Save the Bronx Bombers

Suite 101.com is an online publishing community where almost 550 dedicated writers publish articles related to their interests and expertise. Each writer has a WebPage listing published articles and links related to the topic. “Yankees, No More, No Less,” is one such topic and one of the best links is “Bronx-Bombers.com,” which is a site containing current information about the team, stories, fan articles, and one of the best and most informative, mature forums on the internet.

On Monday, August 5, 2002, Yankees fan James Frasch, who runs Bronx-Bombers.com, received a “cease and desist” order from Major League Baseball Properties, demanding that he surrender his website name by August 20. The action is part of a national effort by Major League Baseball to protect its trademarks and to prevent individuals from gaining profits from its products. Major League Baseball contends that confusion might be created about whether specific websites are affiliated with a particular team since most sites about teams contain photos, team insignias, and the team name (www.northjersey.com).

Major League Baseball is completely wrong. Bronx-Bombers.com provides free publicity for the New York Yankees and for baseball. It is a site that complements, does not compete, with the “official” Yankees site run by Major League Baseball. At the top of the home page is a link directing surfers to the official site of the New York Yankees.

Baseball vies with a plethora of sports and recreational activities for fan interest. There was a time that any free advertising would be welcomed. Now, in its foolishness, Major League Baseball has almost killed the goose. It will not find any golden egg.

Major League Baseball is creating even more alienation among fans by attacking fan websites. One of baseball’s greatest attractions is that it engenders discussion like no other sport. Baseball fan forums and message boards provide the opportunity for fans to express themselves, speak with each other, and discuss everything about baseball all year around. The boards are carefully moderated and the standards are high.

Bronx-Bombers.com indirectly creates revenue for the Yankees by keeping the team in the minds of fans and by providing an alternative site where, on the message boards, fans can form groups to meet at the Big Ballpark and attend games together. New friends are made, new fans are created, and the Yankees reap the benefits.

Ethan Orlinsky, an attorney and senior vice president with Major League Baseball Properties, insists that baseball is not looking to stifle meaningful discussion. Mr. Orlinsky is insulting the intelligence of the members of Bronx-Bombers.com as well as anyone else who reads his Orwellian, double-speak statement. How can shutting down the best baseball forum on the Internet NOT stifle discussion? I guess war is peace, freedom is slavery, and of greatest significance, ignorance is strength.

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