Baseball Player: Baseball Is "Long and Boring"

Anthony Rendon is a talented young baseballer for the Washington Nationals—the second-year player has been one of their best hitters in the first half—but while he presumably enjoys playing the game that he has made his livelihood, he doesn't like seeing it played, he tells the Washington Post:

"I don't watch baseball—it's too long and boring," he said.

In addition, Rendon and his family have a rule that they won't talk about baseball when he visits. It's clear Rendon, 24, has been able to separate his business from his personal life.

Even if you agree that watching men mostly stand around is not the greatest way to spend three hours, you have to admit that the scenario creates an odd set of problems for Rendon. How does he get through his days?

• Anthony Rendon watching his teammates bat from the dugout: "Wow, I'm practically falling asleep. How do all these people get into this game? I'll listen to baseball on the radio while I'm cleaning the house, but man, seeing it live? Ugh."  * Anthony Rendon looking at film of an upcoming opponent: "Is this all they do? Jesus Christ. PLAY FASTER."  * Anthony Rendon's aunt comes to visit, asks him what he did all week: "I don't want to talk about it, OK?"  * Anthony Rendon's teammates are glued to the television in the clubhouse. They've got a chance to sneak into the playoffs if the last few games of the season play out just right. "My dudes, are you watching baseball? Don't you get enough of that as it is? I mean, you don't even really have to be a real athlete to play this sport professionally. I'd much rather watch some football—or soccer, as Americans insist on calling it [heavy eye roll]. Now there's a game with lots of passion and excitement in it. Hey, is that History Channel biopic of FDR on? Anyone know? Would you mind clicking over and checking?"  * Anthony Rendon at the bar, meeting a woman: "Wow, that's interesting! I had no idea what an actuary really did. What do I do? Oh, it's just one of those boring DC jobs."  * Anthony Rendon, years from now, asked by his grandchildren what he did when he was young and why there are no holograms (this is the future, so they have holograms instead of photos) of him before the age of 40: [Looks out the window, sighing heavily, knowing that they will not understand.]

Presumably Rendon will be forced by his team or the league or his agent to apologize and say that he was joking or misinterpreted somehow. This would be a shame. If asked by the media about his remarks again he should refuse to cave in to the pressure. The people must know the truth, Anthony, and you're the only one who can tell them.

Harry Cheadle thinks baseball is OK. Follow him on Twitter.