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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Jeff Pearlman: “all-shitheel” interview team

Sweet Virginia nine! Pearlman is scraping!

I don’t actually know what a “shitheel” is. But one of my loyal blog readers wanted my “all-shitheel interview team.” What readers want, I supply …

C-Todd Pratt: The most arrogant steroid-taking .251 hitter a guy could meet.

1B-Will Clark: Simply put, a dick.

2B-Bret Boone: Could actually be an OK interview. But once he gained 40 pounds of muscle in six weeks, I lost interest.

SS-Tony Womack: Can also be a jerk at second. Rude and arrogant, with occasional breaks for indifference.

3B-Alex Rodriguez: Never actually bad to me, but completely, utterly, remarkably full of crap and inauthentic.

...OF-Jayson Werth: I will never understand punks like this. You possess such a marginal skill—why be cocky about it? Why?

...P-Mark Prior: His career is exhibit 1A why it never pays to be arrogant. Because the fall is hard.

P-Roger Clemens: Just because.

Repoz Posted: July 13, 2010 at 09:33 AM | 78 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: awards, history, special topics, steroids

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1. Rich Posted: July 13, 2010 at 10:09 AM (#3587841)

I could be wrong, but Pearlman sounds like he may be revealing his own insecurities. Unlike Pearlman, I readily acknowledge the limitations of my perspective. He, instead, seems willing to make broad character/personality assessments of people that he doesn't really know.

2. Lassus Posted: July 13, 2010 at 10:10 AM (#3587842)

You have got to be kidding me.

This man using "arrogant", "dick", "jerk", and "cocky" to describe other people is the height of sad, unintentional comedy. I mean, especially this sentence:

I will never understand punks like this. You possess such a marginal skill—why be cocky about it? Why?

This is Jeff Pearlman in a nutshell: I couldn't play myself, so I will write about the players. I will never, ever get over the fact that I'm not playing, however, and therefore will always hate the people I write about.

Or, he just hates people in general.

3. Alex Vila Posted: July 13, 2010 at 10:12 AM (#3587843)

Perhaps the ballplayers are merely responding to the interviewer's attitude.

"What readers want, I supply …"
How about silence?

4. Autobahn Posted: July 13, 2010 at 10:26 AM (#3587844)

P-Arthur Rhodes: Inexplicably rude to reporters who try and sit in his chair.

I might be oversensitive, but if somebody sat in my chair without asking me before hand i would be very annoyed at the least.

5. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: July 13, 2010 at 11:05 AM (#3587851)

I will never understand punks like this. You possess such a marginal skill—why be cocky about it? Why?

This is Jeff Pearlman in a nutshell:

You mean, cocky yet possessing marginal skill? But at what? There are so many things he isn't good at.

Moreover, what "marginal skill"? Jayson Werth has played 700 games in the majors with a career 117 OPS+. That's not going to get him into the Hall of Fame, but it's hardly "marginal," even by the elite standards of major leaguers.

6. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: July 13, 2010 at 11:08 AM (#3587852)

P-Arthur Rhodes: Inexplicably rude to reporters who try and sit in his chair.

I might be oversensitive, but if somebody sat in my chair without asking me before hand i would be very annoyed at the least.

I might be oversensitive, but an allegedly professional writer who uses the ungrammatical "try and" rather annoys me.

7. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: July 13, 2010 at 11:08 AM (#3587853)

This guy is obtuse.

8. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide Posted: July 13, 2010 at 11:36 AM (#3587860)

but an allegedly professional writer who uses the ungrammatical "try and" rather annoys me.

Me too. Second only to "would of".

9. Benji Gil Gamesh Rises Posted: July 13, 2010 at 11:52 AM (#3587865)

This guy is obtuse.

That's a month in the hole for you, Dufresne.

10. Walt Davis Posted: July 13, 2010 at 11:52 AM (#3587866)

Was Prior arrogant?

And ... just how many times did Pearlman try to interview Pratt anyway? Why? More likely Pratt refused to be his ear in the clubhouse. (Same goes for Womack but at least he was a starter most of his career.)

11. Sweatpants Posted: July 13, 2010 at 11:56 AM (#3587869)

Pearlman often does sound negative (including in this post), but it should be noted that his previous post was his all-nice guy team; he didn't post the all-meanie team until someone asked.

