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.