Still Watching Baseball, The Oscars

Emmylou enjoys some fake corn

Baseball

Well, to my surprise, the US beat the Dominican Republic in the semifinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and now we're going to see if they face off against Italy or Venezuela.  I'm done making predictions, as I assumed Japan would sweep this year, and they're out.

It is very, very strange to watch what feels like play-off baseball in March, but it's also a heck of a warm up to the season.  Getting to see all the DR players pop off against the US was oddly satisfying, even if they lost (only 2-1), knowing the Dominican Republic has a population under 12 million, and a GDP of about $130 billion.  

I don't like to talk politics online, but it's been a bit off putting that Fox Sports keeps trying to interleave the efforts of some guys playing baseball with the conflict currently taking place with Iran. There is a time and place for recognizing war efforts, it is not in a post-game interview where a guy with the mic awkwardly makes a connection with the conflict and pitching 3 good frames.

Anyway, two more games to go!

As has been noted on social media and elsewhere - America's dumb "baseball should be watched in respectful silence and batflips should be prosecuted with the full force of the law" approach is part of why no one likes baseball.  Every other country has shown up showing America that baseball is not a museum sport nor to be watched like the symphony (which has its own rules of *not applauding*).  

Apply soccer-fan rules, not football or basketball rules - it's a marathon, not a sport that stops every play and requires fireworks to make you think something is happening, football.  Get a supporters section with a band in the stands.  Get some chants going. Remember it's *the* sport of the people.

That said, at live games I barely talk so don't count on me to be the guy with the bass drum. 

The Oscars

The Oscars were on again, and for something like the 30th consecutive year, I only saw snippets.  So far the winner was Danielle Brooks in her champagne colored gown.  

For those who follow my media viewing journey over at The Signal Watch, you're probably already well aware that the Oscars feel profoundly silly to me.  And I find the arguing people do online about who and what should have won a tremendous waste of time.  Like what you like, understand that any message more complex than "the car drove fast, and Brad Pitt was in it" mostly misses audiences, and sit back and watch the Rorschach Test that is people's movie of choice (and why they say they didn't like other movies).  

And that's fine!  Go enjoy all the hand wringing over why Sinners didn't win (the answer is ranked voting, it's a horror movie, and who is voting).  Or whatever movie you found moving.  

I *do* think you should take it very personally that the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences did not agree with you.  After all, you are the secretly the smartest person on Earth, and your taste?  Impeccable.  

The fools!

I've been slow burn writing a post about longevity of films and what real reel fans are and why it matters and that nothing matters, but the upshot is this:  the only thing that really matters is whether anyone actually remembers and watches your movie in 10 years.  And, arguably, since the early 1990's, what has stuck around in the popular consciousness and what won for Best Picture have separated like lines on a graph.  Yes, people will know the names of the Best Picture winners, but are they part of the canon?

Anyway, more thoughts on that at some point in the future, likely over at The Signal Watch when I make time for it.

I also find the social media era funny as you can see which actors are, like you, *also* home in soft pants watching the thing and commenting, occasionally mentioning "when I went in 1998" or whatever.  But not afraid to throw shade.  Or, actors who are hustling at SXSW which is on right now, who are too busy promoting their new film and will check the results online at 1:00 AM.