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Show TO wqm Oil Yoilfl tCn By DAVE WIGHAM It has been said that the television set has a major impact on the thinking of youth. I happen to believe in that statement and along those lines the local stations sta-tions should watch what they put on their news casts. IT SEEMS this year more than ever there have been a lot of fights in baseball. The reasons are hard enough to follow, some guy throws the ball close to a batter and before anything can be done those two players plus anyone else that can get into the act are throwing punches. The problem comes up when these local stations keep replaying those fights on the television. Here is a little leaguer playing baseball watching the tube and see these big guys fighting each other and he comes to think it's all part of the game. NEXT GAME he goes out and some unsuspecting pitcher, who has no control what so ever, throws a ball close to this player. Right away he remembers seeing the big guys on the tube and he starts to act like them and soon there' s a brawl on the little league field. Sure it would be tough to stop those big leaguers from acting like spoiled brats but at least we don't have to sit and watch it on the television every night. LAST WEEK Fred Patek of California hit three homeruns in one game, not bad for a guy only 5T' tall, but no one showed him hitting any of them. The same night Al Cowens charged a pticher in an incident inci-dent that happened over a year ago. Good old Channel 5 didn't even mention the fete performed by Patek but they sure gave viewers a good look at the Cowens fight. I PERSONALLY would have much rather seen the three homeruns by a great player like Patek, one the kids can look up too, than to watch Cowens make a complete fool out of himself. This has happened more than once this year in baseball, it seems like each time you watch television they have a fight in progress. Sure it's baseballs problem but I don't believe the television stations should show this side of a great game to the younger players. SHOW THEM the great plays, the homeruns or a great pitching performance. Even Howard Cosell won't comment during a game if a fight breaks out, for once I'm on his side. Baseball is a fun sport to i play and watch let's not let the television stations show only the bad side. Call them and let them know you don't appreciate those fights on the air. |