A New “Professional”

Today’s professional athletes should be allowed to show spontaneous emotion without criticism from traditionalists like Michael Kay.

On Tuesday night, the Yankees’ Joba Chamberlain ended an eighth inning Blue Jays rally by striking out Frank Thomas to end the inning. The Yankees went on to win the game. The following day, I turned on ESPN radio, and heard YES commentator and radio host Michael Kay sniping about the fact that after the strikeout, Joba pumped his fist and let out a yell. Last night, as Chamberlain pitched another strong eighth inning, again leading to a Yankee win, Kay continued to harp on the pitcher’s actions from two nights ago. Um, seriously? Let’s take a look at that again. Joba Chamberlain, a 21 year old phenom, who has struggled through adversities like having a handicapped father and a childhood spent in abject poverty, pitching for the only team he ever wanted to pitch for, in front of more than 50,000 people on the last opening day of historic Yankee Stadium, struck out possible future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas. Only a Terminator could casually stroll off the field in that situation. And I am not talking about Summer Glau’s sultry, off-putting, conniving “terminator”; I am referring to Arnold’s jacked up, leather clad, “I need your clothes, your boots, and your motorcycle” Terminator.

 What Kay’s argument ultimately boils down to is this old guard notion of “professionalism.” Traditionalists seem to believe that baseball players should always act contrary to their urges to celebrate and show emotion, and instead, go about their jobs in a workman-like fashion and with cold facility. To show emotion is to show weakness; or worse, it shows up your opponent. In my twenty-five years, this is a notion I have never been able to comprehend. Every day, these men play a game that most of us would gladly play for free, and we expect them to do so joylessly and without character, as if all it is to them is a paycheck. They should treat every situation like another day at the office. You want to see a professional? Go down to your city’s financial district. Find the guy in the suit and tie, with the bottle of Maalox, peptic ulcers, and budding coke habit…that is the modern professional.

Now, there exists a strong distinction between pre-meditated celebrations, with which I have a significant issue, and spontaneous emotion. Pre-meditation leads to marketing trends and its ultimate goal is to increase a player’s wealth. Take Sammy Sosa. In 1996, when he hit a home run, hopped down the first base line, and kissed his fingers, we found it mildly endearing. By 1998, the histrionics had already become played out. Last year, watching him skip after hitting a lazy fly ball 50 feet in front of the warning track or sprinting to right field the one day every two weeks he would start was like seeing the 60+ year old Ric Flair as he jiggles and wobbles his way around a current WWE ring. There was just something missing—doing the hop was the only way he knew how to get paid. When Manny Ramirez stands at home plate for fifteen seconds, points in all directions, and takes an hour to walk around the bases after a home run, he shows up his opponent. When David Ortiz throws off his helmet just before jumping into a throng of elated teammates after hitting a walk-off, he celebrates spontaneously and emotionally.

Why must we focus on this bit of nonsense, instead of the crisply played series between the Yankees and Blue Jays, the amazing influx of young talent to the majors, or just the joy and hope that comes with the beginning of a new season? Why berate and question those players who live off emotion and intensity? Pitchers like Joba, Jonathon Papelbon, and Francisco Rodriguez show an innate understanding that this opportunity they have been given is fleeting. They perform on the biggest stage, under immense pressure. Literally, they live and die with every pitch.

In a game where success is rare and nearly unattainable, why not celebrate when we see it? That is the type of professionalism I love to see.