You may not have noticed this given how little coverage it has gotten, but Manny Ramirez is coming back tonight. If you think that means that the media's hand-wringing and sanctimony about all of this is about to end, well, you're just not familiar with the media's work:
I've never asked Dodger fans for a favor before, but I have one request now: When that first home game comes on July 16, for one night, one at-bat or at least one swing, boo Manny. I'm not asking you to burn your coveted Man-wig, hide the name on the back of your No. 99 T-shirt under duct tape or torture yourself by watching Angels games. All I ask is that if you attend Manny's first home game, you boo. Once, at least . . . Dodgers fans should boo Manny for one at-bat to make sure he knows his actions were unacceptable . . . They need to say to Manny, "We're the ones who pay to watch you, and we demand better."
There are a lot of reasons why newspapers like the Los Angles Times are dying. Most of them are financial. Let us not discount the notion, however, that their insistence of treating both their readers and the subjects they cover like children who are incapable of forming opinions on their own has a little to do with it too.
Has it not yet, at this late date, after all that has happened, occurred to the L.A. Times that people like Manny Ramirez and are willing, no, eager, to overlook his steroid suspension to watch him play baseball?
UPDATE: It's important to note that not everyone at the L.A. Times feels this way. Jon Weisman of the wonderful Dodger Thoughts blog has consistently delivered the win when it comes to Manny Ramirez coverage, and his latest entry is no exception. Note to whoever runs the Times' sports section: Lead with Weisman and relegate everyone else to sidebar links with six-point fonts.
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This really gets to the root of why it is that I, as a baseball fan, refuse to get on the "I hate Manny" bandwagon.
I have been a Dodger fan for 32 years and I have never felt angry and or disgusted in a player like I am now. When Barry Bonds was caught using steroids, all dodger fans booed him. Not only because he played for the rival team, but also for cheating. I thought to myself, how could Giant fans except a player for cheating. I felt angry, disgusted and confused of how the fans still accepted Barry.
Now I am seeing this with these so called dodger fans doing the same thing. During the offseaon, Manny played with our emotions. First, he says he wants to comeback and then he says that he wants to go to who ever pays him more. The Dodgers could have picked up a couple of good players for what the Dodgers paid this clown. I lost a little respect for him in the off season. So that was a little slap to the face. Next comes the suspension for using steroids, A VERY BIG SLAP TO THE FACE. And know I see the Dodger fans support this cheater and not getting an apology from this clown. Come on, where are those true Dodger fans!!!!! Come on people, what are we teaching our kids!! That its ok to cheat because people don't care and will accept you. I am very very upset for those so called Dodger fans. I am very disgusted with those still supporting Manny. We don't need Manny, look what we did with out him. We have the best record in AL and NL. I will definetly be booing Manny every chance I get!!!!
The LA Times needs to show some class and telling fans to boo Manny in his comeback game is really gutter mentality. The only thing missing in this article is the name of the jerk who wrote this disgusting LA Times article so we can boo him.
Eric - you suggest telling fans to boo Manny would be "gutter mentality". The person displaying the gutter mentality was Manny - corrupt and morally degrading - not the writer suggesting that we boo him to express our dislike for steriod use. How is the LA Times article "disgusting" - again, Manny's initial lie to the media when confronted with the accusation of steriod use is disgusting since he couldn't even act like a man when he was caught. The LA Times article was not. In fact, the article requested the fans to show their "disgust" for Manny's use of steriods. What's wrong with that?
You appear to need some self-respect - when someone lies to you and attempts to treat you like a fool, which is what Manny did with his steriod use, do you simply ignore it and beg him to come back. That's the prime definition of being a Mann-bitch - congratulations! What if Manny's 50 game suspension would have come at the end of the season, and the Dodger's made the playoffs but he couldn't play? Would you even care how that would affect his teamates and coaching staff, let alone the Dodger's fans? Your comments lead me to believe that you'll accept any behavior from Manny, or any other player on your team, as long as they entertain you and win. If that's the case, I just wasted my time responding to your post because that mentality is worse than gutter mentality.
Screw the LA times. Manny is a criminal without any help from them and should be banned for life along with the rest of the cheats. So I guess I'll boo him every time I see him, but not because the LA times said it was the right thing to do. He is a disgrace to everything that is good about baseball. That is not 'hate', it is simply a reaction from a fan that can't accept cheating like others posting here apparently can.
Has it occurred to anyone that the LA Times is right? Newspapers are not dying because they "treat their readers like children." Newspapers would probably be more popular if they did more of this. Boo Manny if you like, but don't throw a newspaper columnist under the bus for giving his opinion — it's what he's paid to do.
