeat the purpose?
“Your have the right idea, but you are still giving them money.”
It really doesn’t matter. Just buy a ticket on ebay or scalper and walkout. Or you can give the pirates $9 (won’t make much of a difference) and then walkout. The protest is sending a message to the fans and to the owners.
The pirates are content with losing yearly. They have instilled a standard. The orgnization is still bringing in the “buc”ks so it does’nt really matter if they win or lose. Look at it this way. If they lose, people still come. If they win, more people come. However, people are still coming so they dont care. Protest beer prices or something.
I’m with you guys, unfortunately I am going with a bachelor party to this game. There isn’t any cahnce of us completely leaving the stadium. I will however show my support by going to drink bear after the 3rd inning.
Is it the owners fault if the players they bring in or up through the system underachieve? I am frustrated too, but one terrible coaching hire after another, and signing players like Adam Laroche are the problems. This is a team with an all-star left-fielder, the defending batting champion and all-star, and a BUNCH of young talent. Look at Paulino. He has a basic problem with his hitting stance, yet it hasn’t been corrected half-way through the season.
Look at Duke and Maholm, promising young pitchers, who have simple mechanics issues, which are still not fixed. COACHING COACHING COACHING…how about we protest the COACHING? Leyland=winning…why hire a no talent or a proven loser as manager?
Pirates have one of the best defensive teams in the MLB, but can’t get a CLUTCH hit to score runs (Bay). Losing is a disease, and unless they gain confidence, by hiring a pproven winner as manager, then they will remain in this crappy state.
I don’t want to lose my Bucco’s. By not going to games, they are on their way out. It just burns me to see Andy Van Slyke coaching for Jim Leyland (among other pirates) and not be with the pirates.
If you want to bitch about the ownership, please also bitch about the coaching staff, and the unmotivated, highly paid players, because the owners don’t barely hit 200 after being signed as the hitting saviour ( the roach).
The pirates turn more double plays than any other team in the league. When is it time to sacrifice the non-cluctch hitting shortstop for a real hitter?
I have recently moved to the Pittsburgh area from New Mexico and i was excited about finally being close enough to watch a pro team. The problem i see is that the Pirates remain a small time farm team that relies on young talent within the minor league organizations. This in turn causes a slow progression, if any at all. Would you rather the Bucs buy a title like the Yankees and now the Red Sox or Cubs? And what if more money is spent and they still suck (Cubs)? Also, i have attended some games this year and i’ve seen the fans walk out on a one run game before the end of the 7th. Is this really supportive? I mean i know they suck but how would you feel if the “fans” that came to watch you walked out during a close game? Would you even care to try harder? I feel that the problem is that games have become more of a social gathering instead of a place to watch baseball. What happened to loyalty whether you win or lose? I’m just happy to finally have a team to watch and be a fan of. Face it, Barry Bonds is not coming back to Pittsburgh. And if he did, it wouldn’t make a big difference. If a team like the A’s can deliver with such a low payroll why not the Buc’s? Personally, i’d rather offer my support as a fan of the game and of the Pirates to see if this small market team can one day turn it around then sell out to Mark Cuban and become another Cubs-like team. I agree with your assesment of the ownership and the direction of the game as it pertains to money, but how can you feel bitter about paying $20 for great seats at a pro baseball game?
I just heard on ESPN1250 that the camera men were ORDERED not to film the people protesting and leaving!!!
I’m a transplanted, die-hard Pirates’ fan living in Baltimore. Last year, Orioles’ fans organized a similar type of protest (and they’ve only endured 9 straight losing seasons). It obviously had little to no effect on the actual ownership and management style of Angelos and other front office people but it’s symbolic impact was not lost on the sports community.
It seems true (although we wish it weren’t so) that McLatchey and the Nuttings have very little emotional investment in the Pirates franchise. But we, the fans, are both emotionally and financially invested and we deserve better. Pirate fans are a proud, resilient bunch and it’s time for a demonstration of that. I do believe a large scale walkout is an excellent way to display solidarity. I don’t, however, believe you should stop going to games altogether… that sort of thing will only lead to arguments for ownership to use in favor of the team relocating to another city.
