Morneau Back on his Feet?

Justin Morneau, the Twins first baseman, suffered a concussion in July 2010, taking till this years spring season to reach a place where he feels near 100% again. In his article, Morneau Encouraged, Feels no Symptoms, Rhett Bollinger discusses Morneau's significant progress as he gets back into the full workout routine, preparing for a strong season. Morneau had previously stated when he first obtained his concussion that if his concussion-like symptoms continued, he probably will no longer have a career as a baseball player. Fans went crazy, blowing up his twitter with concern for his health, profession, and continuance to be a part of their American experience. Most of Bollinger's article focuses on Morneau's amazing progress with his injury, and reassuring words to his fans that he never fully expected to retire, and that was not truly on his mind, he just had to consider what he would do after baseball if that were the case. He also emphasized the proof of Morneau's progress as he discussed Morneau's home run, and long drive during a live batting practice, that was hit without being told what was coming. The article is a way to reassure fans that they are not losing a hero, Morneau will continue to have a place in the American past time and their dinner conversations. It may be curious to some that something as simple as a player possibly not being able to play again would be worthy of its own news article, however they forget what the sport, and a players role in it means to the overall American culture. Like Barth states in his book, "Mythologies," baseball is given this new sign or significance as we give a story to the game, and meaning to whats happening. Focusing on the game, making it part of your life provides stability in life when most things in life are unstable and chaotic. Feeling connected with the player not only gives you something to talk about, but you feel like you know him, you are truly devastated by what happens in his life, even though you don't know him. Like in Coover's, "Universal Baseball League," His main character becomes so attached to these fake characters in his made up game, that his personal life is actually effected. It becomes a story when we give meaning to who he is, what his role is in a game that has become a story of life, and when your emotions can actually be effected by what happens to a baseball player.

Fantasy Leagues- Coover Style!

Al Doyle's, "Putting Together a Reality Team,"is based on helping baseball fans who indulge in fantasy leagues, put together a team like the big league norm. Doyle gives a few pointers on how to form a collection of higher-level players, in comparison to what he considers regular fantasy football rosters, consisting of 25 men with diverse talents and skills, leaving defense forgotten. He bases his advice on the conclusion that there is too much fantasy, and not enough reality to create a well-rounded roster. He gives some very direct guidelines to accomplish this.
Have:

• one hall of famer
• do not have five aces in the starting rotation
• an outfield of All-stars at every infield position
• back of the roatation starters
• middle relievers
• utility players
• You are allowed anyone who appeared in a major league game anywhere between the 1800's to the present. 

 He then continues to explain how to arrange your team, it's plays, and specific moves that will be most accomplishing, such as, "Go with as few as nine arms if you like complete games and dead-ball era workhorses, or do your best Tony LaRussa impersonation and have a 13-man staff complete with two LOOGYs. Since I'm in favor of complete games and four-man rotations, my ace is one of the most durable starters of the live ball era." This article stood as a great reminder for the role myth plays in baseball. I was automatically taken back to Coover when reading this article as it gives directions to taking baseball from game form, and creating a reality of it within your life, and giving it a story. These men making fantasy rosters, and plays, consider it their team, they are the couch, the players are their men, yet really, it is all fake. When you say our team won, or I can't believe my team lost, it is not your team. The Yankees won, you watched. The players belong to their specific teams and themselves, the fantasy league creator, is just a fan. I take this back to Coover as his book, "The Universal Baseball League," depicts a man who has moved his own life into a baseball game that he has created, and only he plays. He is the only actual living, breathing human within his reality, yet he is depressed at the loss of one of his players. He talks about them with people in his actual reality, and throws away his job and realistic friends for a game ruled by dice, and players that don't exist. Just like Coover creates a man who lives in his "league," Doyle is giving advice on how to create your own story and altar reality. As he describes the perfect big-league compared to the 25-man roster, he creates a story for men interested in fantasy leagues. He helps them to become better "coaches," and how to manage a team, and how to lead your team to victory. It makes you part of the game, not just a viewer of it.