Came across this while I was skimming newspapers on the internet this evening..
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Baseball shrine tells actors, You're out!
Hall of Fame cancels Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon event, citing their anti-war stance
By DAN HOWLEY, Staff writer
First published: Friday, April 11, 2003
COOPERSTOWN -- Hollywood, politics and baseball clashed on Thursday, and Hollywood struck out.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has canceled a 15th-anniversary celebration of the classic baseball movie "Bull Durham" because of anti-war views voiced by movie co-stars Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon.
In a letter to Robbins dated April 7, Hall president Dale Petroskey admonished "public figures, such as you," for undermining U.S. military action in Iraq and informed Robbins that the April 26-27 movie celebration at the Hall had been canceled as a result.
Petroskey, a former White House assistant press secretary under Ronald Reagan and an invitee to the White House several times since George Bush took office, said in the letter that the actors' recent comments "ultimately could put our troops in even more danger."
On Thursday, Robbins and Sarandon lashed out at Petroskey as a political opportunist, while residents of Cooperstown backed the Hall's decision and said it's time for the whole country to get behind the President and the troops.
"I thought it would be a nice little weekend away from all this talk of war and politics," Robbins told the Times Union. "I'm sorry that Mr. Petroskey has chosen to politicize it. It's distressing to think someone is actually politicizing baseball."
Robbins said Petroskey's political bias seriously undermines the Hall president's credibility.
"If the source wasn't so partisan, it would hurt," Robbins said. "But considering what the source is and who his friends are and how connected he is to the administration, I don't view his opinion as representing baseball. I feel sorry for baseball that they have someone who is pursuing a political agenda."
Sarandon said baseball is a metaphor for life.
"One of the things that makes it feel so Americana to me is the diversity of everything that it involves, from opinions to people to age to race -- whatever," she said. "That's what we love about baseball. It always seemed a place where part of the nature of the game is arguing and getting over it."
Petroskey declined to comment Thursday, and spokesman Brad Horn said the Hall's position is that "the letter speaks for itself."
"In a free country such as ours, every American has the right to his or her own opinions, and to express them," the letter from Petroskey said. "Public figures, such as you, have platforms much larger than the average American's, which provides you an extraordinary opportunity to have your views heard -- and an equally large obligation to act and speak responsibly.
"We believe your very public criticism of President Bush at this important -- and sensitive -- time in our nation's history helps undermine the U.S. position, which ultimately could put our troops in even more danger."
After receiving the letter, Robbins responded by sending a letter to Petroskey. In it, Robbins said he remained "skeptical" of the war plans and told Petroskey he did not realize baseball was "a Republican sport."
"To suggest that my criticism of the President put the troops in danger is absurd," Robbins wrote. "I wish you had, in your letter, saved me the rhetoric and talked honestly about your ties to the Bush and Reagan administrations."
Marco Roman of San Diego was one of the last visitors Thursday afternoon to the Hall of Fame. He was looking at an exhibit of U.S. presidents and their role in the game and said anti-American rhetoric just isn't a part of baseball.
"Most people think of it as an American pastime, and you think about it being part of patriotism," Roman said. "You think about baseball and you think about the American flag, and when these people in Hollywood make those comments, it's like if they come here they are clashing with ideals of baseball and America. I understand why they canceled it and uninvited them."
Kevin Klix, manager of Mickey's Place & Louisville Slugger Shop in Cooperstown, said he has friends fighting in Iraq and has little tolerance for outspoken criticism of the war.
"Nobody wants to go to war, but you've got to stand by the troops," Klix said. "Whether you are for it or against it, you have to swallow your opinion and stand behind the military."
Klix said he thinks most Cooperstown residents support the action in Iraq.
"They aren't going to come out and bad-mouth the President," he said.
"Personally, I feel the Hall did the right thing," said Bob Tricomi, owner of the "On Deck Circle" baseball apparel shop. "I'm sure a lot of people in the area were looking forward to that celebration, but if they (Robbins and Sarandon) came, I don't think it would have proved very beneficial for them to come in. I think most people here would support the decision to cancel it."
The weekend celebration, planned months ago, also was to feature "Bull Durham" actor Robert Wuhl and writer-director Ron Shelton.
"I think what is staggering to me is that baseball is the great verbal game in which dissent is encouraged -- maybe the only game," Sheldon said. writer Mark McGuire contributed to this report.
