Baseball is overserved from champagne celebrations
Posted on October 8th, 2008 – 2:27 PMBy Joe Christensen
If there’s really only one October, as the commercials keep telling us, then how come every time we turn on the TV, there’s another champagne celebration?
Colleague Jeff Shelman* reminded me how ridiculous it gets seeing teams celebrate their first-round playoff clinchers as if they’d won the World Series.
A story from Tuesday’s Los Angeles Times began:
BOSTON — David Ortiz stood in a corner of the Boston Red Sox clubhouse Monday, his sweat shirt soaked with beer and champagne and his face creased with a smile.
“We’re kind of getting used to this,” said Ortiz, who has been through 13 clubhouse celebrations in his six seasons in Boston.
And, this from ESPN.com:
CHICAGO — Just in case Michael Phelps needs any more marketing concepts, Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena has one. Champagne goggles.
“We had seen other teams celebrate, and we knew about the eye goggles. But some of us overlooked the eye goggles and how necessary they were,” Pena said of Tampa Bay’s first-ever celebration two weeks ago when it finally clinched a postseason spot.
In 2006, the Twins sprayed champagne when they clinched a playoff berth, then sprayed champagne again six days later when they won the AL Central. Had that team won the World Series — instead of going three-and-out against Oakland — it would have had five champagne celebrations.
Covering that team, I understood the overwhelming joy that group felt after finally surpassing Detroit on the final day of the regular season. But looking back, even the players felt the second celebration was a bit much.
Two Sundays ago, Twins closer Joe Nathan was describing the potential celebration if the Tigers had defeated the White Sox in their Sept. 29 makeup game, which would have given the Twins another AL Central title.
“Hopefully we’ll go a little less crazy than ‘06 — but ‘06 was worth it,” Nathan said, smiling as he caught himself mid-sentence.
If every team partied like the 2006 Twins, each season could bring up to 21 champagne celebrations — 8 postseason berth clinchers, 6 division titles, 4 division series, 2 LCS and 1 World Series.
I can’t fault teams for celebrating a postseason berth, since 162 games are such an extraordinary grind and a smaller percentage make the playoffs than in the NFL, NBA and NHL. If teams want to pop champagne after winning the ALCS or NLCS, that’s understandable, too.
The champagne probably tastes just as sweet after a World Series clincher, whether you’ve tasted it four times over the previous month or once. But teams should realize how overdone it all seems.
I don’t need to see Jonathan Papelbon doing his ridiculous dance again. I don’t need to see another team spray its fans with champagne from atop the dugout. With the 2006 Tigers, that was interesting. Now, it’s a cliche. If players want to salute their fans, go for it, but leave the alcohol in the clubhouse.
Someday, a team will clinch something and forgo the champagne, with players reminding everyone, “We haven’t won anything yet.”
Now, that will be a moment worth celebrating.
(* Shelman will be missed when he leaves the paper later this week, but he promises to keep sending blog ideas my way.)
52 Responses to "Baseball is overserved from champagne celebrations"
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I couldn’t agree more Joe i felt the same way when the Twins celebrated after sweeping the Sox this year to take the lead. It’s one thing to enjoy a victory but to celebrate when you really have not done anything yet is stupid.
It is my goal in life to one day, somehow, be in the middle of a locker room champagne celebration. Difficult considering I don’t play any sports anymore, and when I did I was underage.
I had an idea to have a mock celebration where I line my garage with plastic sheets and invite my friends over to spray each other with Milwaukee’s Best Ice… but so far it’s never formulated. If there are any takers on this idea, let’s get together and make it happen.
Why does anyone watch this in the first place, and why do we care how other people celebrate their work?
I just turn the channel when the game is over, and wouldn’t have even known they celebrated but for you and Barrerio bringing this up.
Agree with everything stated in the article. It’s like watching a college football game on Tuesday night.
There’s TWO celebrations as far as I’m concerned.
1) Postseason spot.
2) World Series win.
The postseason spot deserves a party because it is like winning “Stage 1″ type victory.
Then the second season begins, and you celebrate when you finish on top of that one.
But celebrating a postseason spot twice (spot/divison) is stupid. Celebrating a series win is even more so.
