Homer71 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 2209 posts, RR: 17 Posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 893 times:
The Baseball Hall of Fame has decided to cancel the 15th anniversary celebration of the baseball comedy "Bull Durham", starring Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, solely because of Robbins and Sarandon's anti-war stance.
This excerpt from a letter written to Robbins/Sarandon by Hall president Dale Petroskey:
"In a free country such as ours, every American has the right to his or her own opinions, and to express them. 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. As an institution, we stand behind our President and our troops in this conflict."
This is part of Robbins' response:
"I am sorry that you have chosen to use baseball and your position at the Hall of Fame to make a political statement. I know there are many baseball fans that disagree with you, and even more that will react with disgust to realize baseball is being politicized.
"To suggest that my criticism of the President put the troops in danger is absurd. ... I wish you had, in your letter, saved me the rhetoric and talked honestly about your ties to the Bush and Reagan administrations."
Even though I support the president and don't agree with Robbins or Sarandon politically, this is getting a little ridiculous. We're celebrating a friggin' movie (a pretty good baseball movie), not opening a political forum, which is exactly what Petroskey is doing. Robbins even said he was looking forward to a weekend "away from politics and war" and I believe him. If he decided to turn it into a politcal bruhaha, then it will be on him, not the Hall.
Leave it to some paranoid idiot to force me to side with Hollywood celebrities!
"On spaceship earth there are no passengers...only crew."
Alpha 1 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 826 times:
I think Tim Robbins is right. Baseball should stick to baseball and not politics. I can only assume that the Administration put some pressure on Baseball to censor these two in this matter.
Homer71 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 2209 posts, RR: 17 Reply 3, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 778 times:
Both directed by Ron Shelton and had Robert Wuhl in it. Just a little trivia...
Dubya did use to be a part owner of the Texas Rangers...hmm
"On spaceship earth there are no passengers...only crew."
NormalSpeed From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 774 times:
"I am sorry that you have chosen to use baseball and your position at the Hall of Fame to make a political statement...even more that will react with disgust to realize baseball is being politicized."
Isn't that sort of like Robbins using his position as an actor to make a political statement? What about politicizing movies? That happens all the time. Robbins, Sarandon, et. al. just can't handle it when their own tactics are used against them.
"We're celebrating a friggin' movie (a pretty good baseball movie), not opening a political forum, which is exactly what Petroskey is doing."
Isn't this exactly what Martha Burke an Double J are doing at the Masters right now?
Personally, I'll enjoy baseball just as much without a Bull Durham remake.
747-451 From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 2417 posts, RR: 6 Reply 5, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 766 times:
"I think Tim Robbins is right. Baseball should stick to baseball and not politics. "
Just like I think Tim Robbins should stick to acting.
Jaysit From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 758 times:
What a stupid storm in a teacup.
Frankly, I can't believe there are "celebrations" held annually for Bull Durham. Doesn't the Baseball Hall of Fame have anything better to do? Bull Durham was fine, but a great classic it aint. From what I know, Robert Redford came out against this war and vehemently hates Dubya. I guess the annual "celebrations" for the Natural are out too. But I bet the party for Mr. Baseball (yes, that pathetic attempt by Tom Selleck to act) must be rockin'. Sushi roll with that Bud, anyone?
Who knew that to enjoy a baseball game on a sunny day you had to be for war?
Homer71 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 2209 posts, RR: 17 Reply 7, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 753 times:
Jaysit, forgive me if I misread your post, just a clarification.
The Hall doesn't celebrate "Bull Durham" every year...this is a one time thing marking 15 years (I don't know what the significance of a 15th anniversary), that's all.
Well, 2004 will be 20 years for "The Natural", and, I agree, there will probably won't be any ceremony.
I did enjoy "Mr. Baseball", having lived in Japan a few years, but Tom Selleck's character wasn't very likable...
"On spaceship earth there are no passengers...only crew."
KROC From United States of America, joined May 2000, 19737 posts, RR: 76 Reply 8, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 741 times:
I agree with the Baseball Hall of Fame. While yes, they should stick with baseball.....the actors in Hollywood outta stick to acting, instead of acting like because they make a movie, they speak for the collective U.S. Contrary to Robbins statement, far more Americans are tired of "celebrities" spouting off, and with baseball still on a mission to revamp it's image and become more fan friendly, I feel they are doing something that falls inline with the majority of fans/peoples opinions, and is a good thing.
Besides, who says Sarandon won't use this as well to run her sewer about the evils of Bush and the war? I know if I was there and heard that, I'd lose my mind.......
"Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again"
Jaysit From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 744 times:
Gotcha Homer71:
I have to admit, Mr. Baseball was a perfect airplane movie. I watched it dubbed in Japanese on a JAL flight back in 1993 (before the days of PTVs) and it was a guilty pleasure watching it in Zone E on a 747 with 100 Japanese tourists.
Arrow From Canada, joined Jun 2002, 2582 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 719 times:
Some of you guys are missing the point here.