Going forward, you could always brown-bag it… a la Detroit Lions’ fans.
Me, I’ll continue attending Pirates’ games when they come to Wash DC… it’s a little different for me because I have so few opportunities to actually cheer them in person.
I think this is a great idea toward the pirates ownership but not the team, if the moral is down enough now just think of what it would do after.
But on the other hand it may show the ownership that we would like an above average player for more than a few years (aka JASON BAY).
And all you have to do is look back to see what great players left cause the Pirates would not pay them: Brian Giles, Jason Shmit, and so on.
So if I can I will be there on Saturday,but if not i will where a green shirt and change the channel during the third inning. LETS GO PENS!
I would like to reiterate what a few of you have already touched on, which is a response to those saying that this will “accomplish nothing.” The solution some of you have come up with as for a successful plan is to convince thousands of people to no longer attend the 81 home games, and if they do happen to be there (more than likely very drunk) to have the sense to not buy anything once inside the stadium. In an ideal world, that would be a terrific plan.
However, Clemente has long passed away, Marino has no more eligibility at Pitt, Mario is unlikely to strap on the skates again, and lets face it, Chuck Noll just is not going to be coaching again anytime soon.
This walk-out is a TERRIFIC idea. Everyone needs to understand that this is not an attempted cure all for the Bucco’s, but it is a movement to draw negative attention to the situation at hand (for the last decade and a half.)
Does anyone else out there watch/read/listen to sports all day? Well that’s the goal for this. Make PTI, Around the Horn, Fox Sports, hell maybe even SI give a crap about this issue for once.
If what was said in an earlier comment is true (which I do not doubt) about the cameras not showing the walkout…it is up to each of you at the game with your digital cameras and fancy cell phones to record this moment. Get it online. Hopefully get it on TV.
I’d love to be there this Saturday, but I’ll be at work in Bristol, Connecticut, and you better believe I’ll be faithfully watching each of you on FSN Pittsburgh.
(How bout some “Here We Go Stillers” chants on the way out of the stadium for good measure?)
It think this is absolutely ridiculous! No one gives a shi*t… I will be at the game on Saturday, in a company box, eating hot dogs and drinking high priced beer… Why? Because that is what baseball in this country is all about… So chill the f*ck out and have a brew…
the pirates need to quit drafting these pitchers they need to start drafting big time hitters the best 2 hitters in their farms r mcutchen and walker but im sure the cheap pirates coaches will screw them p like they do 2 everyone else. when will the pirates be able to boast about there winning percentage instead of their ballpark. and what is up with zach duke how does a dude go 81 with like a 3 era go to a 10 15 5 era and geuss what???? pirates LOSE 9-7 against the marlins
[...] of their beloved club are even more troubling than what we face here. From what I can gather, this blog post seems to nicely sum up the average fan opinion. It’s also eerily similar to the things we [...]
As a Pirates fan living in Brooklyn, NY, i have found myself between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand I cant quite boycott the team because i dont spend any moey on them. On the other hand, what am i gonna do go for the mets/yankees. I cancelled my subscription to MLB extra innings, and i didnt go to the bucco series at yankee stadium. I am proud to be from Pitssburgh and I love the Pirates, but at the same time I despise the current ownership/business. I will be going to that game though, (company expense), I will wear green and I will walk out. I pray that the Pirates snap back in to it and bring the legacy back!
So, I understand that the walkout won’t be televised.
What I hope to see is a fan, or several fans make their own video of the event. (either through a digital camera w/video, or a small hand camera) Post it on Youtube when you get home, and watch the thousand view it the next day. It’s about time this is happening.
I can’t support the protest enough !!
The Pirates owners have no reason to improve the team or to sell the team because they are making big bucs off the Bucs. It is the fans who have rewarded McCatchy and Nutting for fielding a dismal baseball team. Why bother to improve if the suckers keep paying for an inferior product? I would prefer a great International League baseball team to a non-competative major league team. It is time that there is a boycott of all games, not a walk out during one game, to compel these sleaze bags to sell the team to some person or group that will produce a team that can end a season over 500 - and that isn’t asking for much.
