OT: Sammy Sosa is a FRAUD

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 10:40 am

Rick Telander from the CHICAGO SUNTIMES
 
 "I just took the wrong bat and went up there,´´ he said in the interview room. "I apologize from the bottom of my heart.´´
 
 Sosa said he keeps a corked bat to use during batting practice be-cause "I like to put on a show for the fans. I like to make people happy and show off.´´
 
 I believe that. I believe gangsters keep shotguns in their trunks to shoot rabbits. I believe the Tooth Fairy is married to the Easter Bunny.
 
 I believe--I guarantee I be-lieve--that Sosa is a liar.
 
 Is it worth noting that after returning from his recent toe injury, Sosa struck out eight times in two games, then dumped his blond bat and began using a black bat like this busted one?
 
 Is it worth noting that he fanned five times Saturday against the Houston Astros, switched to a black bat late in the game, then singled home the winning run in the 16th inning?

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:53 pm

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:42 pm

Skip Bayless, formerly a columnist with the Chicago Tribune, called Sosa the biggest fraud he´s ever covered in sports. He said Sosa is an absolute mean-spirited prick who will do anything to get ahead, a far cry from the "blowing kisses" Sammy the public sees.
 
 Interesting.
 
 Take care,
 PK

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:58 pm

Sammy may be that. Don´t know the man. But I do know that Skip Bayless was the personification of every negative sportswriter stereotype when he was here. Constantly made himself the story, always had an agenda in favor of those players who gave him access and against those who didn´t. It was a very tumultous tenure for him with the Tribune.
 
 As I understand it, he had the same problem in Texas. I´m always amazed that these bozos can bounce from paper to paper with a reputation like that.

NovaStar · Post by **NovaStar** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:01 pm

So what do you guys think? Did Sosa use a corked bat intentionally or not? I personally believe that he intentionally did it. Too much coincidence in regards to his excuse about the wrong bat. I could be wrong.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:08 pm

Definitely intentional. Most athletes are anal about their equipment and know what the hell they´re using.
 
 The newest High Heat PC patch: Cork for Sammy´s bat! <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:32 pm

I *think* it was intentional, but I don´t think it´s something that he did regularly. He was just desperate because of his slump. This guy lives and dies for public acceptance, and getting booed on Saturday was probably worse than being 0-for the week.
 
 I´m guessing that the had the bat around for giggles like a lot of big leaguers do, and reached for it in desperation. If he were a serial cork-user I think he´d go through the trouble of obscuring the "C" that was chalked onto the bat. Even Sammy ain´t that dumb.

bdt92 · Post by **bdt92** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 9:09 pm

I can confirm the lack of credibility for Mr. Bayless (or Skip Brainless as I like to call him). That guy was the worst thing the Chicago sports media has ever seen.

bdt92 · Post by **bdt92** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 10:57 pm

They examined the rest of Sosas´ bats (a total of 76) and found nothing in any of the rest of them. I truly feel this was an isolated incident. I´m not saying that he didn´t know what he was doing but I´m also not saying that he did. The fact that nothing was found in the rest of his 76 bats has to give him some of credibility back don´t you think?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 1:00 am

BDT:
 
 Since Sammy only had one corked bat, this now makes him clean? Bullshit.
 
 All the little X-ray scheme proves is that Sosa was smart enough not to load his wooden arsenal with weapons of corked destruction.
 
 Saying Sammy has restored his credibility some because he only had one corked bat is like saying a killer is a bit cleaner because the murder weapon was the only gun he owned.
 
 I´m not buying. The guy cheated. He deserves a suspension of at least 10 games, 20 would be better.
 
 BDT, I know you´re a Chicagoan. Are you a Cubs´ or Chisox fan? Just curious. I might be a little more forgiving of Sosa if I was a Cubs´ fan and also wasn´t so suspicious about his massive physical growth over the last seven to 10 years.
 
 Take care,
 PK

bdt92 · Post by **bdt92** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 2:27 am

I´m one of the rare Chicagoans that likes both teams. But I do favor the Cubs. And I truly believe out of 76 bats at least one other would be corked if he uses them in games all the time. And comparing using a corked bat to murder is just plain ridiculous <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_razz.gif">

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:20 am

BDT:
 
 Bad analogy, I know. But you get my drift -- whether he had one corked bat or 20 corked bats, the dude was caught.
 