I'm with you, Zbak. I think btw the lines, the LA Times columnist is worried about LA's lax baseball mentality. Stars can do no wrong in LA. If it were a Mets player, no matter the star, we Mets fans would boo the sh!t out of him.
Yeah, the people who "are willing, no, eager to overlook his steroid suspension" are the same people who comprised the jury pool from which twelve geniuses were picked to acquit OJ.
Manny served his 50 game suspension and should be allowed to play baseball again without the LA Times trying to orchestrate a "message". The fans in LA don't care.
Yeah do that... Boo Manny. Then, when his contract is up, and he signs with someone else, he'll turn around to see all of baseball loving L.A. BOO-Hooing for listening to some sports blogger. Do it L.A. , Boo your hating little hearts out.
Scottdogg- This is NOT a flame. But the problem as I see it is exactly that: Other teams are allowed to sign a 'convicted' cheat. Ban him from baseball for life. Anything less condones the mentality and the behaviour, which is cheating at the game because he thought no one would know he did. 'So if I cheat and no one knows I did, did I really cheat at all?' Let's not mince words here- this is exactly what he and every one else who dopes is doing.
Zero tolerance. No second chances. Anything less corrupts the game of baseball and every other sport where it occurs.
Again, this is not about hate. This is about consequences.
Hey jimmy ----- You are EXACTLY right. Manny stands for everything that is WRONG with baseball, with sports --- with our country. No longer do we cheer for the good guy. We have attached ourselves to the "anti" person, the one who mocks authority, the rules, everyone. Have we lost so much respect FOR OURSELVES that Manny is the type of persona that we have to admire? If so, that is indeed, unfortunate. From his sloppy uniform, to his "hairstyle", to his "Manny being Manny" attitude --- he lacks class. By not stepping up and condemning him, we are, in fact, condoning his behavior. I don't blame his teammates for not saying something --- they don't want to rock the "players union" boat. However, EVERYONE, including players, should speak out sternly against PED cheating. But they won't. However, the owners and especially the fans, should speak out --- STRONGLY. Yes, Manny should be booed. For what he has contributed to the degradation of baseball, he should be out of the sport entirely. Talent must (or at least, should) yield to integrity, to character. Alas, right now, it does not. We are, ALL OF US, the worse of for it.
"There are a lot of reasons why newspapers like the Los Angles Times are dying. Most of them are financial. Let us not discount the notion, however, that THEIR INSISTENCE OF TREATING BOTH THEIR READERS AND THE SUBJECTS THEY COVER LIKE CHILDREN WHO ARE INCAPABLE OF FORMING OPIONIONS ON THEIR OWN has a little to do with it too."
Yeah...because blogs don't do that. No, siree.
I didn't say wether or not he cheated. He messed up, got caught, and did his time. God Bless America. For now, baseball will let him play, so I'll take him on one of my teams if L.A. is too good of a town for one of the best hitters in baseball.
i totally don't understand how people easily dimiss manny's conduct, remember this guy told a big fat lie about his dirty test which was backed by torre and coletti, these fanatics that follow these over paid kids amaze me with their stupidity. i would like to go to the dodgers next home game to show my discuss with manny, but i doubt i'd ever see my kids again.
i can't wait to see manny's avg. after his return, look at a-rods, that guy can't hit a beach ball. scottdogg, this guy is what i'm talking about, he states manning did his time, oh yeah tell the jerk manning to give back all that money he sign for based on false avg's.
When Manny was in Albuquerque last month, he was a total jerk. He would not sign autographs and would run off the field when there was just a misting of rain. My nephews waited hours for him and he just blew everyone off. I wouldn't care if he ever played again.
Hey Craig
How ironic that as a blogger you choose to criticize a newspaper for something from their "Blog" section, even stranger that you don't mention that the article contains a poll along with the individual writer's opinion
You are aware that newspaper columnists, like bloggers, are stating their individual opinions although sadly many columnists and most bloggers only appear to have room for one opinion.
But what if it's a dumb opinion? Am I not allowed to say anything about that?
I think the fans of LA will be booing Manny by the time he plays his first home game. Not because of what the LA Times said. They will be booing him because after a 50 game layoff he can't get it done versus Single A pitching.
It is gonna take him a long time to get his swing back, and it is gonna hurt the Dodgers chemistry, and they have been kicking @$$ and taking names during Manny's suspension.
MArty don't forget that he really gave autograph.....just because your nephews didn't received one, manny is jerk...I believe that as a pro he should understand that people will expect more of him...but he can choose to give a autograph or not...are u saying that if he gives one his not a jerk, but if he doesn't hes one?