What we need are more true fans like the “Pittsburgh Girl” who posted above. It’s good to see that there are some girls out there who will still do WHATEVER it takes to go watch some Bucco’s baseball!
Stay classy with your big hair and pink Pirates jersey up’er in that fancy box, and remember how much fun ya had on your way back to Munhall Saturday night, that is…if you’re planning on going home.
I support this walk out like the businessmen will be supporting your drinking habit.
LETS GO BUCS!
While this seems like a good idea, I’m not willing to insult our Pirate players. They go out there game after game trying their hardest. Ever think how they feel? I’m sure they feel bad as it is. A true Pirates fan will stick with them through every losing season, even if it is 15. I refuse to give up on them, and I never will. If I do go to the game, I will be planted in my seat for the entire 9 innings. Every person that does this protests just proves what a bandwagon fan they really are.
Katie,
There is no more bandwagon…15 years now it’s been gone.
While I appreciate your comment, I respectfully disagree. I am not just a fair-weather fan. I’ve loved this team since I was a boy. What I loved about it is gone now though. The current greedy ownership has stripped the rich tradition and winning ways from this team, and left nothing of value in its place.
I won’t stop following the Pirates, but I will stop contributing money to a small group of men, who are getting richer and richer on INTENTIONALLY leaving the Pirates at a level not fit to compete.
If a woman is beaten for 15 years by her husband, and she stands by him, is she a bandwagon wife when she finally decides to leave? I don’t think so.
I agree with trying something to make a voice heard. Im a baseball fan but until they make it a level playing field (pardon the pun) with a salary cap…I dont see this ending anytime soon…
At what point are we starting to show up with paper-bags on our heads?
I am in 100% agreement with this protest and can say it is about time!!!
While I do feel for some of the players that give 100% every night, the ownership and MLB in general needs to wake up and realize what a poor product they have created!!!
Long live the NFL!!!!
Instead of giving the Pirates management your $$$$$$$$$$$ for tickets that day, why don’t you just go to the park, stay in your cars or mill around the outside of the park. Don’t give them your $$$$$, they can always count on that.
I am so tired of people blaming the players. It is the poor decision making of management that makes this team bad. Our cast offs or blunders go on to have decent careers in other cities. I feel the real problem is with MLB. If they had any balls they would have a salary cap and bring the free spenders back to earth while also enforcing a minimum salary level. As long as this city blindly worships the Steelers, no one will really care about the Pirates. I hear it all the time. Even the TV stations consider a mini camp more important than a Pirate game recap. Now the Pens are the new media darlings. But even they can’t unseat the mighty Steelers and the bias that they get from local TV. I wonder if they started losing would we walk out on them. It happened in the 80’s and the stadium was still packed every Sunday. The Pirates were once kings of this town. Now only the true fans care.
EVERYONE THROW THE BOBBLEHEADS ONTO THE FIELD
Kyle…we have to be civil. Besides the bobblehead is Bob Walk’s, who’s a respectable man. Let’s show him the courtesy of not destroying his bobblehead likeness. Also, throwing items on the field is illegal…Let’s not smear the mission.
This isn’t fair to the players. I was dying to go to a game this weekend but refuse to walk out on the same guys that give 100% every night during the season. Blame it on the ownership. Blame it on the manager and the coaches. But not the players. For anything to change, you have to get the management out there - it’s already evident that they are selfish and only in this for themselves. I wish it could be different, but one protest isn’t going to make a difference. And it is unrealistic to think that 20,000-some people are just going to stop going to the games, stop eating food there, stop buying the merchandise… So, at the game, the protest is hurting the wrong people - McClatchy may sit behind homeplate and may be a little embarrassed, but he’ll still go home to his money and Sunday will come. Tuesday night will come and the stadium will be full of fans coming to see the fireworks and the concert… Wednesday will be more of the same… and so on. Within just a few days, the protest will be a distant memory. Tickets are already sold - the games will go on. Unfortunately, I have no better suggestion - I don’t know how to get to the ownership - how to get them out of here…
But I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t say this… Please don’t hurt the players. They go out there every night and its not their fault… I think we’ve seen it time and time again - guys leaving Pittsburgh for another team and having a successful, if not outstanding career… Look at all the pitchers that have left over the years that had little success here - Oliver Perez, Jason Schmidt, Tim Wakefield, Bronson Arroyo, and more…
Please don’t hurt the players!!
