Once again we have a lawsuit that is being based on discrimination but this time it doesn't have anything to do with race, gender or even a sexual preference. USA Baseball has filed a lawsuit against New York City to lift the ban of the use of metal bats that goes into effect in September.

"The lawsuit maintains the law is unconstitutional because it discriminates against the use of metal and composite bats — not made from wood — without any rational basis."-Associated Press.

We have now resorted to discriminating against Wood and Metal. Are you kidding me? There are states all across the country that have bans on radar detectors but they are still in business. New York City is a huge market but for USA Baseball to file this lawsuit is ridiculous.

What's next? Ashtray companies filing lawsuits against Los Angeles for banning smoking in public areas? Catholics filing lawsuits against Trojan condoms?

Here's a statement from the filing that baffles me.

"The lawsuit says New York City's law would harm high school players, coaches, schools and bat manufacturers because it would increase costs for players and teams and would make high school baseball less enjoyable and less competitive."-Associated Press

Is Major League Baseball less competitive because they use wood bats? Are NBA games less competitive because they play on a wood court instead of concrete? Is the NFL less competitive because some teams play indoors and some play outdoors?

What kind of argument is this? I will tell you what it is all about. It isn't about competition, it isn't about entertainment and it is not about the players, coaches or schools. It is all about MONEY!!!!! Notice how the statement includes "bat manufacturers" and I didn't? That's because bat manufacturers are still involved, they are just wooden manufacturers instead of metal/aluminum. It isn't that it would increase cost for those involved, it is about the money they are losing by not being involved.

I am not disputing that players should be able to use the bats of their choice but they have to choose the ones that are approved. I play softball and every year we received a listing of bats that are "banned" from use in the league we play in. Outside of the ones listed, we can use whatever softball bats we want, just not the ones on the list. The list in New York City is simple, no metal/aluminum.

I don't believe that this decision was a discrimination against bats made of metal/aluminum. I think it was a decision made to protect the players from Pee Wee and up. I love the pure sound of a solid ping when a ball is hit by a metal/aluminum bat as much as the next person but this isn't the players or coaches that are filing this lawsuit, it's the manufacturer.