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Agree? Disagree? Comments?
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Baseball shrine tells actors, You're out!
Hall of Fame cancels Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon event, citing their anti-war stance
By DAN HOWLEY, Staff writer
First published: Friday, April 11, 2003
COOPERSTOWN -- Hollywood, politics and baseball clashed on Thursday, and Hollywood struck out.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has canceled a 15th-anniversary celebration of the classic baseball movie "Bull Durham" because of anti-war views voiced by movie co-stars Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon.
In a letter to Robbins dated April 7, Hall president Dale Petroskey admonished "public figures, such as you," for undermining U.S. military action in Iraq and informed Robbins that the April 26-27 movie celebration at the Hall had been canceled as a result.
Petroskey, a former White House assistant press secretary under Ronald Reagan and an invitee to the White House several times since George Bush took office, said in the letter that the actors' recent comments "ultimately could put our troops in even more danger."
On Thursday, Robbins and Sarandon lashed out at Petroskey as a political opportunist, while residents of Cooperstown backed the Hall's decision and said it's time for the whole country to get behind the President and the troops.
"I thought it would be a nice little weekend away from all this talk of war and politics," Robbins told the Times Union. "I'm sorry that Mr. Petroskey has chosen to politicize it. It's distressing to think someone is actually politicizing baseball."
Robbins said Petroskey's political bias seriously undermines the Hall president's credibility.
"If the source wasn't so partisan, it would hurt," Robbins said. "But considering what the source is and who his friends are and how connected he is to the administration, I don't view his opinion as representing baseball. I feel sorry for baseball that they have someone who is pursuing a political agenda."
Sarandon said baseball is a metaphor for life.
"One of the things that makes it feel so Americana to me is the diversity of everything that it involves, from opinions to people to age to race -- whatever," she said. "That's what we love about baseball. It always seemed a place where part of the nature of the game is arguing and getting over it."
Petroskey declined to comment Thursday, and spokesman Brad Horn said the Hall's position is that "the letter speaks for itself."
"In a free country such as ours, every American has the right to his or her own opinions, and to express them," the letter from Petroskey said. "Public figures, such as you, have platforms much larger than the average American's, which provides you an extraordinary opportunity to have your views heard -- and an equally large obligation to act and speak responsibly.
"We believe your very public criticism of President Bush at this important -- and sensitive -- time in our nation's history helps undermine the U.S. position, which ultimately could put our troops in even more danger."
After receiving the letter, Robbins responded by sending a letter to Petroskey. In it, Robbins said he remained "skeptical" of the war plans and told Petroskey he did not realize baseball was "a Republican sport."
"To suggest that my criticism of the President put the troops in danger is absurd," Robbins wrote. "I wish you had, in your letter, saved me the rhetoric and talked honestly about your ties to the Bush and Reagan administrations."
Marco Roman of San Diego was one of the last visitors Thursday afternoon to the Hall of Fame. He was looking at an exhibit of U.S. presidents and their role in the game and said anti-American rhetoric just isn't a part of baseball.
"Most people think of it as an American pastime, and you think about it being part of patriotism," Roman said. "You think about baseball and you think about the American flag, and when these people in Hollywood make those comments, it's like if they come here they are clashing with ideals of baseball and America. I understand why they canceled it and uninvited them."
Kevin Klix, manager of Mickey's Place & Louisville Slugger Shop in Cooperstown, said he has friends fighting in Iraq and has little tolerance for outspoken criticism of the war.
"Nobody wants to go to war, but you've got to stand by the troops," Klix said. "Whether you are for it or against it, you have to swallow your opinion and stand behind the military."
Klix said he thinks most Cooperstown residents support the action in Iraq.
"They aren't going to come out and bad-mouth the President," he said.
"Personally, I feel the Hall did the right thing," said Bob Tricomi, owner of the "On Deck Circle" baseball apparel shop. "I'm sure a lot of people in the area were looking forward to that celebration, but if they (Robbins and Sarandon) came, I don't think it would have proved very beneficial for them to come in. I think most people here would support the decision to cancel it."
The weekend celebration, planned months ago, also was to feature "Bull Durham" actor Robert Wuhl and writer-director Ron Shelton.
"I think what is staggering to me is that baseball is the great verbal game in which dissent is encouraged -- maybe the only game," Sheldon said. writer Mark McGuire contributed to this report.
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Agree? Disagree? Comments?