I just heard about this tonight. I am, however, going to the game. I intend to wear green, but i’m probably not going to walk out. It’s only my 3rd Pirate game that i’ve been too. It’s also not the players fault that all this has gone down. I’m there to support the players, not the organization.
Uh, shouldn’t people be protesting things like the illegal & immoral war we’re in, all the jobs that have left the Pittsburgh area or a cure for something?
Stuart, there are plenty of posts on my blog where you can argue for or against the war in Iraq. This demonstration isn’t related, and we’re not going to traverse that path here and now. Thanks for the comment.
Have we have been so beat down that we give up. AWG is right we need to do something. Kids do not remember but we were once baseballs studs. now we are the laughing stock stock of baseball each year. We have done nothing except by over the hill former stars cheap and watch them suck. jeremy Burnitz ring a bell. And then Littlefield bus LaRoche and try to sell him. He sucks. If something is not done why change. We have the finest facility in Baseball, you cannot tell me would can’t spend 60 to 70 million win the central which is not excctly loaded, Cubs,Atros, Milwuakee hmmm we cant compete. It has to end.
I agree with your protest, entirely. I see exactly where you are coming from. It is total embarrasment to lose (going on) 15 years straight. Ridiculous! I don’t think the protest is aimed specifically at the players. Something needs to happen, and it is way past time. The price paid, and the fans are what keep baseball alive, for keeping the Pirates in Pittsburgh is what we see on the field. The owners have no incentive to improve the product as long as people keep showing up, buying stuff, etc. I wish the whole crowd would get up and leave, or better yet not show up at all. It is so frustrating to watch the team erode and not be able to do much about it. I grew up there in the 70s and remember the great teams fielded every year. At some point the owners need to be aware of the fans desire to be competitive and not be money hogs. I don’t live in the area, or I would definitely join you. The whole front office needs to change, including the scouts, if they truly believe the talent on the field is major league caliber. I don’t think throwing a bunch of money at players is necessarily the right thing to do, but it would be nice if the players they draft and or sign would ever work out. I know drafting is not an exact science and pitching is always risky, but you’d think some players they have selected over the past 15 years would have made a bigger impact. Of course they dumped most of the talent for lower price (and lesser talented) players when the player became too expensive to keep. I half way think the ownership selected the players based on the money they’d have to spend (or save). They surely did that with this year’s #1 draft pick. Really, the more I think about how they have ruined baseball in the city, the angrier I become.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU !! SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE… ITS’ WAY LONG.. OVERDUE.! GOOD LUCK TO YOU GUYS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING…I UNFORTUNATELY HAVE ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT OR I’D BE THERE AS WELL. .
Stacy-
Walkout for ONE INNING. After the third inning stay in the concourse for one inning.
Personally, I think it’s about time the fans make their voices heard. I don’t know if it will be effective, but it should embarass the ownership and make a point. Pirate fans have put up with losing seasons and bad decisions from the higher-ups for way too long. We kept our end of the bargain by getting them a baseball only park, when will they keep theirs? My husband and I will be there tonight and will be participating in the walkout. (Unfortunately, I do not have a green shirt, but we’ll be walking out all the same!)
Thinking about it more,
i’ve decided that i’ll probably walk out for atleast an inning…
what will it hurt?
But hey, the pirates won last night!
hopefully they can do it again tonight!