12. Kurt Posted: July 13, 2010 at 12:16 PM (#3587874)

Pearlman often does sound negative (including in this post), but it should be noted that his previous post was his all-nice guy team; he didn't post the all-meanie team until someone asked.

Probably lots of columnists get asked to do "all-meanie" teams or write other negative personal things; most of them have too much class to oblige.

13. Mattbert Posted: July 13, 2010 at 12:18 PM (#3587875)

I love the Bret Boone one. He was actually just fine until I thought he might be taking steroids!

DMN's comment on Pearlman's page is teh funnay. Well done, David.

14. Guapo Posted: July 13, 2010 at 12:20 PM (#3587877)

By any standard Jeff Pearlman is one of a small number of people to do an all-meanie team successfully outside the mainstream

15. Rusty Priske Posted: July 13, 2010 at 12:28 PM (#3587882)

David's comment on the site is on point.

16. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: July 13, 2010 at 01:22 PM (#3587902)

if somebody sat in my chair without asking me before hand i would be very annoyed at the least.

And your response would also be inexplicable! Inexplicable! You can't explain why you're annoyed!

Agree with Mattbert on the Boone comment. "I don't even know what a shitheel is, but this decent guy seems to be injecting himself with shitheel."

Serious question: What does Pearlman do? Everything I see linked here seems to be from some blog where he just writes about himself. Does he have a job anymore? He left SI, right? I thought he hated sports now. Did he win the lottery? He seems kind of young and unimportant to sit around reminiscing about his days in the trenches. Murray Chass can do that. I'd assume Swineman needs to write about other people/things occasionally if he wants to make a buck.

17. depletion Posted: July 13, 2010 at 01:30 PM (#3587909)

1. Dick Young
2. Jeff Pearlman

All-heel journalist team

18. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: July 13, 2010 at 01:34 PM (#3587915)

I think Pearlman is still at SI in some capacity. Or maybe he just does freelance pieces?

19. WillYoung Posted: July 13, 2010 at 01:44 PM (#3587937)

I find it quite amusing that Torii Hunter is so full of #### (repeatedly throwing his teammates under the bus, calling out guys who are "püssies," yet missing just as much time on the DL as them, trying to punch a teammate(!)), yet the media is somehow absolutely wrapped around his finger. I guess when you give good quotes, it doesn't matter how much of an âsshole you appear to be in your quotes because the media will fawn over you.

20. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: July 13, 2010 at 01:46 PM (#3587938)

Probably lots of columnists get asked to do "all-meanie" teams or write other negative personal things; most of them have too much class to oblige.

And the reason for that, besides general lack of class, the thing that stands out about Pearlman that makes him so detested around here even compared to other unpopular sportswriters, is that Pearlman doesn't seem to like baseball at all. He doesn't seem to like baseball players at all. (Or, I think, other athletes/sports.) He doesn't want to be covering these people; they're beneath him. And it shows in everything he writes.

21. streak of perros Posted: July 13, 2010 at 01:53 PM (#3587947)

Is John Rocker now a more sympathetic character? Or do we blame him for allowing Pearlman to make a name for himself?

22. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: July 13, 2010 at 01:55 PM (#3587955)

Does anyone else think it's funny a certain player did NOT make this list?

23. Alex meets the threshold for granular review Posted: July 13, 2010 at 01:55 PM (#3587957)

I find it quite amusing that Torii Hunter is so full of #### (repeatedly throwing his teammates under the bus, calling out guys who are "püssies," yet missing just as much time on the DL as them, trying to punch a teammate(!)), yet the media is somehow absolutely wrapped around his finger. I guess when you give good quotes, it doesn't matter how much of an âsshole you appear to be in your quotes because the media will fawn over you.

Shaq is the master of this.

24. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 13, 2010 at 01:56 PM (#3587958)

Wow. Almost as classy as Gilbert's letter.

25. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: July 13, 2010 at 01:57 PM (#3587962)

I actually was sympathetic toward Rocker in the immediate wake of the SI story. I thought he was just an unsophisticated guy with a big mouth, not a mean person. But other things he has said in recent years, whenever he occasionally pops up in the news, make me think that in fact he really is an ####### (no, I can't remember any details).

26. BDC

Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:07 PM (#3587986)

The only one of these guys I noticed much in a clubhouse back when I was occasionally in them was Belle, who wasn't talking to anybody in those days (with the Orioles). You knew better than to approach him (though how that would make him a ####heel interview, I have no idea). Belle was actually quite a normal low-key guy who seemed to get along well with his teammates, on a daily basis.