I bet some of that falls on the press though, who LOVE those locker room celebration interviews. And judging by the signs we see hanging up in the locker rooms…I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some marketing/sponsorship deal in the background that’s motivating that.
I thought it was kind of odd that the Twins watched the Tigers/Sox game in street clothes, then were going to have a champagne celebration if the Tigers would have won the game.
I don’t mind celebrations when there’s something to celebrate. I agree the ALDS celebration is overkill at times. However, you should always celebrate getting into the postseason and winning the division is also something to celebrate. Winning the LCS means you won the pennant and of course you should celebrate winning the World Series. I guess after all that celebration it would seem odd to win an ALDS or NLDS and not celebrate.
Of course, baseball could take its cue from other sports that have always had multiple playoff rounds.
You know, Joe, win or lose, we booze.
And:
Every party needs a pooper
That’s why we invited you,
Party Pooper,
That’s you!
But Shelman is right, it’s ridiculous. When I see them I think, “You clowns haven’t won anything yet.”
The Twin’s day is coming, though.
Beats a Gatorade shower celebration after each college or pro football win…
Yep, the champagne stuff is RIDICULOUS !! Anyone want to meet at the bar at Champp’s and discuss it?
Celebrate em all, life is meant to be enjoyed.
Glanzer
Sports reporter Anne Hutchinson found herself in the middle of a Twins celebration even though she no longer played sports. I’m guessing that she had other things going for her though.
Who drinks champagne anyways i would rather celebrate with Bush Light.
I hear Anne H’s favorite is Bush Light too~
Gardy drinks the Busch light too
I’m more sick of every single team having their stupid version of the homer hankey. You know what? It isn’t unique or cool if you see it at every single stadium. I liked when the Twins were the only team that did this. It was awesome in the metrodome in 1987 and 1991 when it was only us doing it. I realize that the Steelers had the terrible towel but the Twins brought it to baseball and used it to it’s greatest effect.
i’m sick of other people’s teams still playing and the Twins are not. 
“Shawn in Binghamton says:
October 8th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Gardy drinks the Busch light too”
I thought he drank Colt 45 malt Liquor?
Celebrations should be celebrated with milk like at Indy to show the public a good clean image
I like Glanzer’s idea. Perfect idea for a halloween party. Everyone dress in sports theme and spray champagne. LOVES IT!
jimmy,
he used to shop at my liquor store. He usually bought Busch light, once picked up some Shells on a tip from Terry Steinbach.
It was 9-10 years ago however, his tastes might have changed as he has gotten older and richer.
Yeah Gardy and Billy Dee Williams like to drink the Colt 45 Malt liquor JK
we used to drink Mikey’s in college…. those big ol 64s
I used to drink the Magnum malt Liquor it’s kind of like King Cobra
I am to old to handle that stuff anymore so my prefferences have switched over to Summit IPA’ or any kind of IPA’ or Sierra Nevada
I miss Summit, there are many other good ones but Summit reminds me of home.
jimmy bee,
if you like IPA try to locate a six pack or 2 of Dogfish head 120 minute IPA. Absolute nectar (but 40 proof 
)
I don’t know…when the Twins defeated Oakland in the ALDS in 2002, I sprayed champagne all over my deck and me and my roommates partied a looong time after that! Of course the Twins then proceeded to get WORKED by the Angels in the ALCS. But it was still a lot of fun to win a playoff series. That was 11 years of frustration and pure joy being sprayed all over.
I never see anybody drink any of the champagne. They just dump it out on each other. At least in the old days the ballplayers got drunk. Most of today’s athletes are too clean living. They should dump bottled water on each other and save the champagne for when their playing days are over!!
Non-issue with me. The champagne celebration is a baseball tradition that goes back as far as I can remember. I’m not sure what the big deal is. Why not let the players celebrate in whatever manner they care to? You just never know when/if you’ll get your next opportunity.
If the media doesn’t like it… stay out of the clubhouse and don’t cover the “event”. If you don’t like seeing it, don’t watch.
Complaining about it seems like a bigger waste of time than anything else.
I couldn’t agree more with Jim on this and I think it was Shawn that says life is to be enjoyed.