There's something about baseball that is different. Sportsmanship was always a part of what I grew up with in the game. Al Kaline, Alan Trammel, Lou Whitaker, Jim Northrup..... my hero's growing up hardly ever got into any trouble. Manny is an egotistical jerk. He is a decent ballplayer but not a good teammate at all. And no matter what you say his attitude does make a difference. He is a poor fielder and doesn't give his best all of the time. If you realize he is a hired gun (hitter) and don't mind the garbage he brings with him then fine. I am gonna boo him and I would not want him on my team.
This just goes to show that the steriods story is media driven . They need to take the hall vote away from these reporters !!! Give it to the fans, that's who the game is played for anyway . These reporters should just report the news , not make it. They're trying to push their agenda and moral outrage on the baseball fan . I think that we can decide for ourselves. I 'd rather have a guy trying to better himself and his team , than a guy who dogs it. You may say , but it's " cheating " and I respect that point of view. I don't want some reporter telling me how I should feel about the situation. Like I said , just report the news . If I wanted perspetive I'd go read the New York Times op ed page.
Hey, len ---- When you state that you would rather have someone who is "trying to better himself" than someone who dogs it, does that include Manny taking "enhancers" to better himsel?. By the way, Manny DOES dog it --- quite a bit of the time. No --- baseball would be better off if Manny was not part of the game at all. However, I will agree with you that we, as fans, can make up our minds about players. I appreciate your input and your viewpoint as well.
Vet , your right aboout manny doggin it. I'd be P.O.ed if I were a sox fan , after what happened last year .
Mandy's little episode with fertile drugs didn't harm anyone but himself. Get over it and worry about North Korea, the bad economy or Iraq. Trust, there are bigger things going on in the world. GET OVER IT!
Hey you clown, if you would have continued quoting the article from the LA Times, then it would have showed that the columnist said to boo Manny during his first at-bat for the steroids, but cheer him for his second at-bat and thereafter. The first round of boos would send a message that CHEATING is not acceptable, but the cheering afterwards would be a sign that yes, we Dodger fans, can and do forgive Manny (this one time). Funny how you forgot to put that into your little piece...
I didn't put it in because it's meaningless. In fact, it's even worse if you do the one-boo, one-cheer. I mean, if you really think Manny was wrong, boo his ass forever. If you don't, don't boo him at all. This guy is advocating for people to have their cake and eat it too. Hate Manny to make you feel superior, but then cheer him because his performance makes you feel good. How very selfish and hypocritical.
I saw Plasche in an interview and he never mentioned cheering . He killed manny the entire interview.
Craig - if I as a baseball fan don't like the fact that Manny took a banned substance and cheated to enhance his performance, and then I proceed to boo him, you are suggesting that I'm doing that to make myself feel superior. That insult is absurd, and it certainly speaks volumes about your lack of intelligence. While I can not comprehend why any true baseball fan, let alone a fan of a team whose star player has been caught using steriods, would simply forgive and forget such cheating, I can certainly comprehend the anger that true baseball fans feel towards these cheaters. That anger is not based on self-rightousness, nor is is based on a need to tear someone down - it is based on respect for the game, respect for your team, respect for those that have played the game with integrity and established the records they did with sheer will and determination, and for those that dealt gracefully with the erosion of their skills and ultimately retired with respect and admiration. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it is based on the fact that the fans pay for the services of the players and provide the players with support and admiration, and in return we ask for respect, effort, and a desire to win. You obviously don't share the same respect for the game that true baseball fans do, and you appear incapable of understanding the need for true fans to express their disgust with the real reason for steroids - a cheating player's desire for the huge contract - so I suggest you stop opining about us true fans and take a little time to examine your motives. Perhaps then you will understand that it is the enablers like yourself that have changed baseball from a great game to a contest of who can spend the most money and who can get the biggest contract.
The LA Times sports page is, for the most part, about the opinions of Bill Plaschke and TJ Simers. I despise them both, but even in my hatred I can be objective enough to say that neither is a homer. In fact, both go out of their way to NOT be homers. Craig, why would you expect anything less from these writers? They've been exactly what they are for years now. Regular readers of the Times know this. These pompous jerks seem to express their opinions as a direct opposite to what LA fans want them to (particularly Simers, the biggest egomaniac and hypocrite I've ever encountered in journalism). Craig, you must know these guys...what did you expect them to say? It was predictable as any "dog-bites-man" story. They pride themselves in their contrarianism. And I'm not suggesting they SHOULD be homers...but some balance would be nice, and they don't care a whit about balance. They exist to get a rise out of LA fans. Or in far less words...they suck.