Abstract The paper describes various superstitions associated with baseball via a discussion of W.P. Kinsella's book, "The Iowa Baseball Confederacy". The paper first summarizes Kinsella's book and then goes on to discuss the many superstitions that abound in the game of baseball and explains how the main theme of the "The Iowa Baseball Confederacy" is about these superstitions.
Outline:
Introduction
Baseball and Superstition
From the Paper "The book The Iowa Baseball Confederacy continues the time honored tradition of superstition and myth by telling a fantastical tale of an Iowa exhibition baseball game played from July 4 to August 12, 1908 between the team called the Iowa Baseball Confederacy and the Chicago Cubs----a game that lasts for an incredible 2,614 innings. The author, W.P. Kinsella, tells the tale through Gideon Clarke, the protagonist who learns about the legendary game from his unusual father, Matthew. Matthew explains to Gideon that no record of the marathon-like game exists because of a great flood of biblical proportions that wiped out all evidence of the game. The flood took with it the Iowa Baseball Confederacy, all of which were lost in a crack in time. All knowledge of the game becomes actualized in Gideon's brain after his father commits suicide at County Stadium in Milwaukee by purposely putting his head in the path of a mean foul line drive. This leads Gideon to discover the crack in time, sending him back to July 4, 1908, where each team is preparing to play the big inning. The Chicago Cub players in the book use retired numbers from actual team members, and President Theodore Roosevelt appears as one of the cameo players, as he strikes out waving a big stick. Another well-known player, Leonardo da Vinci, also appears in the game proclaiming that he, not Abner Doubleday, invented the game of baseball. He states, "Unfortunately....I lived in a nation of bocce players. It took 300 years for baseball to become popular. By that time, my name was no longer associated with it" . Another player, Black Angel of Death, a cemetery statue, plays right field and is able to catch fly balls with her sculpted wings and no glove. Some of the stars on the Iowa Confederacy team include, Shoo Fly, Husk, Frank Pierce, Henry Pulvermacher, and Arsenic O'Reilly, while on the Cubs team players include Chance, Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and the pitcher Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown Other key characters include an ancient Indian warrior named Drifting Away, whose wife was murdered by White men."
Abstract This paper looks at the global spread of baseball, an American pastime that is now gaining popularity all over the world. The paper describes international baseball federations, which are now in 106 different countries on five continents. The paper also discusses that teams other than American ones are winning at the Olympics. The paper concludes with predictions for the future of baseball.
From the Paper "Many aspects of American entertainment, from sports to movies, popular TV shows to music, have become global in popularity in recent years. Many countries now have their own national culture and one which embraces movies television, programs, music and..."
Abstract The salaries of the baseball players when compared to their performance comes out to be justified according to the equity theory. This paper presents statistics and research studies that compare values and present that the players in Major League Baseball are neither underpaid nor overpaid, rather they get paid their just deserves.
Abstract The baseball is a game that has become a science to many. From the phenomena of a curve ball to the excitement of a home run physical science plays a factor. This paper explains that in baseball there is more to the game than what the ordinary fan sees, however, many scientists have spent time studying this extraordinary game. This paper looks at the physics behind hitting and pitching.
From the Paper "In order to be successful in the game of baseball, a baseball player has to apply the laws of physics. There is more to the game than what people see. "Baseball is like church, many attend but few understand" said Wes Westrum, who coached the San Francisco Giants in 1962. A position player has to position himself according to the wind, the speed of the pitch being thrown, the type of pitch being thrown, the placement of the pitch, and the speed of the batter's swing. While a pitcher takes into account the humidity and the way the wind is blowing to determine the best way to put the batter out. All players rely on their quick reflexes and hand eye coordination to play our nation's pastime. In this brief essay I will discuss how the laws of physics apply to the game of baseball."
Abstract This paper addresses several elements of MLB, including the governance of the game and the baseball Commissioner. Other topics addressed by the paper are: relations between players and club owners, suspensions and appeals, baseball scandals, and the composition of club organizations and leagues.
Tags: steriod, league, commissioner, baseball, club owners, appeals, suspensions
Abstract This papers looks at judgemental errors that occur during negotiations, using the Major League Baseball strike of 1994. The paper examines the factors involved in the cause of the strike and how the conflict was finally resolved.
From the Paper "Ignoring the cognitions of the other parties when assessing the negotiation situation as stated by Bazerman can lead to what is called the "winners curse" This usually happens when others fail to consider the perspective of the other parties. Winning becomes the main motive - this is especially true considering that both parties were concerned with saving face. As early as the late 1960's the players adopted an adversarial stance to which the owners responded with distrust, disrespect, name-calling, and lack of accommodation for the players. (Staudahar) All parties were self absorbed in their own issues and did not take into consideration the cognition of the other parties involved. This also affected the behavioral atmosphere at the bargaining table."
Abstract This paper considers immediate causes and remote causes of a brawl at a baseball game between the two teams. It also looks at the Impact of the emotionally charged competitive atmosphere of the game.
From the Paper "In the picture of the baseball brawl more than a team's worth of players are shown in various stages of beating each other up. It is possible that some of the players are trying to break up the .."
