THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 7, 1996 TAG: 9610070146
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: 66 lines
Like the Cleveland Indians and their fans, the very righteous among us must be having a hard time coming to terms with the Baltimore Orioles' unexpected success.
Perhaps the Orioles were destined to win the Division Series with the favored Indians. But did it have to be Roberto Alomar who, in the clinching game, delivered the two biggest hits?
America must be hating this. For the indignant, it is the ultimate indignity. Right about now, the morally upright must be feeling very uptight.
When Alomar tied the game in the ninth with a single off Jose Mesa, then drove a Mesa pitch over the wall in the 12th inning, who could blame millions of justice-seeking Americans if they did a spit take?
Baseball fans, and other social observers, must be shaking their heads at the unfairness of it all. Not only did Alomar avoid appropriate punishment for his salivary attack on umpire John Hirschbeck, but his team went on to prosper from his participation in the playoffs.
So much for using the Indians-Orioles series as allegory. Alomar's clutch blows are proof that a baseball doesn't recognize bad guys or good guys, only bad pitches and good wood.
Think about it fans: Would you have it any other way?
Alomar's every move at Jacobs Field was greeted with boos and he was relentlessly taunted by cowardly fans standing out of reach behind the Orioles' dugout.
As the Birds advance, we can anticipate Yankee Stadium crowds will pick up where the Indians fans left off.
This will be amusing, of course, because no fans are more recognized for their impeccable stadium decorum than the denizens of the Bronx Zoo.
The paragons of virtue that inhabit Yankee Stadium are the fairest, most respectful fans in sports when they aren't launching golf balls and ``D'' batteries from the upper decks at defenseless outfielders.
Alomar deserves a few Bronx cheers wherever he plays. But Yankee Stadium fans crucifying a player for reprehensible behavior is like Ross Perot making fun of someone else's haircut.
The Orioles can only hope that, while playing second base, Alomar is beyond the range of the alcohol-fueled, Duracell-tossing cretins.
But now that Alomar's apology has been accepted by Hirschbeck, might even the righteously indignant throughout America lighten up?
Unlikely.
No fan is required to hate Alomar forever, though. Already, one can detect in the attacks directed toward him an attempt to punish one player for the resentment felt toward all multi-millionaire baseball players.
It's worth remembering, too, that Alomar did not create the system that allows him to remain in the lineup. That is baseball's problem.
Perhaps Hirschbeck offers the best advice.
``It is time,'' he says, ``to bring closure to this matter.''
If Hirschbeck can let go of his anger, there is no reason the rest of America can't.
Baseball, even during the playoffs, is just a game, not a morality play. To the Indians' displeasure, Alomar has reminded us of this.
The prediction here is that the Orioles will not survive the next round of playoffs.
This result should satisfy the moralists, who then will have an opportunity to root for the Yankees and that exemplary sportsman George Steinbrenner. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Roberto Alomar by CNB