BBTF.org/m/yankees : Richard Justice: My favorite A-Rod story occurred in a Kansas City restaurant

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Yanks, Manchester City awarded MLS expansion team

(mlb.mlb.com)

posted 1 day ago by Gamingboy to other sports, soccer, the empire's alliances, yankees | 31 comment(s)

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced today that a partnership of global sports powers, Manchester City Football Club and the New York Yankees, has acquired the League’s 20th expansion club. The new team will be named New York City Football Club (NYCFC) and expects to begin play in 2015.

Wait, I thought Manchester United was the Yankees’ fellow member of the Legion of Doom, not Manchester City!

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1. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

posted on January 30, 2013 at 11:40 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

but I’m guessing that in his heart and his soul he’s a Yankee.

Clemens' shriveled satanic heart was ALWAYS a Yankee.

2. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle posted on January 30, 2013 at 11:52 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

The "Is a True Yankee" calculus is more complex than turning lead into gold.

3. The Chronicles of Reddick posted on January 30, 2013 at 11:59 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

He may not enter the Hall of Fame as a Yankee, but I’m guessing that in his heart and his soul he’s a Yankee.

But his balls belong to Balco.

4. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) posted on January 30, 2013 at 11:59 AM # hit 0 | hit 0

He saw how Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte and Joe Torre conducted themselves.

So he's saying that Clemens learned about drugs from Pettitte? What a twist!

5. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on January 30, 2013 at 12:04 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Anyway back to A-Rod. There was just one problem with the care that was taken to guaranteed his security in Kansas City that day, and looking back on it now, it seems a little bit astonishing and a little bit sad. No one—and I mean no one—recognized him. There was zero buzz. There were no fans desperately trying to get a moment of his time. All that happened that day was A-Rod had lunch.

That's just because its Kansas City. We are loathe to bother people, especially celebrities. Its probably why Zack Greinke was able to flourish here eventually (speaking of which I almost literally ran into him at the park one day and while I was star-struck, I didn't even say hello or anything).

6. Gonfalon Bubble posted on January 30, 2013 at 12:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I’m guessing that in his heart and his soul he’s a Yankee.

Clemens' soul.

7. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

posted on January 30, 2013 at 12:08 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I think Gonfalon won today's internet. All the world's porn is yours for 24 hours, good sir. Please wipe it off before returning it.

8. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP posted on January 30, 2013 at 12:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I think Gonfalon won today's internet.

Not so fast my friend.

9. Pat Rapper's Delight posted on January 30, 2013 at 12:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

All the world's porn is yours for 24 hours, good sir.

Hideki Matsui is loaning it out these days?

10. andrewberg posted on January 30, 2013 at 12:41 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

His whole story is pure projection. A-Rod requested a table away from the crowds (perfectly reasonable), even though Bill Clinton sat with sportswriters once before (different personality, and stop being such an egomaniac, Justice). Meanwhile, they presume that A-Rod was crushed because nobody bothered him (was there any evidence to suggest that, or are you using your schadenfreude standard of proof like in HOF voting?).

11. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP posted on January 30, 2013 at 12:44 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

His whole story is pure projection.

Sportswriters, if they don't have a story, make one up! ARod wanted to eat lunch alone. He did. What a story!

12. Tom Nawrocki posted on January 30, 2013 at 12:50 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

As a result, The Rocket had a great six seasons with the Bombers.

Clemens' ERA (and ERA+) by franchise:

Blue Jays, 2.33 (196)
Astros, 2.41 (180)
Red Sox, 3.06 (144)
Yankees, 4.01 (114)

13. Nasty Nate posted on January 30, 2013 at 12:52 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

As a result, The Rocket had a great six seasons with the Bombers.