The one, from the outside, that surprises me is Marlon Byrd, who was quite cuddly and beloved here in Texas when he was jump-starting his career. A big fan favorite. Pearlman's comment seems to identify Byrd as a ####heel simply because people liked to talk to him when he played well. Hmmn.

27. SoSH U at work Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:11 PM (#3587994)

I actually was sympathetic toward Rocker in the immediate wake of the SI story. I thought he was just an unsophisticated guy with a big mouth, not a mean person. But other things he has said in recent years, whenever he occasionally pops up in the news, make me think that in fact he really is an ####### (no, I can't remember any details).

Yes, Rocker could have gained a little sympathy as we began to learn that Pearlman's piece was just the first of many, but subsequent comments kind of squelched that.

Was Prior arrogant?

One of the local Chicago radio guys, who adores most local athletes, basically echoed this about Prior. On the other hand, he (and his partners) had nothing but good things to say about Pearlman's other SP, Kerry Wood.

Does anyone else think it's funny a certain player did NOT make this list?

I was, even if Pearlman never had the balls to try to interview him.

As Ray will attest, I'm one of the bigger sportswriter apologists around here, having done the job myself for almost a decade. Pearlman deserves every bit of scorn heaped upon him. He is every negative trait we attribute to most of these guys, times seven.

28. Perry Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:14 PM (#3588006)

@16: Pearlman's focus is writing books, I know he's deep into one now. Apparently his previous ones sold enough that he can do it full time.

29. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:21 PM (#3588016)

Oh yeah, didn't he write a book about the '86 Mets and how they were the last real team before players all became jerks?

30. flournoy Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:22 PM (#3588022)

Who the hell buys a Pearlman book?

31. Greg (U)K Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:28 PM (#3588036)

Who the hell buys a Pearlman book?

People who really hate whoever he's writing about?

32. Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:32 PM (#3588046)

Pearlman deserves every bit of scorn heaped upon him. He is every negative trait we attribute to most of these guys, times seven.

Just curious, is this from your experience with him personally and professionally? Or is this based on his pieces?

33. JMPH Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:34 PM (#3588054)

Who the hell buys a Pearlman book?

Look at the comments on Pearlman's site. There seems to be a decent chunk of the population who resent successful ballplayers as much as Pearlman does.

34. RJ in TO Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:35 PM (#3588056)

Who the hell buys a Pearlman book?

People who recognize the name of the subject, but who don't recognize the name of the writer.

35. flournoy Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:35 PM (#3588057)

People who really hate whoever he's writing about?

Well I'm a data point against that. As far as I can tell, Pearlman mostly writes about himself, and I despise him. But I wouldn't pay a penny for a book by him.

36. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:37 PM (#3588067)

Have you guys been to a bookstore recently? 90% of the nonfiction books look to be complete garbage. Ugh. They all seem to follow the same format: Why X Is Ruining X And How We Can Stop It. The arsehole industry is churning out shitty books at full capacity.

37. JMPH Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:40 PM (#3588071)

On the topic of baseball books (and at the risk of derailing a Pearlman bash-fest), I can't recommend Dirk Hayhurst's The Bullpen Gospels enough. Everything about that book is absolutely wonderful, and you can probably cruise through it in an afternoon.

38. SoSH U at work Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:40 PM (#3588074)

Just curious, is this from your experience with him personally and professionally? Or is this based on his pieces?

This is based on my observations of the way he practices journalism.

He may be a super swell guy like Dave Cameron. That doesn't matter to me. I judge a writer/reporter based on what he puts on the page and how he goes about getting it there. And from what I've seen from Pearlman, in his own words, he's a disgrace to my profession.

39. RJ in TO Posted: July 13, 2010 at 02:46 PM (#3588083)

On the topic of baseball books (and at the risk of derailing a Pearlman bash-fest), I can't recommend Dirk Hayhurst's The Bullpen Gospels enough. Everything about that book is absolutely wonderful, and you can probably cruise through it in an afternoon.

I second this. It was a thoroughly enjoyable book. Everyone should read it.

40. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle Posted: July 13, 2010 at 03:23 PM (#3588159)

I actually was sympathetic toward Rocker in the immediate wake of the SI story. I thought he was just an unsophisticated guy with a big mouth, not a mean person. But other things he has said in recent years, whenever he occasionally pops up in the news, make me think that in fact he really is an ####### (no, I can't remember any details).