 Who knows? He could have been using one corked bat at a time for a long time. It only takes one piece of corked lumber to cheat -- Sammy has proved that.
 
 That said, anyone who says this corked-bat episode hurts Sammy´s chances of entering the Hall of Fame is high. Hell, Gaylord Perry made a mockery of baseball rules with his admitted doctoring of the ball, and he´s in Cooperstown.
 
 Sammy is a lock for Cooperstown, regardless of his cork.
 
 Take care,
 PK

bdt92 · Post by **bdt92** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:47 am

"Sammy is a lock for Cooperstown, regardless of his cork."
 
 Lucky I know what you´re talking about or that would be just plain funny.
 <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_razz.gif">

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 9:17 am

"Beisbol been berry, berry good for my cork ... "
 
 <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Out,
 PK

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 12:25 pm

I would agree that Skip Bayless was one of the worst columnists I´ve ever read. I hated that jerk when he wrote for the Trib. He was the idiot who blasted the Bulls for not drafting D. Diop, the center for the Cavs who´s been hurt his whole career. He was a grade-A moron.
 
 I agree with Rob´s theory -- Sammy´s bat has been slow in his slump, and I think he was trying to get an edge on getting his timing back. He deserves to be suspended, but I don´t think it taints his whole career. If he was a regular corker I think he would have gotten caught by now.
 
 I think PK´s right that the sentence should be harsh. Baseball needs to send a message that this behavior won´t be tolerated. I think 15-20 games would suffice.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 1:12 pm

No way he should get 15-20 games. Previous corkers <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif"> get 7-10 and ball scuffers (a more common and infinitely more effective cheat) get even less! 8 games is about right.

Cincinnati_Kid · Post by **Cincinnati_Kid** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 1:18 pm

hmmm wonder if there is a way to stick a CORK in ken griffey jr
 
 so he would stop breaking down all the time <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_eek.gif">
 
 got to love how the Reds have been handed it too the Yanks though <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 
 feels like 1976 all over again <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon21.gif"> [ This message was edited by: Cincinnati_Kid on 05-06-2003 10:19 ]

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 1:29 pm

Cinci:
 
 Ugh. You´re really getting excited by the Reds-Yanks´ series?
 
 Count me as one of the people who think interleague play has run its course. It´s f*cking meaningless now.
 
 Interleague play was fun when it was Yanks-Mets, Indians-Reds, Dodgers-Angels. But I´m sorry, Yanks-Astros, Yanks-Cubs and Yanks-Reds does absolutely nothing for me. It´s just another meaningless game in a very long regular season.
 
 Glad you´re finding some enjoyment in interleague play. Honestly, I´d rather see the Yanks play an AL East team than this horseshit interleague stuff. Really dilutes the excitement of the World Series as the only time other than the All-Star Game that the leagues squared off.
 
 Totally unrelated P.S.: "Locomotive" by Guns ´N Roses just popped up on my MP3 player. What a great intro to that song. What a great band. G N´ R is one of those eternal "what if?" bands, as if "What could they have done if they didn´t break up?" I miss G N´ R more than any band from the late 80s, early 90s, even more than Nirvana or Soundgarden.
 
 Take care,
 PK

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 2:41 pm

"What a great band. G N´ R is one of those eternal "what if?" bands, as if "What could they have done if they didn´t break up?" I miss G N´ R more than any band from the late 80s, early 90s, even more than Nirvana or Soundgarden. "
 
 No kidding PK. I would have loved to see what they could have done with more time together. The caveat being that early albums by a band are usually my favourites. I think the ambition and raw-energy the band has when they are young and poor really seems to result in better music. Not always the case of course, but it is a trend I´ve noticed, based on my own personal tastes.

