A little national anthem nostalgia

I wanted to post this wonderful YouTube video of Vin Scully making the call on a curveball by Clayton Kershaw. But it's gone because -- and I quote: "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by MLB Advanced Media."

Instead, here's a kinda shaky and sorta cheesy but mostly sweet little video of the national anthem at Vero Beach. If you've been to Dodgertown, this will bring it all back -- hot sun, creaky seats, season-ticket holders basking in a happy daze.

So why the blackout on the Kershaw video? Turns out Major League Baseball has some onerous new restrictions regarding the online use of film and photos. Journalists are protesting and pundits are prognosticating.

Meanwhile, 25 seconds of video, a lovely, joyous half-minute that might have moved someone to actually head to the ballpark (and spend some money, because really, this is what it's all about) is now gone.

Talk about a mean curveball.

-- Veronique de Turenne