Show Rounding the Bases star All-star Fourth J Jeren eren W. W Canning Senior Editor If you haven't figured it out by now I am a big sports fan which is why the boss gave methe me methe methe the columnist position But moreover I am a big baseball fan For as long as I can remember remember remember ber I have caught myself watching baseball games at all levels because I love the game I I like many other youngsters played little league and I even played in the Babe Ruth League system Through all o of f those days playing I like every other little kid dreamed dreame d of playing in the big leagues but through fault of my ow own n and genes from my than less athletic old man I retired retire d from playing the game But Bu Butone Butone l lone t one thing that has never retired retire d from my mind is the love of th the e game On the usual lazy Saturday y or in my case any afternoon n that Im I'm near a TV I kick bad back backon k on my couch with a cold beverage beverage beverage bev bev- and watch a The only thing that beats that is i s spending a night at Franklin Franklin- Covey Field watching a ad liv live liv e game g n being o ed to soon to tobe to- to bir be stars tar ands md-f h has had beens been's If i it t wasn't for the greed of Mr Miller I could get in and out o oa of ofa f a ball game for under 10 For a long time now I have hav e had a feeling about the game of o f baseball More than a feeling it itis itis itis is a stance that I have taken My stance is simple and would become a great tradition Simply the Major League Baseball Star All Game should be played on July 4 Americas America's Pastime played on Americas America's birthday how exceptional w would uld that be The players already play games on July 4 its it's not like they get time off for national holidays It could be the celebration of America and everything America stands for Now I realize that the number number number num num- ber of international players in inthe inthe inthe the is growing rapidly and has been for quite sometime sometime sometime some some- time now While July 4 is an American holiday Baseball could celebrate it in an international international international fashion kind of an open national pride event Its It's true that as far as national nation nation- al pride goes America is lacking lacking lacking lack lack- ing but there are hundreds of ballplayers that were biting at atthe atthe atthe the bit to get a chance to play for their country in the World Baseball Classic back in March a tournament in which Japan won and the favorites didn't make it out of round two Im I'm not talking about playing an Star All-Star game like the did for about five years with their us against the world game North America versus everywhere else wont won't fly here It will still be American League vs National League with each player wearing his teams team's uniform but with their home country's flag on the sleeve showing their pride The owners would not like this idea because they are all about the money and the only way for them to make money is to put butts in the seats and July 4 games sell out across the country July 4 isn't the middle of the season either but its it's closer to the middle than July 12 is As a baseball fan as a sports fan and most importantly as an American I think that it t i is high time that Bud Selig step up and finally move the midsummer's classic to July 4 Its It's too late to change it this year but hopefully Selig will come to his senses before 07 rolls around |