This past week, former Met Keith Hernandez protested the appearance of a female massage therapist in the San Diego Padres' dugout. She was ostensibly there to attend to the aches and pains of players during the game. He was probably just joking, in suggesting that women don't belong in the dugout. And, I'll contend three things: A.) He was right. Women don't belong in the dugout. B.) Keith's timing wasn't very good. C.) You've got to be a bigger star than K. Hernandez to get away with such a verbal misstep.
Of course, I've got a daughter. And, I don't believe I'm setting her or her gender back to the days of suffragettes and abolition by suggesting that I don't want her anywhere near those mouth-breathing, tobacco-spitting race horses in the heat of competition. The offense she takes at being barred from entry is nothing compared to the offense of hair-curling remarks she'll hear if entry is allowed. And, why ask players to have to dodge around the litigation minefield presented by mixing genders? The accidental brush or other physical contact or misconstrued statement by a ballplayer could expose him to poor publicity and/or litigation. If the game is played purely, a ballplayer has only to focus on balls, strikes, effort, wins, pennants and championships. My daughter focuses on the same thing, playing softball. I don't think she wants any guys tidying up the dugout, while she's getting her game on.
I'll contend that we're on the backside of the era of political correctitude. I think all people, be they men or women, gay, straight or otherwise are getting tired of having to mind their casual banter for fear of being ticketed by the PC Police. This period of social McCarthyism is thankfully nearing its end. If it leaves us with a little common sensitivity to others, that will be ok. None of this excuses Hernandez' poor judgement. He may not be wrong. But, he's a knucklehead for making himself a lightning rod for criticism.
Who does Keith think he is? Babe Ruth? Now, the Bambino got away with murder:
"I'll promise to go easier on drinking and to get to bed earlier, but not for you, fifty thousand dollars, or two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars will I give up women. They're too much fun."
Wow! If Keith Hernandez had said that , the National Organization of Women would be all lathered up and marching on the capitol.
The former Met slugger's good timing with a baseball doesn't mean he isn't a clumsy commentator. Now, if Charles Barkley had said anything similar, it wouldn't have raised an eyebrow. For example, at halftime of this year's All-Star game, in response to seeing Beyonce in the crowd, Barkley said, "All I wanna know is when ya see someone that pretty, how can you go to Brokeback Mountain?" If anyone else makes that statement, the city of San Francisco would declare war on the rest of the country. Certainly, Keith H. doesn't reach that level of star-power. Keith shouldn't say things that might be construed as discriminatory toward women. But, that doesn't mean I would ever want my precious little girl anywhere near a major league dugout.