Clemens' ERA (and ERA+) by franchise:

Blue Jays, 2.33 (196)
Astros, 2.41 (180)
Red Sox, 3.06 (144)
Yankees, 4.01 (114)

Count da ringzz

14. John Northey posted on January 30, 2013 at 01:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Funny saying Clemens was happiest as a Yankee. Check these stats...
ERA: Toronto 2.33, Houston 2.40, Boston 3.06, Yankee 4.01
W-L: Toronto 759, Houston 679, Yankees 664, Boston 634
K/9: Toronto 10.2, Houston & Boston 8.4, Yankees 8.3
BB/9: Toronto/Houston/Boston 2.8, Yankees 3.2
HR/9: Toronto 0.4, Houston & Boston 0.6, Yankees 0.9

No matter how you cut it his worst results were as a Yankee outside of W-L record and that was in eyeshot of last. Guess being 'relaxed' isn't the same as 'effective'.

Coke to Tom.

15. Nasty Nate posted on January 30, 2013 at 01:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

His whole story is pure projection. A-Rod requested a table away from the crowds (perfectly reasonable), even though Bill Clinton sat with sportswriters once before (different personality, and stop being such an egomaniac, Justice). Meanwhile, they presume that A-Rod was crushed because nobody bothered him (was there any evidence to suggest that, or are you using your schadenfreude standard of proof like in HOF voting?).

He's trying to make fun of A-Rod for not wanting attention and also make fun of him for wanting attention.

And I don't know what it says about someone that his "favorite" story about a famous person consists solely of that famous person eating an uneventful lunch somewhere.

16. Yeaarrgghhhh posted on January 30, 2013 at 01:17 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

And I don't know what it says about someone that his "favorite" story about a famous person consists solely of that famous person eating an uneventful lunch somewhere and assuming that he was humiliated.

(how do you underline?)

17. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on January 30, 2013 at 01:43 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Mister Justice don't know dick about restaurant. Unless you're eating at Planet Hollywood or McDonald's or something most people will leave you alone in a restaurant. Especially the more expensive the restaurant gets. If you're spending more than 40 dollars a person the room isn't going to be full of teeny boppers and ZOMG SPORTS FANS. That isn't to say your neighbor sitting next to you won't say something to you or you won't get approached at your table but Justice writing like he was expecting the whole place to go nuts simply because somebody famous walked in isn't really realistic.

18. willcarrolldoesnotsuk posted on January 30, 2013 at 01:51 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Let me get this straight. His favorite story about A-Rod is how he and his friends, upon recognizing A-Rod, started clucking away like old hens about how nobody recognized A-Rod?

19. Topher posted on January 30, 2013 at 01:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

My favorite Kansas City restaurant story also took place at the Country Club Plaza. But it was at The Capital Grille instead of Houston's. And sort of the opposite of what A-Rod was trying to accomplish.

We were eating and couldn't help but notice out of the corner of our eye that Andre Rison was being seated at a table. You couldn't miss Spider-Man (as he wanted to be referred to at the time) because he was accompanied by his posse. All six members of his entourage were wearing bright red Chiefs jerseys. Each was wearing the Rison - 89.

20. willcarrolldoesnotsuk posted on January 30, 2013 at 01:57 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Let me get this straight. His favorite story about A-Rod is how he and his friends, upon recognizing A-Rod, started clucking away like old hens about how nobody recognized A-Rod?

And in fact it's worse than that. These people not only recognized A-Rod, they recognized A-Rod's personal assistant. How ####### pathetic.

21. KT's Pot Arb posted on January 30, 2013 at 01:59 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Let me get this straight. His favorite story about A-Rod is how he and his friends, upon recognizing A-Rod, started clucking away like old hens about how nobody recognized A-Rod?

No, it's a story about how Richard Justice knows what a friend of A-Rod was saying to a restaurant MaitreD from a distance without lip reading, and how crushed A-Rod felt after getting nothing but privacy at the private table he requested.

22. Dave Spiwak posted on January 30, 2013 at 02:22 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

If that is his favorite A-Rod story, what came in second?

The time A-Rod had breakfast in Cleveland and two people recognized him? The time A-Rod bought shoes in Dallas and the Footlocker guy asked for an autograph?

How many other star baseball players (and not from KC) in their mid-20s could eat lunch in relative anonymity in a corner table at some KC rib joint on any given weekday afternoon? My guess is most of them.

