2008 Woodie Awards
ESPN analyst Orestes Destrade speaks on campus
Chris Martin
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Sports
ESPN analyst and former Major League Baseball player Orestes Destrade gave a speech in the James Union Building in conjunction with the 13th annual Baseball in Culture and Literature Conference, Friday.
Destrade talked about many topics including his experiences playing professional baseball in both Japan and the United States, the importance of education, the sport's ability to persevere through controversy and the effect the recently published Mitchell Report has had on current players.
"They still talk about it," said the former first baseman. "I have been to spring training this year and it's a tough thing."
He also addressed the reasons he believes baseball has been able to remain popular despite the scandals that have plagued the sport's history.
"One of the things is that the game of baseball is still loved," Destrade said. "You can't taint Little League baseball and the smelling of the grass. Baseball is very fortunate to have that [more] than any other sport. The fans tend to come back. Even after no World Series in 1994, the Black Sox scandal and so forth."
When a member of the audience asked Destrade why he thinks baseball has been able to regain its prominence in the national spotlight following the work stoppage in 1994, whereas the NHL has struggled to regain its prestige following its strike during the 2004-05 season, he responded, "Do you remember the first time you ever put on your skates when you were three years-old or four years-old?"
When the audience member said, "I don't play hockey." Destrade said, "That's the answer right there. But you probably remember the first time you went out in the grass and threw the ball around with your friends or a family member.
"[Hockey] lost them. They made a great mistake and they thought they could stand firm and they lost them. Because I don't think it's ever going to really come back to what it was."
Destrade cited his mother as a big influence when it came to balancing athletics and education. He said his mother has been teaching for more than 44 years.
Destrade talked about many topics including his experiences playing professional baseball in both Japan and the United States, the importance of education, the sport's ability to persevere through controversy and the effect the recently published Mitchell Report has had on current players.
"They still talk about it," said the former first baseman. "I have been to spring training this year and it's a tough thing."
He also addressed the reasons he believes baseball has been able to remain popular despite the scandals that have plagued the sport's history.
"One of the things is that the game of baseball is still loved," Destrade said. "You can't taint Little League baseball and the smelling of the grass. Baseball is very fortunate to have that [more] than any other sport. The fans tend to come back. Even after no World Series in 1994, the Black Sox scandal and so forth."
When a member of the audience asked Destrade why he thinks baseball has been able to regain its prominence in the national spotlight following the work stoppage in 1994, whereas the NHL has struggled to regain its prestige following its strike during the 2004-05 season, he responded, "Do you remember the first time you ever put on your skates when you were three years-old or four years-old?"
When the audience member said, "I don't play hockey." Destrade said, "That's the answer right there. But you probably remember the first time you went out in the grass and threw the ball around with your friends or a family member.
"[Hockey] lost them. They made a great mistake and they thought they could stand firm and they lost them. Because I don't think it's ever going to really come back to what it was."
Destrade cited his mother as a big influence when it came to balancing athletics and education. He said his mother has been teaching for more than 44 years.
Be the first to comment on this story