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Monday, July 16, 2007

The Biz of Baseball: Brown: President Bush Likes “Zumala” of the Tigers

Hey...if he had said Kamala I’m sure we’d hear from Kim Chee...or NetShrine at least!

Ravich: Play the role of analyst on “Baseball Tonight.” Who is in the World Series?

Bush: I think Detroit will be in the World Series. I think they’ll nose out Boston. ... They’ve got the flame-thrower Zumala back.

Ravich: Zumaya.

Bush: Zumaya—Zumala, Zumaya. I think they’ll be pretty tough.

Repoz Posted: July 16, 2007 at 03:50 PM | 57 comment(s)
Related News: General, Detroit

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1. AROM wants you off his lawn Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:10 PM (#2442779)

Zumala may be tough but they won't edge out Boston - Manny Ortez will take Zumala deep.

2. JMM Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:17 PM (#2442784)

Getting 5 of 6 letters correct strikes me as pretty accurate for Bush.

3. Loren F.'s well-anchored glenoid Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:18 PM (#2442786)

Give Bush a break; he thinks Kevin Brown is Britain's new Prime Minister.

4. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:21 PM (#2442790)

I won't knock the president of the united states for incorrectly recalling the name of a detroit tigers middle reliever. The fact that he knows Zumaya exists is a postive.

5. Crispix Attacks Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:22 PM (#2442791)

Sammy Seuser is going to put the hurt on Zumala when the Rangers come to Detroit in September.

6. The New Gloucester Whaler Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:23 PM (#2442793)

Considering how many facts get screwed up every week on Fox's broadcast by the people who are employed to communicate to Americans about baseball - I'd say Dick Stockton better be looking over his shoulder.

7. too fat and ugly to play third Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:25 PM (#2442795)

I'd like to see Bush and Joe Morgan in a fistfight.

8. JRVJ (formerly Delta Socrates) Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:27 PM (#2442798)

Nah, the Secret Service would intervene.

9. Misirlou hasn't payed the phone bill in 300 years Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:30 PM (#2442801)

I'd say Dick Stockton better be looking over his shoulder.

Was he the one who called Soriano Adolpho? That's about a billion times worse, but it has about a billionth the snark potential so everyone carry on...

10. Best Regards, Larry Mahnken Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:37 PM (#2442807)

Bush: Zumaya—Zumala, Zumaya. I think they’ll be pretty tough.

Adding:

"Hehehehehehehe"

11. Dewey, Local Boy and Hero Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:40 PM (#2442809)

That's actually more intelligent analysis than I've heard from a dozen television announcers I could name.

12. aleskel Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:41 PM (#2442811)

Hehehehehehehe

I can't even picture Bush doing that little shrugging-shoulders chuckle anymore. All I can think of is Jon Stewarts' version of it.

13. bunyon Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:45 PM (#2442816)

Those guys pitching in middle relief in Detroit now are the same guys that played middle infield against us last year.

14. David Wrightwing liquid feces Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:52 PM (#2442825)

Nah, ~~the Secret Service~~ Don Rumsfeld would intervene.

15. poludamas Posted: July 16, 2007 at 04:56 PM (#2442830)

Nah, the ~~Secret Service Don Rumsfeld~~ Dick Cheney would ~~intervene~~ shoot him in the face.

16. Guapo Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:00 PM (#2442834)

Now let's see if he knows the difference between a Shiite and a Sunni.

17. Brandon in MO (Fire Trey Hillman) Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:04 PM (#2442838)

Joey Zumala is just doing a job that Americans don't want to do.

18. Dewey, Local Boy and Hero Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:05 PM (#2442841)

Now let's see if he knows the difference between a Shiite and a Sunni.

Geez. Um, the Shi'ites believe that the descendents of Ali are the rightful voice of Islam, while the Sunnis recognize the Caliphate? Or is it the other way around?

19. Le Comble du Bob Dernier Cri Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:07 PM (#2442842)

At least he didn't trade Sammy Sosa for Scott Bailes.

20. Tommy Etelamaki Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:08 PM (#2442843)

It's Ravech, not Ravich.

21. Better Schafer than Sorry Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:09 PM (#2442844)

Well, you are mostly correct. It gets complicated, but mainly, Shias believe Ali was divinely blessed too, and he should have been the leader of the Islamic world after the death of the Prophet.
Sunnis believe Ali was on par with other khalifas

22. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:17 PM (#2442852)

A little payback, from Jeter.

23. Francoeur's Delta Farce (Frent) Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:18 PM (#2442854)

Bush then went on to chastise Zumala for his use of the popular "Guitar Patriot" game. "He knows our men and women in the armed forces can rock harder than any simulated video game experience," Bush added.