And what's really funny about this guy saying nobody recognized A-Rod sitting in the restaurant is that he's recounting the story from his vantage point -- at a table full of dudes gossiping like hens about how A-Rod was sitting in the restaurant! What a knucklehead!

23. Traderdave

posted on January 30, 2013 at 03:00 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

A-rod is uncomfortable in the spotlight, has had trouble handling fame and can be socially awkward. Fame has inflated both his ego & his insecurities.

IOW, he's a pretty normal person, with flaws & weaknesses that are reasonable given his unique circumstances. FFS lay off him.

24. The Yankee Clapper posted on January 30, 2013 at 03:13 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

This seemed surreal since I had friends at a Kansas City rib joint a few years earlier who looked up to find the President of the United States standing at their table. Bill Clinton worked the room, smiling and shaking hands, then sat down with some baseball writers to have lunch.

Clinton was a politician, always looking for votes, and he may have been checking out the ladies too. Besides, he had Secret Service protection during his meal.

25. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on January 30, 2013 at 03:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

My favorite Derek Jeter story occurred in a Kansas City restaurant bathroom. Gift baskets were involved.

26. Gold Star - just Gold Star posted on January 30, 2013 at 03:44 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

My favorite Digital Underground story involved a Burger King bathroom.

27. dr. scott posted on January 30, 2013 at 03:46 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Jeff Bridges sat behind me at a joint in SF 2 years ago. Bartender had to tell me or I may not have noticed. He was at a table with a ton of poeple and noone else come up to him at all, though our friend, who was the manager of the place, said she got weak in the knees when he spoke to her.

Saw Margo Kidder in a similar situation 13 years ago, but I noticed her voice right away. She, also, would have been totally left alone if not for my friend saying as we left "Loved you in superman..."

28. SoSH U at work posted on January 30, 2013 at 03:51 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

My favorite Kirby Puckett story did not involve public restrooms of any kind. Though my favorite Larry Craig story did.

29. geonose posted on January 30, 2013 at 03:57 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

That's just because its Kansas City. We are loathe to bother people, especially celebrities.

You took the words out of my mouth. I guarantee you he was recognized; it's just that people here mostly leave famous people in peace. It's one of the best cities for any celebrity that values privacy.

30. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on January 30, 2013 at 04:01 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Jeff Bridges sat behind me at a joint in SF 2 years ago. Bartender had to tell me or I may not have noticed. He was at a table with a ton of poeple and noone else come up to him at all

I bet he was humiliated.

31. dr. scott posted on January 30, 2013 at 04:11 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I bet he was humiliated.

That was in fact our goal... he had just won an academy award, and everyone knew he had digitally enhance perfromances...

32. Lassus posted on January 30, 2013 at 04:17 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

EDIT: I am an idiot.

33. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle posted on January 30, 2013 at 04:25 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

EDIT: I am an idiot.

Yes.

34. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house posted on January 30, 2013 at 04:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

My mom always taught me that when I see famous sports people (or famous people in general) out and about to let them be, they are trying to live there life and don't need a mob around them when they go to the store or out to eat. seems like a pretty good idea to me.

35. Zach posted on January 30, 2013 at 04:46 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

It's one of the best cities for any celebrity that values privacy.

To be fair, "Kansas City celebrity" is the next best thing to being completely unknown...

I'm just trying to get a mental picture of anybody creating a big scene by eating lunch at the Plaza. I mean, George Brett when he was active, maybe. Bill Self? It's hard to think of anybody who qualifies as larger than life who would also be instantly recognisable in a KC context.

36. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on January 30, 2013 at 04:59 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm just trying to get a mental picture of anybody creating a big scene by eating lunch at the Plaza.

KC natives Jason Sudeikis, Paul Rudd, and Eric Stonestreet come back in town from time to time. I was out at a bar once when Sudeikis walked by with Olivia Wilde in arm, and that did create a bit of buzz, although even then I don't think people bothered them.

< / kansas city inferiority complex >

37. Zach posted on January 30, 2013 at 05:09 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Sudeikis walked by with Olivia Wilde in arm, and that did create a bit of buzz

I only get into town for Christmas, so I had the amusing experience of Olivia Wilde being at two consecutive Jayhawk games that I attended.

