Columnist Dean Juipe: World bored by regional World Series

Dean Juipe

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2002 | 9:03 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

It's a misnomer to begin with, but the World Series is a little less worldly this year.

In fact, it'll be of no interest at all not only to most of the world but to nine-tenths of the sports fans in America.

Anaheim? San Francisco? Could two less appealing teams have emerged?

And does anyone outside of the state of California care which team wins?

This so-called World Series, which begins Saturday, is of regional interest only -- and I'm not sure that region even extends as far east as Las Vegas. Anyone this side of Primm is apt to be as indifferent toward the Series as cattle are to commands.

You know the TV and advertising honchos who pour money into Major League Baseball are brokenhearted by two California teams -- wild cards, at that -- forcing themselves onto center stage at a time usually reserved for the likes of the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Like it or not, the big-name teams are revenue producers that MLB enjoys showcasing. The Angels and the Giants, especially linked together, are not.

This isn't to begrudge either team's achievements. Anaheim is in the World Series for the first time in its 42-year existence and that's a welcome change, while San Francisco has the undisputed 2002 Most Valuable Player in Barry Bonds.

But, together, it's a bland pairing as far as the typical fan is concerned.

Worse yet from TV's perspective, that same fan has equal parts apathy and animosity directed toward the Series now that the favored teams have been eliminated. Unless you have a California address, you probably won't even tune in.

Personally, I'd be more excited if either team was worth embracing.

But this ridiculous monkey thing that the Angels are using to pump up their crowds just grates on my sensibilities. For me, it's a concept that just doesn't work.

First off, what's with the monkey connection anyhow? Monkeys? Angels? I just don't get it.

And, secondly, the barbaric noise -- imitation monkey grunts, I guess it is -- that both the Angels and TV used to hype their appearance in the American League Championship Series has already caused me to wear out the mute button.

The Yankees or the Oakland A's would have been a preferable A.L. rep, most fans and TV executives would agree.

As for the Giants, they'd be easier to stomach if Bonds -- great player that he is -- had a hint of lovableness to him. Instead, he retains a brooding and menacing appearance and reputation, and his fan club is limited to those with an immediate connection to the club or to those who have fished one of his home-run balls out of McCovey Cove.

The D'backs, the Braves or even the luckless St. Louis Cardinals would have made a better N.L. rep and would have given the World Series a more intriguing storyline.

Conversely, at least there is a World Series this year, which wasn't a sure thing back when labor issues were threatening the sport late in the summer.

But now that it's down to the Angels vs. the Giants, most of the sport's fans are going on a strike of their own.