RIDICULOUSLY OUTSPOKEN & NOT AFRAID TO SHOW IT

Another week, another outspoken sports figure- that’s what I am seeing these days.  This week started with the Seahawks’ Richard Sherman and finished with the Red Sox Jonny Gomes, the bearded wonder from California playing outfield for Boston.  Now, I get that this is America and people say what’s on their mind, but if you are going to say something, let it have substance, let it be articulate and let it be grammatically correct.  Here’s Gomes’ take on ARod and his lawsuit against the MLB Player’s Association (by the way you can find these quotes everywhere including the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and NBC Sports). 

“He does steroids or whatever, it sucks. He does this or that, it sucks. He’s always in the news, it sucks. But this is the players’ union he’s going against. It’s all of us. Not a real good idea.” The “it sucks” additive is just electric, isn’t it?  We are not in your living room, Jonny, hanging out with your buddies, your family or neighbors.  We are fans and you are a public figure, so have some professionalism.  No, no, he rants on with, “I think what he had going on is pretty individual,” Gomes added before the start of Thursday’s 75th annual Boston Baseball Writers’ dinner. “He did it. It was his decision, his suspension. But I don’t think it’s really a good idea to go after our union. Down to my (-------) kids, down to the benefits we have, down to our retirement fund, the union makes our lives better. We pay dues to the union for our rights.”

Got it Jonny, right before dinner, a public event, thanks!  Now should a reporter have asked him a question about ARod, why not?  Should he give his comment?  Why not? But truthfully, have some restraint, have some self-control, have some polish in your tongue and maybe even some intelligence in your sentence structure.  Maybe that’s too much to ask? I think not.  This is my favorite part- wait for it, wait for it, “Him and the Yankees were butting heads last year. Whatever, don't care,” he said. “But he’s truly going against every single major league player, and every single major league player that’s played this game before.”

Juxtapose this with former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent’s comment on ARod, “He’s made a mess of his life,” Vincent said. “He’s made a mess of the situation and baseball. The only way out is to say you’re really sorry and tell the truth. But the odds on his doing that are about as great as an elephant flying. It’s just not gonna happen.”  Clever, witty, purposeful and articulate- state your case and move on.  But guys like Gomes and Sherman for that matter don’t think it out, they just say it, not caring about how their comments will be perceived, how they cheapen the sport and it make fans feel jilted. 

Ridiculously outspoken & not afraid to show it is what I call this; and another chapter in the ARod novel of life, unfortunately for him.  Maybe one day he will just say I’m sorry.  There’s nothing ridiculously outspoken about that.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




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