Whatever chance at being a sympathetic character Rocker had after the Pearlman ambush - and it was completely and ambush - he has squandered subsequently by becoming in total the cartoon that Pearlman set out to describe. No one comes out of that bit with any sort of pleasantness.

41. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: July 13, 2010 at 03:59 PM (#3588231)

I was a big Rocker fan prior to the Swineman piece. He was a real character. A baseball villain. Mets fans hated him (even prior to the 7 train comments). He would come sprinting out of the bullpen, he looked nearly unhinged when on the mound, eyes bulging, head twitching. And it's nearly forgotten what a tremendous postseason pitcher he was, giving up just two unearned runs in 20.2 career IP. I remember watching him in late '99 and wondering how anyone would ever get a hit off the guy.

42. you got a STEAGLES? you're gonna need a STEAGLES. Posted: July 13, 2010 at 04:07 PM (#3588241)

C-Todd Pratt: The most arrogant steroid-taking .251 hitter a guy could meet.

i love todd pratt. that jeff pearlman does not makes me think i picked a winner.

43. Johnny Sycophant-Laden Fora Posted: July 13, 2010 at 04:16 PM (#3588253)

[quoteWhatever chance at being a sympathetic character Rocker had after the Pearlman ambush - and it was completely and ambush - he has squandered subsequently by becoming in total the cartoon that Pearlman set out to describe.]

I actually met two guys who worked for the Braves at about the time Rocker was flailing with the Long Island Ducks, they said that Rocker was not a "bad person", but he was just really really unbelievably stupid, a complete "jackass in the MTV sense", they said that when you meet him you think it's an act, a parody of a sitcom moron, but it's not.

44. Smyly Smile (Walewander) Posted: July 13, 2010 at 04:16 PM (#3588254)

I think Pearlman is a douche, but I have read all of his books and thoroughly enjoyed them, for what they are.

45. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: July 13, 2010 at 04:34 PM (#3588292)

No Kevin Brown? That's an upset.

46. Steve Phillips' Hot Cougar (DrStankus) Posted: July 13, 2010 at 05:46 PM (#3588397)

I think Pearlman is a douche, but I have read all of his books and thoroughly enjoyed them, for what they are.

Refreshing to one's gentleman's region?

47. robinred

Posted: July 13, 2010 at 05:56 PM (#3588411)

BTF's own DMN got in a pretty good one in the comments at Pearlman's blog:

David Nieporent
July 13th, 2010 at 4:04 am

How about the all-shitheel interviewER team? Because I have a nomination.

His baby daughter must have awakened David at 4:04 am.

48. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: July 13, 2010 at 06:47 PM (#3588489)

Actually, she tired me out earlier, so I was out by 11 or so, which meant I was up by about 4 on my own.

To his credit, he didn't delete my comment. (Either that, or it went over his head.) Kind of shooting fish in a barrel, though.

49. JMPH Posted: July 13, 2010 at 06:54 PM (#3588502)

Actually, she tired me out earlier, so I was out by 11 or so, which meant I was up by about 4 on my own.

Is 5 hours standard for you? I would die.

50. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: July 13, 2010 at 07:00 PM (#3588518)

Actually, she tired me out earlier, so I was out by 11 or so, which meant I was up by about 4 on my own.

Up at 4, snarking Jeff Pearlman at 4:04. At least make some coffee first!

51. Benji Posted: July 13, 2010 at 07:04 PM (#3588525)

Pratt's inclusion stunned me. If you.watched or listened to Met broadcasts during his years there, you got a picture of affibility. Made you think he was just a great guy.

52. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: July 13, 2010 at 07:04 PM (#3588526)

Is 5 hours standard for you? I would die.

I sleep in on weekends, but during the week, yeah.

53. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: July 13, 2010 at 07:13 PM (#3588542)

Actually, she tired me out earlier, so I was out by 11 or so, which meant I was up by about 4 on my own.

Man, I'm lucky, sometimes I have to wake up my baby girl so Daddy can get to work at a normal time. Like her father, she'd rather get up at 9:00 am than 5 am like her mother.

Though if I was gonna snark Pearlman it would be because I'm still up at 4 am, as opposed to waking up. Either way a great contribution at the most ungodly of hours.

54. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle Posted: July 13, 2010 at 07:47 PM (#3588583)

I actually met two guys who worked for the Braves at about the time Rocker was flailing with the Long Island Ducks, they said that Rocker was not a "bad person", but he was just really really unbelievably stupid, a complete "jackass in the MTV sense", they said that when you meet him you think it's an act, a parody of a sitcom moron, but it's not.

That aligns with what I've heard from various sources around the state. He was apparently "book smart" in high school, but not so much in real life.

55. Arthur Pewty Posted: July 13, 2010 at 07:49 PM (#3588587)

~~Pratt's~~ Puckett's inclusion stunned me. If you watched or listened to ~~Met~~ Twins broadcasts during his years there, you got a picture of affability. Made you think he was just a great guy.

56. tjm1 Posted: July 13, 2010 at 08:10 PM (#3588616)

We shouldn't forget that some of these guys may have been nice guys to most of the media, and had a short fuse with Pearlman, especially after the hatchet job he pulled on Rocker. On the other hand, maybe Gary Sheffield liked what Pearlman did to Rocker. Sheffield strikes me as someone who might appreciate a guy who outed a racist and brought him to shame.

57. Mr. J. Penny Smoltzuzaka Posted: July 13, 2010 at 08:25 PM (#3588635)

I might be oversensitive, but if somebody sat in my chair without asking me before hand i would be very annoyed at the least.

I'd kill them.

58. depletion Posted: July 13, 2010 at 08:39 PM (#3588649)

I'm not a John Rocker fan, but for fairness' sake, his family had Andruw Jones move into their home when John and Andruw were in A ball. So perhaps he is not as 'racist' as is commonly believed.

59. bunyon Posted: July 13, 2010 at 08:51 PM (#3588669)

I'm not a John Rocker fan, but for fairness' sake, his family had Andruw Jones move into their home when John and Andruw were in A ball. So perhaps he is not as 'racist' as is commonly believed.

The thing I always wondered was: what would those folks on the 7 train say about having to live and work where Rocker grew up?

It (what he said in the original Pearlman story) didn't strike me as racism so much as extreme cultural ignorance and fear/loathing of the unknown. Which is not limited to any particular type or place.

60. bunyon Posted: July 13, 2010 at 08:52 PM (#3588670)

By the way, DMN, I hadn't realized your daughter had been born. Congratulations!

61. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: July 13, 2010 at 09:23 PM (#3588706)

I'm not a John Rocker fan, but for fairness' sake, his family had Andruw Jones move into their home when John and Andruw were in A ball. So perhaps he is not as 'racist' as is commonly believed.

C'mon, have you SEEN Andruw Jones? He's a quadroon at best, perhaps even an octaroon. Let's see what mommy and dad would have said if he'd brought home Eddie Murray or Joey Belle.

62. Johnny Two Screens Posted: July 13, 2010 at 09:28 PM (#3588712)

I might be oversensitive, but if somebody sat in my chair without asking me before hand i would be very annoyed at the least.

You are not, Arthur Rhodes put a lot of work to get that chair. If someone sits in it without asking, that is not cool.

63. I Left Tim Raines Down In Africa Posted: July 13, 2010 at 10:36 PM (#3588774)

Ah yes, I'm reminded of that college sports powerhouse, the North Carolina Shitheels. Great university, that.

I'm quite disappointed in the lack of the word "douchenozzle".

64. mike f Posted: July 13, 2010 at 11:35 PM (#3588806)

I'm not a John Rocker fan, but for fairness' sake, his family had Andruw Jones move into their home when John and Andruw were in A ball. So perhaps he is not as 'racist' as is commonly believed.

He also married a black woman. Link. I think. There's a lot of bizarreness going on there...

65. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: July 13, 2010 at 11:38 PM (#3588809)

I can function ok on 5 hours sleep, but only one day. The next night I better get 8 hours or I am one cranky Bivens on day 2.

66. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 14, 2010 at 12:29 AM (#3588857)

I have no idea if these people are actually shitheels or not. But...

1. He basically admits he doesn't know whether Boone is a good interview
2. The A-Rod complaint seems out of context
3. Jayson Werth is really good. And is it really a mystery why any pro athlete would be arrogant? I mean, even good high school athletes are arrogant (not all of them of course).
4. Something that is a mystery: why a reporter would try to sit in Arthur Rhodes' chair during an interview.

67. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: July 14, 2010 at 12:46 AM (#3588885)

I can function ok on 5 hours sleep, but only one day. The next night I better get 8 hours or I am one cranky Bivens on day 2.

Five hours? Why are you waking up at 1:30 in the morning?

68. Zipperholes Posted: July 14, 2010 at 12:49 AM (#3588889)

P-Mark Prior: His career is exhibit 1A why it never pays to be arrogant. Because the fall is hard.

What's he implying here? Did a snubbed reporter sneak into the operating room and botch his arm surgery?

69. Zipperholes Posted: July 14, 2010 at 12:54 AM (#3588916)

Moreover, what "marginal skill"? Jayson Werth has played 700 games in the majors with a career 117 OPS+. That's not going to get him into the Hall of Fame, but it's hardly "marginal," even by the elite standards of major leaguers.

He probably used the wrong word, and meant being able to hit a baseball is a "trivial" skill.

70. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: July 14, 2010 at 01:28 AM (#3588994)

Jeff Pearlman, July 2010:
shitheel arrogant dick jerk rude arrogant full of crap cocky SOB punk cocky dickwad rude punk arrogant

Jeff Pearlman, July 2009:
I hate the modern, “Your column on the Yankees sucked!!! Blow me, asswipe!!” reaction to sportswriting... I hate - truly, truly, truly hate - Stu Scott and Chris Berman. They are wanna-be celebrities. Buffoons. Their need to be the story will never feel right with me. Never.

71. Ray (RDP)

Posted: July 14, 2010 at 01:31 AM (#3589002)

3B-Alex Rodriguez: Never actually bad to me, but completely, utterly, remarkably full of crap and inauthentic.

Perfect illustration of why it's useless to pay attention to sportswriters. 1 their analysis of a player turns on whether the player has been nice to them, and 2 they just repeat the same old mindless crap that they've read from someone else. Oh, ARod is inauthentic. How original.

...P-Mark Prior: His career is exhibit 1A why it never pays to be arrogant. Because the fall is hard.

Maybe Pearlman can figure out what the pot just called the kettle.

72. Rickey Fredonia Fudge Duckery Precious Twiddle Posted: July 14, 2010 at 01:37 AM (#3589007)

It (what he said in the original Pearlman story) didn't strike me as racism so much as extreme cultural ignorance and fear/loathing of the unknown. Which is not limited to any particular type or place

I'm pretty sure the player who stayed with the Rockers in Macon was George Lombard, not Andruw. Might have been both. Otherwise, I agree with this post.

73. rdfc Posted: July 14, 2010 at 02:16 AM (#3589094)

I've always liked Todd Pratt, probably for the same reasons Perelman hates him. I've rarely seen a ballplayer be as honest and open about his feelings and frustration as he was after his big home run for the Mets in 1998. Yes, Pratt was arrogant enough to believe that he should've started that season in the majors instead of Alberto Castillo. And he was 100% right.

The biggest problem ARod has is that he's not a phony, because he fails at being one. A true phony wouldn't be so obviously uncomfortable in his skin as ARod.

74. Forsch 10 From Navarone (Dayn)

Posted: July 14, 2010 at 03:27 AM (#3589242)

He also married a black woman. Link. I think. There's a lot of bizarreness going on there...

You sure that's a woman?

75. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: July 14, 2010 at 04:03 AM (#3589374)

I'm pretty sure the player who stayed with the Rockers in Macon was George Lombard, not Andruw.

I remember Jones and Rocker living together.

76. Mike A Posted: July 14, 2010 at 04:18 AM (#3589392)

Bruce Chen also stayed at Rocker's house IIRC.

77. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: July 14, 2010 at 04:24 AM (#3589398)

You sure that's a woman?

I'm pretty sure it's not Andruw Jones.

78. Jolly Old St. Nick Done Jumped The Ship

Posted: July 14, 2010 at 04:36 AM (#3589410)

I'm not a John Rocker fan, but for fairness' sake, his family had Andruw Jones move into their home when John and Andruw were in A ball. So perhaps he is not as 'racist' as is commonly believed.

He also married a black woman. Link. I think. There's a lot of bizarreness going on there...

Not really, if you look at their matching T-shirts once you scroll down the page, and then recall the actual subject of his Queens subway rant. It wasn't about African Americans.

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