Sorts of Sports

Adulation to my Man

We've been down this road before with Manny Ramirez. Seemingly, I am the only one to defend his legacy as the media bashes him, calls him arrogant, and questions his heart. This trickles down to the fans, who erroneously boo him and celebrate his failure. I really don't understand where this comes from. It probably started with his aloof manner with the media, ostensibly the higher power and decider of what is right and wrong in the game. You don't cross the Baseball Writers Association of America, or it could be the end of you.

I don't need to go over his numbers. We all know that he is one of the best hitters to ever play the game. Just watching him, he had the most pure swing in the game for a right-hander. He rivaled Ken Griffey Jr. for player with the most swagger over the past 15 years. He didn't appease to any standards imposed by the media or fans. He looked like a young kid out there, gallivanting about with a smile. The media thus would use that against him, and national 'journalists' like Rick Reilly have saved their soliloquy for athletes that they deem to be better, for example, Tiger Woods.

In no regards am I trying to be blasphemous, but it as if the media is playing the role of Pontious Pilate, where Manny, long hair and free spirit, like Jesus and alongside him is Barabbas, played by Tiger Woods. Tiger is celebrated for his public issues, revered and cheered and suddenly the underdog, has been set free from the public's point of view. The media has chosen to lift him continuously, while burying the likes of Manny and some others who don't play the media game. Maybe Tiger is doing poorly because he is no longer taking PEDs?

I digress, because ultimately the conversation is now focused on whether or not Manny is HOF worthy. I regret to inform you that since the writers have the final say, like Peter at the pearly gates, he will never see his bust in Cooperstown. But I ponder what fans have to hate about Manny? If you're a Red Sox fan, why do you boo? If you're a Rays fan, what'd he do to you? The media says he didn't care, but how does that effect you? He cared enough to help this team win two World Series. He holds the record for most home runs in the playoffs with 29. Clearly he showed up when his team needed him.

On top of this, ask anyone to play with him, and they will speak to his work ethic and how great he was and what kind of teammate he was. The media can't paint that picture though, because he crossed the line and avoided their post game questioning on a daily basis. He was cunning enough to learn that their leading questions and misquoting could cause irreparable damage to his career, probably more so than getting caught with PEDs, because let's be honest, most baseball players have done it and several have been caught. But if you admit it and apologize, it will be forgotten (see Andy Pettitte). All you need to do is play the media game.

Sorry he 'never cared about the fans' whatever that means? I didn't know that he was supposed to make house visits on off days. What evidence is there that he 'tanked' games? That's asinine to throw that thought out there and it's comical to assume that he was never injured and just wanted to take games off. Who are you to speak to another man's pain tolerance? And honestly, who cares if he took a game off? Are you that cynical to think that his casual manner was a direct attack to his teammates?

It's a fact that players don't give 100% all the time. I'll defer to the NHL for this instance, and why people love the NHL playoffs. It is because it takes the playoffs before the players actually play hard for each play. So to accuse Manny of not running out a groundball is like blaming just one person for surfing the internet during their work day. I menial infraction that millions do daily, which in turn costs their company money.

This isn't a question of whether he broke the rules or not. To me, it is a question of why he is painted as a villain. Fans need to get off their high horses. Nothing Manny did was a direct action towards anyone. Who cares if he didn't run the fastest every single time? Show me one player that does. Who cares if he took one day off. Show me one player that doesn't. He played the game for love and he did it his own way.  Hitting a baseball is more than just see ball, swing hard, and homerun. It's a skill and a rare talent, and he was one of the most exceptional players with that talent, ever. He was a player and entertainer, and he was, Manny.