Nice!

http://onthescene.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/06/06/first-pitch-surprise/

It's a shame that people support putting American families through such hell for a war that should have never been waged. And then the fact that they probably back McCain, who wants to send that Dad back to Iraq and his son to Iraq once he's old enough, is tragic as well.

Some how when I posted this, I knew you'd be the first one to reply and turn something nice into a Bush Bitch.

You must be a very bitter person.

I feel sorry for you.

Did you know that Vitalogys birth certificate is an apology from the Trojan company?

" Did you know that Vitalogys birth certificate is an apology from the Trogan company?"

I don't get it.

Skybill, we view the video differently. What I see is a family that has been torn apart by a war YOU support. Their sadness and pain is a result of a war you support. If we didn't have such a dumbshit for president, it would be UNNECESSARY for the dad to dress up to surprise his kids. Get it???

Vitalogy - While I agree with you on the buffoonery of our current administration and the senselesness of the war in Iraq, this was a very nice touch by the San Diego Padres, the one franchise in baseball that has done more to embrace the American military than any other by a mile. This is a very nice moment put on by the Padres.

Some one needs to explain to cj what a trojan condom is.

The Padres do a lot for the military because San Diego is a military town, hence, they need to serve their CUSTOMER BASE. They don't do it because they care, they do it for PR just like any other corporation.

I beg to differ with you. The Padres are dedicated to our servicemen in a way few other teams can boast. Cpl. Cooper Brannan is an injured Marine veteran. He earned a development contract and chance to make pro ball a career in 2007. Though he did not do well in Arizona League action, he reported this spring to the club. He is still young and could have a future in baseball.

Of course, being a decorated combat veteran, baseball is but one of the challenges facing Brannan. Last fall, he and his family filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the flash bomb that took part of his hand. A few months ago, the Federal government indicted the grenade maker for a host of charges including, "money laundering and conspiracy to defraud the government."

Vitalogy - San Diego isn't the only major sports market with major military operations nearby. Even Seattle has the naval bases on Whidbey Island, Bremerton and Everett as well as McChord AFB and Ft. Louis, all within an hours drive of Safeco Field. The M's do nothing to honor those who serve. Heck the Padres even roll out the camoflauge uniforms a couple of times per year.

Many major cities are near large military installations. Only the Padres truly embrace their armed forces members.

" Some one needs to explain to cj what a trojan condom is."

Well maybe if someone hadn't said " trogan " I would have gotten it.

Yeah CJ, it didn't make any sense to me either. Mebbe it was the "Elegant Trogan" he was yammering about.

Brianl, You are right about San Diego baseball history being special. They had a young man play for them who went on to be a hero of two wars in the Marines.

To be fair, the Seattle Mariners also reach out to our men and women in uniform. Every Tuesday, tickets are half-price to service members. This past April, the ballclub celebrated Salute to Armed Forces Night, also known as Military Appreciation Night. Coming up on June 14 is the Salute to the Army Birthday game. Like the Padres, they also have a pitching prospect in the service, 2nd Lt. Nick Hill.

Having said all that, I cannot wait until we have some peace in the world. I like Take Me Out to the Ballgame much more than God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch.

Portland's hometown nine is the AAA affiliate of the Padres. On May 17, the first 1903 fans through the turnstiles received camouflage caps on Military Appreciation Night. They also saw the Bevos rally against the Las Vegas 51s for a 3-2 win.

The singing of "god bless America" during the 7th inning stretch pisses me of beyond belief. I hope someone in baseball changes that. It reeks of the Bush Administration and false nationalism.

vitalogy, if singing "God Bless America" during 7th inning stretch pisses you off, then my suggestion that "God Bless America" should be our national anthem would really send you through the roof!!

Hmmmm. Maybe I'll start petitioning our senators and congressmen to get it changed. On 2nd though, it would be a waste of time with the two bimbo's Washington state has in there.

