This is not one of those things that is uniquely American or 21st century. Oh no, this has been enjoyed by almost every tier and class of culture in all of mans history! You can find images of the activity in the "smoky" caves of the Ozarks, in Ancient Mesopotamia,the Mayan and Inca ruins, Micronesia, the Orient, South Pacific Islands, and even, yes sir ladies and gentleman, even the moon!
The very earliest literature and historical records chronicle the use and popularity of this "opiate of the people" as was characterized in an open forum by a Roman Senator.
Leap forward to the past half century.We find on television news, clicks on Goggle and Yahoo and presumably it still draws intrest in the regular news print stories of folks like Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Walter Hagen, Peter Jacobsen, Michael Jordan, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra "Hank" Aaron, Henry L. "Hank" Robinson, Jack R. Stargell, Wilver D. "Willie" Drysdale, Donald S. Fingers, George H. "Babe" Ruth, Walter Payton, O.J. Simpson, Marcus Allen, Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw, Dick Butkus, Frank Gifford, Paul Hornung, Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans, Hugh "Shorty" Ray, Bart Starr, Roger Staubach to name just a few who have distinguished themselves in the popular pastime.
In ancient Rome this stuff was usually free to the public. The emperors believed it was a good way to "keep the people happy and content" with the way the city was being governed. The government provided free bread and free entertainment - a combination they believed would keep happy the many unemployed people in Rome.
Now, just sit back and relax, don't worry.
We have always had "a ball on grass."
Now an editorial comment from our very fine sponsor "GENERAL CHOW"
This just in---- "New York City's Industrial Development Agency recently approved $1.58 billion of tax-exempt and taxable financing for baseball's Yankees and Mets to build new stadiums. " "Beginning in the early 1990s, an unprecedented stadium construction boom has swept the world of professional sports.
Since the opening of New Comiskey Park in Chicago in April of 1991 a total of 28 new stadiums have been built or are under construction to house professional football and baseball franchises in the United States. Three more stadium projects, two in Philadelphia and one in Chicago, received approval in recent months but have not begun construction yet. Twelve additional older stadiums have undergone extensive renovations funded by taxpayer dollars in the last 5 years.
Canadian baseball teams have also had recent stadium deals and hundreds of arenas have been built around the country. Most stadiums built recently are specifically for Major League Baseball or National Football League teams. " "A careful review of lease information from both Major League Baseball and the National Football League found that taxpayers around the country have spent more than $7.5 billion on stadium construction since 1990 and will spend twice that again in the next few years.
"The spending spree is not over yet. In fact, the St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Raiders play in stadiums that had major renovations completed at taxpayer expense less than five years ago. As of spring 2001, both of them are among the 15 franchises seeking taxpayer funding for new stadiums." (composite of national news items last week)
That's 22 and half billion dollars we got to loan you!
If you go to a party please notice that most people in conversation are brilliant in their knowledge of sports statistics. Yet they can not tell you how many Senators there are (100) or how many Representatives (435)
You should know you can vote them out of office if you don't like their performance.
Thats okay! just---------PLEASE BUY A BOX OF OUR "VERY FINE FOOD PRODUCT"
"GENERAL CHOW"
You can eat it when you get the "munchies"
Balls on grass the national pastime.
