A new national pastime.

The game of baseball should be sacred. But it's being ruined. By the money-grubbers. By the media networks and baseball moguls out to make big profits. Used to be that the World Series was played in the afternoon. But in the past two or three decades, it's been mostly night baseball. Late into October. Even November. When the last traces of summer are already gone. So many of the games are played in inclement weather. Cold. Rainy. Maybe even snow. Baseball wasn't intended to be played in such hostile conditions. But it's being done. All for the sake of generating more money. Games that can be seen in prime time. Right now, it's affecting the quality of play. It's not real baseball. Monday night, the 5th game of the World Series was played in a driving rain. In cold temperatures. With a wind chill below freezing. Eventullly, the game had to be stopped in the 6th inning. Maybe it'll be completed Wednesday night. Maybe. Depending on the weather. But it'll be at night. When it's cold. Instead of during the day. When it'll be a little bit warmer, and more suitable for baseball. But there'll be a bigger viewing audience at nighttime. And more money for everyone. That's the bottom-line these days. Money. Money. Money. Profits. Profits. Profits. Even if it hurts the quality of the game once touted as our national pastime. Really, we have a new national pastime -- making money. --Jim Broede