I suggest that you move to Canada or Mexico. That way all the currency you carry won't say IN GOD WE TRUST on it!

When I was a kid, I used to feel a strong sense of patriotism when I heard our national anthem. Today, I don’t get the same feeling. I’m sure much of it has to do with my disdain of the current administration. I’m sure once we have a new president in office, my sense of patriotism will once again be there in earnest.

One of the most celebrated events of the Seventh-Inning Stretch is the traditional singing of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame". It was written by a very successful songwriter named Jack Norworth who scribbled the lyrics on a scrap piece of paper while riding the train to Manhattan in New York. For decades both real singers and celebrity "wannabes" have belted out the tune with thousands of fans in the bleachers providing backup.

Some historical items of interest for seventh-inning song selections: The Milwaukee Brewers once played "Roll Out the Barrell", the Baltimore Orioles from 1975 through 1986 played "Thank God I'm a County Boy", the Texas Rangers had "Cotton Eye Joe" and the St. Louis Cardinals have played "Here Comes the King".

Baseball Almanac

Skybill, why should I move to Mexico or Canada? I go there to vacation, but I'm a citizen, so I'll stick around here and advocate for what I think are American values. Playing the national anthem before every ballgame is certainly appropriate, but that's enough nationalistic activities for a ballgame. I go to games or watch them on TV for the enjoyment of the sport, NOT to pledge allegience to my country at every turn of an inning. The taking away of "Take me out the ballgame" in favor of "god bless America" is a travesty for the game of baseball, which has allowed itself to become politicized by such activities. It should be halted immediately.

I completely agree.

And I might add, if we didn't have such an ass clown hosing up the place, those constant reminders wouldn't be necessary, and would be seen as over the top.

I think, to be honest, it's up to the teams themselves to whether they play "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", or "God Bless America", or whatever. I know at Yankee Stadium they have that tenor sing "God Bless America", I guess it's their continuing tribute to the 9/11 attacks. It makes sense in a place like San Diego as well, where such a large percentage of the fans are either military or their families.

Not ALL places do it. It's been a good few years since I've been to a game at Safeco, so to be honest I don't know what the Mariners are doing. (They should have a Bill Bavasi voodoo doll giveaway at every game and the fans stick their pins in the doll during the seventh inning stretch, but that's another matter for another day.) The last two places I've been to games at are Miller Park in Milwaukee, and Wrigley Field. The Cubs of course still do the celebrity guest leading "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", that is as traditional as peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Miller Park has the famed sausage races. Neither do "God Bless America" at any point of the game itself.

I see Vitalogy's point, it can seem smarmy and self-serving to have all this patriotic stuff going on, especially for so many of us with such disdain for the current administration and the direction of the country ... but it isn't a baseball-mandated thing, it's a team-by-team choice as to what they do.

"Shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, Major League Baseball mandated that teams play ''God Bless America'' during each game. By now, the league's only requirement is that teams play ''God Bless America'' on Sundays.

None of the home teams this weekend have used ''God Bless America'' as the Yankees have."

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00E5D6153CF937A35753C1A9659C8B6 3&fta=y

"Following the attack on America on September 11th, Major League Baseball rose to the occasion as part of the healing process and added "God Bless America" to its song list. After taking center stage with patriotic tributes throughout the remainder of the regular season, the national pastime returned to the Big Apple to host the World Series. With the city's emotions running high and the American flag pulled from the wreckage of the World Trade Center flying overhead, President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch symbolizing the unwavering strength of America. In the seventh, world-renowned Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan stepped forward to sing, as a giant American Flag was unfurled on the field. In that instant, the mysterious and "meaningless stretch" of a baseball game became a symbolic vigil for all."

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/articles/7th_inning_stretch.shtml

"But the specific brand of nationalism displayed at Yankee Stadium in recent years, mixed with so much military fervor, is deeply offensive to me.

http://www.commondreams.org/scriptfiles/views03/1027-02.htm