AUBREY BRUCE
“People movin out, people movin in why, why because of the color of their skin. Run, Run, run but you sure can’t hide. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Vote for me and I’ll set you free. Rap on brother, rap on. The only person talkin bout love thy brother is the preacher; and it seems nobody’s interested in learning but the teacher. Fear in the air, tension everywhere, unemployment risin fast the Beatles new record’s a gas; and the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation. And the band played on” (from the Temptations 1970 smash hit. ‘Ball of Confusion).
The Pittsburgh Pirates seem to have “righted” the ship and may be on their first voyage to the playoffs in the new millennium. However, I remain somewhat confused as to how the Pirates allowed their vessel to become vulnerable to the “torpedo” of incompetence and mismanagement in the first place.
I said previously that the Pirates slide did not begin when the Atlanta Braves “sloth” footed infielder Sid Bream slid the Braves into the 1992 World Series. Their road to fiscal “iniquity” was paved many years before that fateful run scored by Bream. More than a decade before the Pirates NLCS loss to the Braves Pittsburgh was the first MLB team to start an all African American lineup in a game. They were a talented and confident bunch but you know what? They were not White. These young Black men invented the word “swagger.” However that was not nearly enough to capture the hearts of the Bucco faithful. In life and in sports people tend to form and maintain support for the things and concepts that are familiar to them regardless of whether the outcome is positive or negative.
“People movin out, people movin in why, why because of the color of their skin.”
Hey “yaw’ll” that phrase could’ve been easily replaced by; “players are shipped out, players are shipped in why, why, why because of the color of their skin and the color of money.”
The management and ownership of the Pirates has been almost always forced to consider the size and the demographic makeup of the region (at least after 1971). It makes perfect sense at least from a bean counters point of view because if you look back at the Pirates past management strategy and their conscious decision to focus on and pursue a Eurocentric market it may seem a bit “racially insensitive” to have followed that course but their strategy was and still is perfectly logical to me. Until this season it was like pulling teeth for me to “give” Pirates tickets to Black folks.
“Fear in the air, tension everywhere, unemployment risin fast the Beatles new record’s a gas.”
Like the Beatles the Pirates were accustomed to winning at the gate and on the field but things were about to change.
According to the University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR); “From 1960-1980 the population of Allegheny County decreased 10.9 %” From 1980-2000 [there was an additional] 11.7% [population loss.]” Hey, check this out; for forty years from 1960-2000 the regional fan base for the Pirates shrunk 21.6% along with the with the fact of “racial disenfranchisement” for Whites and evolving decrease of African American fan support. Combine all of those factors and that is the perfect recipe for fiscal disaster.
If it wasn’t for the overlooked efforts of former majority owner Kevin McClatchy, there would most likely be no PNC Park or a team to play there because as well all know or should have known the bags of the Buc’s were packed and sitting on the platform at the train station waiting for the last train going to “Mudville.” “
Run, Run, run but you sure can’t hide.”
Would you folks please consider this? The financial woes of the Pittsburgh market did not go unnoticed by the rest of the MLB franchises that’s why all of baseball could wait like “crows on a fence” for the Buc’s to sign and develop talent because everyone knew that once talent was developed Pittsburgh did not have the financial reservoir to retain those future stars.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
As far as trades go the Pirates were giving away kidneys, livers and hearts, vital components for success in exchange for a few corneas, retinas, a molar here and a wisdom tooth there.
As you all should know; if you lose an eye or your eyesight you can get glasses or in a worst case scenario a seeing eye dog or be forced to learn Braille. When your kidneys, liver or heart ceases to function your doctor visits end and you will most likely make your one and only visit to the coroner.
“The only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation.”
The talent of the Buc’s would have better off hidden on an Indian reservation to keep them safe from the “vultureristic” capitalist’s of the MLB ownership groups. The ex-management of the Pirates killed their success by selling off in house developed athletes and promising minor league players for “future prospects.”
“Vote for me and I’ll set you free. Rap on brother, rap on. The only person talkin bout love thy brother is the preacher; and it seems nobody’s intrested in learning but the teacher. GM after GM of the Pirates promised and preached future success knowing that in the high financed MLB market where the players were getting the moon and finely aged cheese, all the Pirates had to offer was “Cheese Whiz.”
“And the band played on.”
Enter GM Neil Huntington and Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle. They are not singing the same ole song and preaching the same ole sermon because they aren’t waiting on change,they are change. No longer are bargain basement deals waiting in the Pittsburgh. The Pirates are making the deals.
(Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com or 412-583-6741)
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