Tags:baseball, brawl, cause and effect, personal essay
Abstract This paper discusses the use of analytical procedures for auditing the Burlington Bees baseball team's ticket sales. The author has written the paper in the format of a memorandum.
From the Paper "Memorandun To Ms. Bouin, Partner in Charge of the Engagement. From Ms. Kramme. Date: May ... . Subject: Burlington Bees Ticket Revenues Derived from Analytical Procedures. An analysis of attendance statistics indicates that expected ticket revenues for the Burlington Bees ..."
Abstract In this article the writer examines the use and abuse of steroids in the baseball game. The writer describes the current problem regarding such drugs in the sport field. Testing procedures and the subject of cheating are examined in this paper. The writer also discusses the reasons that athletes take these dangerous drugs.
From the Paper "According to a medical expert quoted in an article in Sporting News written by Dave Kindred, most users and suppliers are so sophisticated that only the stupid, careless and foolish professional baseball players get caught using banned substances. Kindred reminds readers that steroids cause acute acne liver dysfunction, renal failure, testicular atrophy and brain cancer. Other known side effects of steroid abuse range include violent behavior, kidney cancer, infertility, baldness and even transmission of HIV, if the syringes used to inject the drug are shared ... "
Tags: abuse of performacne enhancing drups steriod abuse, baseball, banned substances, health consequences
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that most managers live by a personal code of conduct that includes certain principles about integrity, regard for others, and keeping commitments. Most also believe they are ethical and that is precisely why, when confronted with situations that they believe compel them to bend company rules, they are decidedly torn. The rule bending discussed in this paper refers to situations where the rules may well need to be challenged, where the act does not break the law, and where there may be a greater good accomplished by doing so. The writer discusses that there are three themes that outline these demands of rule bending; performance-based judgment calls, faulty rules, and socially embedded norms. The writer concludes that executives have bent and will continue to bend company policies and rules when they feel justified. Further, the writer points out that their actions will also continue to be tempered by the downside of doing so, making those who are reluctant at risks less likely to take such actions even when the rules may deserve to be challenged. This paper includes a copy of powerpoint presentation on this subject.
Outline:
Performance-Based Judgment Calls
Faulty Rules Socially Embedded Norms
Bending Rules for the Greater Good
Does Rule Bending Pay?
Conclusion
References
Appendix: PowerPoint Presentation
From the Paper "Most also believe they are ethical and that is precisely why, when confronted with situations that they believe compel them to bend company rules, they are decidedly torn. While playing by the rules is the principled thing to do, and many would say the safest too, many managers also feel a responsibility to challenge the rules, because the rules are not always perfect, and fairness to other parties may demand nothing less. Making rules for proper ethical behavior may be step one in ensuring ethical conduct. But if people disregard or break the rules, then the organizational effort to establish a corporate ethic is weakened. As Enron and other more recent corporate ethical meltdowns have shown, rules alone are not sufficient to ensure ethical behavior across the organization. We are not talking about illegal acts."
Abstract This paper discusses what rules are and why they are made. It will also explain some of the personal rules and will exemplify what a world without rules would be like.
Abstract This paper discusses Dworkin's argument that secondary rules cannot be social rules, because they are not applied uniformly. He believes that they must be normative rules which have an underlying morality as their basis. It also looks at hoe Coleman argues that they are social rules and that the conventions of the U.S. legal system give judges the right to fine-tune laws to meet the convergent beliefs of society.
From the Paper "In the U S Ronald Dworkin and Jules Coleman over the course of thirty years engaged in a debate about the source of the power of secondary rules. Dworkin argues that these cannot be social rules which exist because....."
Abstract This paper examines the effect of British imperial policy on home rule for Ireland. It analyzes the Home Rule question in 1886 and the broader issue of the structure and character of the British Empire. The paper explores dissension and conflict on the issue. It explains how the Irish form of government is modeled on the British parliamentary system. The author offers background of the formation of the British Empire and England's resistance to home rule for Ireland.
Abstract This paper argues that issues other than legal rules often determine how cases are decided. It offers advance arguments to support this thesis. Counter arguments will be considered such as the formalist point of view of Roscoe Pound. However it will be shown that in fact issues such as whether the country is at war, or what race the defendant is, or what best serves the need to protect society are very likely to be more important than the rules in determining how cases are decided.
From the Paper "The American Legal Realism perspective stipulates that issues other than legal rules often determine how cases are decided. This paper will argue that this is true, and will advance arguments to support this thesis. Counter-arguments will be considered, such as the formalist point of view of Roscoe Pound. However, it will be shown that in fact issues such as whether the country is at war, or what race the defendant is, or what best serves the need to protect society, are very likely to be more important than the rules in determining how cases are decided. In other words, pragmatic, ..."
Abstract This paper presents a critically evaluates "Who Rules America? Power and Politics in the Year 2000" by G. William Domhoff. The author
gives an overview, and proceeds to analyze several aspects of the book such as theory, argument and concept.
From the paper:
"The American Dream consists of many things including the obtaining of money and wealth. Most of us want it, few of actually get there and some of use even thinks it's a bad place to be. William Domhoff is one such person. He wrote a book titled Who Rules America? Power and Politics in the Year 2000 and in that book he presents his theory of the way our economy and standard of living currently work. "
