The moving pregame segment on "All-Stars Among Us," which highlighted 30 individuals who have sacrificed selflessly for the good of their communities, was followed immediately by a commercial for an E-Class Mercedes, the cheapest of which go for $50,000-plus.
Commissioner Bud Selig entertained political pundit George Will in his private box. Will was wearing a bow tie.
No one wears a bow tie to a baseball game, at least not since 1962's Happy the Clown Night at Connie Mack Stadium.
And why were Fox and ESPN reporters wearing suits and ties? The President of the United States, for gosh sakes, was dressed casually in a White Sox jacket, jeans and sneakers. But a collection of ex-weathermen and ex-jocks needed Armani?
It's a baseball game, folks. Suits and ties should be reserved for weddings, funerals and people who hate their jobs.
Charlie Manuel walks as funny as he talks.
For those who think the All-Star Game is a silly exhibition, did you notice how no one left the dugout? And how intensely those on the bench were following each pitch?
That ought to be a clue that the new format - awarding home-field advantage in the World Series to the champion of the victorious league - might be the best baseball idea since Camden Yards.
What was that vehicle that carried 88-year-old Stan "The Man" Musial - still the coolest nickname ever - into Busch Stadium?
It looked like Yugo's SUV, or Al Gore's car, or something in which Happy the Clown might make an entrance.
Still, it was great to see Musial, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Bruce Sutter, and Red Schoendienst. Baseball is the one sport that gets it, that understands its past is as significant as its present.
Tim Lincecum looked as nervous as Charlie Manuel at a spelling bee.
Either that or the Giants ace was holding back, because except for that one third-strike curveball he threw Roy Halladay, he wasn't impressive at all.
Padres closer and Tuesday's loser Heath Bell had never before appeared in an All-Star Game at any level.
We now know why.
If there's one area in which the AL has had a distinct advantage over the NL, it's closers. Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan and Mariano Rivera in the seventh, eighth and ninth. No wonder I can't recall the last time the NL scored late.
St. Louis baseball fans remain the most upbeat in all of sports.
They cheered Obama and George W. Bush. They didn't boo Albert Pujols when his error cost the NL a couple of runs. And, attire-wise, they were redder than Lenin's cabinet.
NASCAR note of the week. Driver Jimmie Johnson was in New York recently. You'd think after months of Martinsvilles and Talladegas, he'd have used the Big Apple visit to see a show or go to a museum.
So how did Johnson spend his time there?
Allow him to explain.
"We were in this little place, waiting for a table and just having some beers. . . . In those settings, I'm always looking for something to do, something to get myself in trouble with," Johnson said. "So I brought Hungry Hippo out, and I [stank] at it. I found a way to get the hippo to land on a marble and it shot it off the table and nearly took out the waiter's eye on the way by. I mean, that thing was airborne and flying. My wife kicked me off the game after that. She said, 'You [stink]. You're outta here.' "
Inside scoop. One more thing about the Pedro Martinez signing:
It will be nice having a Phillies pitcher who isn't afraid to knock a hitter down.
Yeah, right. Commissioner Bud Selig assured journalists there was no collusion in baseball last winter.
The 12 owners carrying his sedan chair concurred.
Going down. Allen Iverson is rumored to be close to a deal with the L.A. Clippers.
If that doesn't work out, the next step down the basketball ladder is the Washington Generals.
You never forget. So Lance Armstrong sits out four years, comes back and is nearly leading the Tour de France.
That's the thing about cycling. You never lose it. It's like riding a bike.
Contact staff writer Frank Fitzpatrick at 215-854-5068 or ffitzpatrick@phillynews.com.
