Is it me? It's them, right?
Ignorance and arrogance are in the eye of the beholder, and I be beholding.
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Now, on with today’s sense and nonsensibility.
Let’s get drunk on dumb
Thanks to the new pitch clock rules, Major League Baseball games are ending on average about 30 minutes earlier than last year — and it’s amazing. The Dodgers recently matched their longest streak of games below three hours since 2011.
Not even two weeks into this experiment, however, several MLB teams have considered— or already decided — to extend alcohol sales beyond the customary cutoff after seven innings.
In case it isn’t clear why this deadline would change, it’s so that franchises don’t lose money from those who want to drink in the third hour of the game.
In case it isn’t clear why this deadline existed in the first place, it’s so that fans might be a little more sober before they drove home — or before they had angry fights in the parking lot with rival fans. Otherwise, why not sell postgame beer and cocktails in the parking lots?
Adding an extra inning to a beer sales deadline is obviously a pure money play. I understand the harsh reality that MLB franchises exist not to win titles but to make money. I also understand that 20 minutes of sobriety isn’t likely to make a difference one way or another for most people.
But no amount of money or buzz can justify the risk for more drunk-induced tragedy.
"Instead, we're going to the eighth, and now you're putting our fans and our family at risk driving home with people who have just drank beers 22 minutes ago,” Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm said.
If it were up to me, there would be no alcohol at games — I’ve seen drunken arguments break out by the third inning. Plus, think about what you could do with all that money …
In a world of Homer Simpsons, I know ending alcohol sales is a non-starter. So let’s leave it at this simple rule: The quicker the games, the earlier the alcohol sales should end.
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