Trevor Hoffman: "We're not talking about how far the ball is going to travel in the Home Run Derby. We're talking about what these issues are."

Tom Glavine: "...it's unfortunate that so much of this is taking away from the fun and the excitement of the All-Star Game."

Mike Piazza: "Obviously, there are some issues that need to be addressed, but I hope the fans can enjoy this event and put (off-field issues) on the back burner for a while."

Curt Schilling: "This is about the All-Star Game, and I'm going to have fun, and worry about that when the time comes."

Derek Jeter: "Obviously, there are story lines off the field, but you hope that you can forget about that for a few days."

Well, sorry, guys. But speaking as one of the dwindling number of people who care about baseball, and one of the microscopic number who think there's a chance they might still care after another strike, I think you'd damn well better worry about these issues. Because, frankly, I'd like to know whether I should bother watching another game or checking another box score or reading another article. Because if you can't worry about the very future of the game, why should we?

A few random thoughts on last night's Home Run Derby and associated festivities:

• As you know, I'm down on the players these days because of the whole strike thing. But, man, it's cool to see them with their kids and video cameras having a blast during All-Star Monday. And as a bonus, if they do strike and ruin baseball, all the cameras will be available on eBay pretty soon -- maybe some will still have the ASG footage loaded!
• I loved seeing all the mascots up in Bernie Brewer's loft. I can't see Billy the Marlin without giggling a little. And when a Sammy Sosa homer made them all bounce around in unison...priceless.
• Memo to Chris Berman: Enough. I think you're great on the NFL postgame highlight shows, but 2 hours of you calling the Derby had me clawing the walls. When we've heard "BACKBACKBACKBACK!" for the 20th time...we get the idea.
• I can't decide how I feel about Miller Park. Some of the newest stadiums - Detroit, Pittsburgh, San Francisco - look like they've really raised the standard for the new ones to come. Miller looks sort of like a cross between Camden Yards, Tropicana Field, and an airport terminal. Just weird. And I'm dismayed that Bernie doesn't slide into a beer stein anymore; I hope that's not a lame attempt at political correctness, considering both the team and the stadium have beer-related names.
• (From the celebrity/oldtimer game) Nothing sums up the changes in baseball better than seeing the '82 Brewers stars hanging around. At the time, they were the biggest, toughest, hardest-hitting team for a decade. Now, in person and on ESPN Classic, they (physically) look like they'd be best suited as utility infielders. Even Stormin' Gorman Thomas looks little next to current shortstops.

The Major League Players Association is meeting in Chicago next week; tops on the list of discussion items is setting a strike date, possibly this August or September.

You may remember a year ago, baseball made a big deal about its unique ability to unite and bond this country. And today, seeing the clips of all the 1999 All-Stars gathering in awe and tears around the ailing Ted Williams, reminded me that baseball can be really really good when it wants to.

But it can also be really really bad.

I addressed my feelings about this strike a few months ago; for once, I'm on the owners' side. I don't, however, want to play a simplistic game of "let's blame the greedy players" -- Edward at Bambino's Curse pokes some pretty good holes in that line of reasoning.

But just to make it all perfect, I hope the players' union sets a strike date of September 11. On the anniversary of the most horrible, surreal day any of us have lived through, let the players go to the media and explain what the intolerable conditions are that made them take this drastic step. Let them (and to a lesser extent, the owners) try to rationalize and spin their positions while the rest of the nation pauses to honor the memory of that incredible day.

But keep checking back. If the Yankees trade for Pudge Rodriguez, Jim Thome and Cliff Floyd and build a 12-game lead by September 1, I'll be as ready for a strike as anyone.

"All I want out of life," Williams once told a friend, "is that when I walk down the street folks will say, 'There goes the greatest hitter that ever lived.'"

Bruins superstar Bill Guerin saw the handwriting on the wall and went to Dallas today, thus continuing the Bruins' tradition of constant rebuilding. Star goalie Byron Dafoe is reported to be next to leave. Said Guerin:

"From the owner on down, to have a guy like [Hicks] come out and meet with guys and the GM and coach and [special assistant] Guy Carbonneau. Mr. Hicks wants to win big-time. All you can ask for is a chance to win every year and he's going to provide that."

Kirk Luedeke of bossports.net has a good column about what this means to the Bruins and their fans. It seems to me, as the most casual of hockey fans, that the Bruins are doing everything they can to field a team good enough to compete for a playoff spot but not at the risk of spending any of owner Jeremy Jacobs' precious money. The fact that they finished first in the East notwithstanding, they're on a treadmill. Some teams (all out West, except the Rangers) have realized that the Yankees and Lakers keep winning by spending money on great players. Some teams, like Calgary and Buffalo, can't spend that kind of money. The Bruins won't.

Which makes me wonder why people like Jacobs own sports teams. You'd like to think that sports owners own the team with the goal to win championships, not turn the largest profit possible. I think Jacobs is one step away from laying off his players and moving the whole operation to Mexico.