Is there another city where the media eat their sports teams alive like Boston? The latest imbroglio involves Manny Ramirez, who missed a critical game against the Yankees with a sore throat, then was reportedly spotted at a hotel bar later that night -- with a member of the opposing Yanks, no less. You have to get down to the bottom of this article, based almost entirely on a Boston Globe piece, before you discover that no one has actually confirmed Ramirez, who lives in the hotel, was anywhere near the bar. Shades of a water-skiing Kelly Gruber. Just another reason why pro athletes with an ounce of sense should stay far away from Boston and its gnawing, insecure, self-loathing fans and media.
I like to draw parallels between the Boston baseball media and the Toronto hockey media. Both take advantage of the rabid local populace to sell any kind of story regardless of merit.
I always got the impression from Boston media that Manny could never do enough to make them happy. Kind of like Mats Sundin here in Toronto. Ramirez could come back later on this week and hit a game-winning home run, but the story would still be about Manny's midnight adventures. It's funny how certain athletes get tagged as 'surly', or 'malingerers', or 'malcontents'. Like players don't fraternize with other teams' players all the time... Does anyone think that when the Jays are playing in Anaheim and the Dodgers are in the middle of a home stand, Delgado isn't having a bite to eat with Shawn Green?
The bitterness and disillusionment has become too prevalent within the Boston media. You almost want them to win a World Series just so they'd stop obsessing about it.
The bitterness and disillusionment has become too prevalent within the Boston media. You almost want them to win a World Series just so they'd stop obsessing about it.
I hate to see Manny's reputation take a beating like this, because, like Bonds, it tends to diminish his accomplishments as a hitter. Now, I'm no fan of Bonds the person, as I've been quick to point out, but I've never ever used that dislike of him to downplay what he's done.
Ramirez is one of the best hitters in the game; let's remember him for that, just as we should ignore the unpleasant aspects of Barry Bonds. Watching these guys hit is a sublime pleasure, regardless of their flakiness.
Ramirez is one of the best hitters in the game; let's remember him for that, just as we should ignore the unpleasant aspects of Barry Bonds. Watching these guys hit is a sublime pleasure, regardless of their flakiness.
You almost want them to win a World Series just so they'd stop obsessing about it.
Nahhh...
Nahhh...
maybe you missed the part where Ramirez shows up to the game in Philly, totally healthy, but refusing to go up to pinch hit. He's a headcase, ask anybody in Cleveland you bunch of morons.
Rog,
Many of these guys are headcases; it goes with the territory of being the best at what they do -- and being compensated for it with salaries beyond belief (and none of us would turn it down, so that argument is pointless). If we took all the headcases from major-league teams, let's just say that MLB's goal of contraction would be well under way.
Many of these guys are headcases; it goes with the territory of being the best at what they do -- and being compensated for it with salaries beyond belief (and none of us would turn it down, so that argument is pointless). If we took all the headcases from major-league teams, let's just say that MLB's goal of contraction would be well under way.
Yep. According to the papers at various times over the past few years we can remove Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Carlos Delgado, Gary Sheffield, Carl Everett, Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, David Wells, Eric Gagne, BY Kim, and any number of others who happened to do something strange on a given day.
If there's one thing I can say about Ramirez is that he probably should DH. Even in Fenway he has very little range in the outfield.
If there's one thing I can say about Ramirez is that he probably should DH. Even in Fenway he has very little range in the outfield.
none of those jokers you mentioned outright refused to go into a game when the manager asked him to pinch hit. This is on par with the Scottie Pippen thing in that playoff game in the mid-90's. Guy gets paid $20 mil and you should expect him to be more of a gamer. A sore throat? WTF? And then fraternizing with an enemy player when you're supposedly bedridden? Everyone has the right to demand more from this guy, including the jaded media. I'm having a hard time respecting Ramirez as a man because of this. And so are his teammates, from what I've read.
A sore throat? WTF?
It's not a "sore throat". It's pharyngitis. We don't know the cause... it may be strep throat, it may be something else.
I agree that I'd expect Ramirez to play if he's able, and this whole thing looks pretty suspicious.
I'm having a hard time respecting Ramirez as a man because of this.
I'm sure Manny will be duly chastened to hear this. I've no doubt he craves your respect.
It's not a "sore throat". It's pharyngitis. We don't know the cause... it may be strep throat, it may be something else.
I agree that I'd expect Ramirez to play if he's able, and this whole thing looks pretty suspicious.
I'm having a hard time respecting Ramirez as a man because of this.
I'm sure Manny will be duly chastened to hear this. I've no doubt he craves your respect.
Not that I have any real authority in this matter, but can we get a ban of Rog goin on? Stupidity is forgivable, but vulgarity angers me.
I dunno, I enjoy it. There's something about the thrust and parry of intellectual debate that quickens the senses and makes the heart sing of the joy of just being alive.
http://economics.about.com
I dunno, I enjoy it. There's something about the thrust and parry of intellectual debate that quickens the senses and makes the heart sing of the joy of just being alive.
Nice comment. Did your mommy help you with that? The only thing that could quicken your senses is a sharp blow to the head. I heard you type on a pink keyboard that matches your purse, YOU BIG SISSY!
Mike
(Wow.. you're right.. intellectual debate IS fun)
I dunno, I enjoy it. There's something about the thrust and parry of intellectual debate that quickens the senses and makes the heart sing of the joy of just being alive.
Nice comment. Did your mommy help you with that? The only thing that could quicken your senses is a sharp blow to the head. I heard you type on a pink keyboard that matches your purse, YOU BIG SISSY!
Mike
(Wow.. you're right.. intellectual debate IS fun)
http://economics.about.com
Mike r00lez, mandude!
If you judge the outcome of a debate by the quality of the people you end up converting, I just lost in a landslide.
Mike
Mike r00lez, mandude!
If you judge the outcome of a debate by the quality of the people you end up converting, I just lost in a landslide.
Mike