With a strike deadline less than two weeks away, will Major League Baseball break our hearts once again? If they do it will be the ninth work stoppage in the last three decades in the sport.

As it stands now, the biggest issue is a luxury tax that is holding up negotiations. Players can’t stand the adoption of a rule that might cost them salary increases over the upcoming years.

If Major League Baseball does strike, can they recover? In August 1994 they started a strike that lasted 232 days, and caused a cancellation of the World Series that year. Attendance following the 1994 strike dropped 20 percent and still has not fully recovered. If it wasn’t for players like Cal Ripken, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa baseball might not have recovered to the point it is at now. Major League Baseball does have a perfect record when it comes to negotiations though: since 1972 they have negotiated eight times, and they have had eight work stoppages.

When Some fans were asked what they thought about a Major League strike, some replied that they would continue to watch no matter what happened. Others said they would give up watching America’s pastime.

Eric Muac, a Selma native, said baseball isn’t over for him if the players walk out.

Jeff Levins, an avid baseball fan said, &uot;I love the game. If they strike, it won’t bother me. I had several offers to play ball at the college level, and I have been in love with the game since I was a kid. The fact that they strike or not won’t stop me from continuing to follow the game.&uot;

One man who did not want to be identified said he hasn’t watched a game since 1994 &045; the year the World Series was cancelled.

Joyce Colvurn doesn’t spend much time on the sofa watching pro baseball. But she knows how her husband feels.

Baseball coach at Chilton County High School Todd Reece said baseball will always be America’s pastime.