Bad sports, good sports: Manny Ramirez skips the ninth inning for a shower

Posted on October 26th, 2009 by Alan Spoll

Manny Ramirez is everything that is bad about sports. I could substitute his name for “Bad sports” in the title of my column, and people would still know what I meant.

There have been a lot of bad people in sports during my lifetime. Some are criminals. Some are drug addicts. Many are spoiled babies. Manny Ramirez is in a special class, though. He has astonishing skill. He is also a cheater. Also, that astonishing skill is accompanied by one of the worst attitudes I have ever seen. He is a first-class prima donna who has long been considered a selfish player. This week, though, he took that to a new level.

The scene was game four of the National League Championship Series against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Manny’s Dodgers were down two games to one entering the game, but they led this game 4-3 going into the bottom of the ninth. Dodgers manager Joe Torre took Ramirez out of the game, inserting Juan Pierre in left field for the final frame, as Pierre is clearly the superior fielder, especially when you factor in effort. The Phillies rallied to win the game on a two-run double by Jimmy Rollins. The Dodgers were crushed. All but Manny, that is. Manny was in the shower. He didn’t wait to celebrate what looked like a series-tying win for his team at the time he left the dugout. He had no idea that his team had fallen into a 3-1 hole that they would prove unable to climb out of. It did not matter to him in the slightest. Manny felt like taking a shower. Why should he have cared how the game turned out? He was getting paid, regardless.

Expecting professional athletes to love the game as much as I love it is foolish. Expecting them to treat the game with the same respect that a kid does when he is playing for the sheer enjoyment of the game is disingenuous. Sure, many of them love the game and would never disgrace it this way. The Phillies team that put the Dodgers away and have moved on to the World Series appears to be full of players who love the game. I may be wrong about that, but I don’t think I am. I do know, though, that I would never want a player like Ramirez on my team. The last time a team I loved had a guy like that, it was Terrell Owens. His short-lived career as an Eagle ended with me despising him more than any player that had ever played on a Philadelphia team. As repulsive as Owens’ behavior was (and has been since), though, I never saw him give less than his all on the field. Ramirez loafs after balls in the outfield, doesn’t run out ground balls, and regularly glares at umpires. Throughout his career, his actions have been excused with the foolish phrase, “it’s just Manny being Manny.” I am very glad that Manny is Manny for a team other than mine. I hope the Dodgers enjoy what $20 million a year has bought them.

Bad sports, continued:

2) While preparing for Monday Night Football in San Diego last Monday, a stadium worker fell from the press box and later died. Walt Daniels was 66 years old.

3) Caroline Wozniacki, a Danish tennis player, injured her hamstring during her first-round match in the Luxembourg open this week. Regardless, she was poised to win the match. When she realized that the injury would likely keep her from competing in the second round, she chose to retire from the match, allowing Anne Kremer, her opponent, to advance. Rather than applaud her good sportsmanship, the WTA is investigating her actions. Way to applaud a stand-up action by the player.

Good sports:

1) An SMU freshman soccer player scored a goal from 95 yards away, helping his team knock off 16th-ranked Tulsa. You don’t see that every day.

2) The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday after two major mistakes by Brett Favre gave the Steelers two defensive touchdowns. Why is this listed under Good Sports, you ask? If you are regular reader of this column, you know of my disdain for Brett Favre’s drama-queen antics over the past few offseasons. I enjoy seeing him fail. So sue me.

3) Game 6 of baseball’s American League Championship Series was rained out on Saturday night. Why is this Good Sports, you are wondering (you may be noticing a pattern here)? It forced the Yankees and Angels to play on Sunday night, and also left the possibility that the series would not be decided until Monday night. While this is going on, my Phillies are resting comfortably at home, awaiting the winner. The series may have been decided by the time this column is published, but at the time of writing, I am hoping for a couple of very long, exhausting games to decide it.

Bad Sports, Good Sports appears every Monday

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Alan Spoll

Alan Spoll is a software quality assurance director from the suburbs of Philadelphia where he lives with his wonderful wife and children. He has spent his entire life as a passionate fan of the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, and Penn State. Recent Phillies success aside, you will understand his natural negativity. Follow me on Twitter - @DocAlan02