I live in Dresden at the moment, which is if anything less conducive to celebrity than Kansas City. The Germans call it the Valley of the Clueless, because it couldn't get Western TV during the GDR years.

Not really related, but interesting nonetheless -- if you go to downtown Berlin and don't listen too carefully to what people are saying, you'd swear you took a wrong turn coming out of the Plaza. The people look EXACTLY like they're from Kansas City.

38. Repoz

posted on January 30, 2013 at 05:12 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

My favorite O.J. Simpson story occurred in a Detroit hotel room when I got him a soda...and survived.

39. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars posted on January 30, 2013 at 05:23 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'd like to apologize to all the celebrities I've humiliated by not recognizing them at a McDonald's, especially Mother Theresa, Emperor Hirohito, and Paul McCartney. I know for certain I've never asked any of them for their autographs, and they must have been crushed.

40. geonose posted on January 30, 2013 at 05:48 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

It's hard to think of anybody who qualifies as larger than life who would also be instantly recognisable in a KC context.

In KC itself, you mean? I would add Tom Watson to that list. Maybe Len Dawson, if you're old enough. If you're talking about outside of KC, I wouldn't even include Bill Self. Who outside of KC (and Lawrence, for that matter) even realizes that KU is so close?

41. McCoy Wilfong for Money posted on January 30, 2013 at 05:54 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

My favorite O.J. Simpson story occurred in a Detroit hotel room when I got him a soda...and survived.

Reminds me of my only Romney story which is that I almost served him a glass of champagne before he waved me off.

42. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on January 30, 2013 at 05:57 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Manute Bol, Tammy Faye Baker and Willie Aames all settled down in KC. That's about as big as it gets here.

What about Channel 9 anchor Larry Moore? I don't know how to put this, but he's kind of a big deal.

43. CFBF Hates Hyphens posted on January 30, 2013 at 06:06 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

What about Channel 9 anchor Larry Moore? I don't know how to put this, but he's kind of a big deal.

When I was in high school (Shawnee Mission West, represent), Dave Helling, then a TV reporter and the guy who did those "Fact Check" pieces, came to my American gov't class to give a little spiel (his daughter was in the class). He started his presentation by saying, "Now, I suppose you all know who I am?"

I responded, "Wendell Anschutz?"

He was...pretty pissed. I don't think his daughter ever spoke to me again. But hey, you only have a few years in your life when you can be a teenage #######.

44. Lassus posted on January 30, 2013 at 06:22 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

"Now, I suppose you all know who I am?"

Well, you lead with that, you're basically begging to get kicked in the nuts.

45. CFBF Hates Hyphens posted on January 30, 2013 at 06:25 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Well, you lead with that, you're basically begging to get kicked in the nuts.

That was my parents' reaction when I told them the story. Especially when your claim to "fame" is "reporter on the local news" and you're speaking to a group of high school students.

46. Zach posted on January 30, 2013 at 06:28 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

"Now, I suppose you all know who I am?"

I got that in a job interview once. My response: "What was your name again?"

If only it were on purpose.

47. Gonfalon Bubble posted on January 30, 2013 at 06:30 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The Wendell Anschutz might have successful, if Montgomery's army hadn't cut the supply lines.

48. Yeaarrgghhhh posted on January 30, 2013 at 06:35 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I'm guessing that Olivia Wilde would create a buzz in any bar that she walked into.

49. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) posted on January 30, 2013 at 06:40 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I got that in a job interview once. My response: "What was your name again?"

“When people get a little too chummy with me I like to call them by the wrong name to let them know I don’t really care about them.”
-Ron Swanson

50. Zach posted on January 30, 2013 at 06:52 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

It turns out I had heard of the guy, but he was nowhere near as important in the field as he liked to think he was. A bunch of Russians did similar stuff at about the same time, and it was all well before I got involved. Fortunately, it was more along the lines of a "meet everybody in the department" interview than a guy who had the power to say yes or no.

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Yanks, Manchester City awarded MLS expansion team

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