What amazes me most is the odd reasons why people are saying that a protest should be avoided….things like:
1. Fear - fear of losing the team? Do you really think that is going to happen?? Ranked the THIRD BEST stadium experience in all of Professional Sports (including football, baseball, hockey, etc)…they aren’t going anywhere…
2. Fear - fear of jinxing or jeopardizing the player’s performance? These are PROFESSIONALS first, and secondly, in order for our best players to stay with Pittsburgh, THIS PROTEST MUST HAPPEN! The McNothings will simply tell you folks the same sob story that ‘our market size is too small to bear that $10M contract of Jason Bay or whoever…
What has my ire the most, however, is that the EXACT same people on here who say ‘it’s only a game’ or a ‘protest won’t accomplish anything’ are the EXACT same people that would send back a meal at a restaurant if it wasn’t prepared to their expectations…Why are you sending the meal back??? IT’S ONLY A MEAL!!
Imagine going to Ruth’s Chris and spending $100 on a meal and the meal was created by a McDonald’s short order cook and your steak was replaced by a Big Mac…wouldn’t you be pissed??? So stop your F#n whining - get up, or SHUT UP! It’s easy for you folks who don’t spend a dime on tickets to be complacent, however, I DEMAND A RETURN ON MY INVESTMENT!
Hey…Some one keep us updated on the walk-off. I wish you luck in your protest, and would love to see you make a stand! Why should they put money in a team, if you guys are going to accept it, and continue to fill the seats. I have long thought about that with the CUBS!
First of all, once you leave the field, you are unable to re-enter, so know what you are losing out on.
Second of all, you are missing out on a beautiful day for baseball, and the Pirates have been playing very well. I don’t think you realize how many people think that you all are a joke, and how you have actaully helped increase revenue for tonight’s game. You have made the true Pirates fans want to came and support the TEAM (players and underpaid office staff who are working there for the LOVE OF BASEBALL) and make you “protest” aka leaving to get a drink at Hightops less noticeable. You all are going to look like complete, green, fools. Have fun with that.
How sad is it that people teach their children that winning is everything. If your child was on a baseball team that lost 14 seasons in a row, would you walk out on his game too? Teach your children that as long as they play their best, they should be proud, win or lose! And if all of you protesters think you can do better, buy the team or try out next year. If not, grow up!
Dear AWG-
Boy, was that walk-out successful! From my cushy luxory suite, I saw a lot more ugly florescent green shirts staying in the stands than running up the isles to the concourse… I also noticed a lot more fans heckling and booing the people who were attempting to leave… The only thing this attempted protest did was make the lines for the food and the bathroom really long… But then again, I had a private bathroom and I had already ate an excellent hot dog! Better luck next time…
Love, Pittsburgh Girl
Pittsburgh Girl,
I’ve been to the luxury boxes; They’re quite nice. I like the private lavatories too.
I’m glad you enjoyed the game. Thanks for your support. By the way, the rubbing it in doesn’t work, because you’re the proof that something needs to change. Instead of telling me about your sitting in the stands with your Pirate jersey proudly worn, watching us walk out like that, you tell me how things looked from your amenity-rich luxury box. Those boxes are just another part of the “amenities/ballpark first, baseball second” mentality which has been sold to the Pittsburgh ticket buyers. It’s sick.
I hope you enjoy another 15 years of bobblehead giveaways.
Heather,
How sad that instead of teaching our children about winning and losing, you’d rather teach them how to bend over a barrel and take it in the ass for 15 years.
Teach your kids what responsibility is. Teach them stealing and lying are wrong. We’ve been stolen from and lied to. We’re not going to take it anymore. Teach that to your children. Nutting and McClatchy took YOUR tax dollars to build PNC Park and a winning baseball franchise. They got the money, but we only got 1/2 of what we were promised. If that’s legitimate to you, perhaps you shouldn’t be raising children.
I have to agree, winning isn’t everything, and I would never teach my children to the contrary. There are more important things in life: values, discipline, respect, courage, wisdom, education, etc… Winning isn’t everything, but it’s should be something. Winning isn’t ANYTHING to the Nuttings and McClatchy.
