The Postman Delivers His Package in Baltimore

Cal Ripken is at the center of one of the wildest sports conspiracy theories of all time. This one has achieved urban legend status and caused actor Kevin Costner to go on a radio show and discuss it.

As the story goes, Ripken allowed Costner to stay at his house following the wrap of The Postman. On Aug. 14, 1997, he came home to find Costner in bed with Ripken's wife, Kelly. Ripken and Costner fought, leaving Ripken too hurt to play, so he called Baltimore Orioles management and reported that he wouldn't be at that evening's game against Seattle.According to the rumors, management, not wanting to see Ripken's consecutive-game streak broken, concocted an "electrical failure" at Camden Yards that enabled them to postpone the game.Because a lighting problem did cause cancellation of the game that night, the rumor spread, despite denials by all parties involved. Costner even called Fox Sports Radio in June 2001 after hearing several talk show hosts discuss it. He angrily denied it and told the hosts if they continued to talk about it as fact, "I'll take your heads off."Like Costner, not everyone is amused by sports conspiracy theories. In addition, several long-time Orioles fans claim with no equivocation that this story is absolutely true and that Ripken somehow threatened the media with eternal silence if they ran the story.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. That may be the most interesting sports-related conspiracy of all time. You not only have an amazing sex scandal involving an All-star baseball player and an overrated actor, but in case that didn't pique your interest, please toss in a cover up of America's most precious sports record.

Now I absolutely love this story, but I have a few questions.

1. Why would Costner need to stay at Cal’s house? I doubt anyone was fighting over seats at the Waterworld premier, but you'd think he could still afford a hotel room for a night or two just off of Robinhood alone, right? Also, we now know that he enjoys a good hotel massage: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2151228,00.html
2. I don't think Ray Kinsella could have done something like that. Crash Davis, maybe. If you leave Costner alone with your wife, he will come.
3. If you are Cal Ripken, how do you possibly let a (naked?) Costner hurt you in a fight. It is your house. You know where the weapons are. He is in bed with your wife. You are angry. He is either horny or tired. You should pummel this guy no questions asked. You are supposed to be the iron man of professional sports. By anyone's account, Costner is a cookie-dough eating, ascot wearing wuss. Cal, I dare you to name a softer leading man in Hollywood than Costner? The only conclusion I can draw from this absurd scenario is that Cal got his FEELINGS hurt and didn't want to play baseball that day. This is obviously the only logical answer and I'll consider this piece of the puzzle solved.

To me, there is one key aspect of this conspiracy: the electrical failure. Have you ever in your entire life heard of ANY sports event CANCELLED because of lighting difficulties. I've personally witnessed a significant lighting failure at a college baskeball game. However, the game was merely delayed 20 minutes, illumination was restored, and the game was played. This was a COLLEGE arena and we were playing ball in 20 minutes. Are you telling me that nobody in Baltimore could get the lights back on at Camden Yards for a professional baseball game? Thousands of ticket holders turned away? They would have been better off to just run the Mariners bus off the road on the way to the stadium if they wanted to cancel the game and keep the truth from us. Personally, I'm insulted.