By: Harold Klapper
To many, the reason baseball stands out is because it’s not gimmicky. The NBA is more of a brand than a league, the Superbowl is too commercialized, and no one watches hockey. But the MLB is supposed to be America’s pastime, where the World Series is classy and each game has an almost historic atmosphere. The game has remained constant for over 100 years and feels authentic, unlike many other sports leagues. What better way to ruin this than with fake fan noises and cardboard cutouts?
This season, the MLB will be playing fake crowd noises on the broadcast as well as in the stadium for players to hear. In my opinion, there has never been a worse idea in the history of televised sports. If you have watched any clips of the system in action, it’s far from realistic. Two seconds after a homerun hits the upper deck fans start erupting. Every single time there is cheering, it’s late. If that wasn’t enough, it doesn’t sound real at all. The cheering was taken out of the video game “The Show” and it’s noticeable to say the least. When I watch baseball I want a NON-FICTION event. I don’t want to be pampered to and treated as though I can’t watch the game without hearing the crowd. I love the game, not the noises. It’s insulting to fans and players alike that baseball’s audience needs fake sounds to pay attention.
Cardboard cutouts are even worse. Teams are asking fans to pay upwards of five hundred dollars to have a cutout of themselves in the stands. Last time I checked, cardboard wasn’t that expensive. Not only is it a gross way for teams to make money, it looks ridiculous. These cutouts are making historic stadiums like Fenway Park and Wrigley Field look like the background in the Wii Sports baseball game. This is major league baseball, and it’s integrity shouldn’t be tampered with.
Instead of miking up players or doing something interesting, baseball has decided to stoop down to the marketing level of the NBA and add fake crowd noise as well as cardboard cutouts. I hope in these waning days of the preseason that the MLB decides to get rid of them, but knowing baseball, get ready for an extremely annoying season of horribly timed cheering.
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