I am now a fan of the World Baseball Classic. I just finished watching Team USA beat Team Canada. The game was better than I expected. It seems a bit more personal this time around for Team USA. I was impressed by the emotion and desire to win that players showed. I was impressed with how the players felt the need to represent not only this country, but this countrys past time. Then it donned on me. For the last few weeks I have heard players "think, debate, ponder" whether or not they would play in the Classic. The reason for not playing? Most say its fear of getting injured. So I did some researched. What I found is professional baseball players have found several ways to hurt themselves while their not on the diamond. Here are a few of my favorites.
Breaking your wrist washing your truck. Yep, true story that happened to Jeff Kent. Broke his left wrist washing his own truck in a self service car wash in Arizona. Brett Barberie let his love for hot and spicy food cost him a few days at work. Seems Barberie rubbed his eye with chili peppers on his hand and was unable to see for a few days. Adam Eaton, formerly of my beloved San Diego Padres made the "wise decision" to open the plastic wrapper of a DVD with a paring knife. He didn't realize the stupidity until he accidentally lunged the paring knife into his stomach.
There are so many to choose from. Sammy Sosa is my personal all time favorite. Sosa who was in a exciting home run race and is well known for how hard he swings the bat. Well Sosa straigned his back muscles while sneezing! Yes, sir Mr. Sosa was sidelined because he sneezed too hard. John Smoltz took a close second with his imitation of Molly Maids and burning himself while ironing. I commend Smoltz and Kent for taking care of their own domestic duties, but come on don't get hurt doing it.
So what have we learned here today? It's simple, when asked to defend your country's honor by playing a sport do it. Injuries happen every day. Sure, baseballs fly fast, sliding, and diving can get you hurt. The truth is injuries happen everyday off the diamond as well. I know baseball is a business. I ask every MLB to evaluate today's economy and understand that you are fortunate to make the money you do. Represent your country. If not for yourself do it for the service member, for the kids who admire you, so you may reduce the chance of ending up on this blog in the future for hurting yourself some other way. What do we have to lose? You can get hurt anywhere.
Until next time go USA!
Keywords: Baseball, Dumb Injuries, MLB Players, Stupid Injuries, Team Canada, TEAM USA, World Baseball Classic
