#45 - the nation needs that a whole lot more than it needs somebody to support media sources who at best are being intentionally misleading, and at worst are cynically besmirching someone to get a few online impressions.

Cmon, you deserve no protection from besmirchment if you are rich and privileged, or wealthy and affluent, or even loaded and prosperous.

I remember in 89 or 90 when Jose Canseco was still a star, the As came to Baltimore. He hit two or three dingers in the series, was roundly booed, and when he crossed the plate he would flex his bicep and wave to the crowd. As a 12 year old, I thought it was fantastic.

It's still fantastic.

Has there ever been a baseball player fully embrace the villain role?

Well, hero or villain is often dependent on which side of the fence you are on. Reggie Jackson was a hero to NY fans after his WS exploits with the Yankees; I'm certain many LA fans saw him as a villain.

Although a fairly popular player overall, Pete Rose was despised in LA, especially during the '70s when the Dodgers and Reds had a heated rivalry for a while in the NL "West" Division. To that end, Rose really clearly enjoyed getting jeers from the Dodger crowd, and it seemed the louder they booed, the better he hit.

it seemed the louder they booed, the better he hit.

And the more he would bet on the game.

#45 - the nation needs that a whole lot more than it needs somebody to support media sources who at best are being intentionally misleading, and at worst are cynically besmirching someone to get a few online impressions.

Yeah, 'cause A-Rod doesn't have anybody telling postive mistruths about him and never has.

Has there ever been a baseball player fully embrace the villain role?

Eddie Stanky comes fairy close, although he was more The Brat (his nickname) than the villain.

Teacher: Bart, what other paradoxes affect our lives?
Bart: Well, you're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't.

#55 - so are you officially supporting media members spreading lies about rich people, because you think it's fair?

Nice sense of morality you seem to be espousing.

Also I am still a mythical horse/man creature.

"P.S. Please join my campaign for higher-capacity toilets in the Yankees' locker room."

#55 - so are you officially supporting media members spreading lies about rich people, because you think it's fair?

No, but on the list of problems in the world, it probably doesn't rank in the top million.

Not to mention that the positive lies that have been told about MLBers vastly outnumber the number of negative things said.

BREAKING: CRAIG CALCATERRA FAILS, YET AGAIN, TO CURE CANCER.

I think A-Rod should go full villain.

I for one would enjoy watching A-Rod hit Madden with a steel chair.

Gary Sheffield fits the bill a little bit, although his most openly malicious behavior was before he was a star.

No, but on the list of problems in the world, it probably doesn't rank in the top million.

Who cares? We're not deciding whether to put someone to death. We're deciding that Bill Madden is a jackass.

Well, hero or villain is often dependent on which side of the fence you are on. Reggie Jackson was a hero to NY fans after his WS exploits with the Yankees; I'm certain many LA fans saw him as a villain.

Reggie was my thought, though, obviously, New York and some other fans loved him. He definitely embraced the boos when on the road though.

i really don't get why some people really think that a media person should keep the right to accuse a "public figure" of absolutely ANYTHING and not be liable for this because there is a "unnamed source" that he/she doesn't have to reveal.

it used to be that the gossip writers had to say "a little bird" told me that someone (who they then describe so that everyone knows who they are talking about) did Something Bad

now - why bother

a public person can't deny anything and be believed because if a media person accuses them, they are automatically guilty. there is actually no way to PROVE innocence.

actually, same thing with a non-public person. suppose i went to clinic X when i was sick and got medicine. if the doctor who ran the clinic was accused of pushing testosterone, and my name was on a list of clinic patients, does this mean i scored some illegal testosterone? according to the media, it sure does. and according to too many people in this world, it sure does. even if there is like zero proof that i ever got it let alone used it.