When Sarandon and Robbins speak out against the war, they do so as individuals (OK, prominent individuals). While they may urge "Hollywood" to take some sort of official action on their beliefs, they aren't in control of anything. They can be countered in the public forum by other prominent individuals (Charlton Heston, where are you?) including Dale Petroskey.
But when Petroskey cancels an event because he disagrees with the political stands taken by some of the attendees, that's a whole different ball game (sorry). Now he 's taking an official action on behalf of the organization that he controls, and he's politicizing that organization. That's showing huge disrespect for the freedoms Americans cherish and are supposedly fighting for in Iraq. There's far too much of this sort of thing going on right now, and the impression left with us outsiders is that freedom of speech is OK as long as you don't disagree with the President. Patrick Henry must be rotating in his grave.
Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Illini_152 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1000 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 715 times:
While I agree with the Hall of Fame's position on this, you also have to remember that they are also in business, and don't want to piss off their customers.
If these two clowns got up and used the Hall of Fame to continue to criticize the president, the MLB could take a serious hit; like it or not, Bush has overwhelming public support right now; Americans overwhelmingly support their president right now. It is worth noting as well, that box office returns this year are down from the previous years.
Could these be because the movies are crap? Or could Americans be getting sick of actors that think that they know more than the current administration and not wanting to give them any more money?
--
Mike
Happy contrails - I support B747Skipper and Jetguy
Clipperhawaii From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 2033 posts, RR: 13 Reply 14, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 696 times:
Baseball is a business and has every right to associate with whom it wants. Good move! I can just see these two Hollywood idiots showing up and being booed! Any good promoter would give them the shove.
Let the actors act and let baseball provide us with a great sport and great memories, a sport we love to watch to get away from it all.
Tim Robbin's response is pathetic. A typical Hollywood idiot.
Tim, you may exit now, stage left!
Jaysit From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 690 times:
"It is worth noting as well, that box office returns this year are down from the previous years."
Its the economy, stupid. Its the economy.
You've got millions of folks out of jobs. What the hell do you think they're gonna be doing? Paying $ 40 to go to the movies? They're too busy working on sending out resumes, or worrying about the next rent payment.
Airplay From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 16, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 681 times:
Isn't that sort of like Robbins using his position as an actor to make a political statement?
Does that mean that plumbers should stick to plumbing and doctors should stick to healing and that everyone making comments on this forum should stop it unless you are a professional war debater...
How silly. Every person is entitled to an opinion. The actors are people. The Baseball Hall of Fame is not. It's unfortunate that the administration of this institution is basing it's actions on the political views of some actors. I find it hard to believe that they aren't trying to distance themselves from other corupt entities...like major league baseball.
It is not an actor's problem that the general public hangs on their every word. I'm sure that these people are forced to share all sorts of private aspects of thier lives unwillingly because of the media. So what if they happen to share political view too? You don't have to agree or even listen if you don't want to...it's a free country for actors and non-actors alike.
Boacvc10 From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 515 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 667 times:
After Bush brings freedom to Iraq, maybe he can do the same for America.
KRIC777 From United States of America, joined Jun 2002, 242 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 613 times:
Good for baseball...
The war notwithstanding, that socialist shrew Sarandon and her comrade Red Robbins can always be counted on to run their self-righteous blowholes about any number of crackpot left-wing causes. Everytime they open their mouths, something inane and ignorant comes out.
Liberal OR conservative, actors spouting off about politics is akin to your plumber giving you medical advice.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 19, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 605 times:
Hehehehe
This is great.
I hope that this turns people on to baseball.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7695 posts, RR: 5 Reply 21, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 582 times:
Let's face it folks.
The Baseball Hall of Fame people saw very clearly what happened to Natalie Maines and the Dixie Chicks when she made that unfortunate remark in London, England just before the war started--it was a public-relations fiasco of the highest order against the Dixie Chicks.
The HoF people didn't want Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon to start spouting off political remarks that could have single-handedly seriously hurt attendence to the Hall of Fame museum in Cooperstown, NY. Besides, just last year the HoF opened a new exhibit honoring the baseball stars that went off to fight World War II, and they have a vested interest in protecting the meaning of that exhibit.
747-451 From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 2417 posts, RR: 6 Reply 22, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 539 times:
"But when Petroskey cancels an event because he disagrees with the political stands taken by some of the attendees, that's a whole different ball game (sorry). Now he 's taking an official action on behalf of the organization that he controls, and he's politicizing that organization"
Petroskey is speaking for a "PRIVATE" institution and acting with the permission of it's board. As a private concern, it is free to select and deseletct the entities it associates with, in the same fashion a person who does not support the Dixie Chicks decides not to buy their CD's.
As far as celebrities, they have a right to speak their opinions like anyone else; however, "leveraged" by of their celebrity status, they have greater access to the media, than mr. regular citizen. However, Mr. regular citizen may also speak, he may also choose, within his rights not to buy their CD's, movies, TV shows or even their sponsors products-since that is oridinary people "leverage" their freedom of speech by choosing not to financially support with whom they disagree with.
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