EXCUSE THE INTERJECTION

Friday, April 14, 2006 | 7:19 a.m.

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:

SHOULD WE CARE WHAT BATMAN THINKS ABOUT THE PIRATES?

Actor Michael Keaton made a stir this week when, after throwing out the first pitch at the Pirates home opener, he held an impromptu news conference to complain about the way the Pittsburgh franchise is being operated.

JEFF HANEY'S TAKE: Yes, and good for the Caped Crusader for speaking his mind. In this age of political correctness run amok, it's refreshing to hear a heartfelt opinion - with no apparent hidden agenda - rather than the usual predictable, vapid tripe we've come to expect from most Hollywood types.

RON KANTOWSKI'S TAKE: Well, if general managing partner Kevin McClatchy insists on running the team like The Joker, then perhaps it was appropriate that Batman be the one to set him straight. Although I think that when the Pirates invited Keaton to throw out the first pitch, they were probably expecting Mr. Mom and the Woobie, or whatever he called his kid's security blanket in that movie.

JH: Yeah, or someone else who will either keep his mouth shut or bore us all to death when he opens it. Heaven forbid they let loose another passionate baseball fan who's famous enough to carry a press conference and offer some constructive - if slightly controversial - criticism of his favorite team.

RK: I guess that'll teach the Pirates for not checking Batman's utility belt at the turnstile. Next year, I bet they invite Adam West instead.

JH: John Waters can have the Orioles, Al Franken and Prince can fight over the Twins, and of course Jamie Farr would get the Toledo Mud Hens. Let's hope they address concerns as valid as Mr. Mom's: the disparity between cash-rich organizations in large media markets and those struggling to keep pace in smaller cities. Most small-market sports teams with low payrolls end up with losing records, which is a legitimate issue - even if it happened to be raised by the guy from "Gung Ho."

RK: Maybe each team should just anoint a celebrity as a fan spokesman and they could throw out the first pitch or sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" - and then rip the team and plug a project afterward. The Yankees could have Billy Crystal, the Cubs Bill Murray or George Will, the Red Sox Matt Damon and Ben Affleck ...

JH: He had a reasonable take: Buccos management needs to pour more money into its payroll to establish a long-term winning franchise. McClatchy didn't want to hear about it - especially not from Beetlejuice. Unfortunately, unless Keaton decides to make some lukewarm apology, Batman will not return - at least not to PNC Park as an invited guest.

RK: Hollywood types and ballplayers, too. None of the players has anything interesting to say these days, so if it takes a fan - albeit a famous one - to tell it like it is, so be it. Keaton didn't say anything the typical Pirates fan hasn't been espousing since the "We Are Family" teams stopped holding reunions. The only difference is that he had a forum.