I have no idea why people are so down on others that want to celebrate something (as long as it does not occur in game). Why does it bother anyone, and why is it ridiculous, and if it bothers you, why do you watch?.
There are too many other things to worry about in life than how a bunch of baseball players celebrate or not after they win a game or series.
I think the CS and DS celebrations are unnecessary because you are expected to do well in the playoffs.
Here is what I do….I get up in the morning, read the obituaries section of the paper, if my name is not there I have reason to celebrate, and I have a Miller Lite, and I do NOT pour it anywhere, I DRINK IT IN CELEBRATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Two celebrations in six days in 2006 was ridiculous, and if Gardenhire had a clue, he wouldn’t have allowed it. They obviously had a huge letdown in the A’s series, and I think two celebrations in six days had alot to do with it.
The Star Trib’s employee that came up with the Homer Hanky “idea” in ‘87, basically stole it from years past. The Steelers dynasty years in the 70’s had the “Terrible Towel” long before the Homer Hanky. So let’s not make it like everyone is copying us…
I agree with T on this one, with the exception of no bubbly for the wild card winner, unless they win the World Series. Celebrate winning the division, and then celebrate going all the way and winning the World Series.
The Twins did not celebrate after they swept the White sox. And they also did not watch the game Monday( Soxs Tigers) in street cloths.
BC of ND you need to get better info.
Either that or watch TMZ at night. That seems more about your speed.
I also agree that the celebrations get a little out of hand, but being a fan it is intense, so I could only imaging what it is like for a player.
I think the Braves, at least once during their run of 13 division titles, went without the beer spilling.
No one has yet said why it is bad for people that are happy to celebrate being happy while not hurting anyone else. I still don’t get it. If they are happy, and are having fun, and not hurting anyone, what difference does it make?
“No one has yet said why it is bad for people that are happy to celebrate”
It isn’t bad.
But to televise it, so our children can see their role models drinking and acting like frat boys and non-responsible adults is not good.
Maybe the Vikings should have televised their “Love Boat” party.
Children learn (like bear cubs) how to act by emulating adult behavior.
Celebrate all you want, but keep it away from my children’s TV Sports viewing.
“But to televise it, so our children can see their role models drinking and acting like frat boys and non-responsible adults is not good.”
Come on. Really? That’s what you are going to go with? You don’t want your kid to see them celebrating? Here’s an idea - turn off the television.
Pete D,
Actually, my children are capable of operating a television set by themselves, when I am not in the room.
I should have remembered to block the sports news, when I blocked the porn.
I am not saying its dangerous, I am just saying its not good.
It’s also not entertaining, but that’s true of the FSN pregame and postgame shows, and nobody ever went broke underestimating the level of programing that the public will devour.
sid -
If you are honestly worried about your kid getting a bad example from a post game celebration, you shouldn’t let them watch any television. There are far worse things on the local news every night.
Amen to that Mr. Christensen. Your words are spot-on target!
PeteD,
The fact there are worse things on TV is undeniable.
The fact that pseudo-adults drinking and acting like asses on TV is not good is also undeniable.
My team stayed up into the wee hours celebrating our wonderful playoff berth. A lot of good that did.
I just don’t get the big champagne celebration after winning the first round of the playoffs? What exactly have they won? It’s just one series. I can see winning the division, the league championship and the World Series. No other sport does it like baseball? In hockey, they don’t even celebrate the conference championship with champagne only the Stanley Cup. In hockey, they are so focused on the ultimate prize.
I still have the empty bottle of champagne from the ‘87 Twins World Championship. My dad had put it on ice with me not even knowing. It was a great way to celebrate the Twins first ever title!
sid -
“The fact that pseudo-adults drinking and acting like asses on TV is not good is also undeniable.”
If something is not good, does that make it bad? I agree with mike wants wins - what’s the harm? I have never heard of a high school or little league team having a champagne celebration after winning a tournament. If this is bad for the kids, where are all the reports of underage champagne celebrations?
Yes, Shelman will be missed after the move over to Augsburg Technical College… He has been one of my favorite Strib writers for a long time. Good luck to him in his future endeavors.
Same stuff here:
Who cares? It’s nobody’s business but the players’ how they should celebrate.