Oh, one last thing: Professional baseball is about winning. It always has been and always will be. If winning baseball isn’t what you expect from your PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM, then you’re not a fan. You’re a bobblehead and promotional beach towel collector.
I am neither a beach towel nor bobblehead collector and I have no children. But apparently you are one of those types who would mock your child’s coach instead of stepping up or leave the game because they aren’t winning. I go to games because I enjoy it. I enjoy watching the competition. Somebody wins, somebody loses. At the end of the night, you get a good time, especially if everyone around you in the other seats also wants to be there for the enjoyment and atmosphere. And as you do, I have a choice to go or not to go. I have a choice to root for my home team or not. I watch the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins win or lose and I enoy it. We were getting a new Casino for a tax break and then the Penguins stepped in. So long tax break. But hey, that’s life in a city. Anywhere you go, it’s the same thing. But take it up with the bigwigs, don’t insult the players. It’s ignorant and rude. I think they’d rather you stay home if you’re going to disrupt the other fans who want to be there. Stay home and don’t buy tickets. They’re out their doing their jobs, sometimes their good, sometimes great, sometimes not so great. Find a different way to get to the higher ups and leave the players and their fans to enjoy themselves at the ballpark.
I will say just one last thing and that is it. I was thinking, why did the attempted walk out make me so angry. After all, I totally agree with freedom of speech and it is a great privilege to have it. I guess it is the choice of venue. Everything has a time and a place. Every one is entitled to their opinion, but have some respect for all opinions and do not push your views on others. Say you were lactose intolerant and went to an ice cream shop and complained the whole time you were there that their ice cream gave you a stomache? Would’nt people wonder why the heck you were there in the first place. If you want to protest, whatever, but do it somewhere other than outside the park when people who want to be there and have paid their hard-earned dollars because they WANTED TO see a game are trying to do just that. Have it at an off-site location where those who support each other in the cause can be together and not disturb those who don’t and so those who don’t support the cause don’t have to be ear-beaten and insulted. Like when Kanye West made his comments on the Hurricane Katrina telethon about President Bush. Freedom of speech, yes, proper choice of venue, no. Just like we say to terrorists, you don’t like us or our country, stay out and ignore us! It’s common sense. Don’t involve those innocent people who don’t share your views.
So, the protest is over. What’s the next step? Or did McClatchy and Nutting learn their lesson in one inning?
The walkout did nothing but create a seperation between the fans. Face it, people love their team, not because they win or lose, but ultimitely because its THEIR team. So the Pirates did poor this season and every season for the last 15 years. They’re making progress (if only a little). You don’t win championships over night. Just have faith that they’ll get better. They have a good core and last i checked great fans to back them up. I agree with Heather, its not about winning or losing. I do hope that this has not ruined the support for this team. If you turn your back now then you might as well just give the Bucs to a place that will appreciate them. Trust me, i’m sick of losing too, but it will be that much sweeter when they finally start winning.
Oh, and if the walkout was really about the ownership and money, why buy tickets and then walk out? Shouldn’t there have just been a protest outside the stadium. Kinda defeats the purpose when you’re giving the owners what they ultimately really want… Your $$$$
Look, the truth is that despite the Pirates blundering baseball highlights, and lack of direction, I always have been and always will be an avid Pirate fan. For anyone who remembers Clemente, Stargell, and even Bill Mazeroski, the hope still lies in our hearts. Average White Guy, you can walk out on the Pirates and Kevin McClatchy a million times, but you won’t win us over. McClatchy may be the head of the worst ownership group in baseball, but let us not forget that he and his group stepped up when nobody else would and saved our beloved Pirates from moving elsewhere. McClatchy won me over simply for keeping the Pirates in Pittsburgh, and I’ll stick around and watch my Pirates finish with a .411 winning percentage every year as opposed to watching our beloved Pirates end up like the Expos.
Correction to your article:
If the Pirates finish below .500 this season, they will go into next season with a chance of equaling the Phillies’ major-league baseball record of 16 consecutive losing seasons set 60 years ago.
That may be all pro-sports too, the article doesn’t say, but you’re off with your estimation of the record.
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