24. Stealfirstbase (Liberalthinkfactory.org member) Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:24 PM (#2442857)

Man, beating up on Bush is as easy as beating up on a pinata. Or a room full of pinatas.

25. Kyle S Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:26 PM (#2442858)

During the interview, they showed video of Bush throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium. It was easily the best "first pitch" I've ever seen - he threw it from the mound and while it didn't set any speed records, it was a belt-high strike down the middle. Didn't he pitch for Yale in college?

26. rLr Shouldn't Have Drunk The Hot Mountain Dew Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:28 PM (#2442863)

Didn't he pitch for Yale in college?

George H.W. Bush was a defensively-minded first baseman at Yale. The younger didn't play anything, to the best of my knowledge. Probably drinking games.

27. too fat and ugly to play third Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:32 PM (#2442864)

The younger didn't play anything, to the best of my knowledge.

Bush participated in and around sports.

28. Francoeur's Delta Farce (Frent) Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:32 PM (#2442865)

If by "pitch" you mean "drink", then yes. All joking aside...

Wikipedia says he went to Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., and played baseball, but was much more famous as "an effective head cheerleader."

29. flournoy Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:32 PM (#2442866)

ESPN's announcers butcher names all the time. On either a FOX or ESPN broadcast, the announcers were laughing about the fact that they couldn't pronounce "Saltalamacchia." I know it's long, but it's really not difficult to pronounce. And I really don't tune in to hear the announcers laugh about how unprepared they are to broadcast the game.

30. Kyle S Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:36 PM (#2442869)

Oops, my mistake. Must have been thinking of his dad. Anyway, it was a nice ceremonial first pitch.

31. For the Turnstiles (andeux) Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:41 PM (#2442872)

Don't blame Bush. He was provided with faulty intelligence on Detroit's pitching staff by nameless CIA analysts.

32. Biff. You know, for kids! Posted: July 16, 2007 at 05:57 PM (#2442878)

On either a FOX or ESPN broadcast, the announcers were laughing about the fact that they couldn't pronounce "Saltalamacchia." I know it's long, but it's really not difficult to pronounce.

And on NESN.

33. David Wrightwing liquid feces Posted: July 16, 2007 at 06:04 PM (#2442883)

Sounds like the President is confident Joel Zumaya is going to provide a surge for the Tigers.

34. AndrewJ Posted: July 16, 2007 at 06:19 PM (#2442895)

I'd like to see Bush and Joe Morgan in a fistfight.

If George W. Bush and Joe Morgan got into a fistfight, who would win?

a) George W. Bush?

b) Joe Morgan?

c) The American people?

35. TakeandRake Posted: July 16, 2007 at 06:24 PM (#2442899)

Well if George Bush thinks the Tigers will be in the series, we can pretty much count them out...

36. TomH Posted: July 16, 2007 at 06:27 PM (#2442903)

Did Dizzy Dean pronounce things better?

37. Robert in Redondo Posted: July 16, 2007 at 06:46 PM (#2442912)

This article '...''d out the part where Bush called his pick of Detroit over Boston "counterintuitive". Which I guess means he thinks the majority of Americans think the Red Sox are the pick. This shocks me of course, as I had no idea he knew or cared what the majority of Americans are thinking.

38. Gold Star for Robot Boy Posted: July 16, 2007 at 06:53 PM (#2442917)

On either a FOX or ESPN broadcast, the announcers were laughing about the fact that they couldn't pronounce "Saltalamacchia."
Vin Scully was remarking on exactly that not too long ago. He said there would be trouble if there was an action play with Saltalamacchia involved.

39. simon bedford Posted: July 16, 2007 at 07:04 PM (#2442926)

Now there's no where to put Ken Hent.

- Vin Scully having trouble with that toughie "Jeff Kent"

40. Rear Admiral Piazza Posted: July 16, 2007 at 07:07 PM (#2442930)

Well if George Bush thinks the Tigers will be in the series, we can pretty much count them out...

Dunno, Rumsfeld hasn't been around to advise him for some time.

41. too fat and ugly to play third Posted: July 16, 2007 at 07:24 PM (#2442955)

Bush did a better job with "Zumaya" than he does with "nuclear."

42. The District Attorney Posted: July 16, 2007 at 07:34 PM (#2442972)

Sunnis believe Ali was on par with other khalifas

Including Sammy?

43. Rich Rifkin I Posted: July 16, 2007 at 07:45 PM (#2442988)

ESPN's announcers butcher names all the time.

I know. They were constantly mispronouncing my name as "Ripken."

44. Tommy Etelamaki Posted: July 16, 2007 at 08:38 PM (#2443093)

Was [Dick Stockton] the one who called Soriano Adolpho?

