Manny is uncharacteristically talking to the media.He's even eating a slice of proverbial humble pie. Choking on it, is more like it, because Manny messed up, big time. Like the thief who's not the least bit sorry he stole, but is terribly sorry he got caught, Manny has successfully destroyed his status as "the greatest right-handed hitter in baseball".
He didn't burn that bridge, he blew the sucker up.
Manny being Manny just ain't what it used to be and it will never be again. It can't. He will be forever marked with the Scarlett Letter of major league baseball; the asterisk. Greater men have been here before him and now he must take his place in line behind them. Clemens, Bonds and McGwire have all been warming up a spot in the un-esteemed Cheaters Club, and Manny just passed his initiation.
And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
There can be no doubt that Manny has been cheating. None. He got caught using HCG, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, a female fertility drug that is commonly used by "dopers" to re-start the body's testosterone production and mask anabolic steroid use and MLB suspended him for 50 games. Now, why would a doctor be prescribing Manny a fertility drug??
We know exactly why. And so does he.
The usually smug Ramirez issued an official statement yesterday, apologizing to the LA Dodgers owners, coach and fans. saying, "I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about the whole situation." He also said a lot more.
"I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons," Ramirez said in his statement.
We are sure what you meant to say, Manny, is that you figured out how to beat the system for all those years and all those seasons, including the ones you spent in Boston. Sports journalist and life-long Red Sox fan, Bill Simmons sums it up best in his Page 2 column on ESPN.com. In his May 7th, 2009 piece titled, "Confronting my Worst Nightmare", Simmons talks to his 6 1/2 year-old son about the prospect of the "taint" which now looms over the 2004 Boston Red Sox Championship team.
"But Manny was your favorite hitter on that team. And he tested positive later. Is he still your favorite hitter?"
"Yes and no," I say. "No, because he cheated. Yes, because whether he was cheating or not, I can't forget watching him hit baseballs on a daily basis. I just can't. You should have seen him. Perfect swing, perfect balance, perfect everything. He was a hitting savant. That's the funny thing -- he didn't NEED to cheat. The guy was put on the earth to hit."
Eventually the mighty fall hard and Manny has been nothing but self-serving and arrogant throughout his entire career. He had a swagger that went unmatched, BECAUSE he was Manny, and he thought he was above everything and everyone; including the game itself.
No more than two months ago, Manny was asked in a TV interview by a female reporter if "too much was being made of the steroid story in the major leagues.
"I don't think about that," Ramirez said. "I just play the game, go home and move on."
Manny needs to think about the fact that Manny can no longer just be Manny. He will be back in July, no doubt, and will continue to produce for the Dodgers. The question is what will happen to his swing now? Every move he makes will be scrutinized, criticized and analyzed. His career and his integrity gone, like that deep, driving shot to left field over the monster.
All because Manny decided to get high with a little help from his friends.
So frustrating...
ReplyDeleteEven for those of us that aren't technically fans.
Well written, my friend...as always. ;)
Fertility drug? Maybe he's trying to have a baby.
ReplyDeleteI know you'd like to believe that's the story, but it's not. The real story is much, much different and it involves a much larger conspiracy.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is Manny is really a woman. She was taking the drug because she wants to have a baby. The whole thing is being covered up because MLB doesn't want to have it's best hitter be a woman. Too many old-school guys in the old boys network. They don't want to see a woman beat a man in a man's game. All this time, she has been pretending to be a man. Really, look at her name, "Man"ny. Every little bit to reinforce the lie that she is a man. Ever wonder why she wears a really baggy and loose fitting uniform? It's to hide the female physique. The fifty game suspension to give her enough time to have the baby and not be seen showing pregnant.
Oh, I know you'd like to think that Big Papi is the father, but he's not. Turns out, Nomar's the father.
That Bill Simmons column is a real good one... and I'm glad you put in your two cents on this one, as it's nice to get a female perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is, this won't be the last of the big names. I wonder who will fall next?
At least I know it won't be anyone on my beloved Pittsburgh Pirates. They suck too much.
I'm never unhappy when a cheater gets caught.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm not in to ball play, except for my own, of course.
ReplyDeleteSo how do you feel about his role in the two World Series titles up there? What about the whispers of Big Papi's use of PEDs?
ReplyDeleteI'll answer it for you. You shouldn't feel they are tainted at all. Who knows what these players were using? No World Series Champion this decade has a roster without PED claims/rumors.
2000 Yankees - Clemens, Pettitte, Jason Grimsley.
2001 Diamondbacks - Matt Williams, Luis Gonzalez
2002 Angles - Troy Glaus, Scott Schoeneweis
2003 Marlins - Ivan Rodriguez
2004 Sawx - MannyBManny, Papi, Gabe Kapler
2005 White Sox - Carl Everett
2006 Cards - Pujols, Chris Duncan
2007 Sawx - MannyBManny, Papi,JC Romero
2008 JC Romero, Ryan Howard
Most of those names are just whispers of accusations, but where there is smoke there usually is fire. And these were just the teams that won it all. Fact is, every team over the last decade has had players that have been tainted with talk of steroids or HGH.
It's a shitty time to be a fan, and no matter how much he claims he is innocent I blame Bud Selig as much as the players and owners. Hell, we fans are also responsible. No one was complaining in 1998.
I thought you might write on this topic so I came to see if you could clear up the contradictory reports. You did, to some extent.
ReplyDeleteYou also cleared up a misconception I had on the term "Manny being Manny". I thought that meant he was a FLAKE, a FREE SPIRIT. Kind of goofy.
Didn't know it meant he was a mean-spirited arrogant ass-wipe.
Sad isn't it? And to think the amount of $$ they make much less what message they send on to the kids who idolize ball players.
ReplyDeleteDon't they all do it now though? At this point, I'd be more surprised to find out if a great athlete is not using anything to boost his performance.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why Boston fans are so bitter towards Manny? He helped you guys win, and had some big hits along the way. Without him, th Red Sox DON'T have either one of those WS titles under their belts.
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing had a bitter ending, but before that, it was a fun ride for you guys.
It certainly couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
ReplyDeleteWil Harrison.com
Sorry for being flippant, but I just can't help but to call him "WO-Manny" after the whole female fertility drug thing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day, Candy !!!!!
ReplyDeleteHope you have 'Manny, Manny more !!'
I've just got nothing to say about Manny. He just a complete disappointment.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day!
maybe just the pressure to stay at the top... it's a shame really as you say everything he previously did is now in doubt
ReplyDeleteI am still not sure how to react to this... I did read the Sports Guy piece and thought it was really sad but true. What I take away from this, if anything, is that EVERYBODY cheated. And that's not the "everybody else was doing it" excuse, what I mean is that literally everyone was dirty. It makes it hard to look back as a fan and take in what went down over the past 15 years... only time will tell how I feel about Manny and the 2004 Sox and my love that is baseball.
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