Cincinnati_Kid · Post by **Cincinnati_Kid** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 2:56 pm

pk......oh no
 
 you can clearly count me amoung those who would be 100% in favor of interleague play being abolished in fact i never wanted to see it in the first place
 
 i could have cared less if the reds had ever played the indians unless a world series was on the line
 
 however i have been desentinized over the subject long ago
 
 since selig does what he deems right and not what baseball fans want to see
 
 no sir i just happened to enjoy this particular series.........for a couple reasons
 
 1. the yankees have been the standard over the course of the past several years
 
 2. i have gotten to see the Reds play in 3 world series in my lifetime and they won all 3 the CLASSIC 75 SOX series , the underdog upset sweep of the As in 90 , and the dominant sweep by the BIG RED MACHINE of the pinstripes in 76......so it was just kinda fun to see the winning there 5th and 6th straight game 27 years later..LOL
 
 3. friends....i have quite a few transplanted new yorker friends here in florida who constantley rave about there team.....so hey i could give them a hard time
 
 4. Vinny........i know our love is out there and its just eating him up inside....LOL
 
 but back to the original subject i too could care less about interleague play
 
 but then again i also think the XBOX is the greatest console since the DREAMCAST <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 
 so what do i know <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_razz.gif">
 
 see ya in the cannonball run <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif">

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:34 pm

I´m with you, Cincy. I hate interleague nonsense as much as anyone, and have from Day 1. But if someone happened to wave a Cubs-Yanks ticket in my general direction...
 
 What can I say, my principals are for sale <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_cool.gif">

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 6:41 pm

See, I´m just the opposite. I like interleague. In my mind it sort of breaks up the season. Cubs-Sox twice a year alone makes it worth it for me, and I´m genuinely excited to see the Yanks playing at Wrigley.
 
 I think baseball gets too wrapped up in tradition. Anytime the sport tries to change people get their George Will-autographed panties in a bunch about the integrity of the game being compromised blah blah blah. IMO I´d rather see my favorite AL team get a shot at the D-Backs in place of the D-Rays or my favorite NL team get the winning NY team instead of the Mets.
 
 Just my two cents.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 7:03 pm

Brando,
 
 I don´t object to interleague because of tradition. It ain´t the fact that it´s newfangled that bothers me. It´s the fact that it wickedly knocks the schedule off balance, especially among wildcard teams. The way it´s implemented is so silly that 10% of your schedule can end up being against significantly better or worse opponents than your wildcard competitors face.
 
 There are several other reasons I don´t like it as well. First and foremost, it only generates significant interest in those markets with a natural rivalry. Boy those Angels-Expos games really get the blood pumpin´ don´t they?
 
 Tradition is part of it as well. There was something special about teams seeing each other only in the World Series. But that´s just an aesthetic concern.
 
 I could, and have in the past, go on and on. It´s just another gimmick thought up by Bud to try to curry favor with the less thoughtful elements of the baseball public while also kissing the ass of the networks which demanded it. It´s referred to as a resounding success on the basis of the attention paid to the games, but it´s worked in tandem with the wildcard to destroy pennant races.
 
 It´s also resulted in far less of an attendance boom than MLB would have you think. They´ll run out a bunch of numbers which show that I-league attendance was X% higher than intraleague games so far this season without ever explaining that June attendance at games which are overwhelmingly played on the weekends will ALWAYS be better attended than April-May games.
 
 It´s not as evil as the wildcard of the absolutely disgraceful idea of adding yet *another* round to the already messed up playoffs, but it´s somewhere there on the evil side of the ledger <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif"> [ This message was edited by: RobVarak on 05-06-2003 16:11 ]

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 05, 2003 7:32 pm

My enjoyment of intra-league play doesn´t stem from tradition. It stems from its unique nature.
 
 Baseball was the ONLY one of the "big four" stick-and-ball sports in the U.S. in which there was some mystery between leagues, divisions, conferences, etc. It always added more spice to the World Series, All-Star Game, etc.
 
 But that spice is gone now with interleague play. And while sensible interleague matchups created with geographic or long-standing rivalries is somewhat palatable, I can´t stomach the grandeur of the Marlins against the Indians or the Yanks against the Padres or some ho-hokum bullshit matchup like that.
 
 I´m not hidebound by tradition. I do like three division winners and the wild card, as it gives meaning and hope to the season to a lot of teams and fans that never had it in the past. But further expansion of the playoffs goes too far. After all, I love top-level European soccer leagues, which have no playoffs at all.
 
 Although I HATE the DH! <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 05-06-2003 16:34 ]

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Fri Jun 06, 2003 10:58 am

Rob and PK,
 
 Good points. I think the bottom line problem is there are too many teams in baseball (and in all sports, really). That creates a lot of crap matchups, both within your league and outside of it.
 
 I also like the wild card, only because I don´t think it´s fair to have a team punished by their arbitrary location in a division. I do not want to see the playoffs expand, however.