Yeah, and when Derrek Lee was batting, he said he spent last season with Milwaukee and Texas.

But he's still better than McCarver and Buck. And Sutcliffe. And Brennaman. And Dusty Baker... basically everyone at FOX and ESPN.

45. Greg Pope Posted: July 16, 2007 at 08:56 PM (#2443142)

I like a good jab at Bush as much as the next person, but I don't really want the President to be up to date on any team's middle relievers. His answer should be, "I love baseball as much as I always did, but I just don't have the time to keep up."

On the other hand, since Zumaya's been out for a good chunk of the year, the quote probably means that Bush watched some of the World Series last year and hasn't paid much attention since. He threw out the first name that came to mind.

46. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: July 16, 2007 at 09:48 PM (#2443212)

Bush also declared total victory for Carl Pavano's season.

"I love Maliki..."
"Maliki who?"
"Maliki you!"

47. flournoy Posted: July 16, 2007 at 09:58 PM (#2443232)

I'll cut Vin Scully a little slack, since he's pretty old. And since I like him.

I don't mind a little jab about a guy's name, but the announcers to whom I alluded harped on "Saltalamacchia" for at least 15 seconds every time he came up to the plate. It got very old.

48. Rough Carrigan Posted: July 16, 2007 at 10:35 PM (#2443298)

Ted Kennedy says that Mike McGwire and Sammy Sooser would mash homers off this Zumala. And Teddy knows his mash.

49. Francoeur's Delta Farce (Frent) Posted: July 17, 2007 at 12:03 AM (#2443480)

Best quote of the evening from BBTN: Kruk or Phillips jabbed at Ravech because he signed an autograph for Bush. As Ravech put it, "He's a fan of the show. He likes most of the people on the show."

Then silence from Kruk and Phillips, until someone spontaneously recovers and sputters out something. Then everyone moves on. I was howling. Bravo, Karl.

50. HOPE: Madison Obamagarner (Flynn) Posted: July 17, 2007 at 12:15 AM (#2443500)

Ravech has been taking the mickey out of the other guys and MLB for a while now. It's funny, and good to know he isn't quite drinking the Kool-Aid like the others.

Also I'm willing to cut Dick Stockton some slack as he's not a full-time MLB announcer, and hasn't been for quite a while. It's not his job to know where guys go.

51. Dan Szymborski Posted: July 17, 2007 at 12:16 AM (#2443504)

Was [Dick Stockton] the one who called Soriano Adolpho?

He'd get major points if he went all the way and called him Adolpho Shabadoo.

52. Misirlou hasn't payed the phone bill in 300 years Posted: July 17, 2007 at 12:21 AM (#2443512)

Also I'm willing to cut Dick Stockton some slack as he's not a full-time MLB announcer, and hasn't been for quite a while. It's not his job to know where guys go.

And yet, the Prez gets slammed for misrembering the name of a Tiger reliever. I blame Maury Brown. Or the Taliban.

53. TFTIO Posted: July 17, 2007 at 12:34 AM (#2443524)

I dinnae; I dislike Bush as much as the next resident of the People's Republic of San Francisco (well, maybe not as much), but I have a hard time getting worked up over this. I mean, at least he knows something about a Midwestern team's bullpen, no? That has to put him in a different order of knowledge than the gibbering retards on ESPN, to say nothing of Fox Sports.

EDIT: I was also expecting a "Zumala's Too Nice" Screeching Weasel joke on the intro.

54. gef the talking mongoose Posted: July 17, 2007 at 01:29 AM (#2443554)

Everybody knows "Zumala" is Bush's pet name for his wife, Kindasleazy Rice. Racist ############.

55. Ozzie's gay friend Posted: July 17, 2007 at 02:49 AM (#2443566)

I got so sick of everone on earth thinking that they're cool for bashing Bush, that I became a fan of his.

He seems like a decent guy, I'm sore that I missed the interview.

56. Aspiring One-Armed Economist (6 - 4 - 3) Posted: July 17, 2007 at 03:04 AM (#2443571)

Bush might actually make for an entertaining contributor to BBTN or something. Kruk better look out, because Shrub will be unemployed in about 18 months.

57. Softball-Playing Human Refuses to Be Walked Posted: July 17, 2007 at 03:36 AM (#2443574)

He seems like a decent guy, I'm sore that I missed the interview.

"Decent" is subjective, but he just seems like a normal guy. Like most normal guys, he doesn't have the chops to be President of the United States, but that shouldn't be a strike against him as a human being. I see no reason to bash him for the Zumala thing, especially when there are so many legitimate issues to bash him over with.

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Monday, July 16, 2007

The Biz of Baseball: Brown: President Bush Likes “Zumala” of the Tigers

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