What Sedona Red is REALLY all about
The color change is symbolic of the Kendrick regime completely disrespecting the foundation laid by Jerry Colangelo. I have posted comments time and time again on how Colangelo is always unfairly labeled the bad guy for the deferred compensation issue which brought this state a World Series championship. This is just a final slap in the face, a final "this is my franchise now" and "don't let the door hit you on the way out" type of a power move and frankly, it leaves a very, very sour taste in my mouth. Legitimate national marketing concerns aside.
I understand how many people are saying "c'mon it's only a color - get over it," but the colors mean something. Ask any alumnus of ASU or the U of A if it's OK to change THEIR colors and see what response you get. We were on the path to building a tradition with the purple and you admitted as much by saying let's get the change done now while the franchise is still young.
If Mr. Kendrick had conducted the Colangelo departure, the Grimsley situation, the Gonzo situation, etc., with a little more tact and a little more respect I might be more apt to give "Sedona Red" a chance and maybe even embrace it as a fresh start for the 2007 pennant run. But I do not agree that Kendrick has a genuine respect for the fans that pay a good portion of the bills for "Red Roof Inn at the BOB". I feel Kendrick only is in the business of baseball to make a profit for himself and the "shareholders"; I do not get the sense that he sees baseball as something close to a public trust, which is how the best owners regard the sport as.
Baseball is not the same as banking or manufacturing or retailing. Baseball is an entertainment medium. Baseball exists to give moments of joy and pleasure to the fans. And you know what? some years the team will not post a profit at the end of the FY. And that's OK because baseball is more than just the bottom line. Baseball is the national pastime. Baseball is a public trust.
Jerry Colangelo, one of the greatest executives the sporting world has ever known, had the consummate understanding of that. His impact and legacy regarding caring about the fans and providing a quality product in every aspect of operations lives on in such traditions as the Suns Gorilla - I don't see anyone bashing the Gorilla. He has also restored honor to the USA in international basketball competition.
Jerry Colangelo was the right choice to be head of the Phoenix baseball effort in the '90's. Jerry was one of the most popular men in this state, more so than a lot of the politicians here at the time. Jerry did all the things he was supposed to do to create a winner here in Phoenix. He set up a farm system which took some time to get going but is now regarded as one of the better systems in the sport. He got proven veterans here and paid them using an innovative compensation system that gave this club the most financial flexibility possible under a revenue system in this sport which is utterly unfair, asinine and horrific. (Revenue sharing needs to be implemented in baseball for its long-term survival or else baseball will be just 6 or 8 teams with the most money in 25 years.)
In my opinion there is absolutely no reason for the one lasting contribution everyone knows is most closely associated with Jerry - the colors - to be so summarily dismissed and just wantonly discarded as to say, "Jerry, you founded this ballclub but now you're gone so good riddance."
With the implementation of "Sedona Red", it is almost as if the FO is saying that all of us who cheered for a team in this state while being led by a man who was idolized in this state for giving us our moments of glory with the Suns and the 2001 WS championship - but is now persona non grata - are now no longer welcome as Diamondback fans. It is a slap in the face and is quite cruel and quite sad.
So the fact that "it's just a color", that's not quite the whole story. This isn't about a kid in Iowa who won't buy a jersey. This is about respect, and complete and total lack thereof, for the man that gave this state Major League Baseball and all of us who remember and still choose to honor.
In my opnion this franchise should still be in Jerry's hands to this day. We might actually be in first place.
I understand how many people are saying "c'mon it's only a color - get over it," but the colors mean something. Ask any alumnus of ASU or the U of A if it's OK to change THEIR colors and see what response you get. We were on the path to building a tradition with the purple and you admitted as much by saying let's get the change done now while the franchise is still young.
If Mr. Kendrick had conducted the Colangelo departure, the Grimsley situation, the Gonzo situation, etc., with a little more tact and a little more respect I might be more apt to give "Sedona Red" a chance and maybe even embrace it as a fresh start for the 2007 pennant run. But I do not agree that Kendrick has a genuine respect for the fans that pay a good portion of the bills for "Red Roof Inn at the BOB". I feel Kendrick only is in the business of baseball to make a profit for himself and the "shareholders"; I do not get the sense that he sees baseball as something close to a public trust, which is how the best owners regard the sport as.
Baseball is not the same as banking or manufacturing or retailing. Baseball is an entertainment medium. Baseball exists to give moments of joy and pleasure to the fans. And you know what? some years the team will not post a profit at the end of the FY. And that's OK because baseball is more than just the bottom line. Baseball is the national pastime. Baseball is a public trust.
Jerry Colangelo, one of the greatest executives the sporting world has ever known, had the consummate understanding of that. His impact and legacy regarding caring about the fans and providing a quality product in every aspect of operations lives on in such traditions as the Suns Gorilla - I don't see anyone bashing the Gorilla. He has also restored honor to the USA in international basketball competition.
Jerry Colangelo was the right choice to be head of the Phoenix baseball effort in the '90's. Jerry was one of the most popular men in this state, more so than a lot of the politicians here at the time. Jerry did all the things he was supposed to do to create a winner here in Phoenix. He set up a farm system which took some time to get going but is now regarded as one of the better systems in the sport. He got proven veterans here and paid them using an innovative compensation system that gave this club the most financial flexibility possible under a revenue system in this sport which is utterly unfair, asinine and horrific. (Revenue sharing needs to be implemented in baseball for its long-term survival or else baseball will be just 6 or 8 teams with the most money in 25 years.)
In my opinion there is absolutely no reason for the one lasting contribution everyone knows is most closely associated with Jerry - the colors - to be so summarily dismissed and just wantonly discarded as to say, "Jerry, you founded this ballclub but now you're gone so good riddance."
With the implementation of "Sedona Red", it is almost as if the FO is saying that all of us who cheered for a team in this state while being led by a man who was idolized in this state for giving us our moments of glory with the Suns and the 2001 WS championship - but is now persona non grata - are now no longer welcome as Diamondback fans. It is a slap in the face and is quite cruel and quite sad.
So the fact that "it's just a color", that's not quite the whole story. This isn't about a kid in Iowa who won't buy a jersey. This is about respect, and complete and total lack thereof, for the man that gave this state Major League Baseball and all of us who remember and still choose to honor.
In my opnion this franchise should still be in Jerry's hands to this day. We might actually be in first place.
posted by Michael Sheldon Reed at 3:58 PM
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