[轉錄] Give A-Rod a break

看板A-Rod作者PerryRod (One Reason)時間18年前 (2006/04/06 13:31)推噓0(0推 0噓 5→)

留言5則, 1人參與討論串1/3 (看更多)

From: http://myurl.com.tw/57am Give A-Rod a break Superstar third baseman undeserving of derision Posted: Wednesday April 5, 2006 12:19PM; Updated: Wednesday April 5, 2006 3:00PM I was listening to the results of the World Classic of baseball last month when the United States got eliminated, and the announcer reported it thusly: that once again a team with Alex Rodriguez on it had failed. It was the most incredibly gratuitous assessment I could imagine. To be sure, Rodriguez had not sparkled in the Classic, but he had plenty of American company. No, it was just the most recent example in this curious upside-down situation wherein the best player in baseball is regularly assailed by the media, fans and players. It's gotten so ridiculous that momentarily, I expect commissioner Bud Selig to order a special investigation into Rodriguez, with the idea in mind of putting asterisks next to all his statistics. Yes, guilty as charged ... for being Alex Rodriguez. This phenomenon of dislike for the finest in sport is rare, if not altogether original. Ted Williams was held in great disdain -- vilified as selfish by his own hometown newspapers, even as he was hitting .400. Wilt Chamberlain was simply so big and so good that, as he groaned himself, "Nobody loves Goliath." But it's hard to understand why Rodriguez has become such a whipping boy, even as he gracefully displays preeminent skills year after year. Well, let us examine the bill of particulars. First, of course, the man simply makes too much money -- $26 million a year. A-Rod is Pay-Rod, hoot the critics. But for goodness' sake, was he supposed to turn down a quarter-billion-dollar, 10-year contract just because some fool owner was dumb enough to offer it? Actually, in order to get off that grievously hopeless Texas Rangers team that had paid him all that money, Rodriguez offered to take a pay reduction, but the players' union wouldn't let him! Look, sneer his detractors, sure he's great, but he's a loser. Take A-Rod off a team, that team improves. His new team doesn't win. Specifically, the Yankees haven't won the World Series in the two seasons he's been there. Of course, they neglect to mention that the Yankees hadn't won the three previous, either. If he's not a good teammate, then why did he graciously give up his position, shortstop, to switch to third base -- where he is now regarded as the best in the business? He played all 162 games last year. He is amazingly consistent in power and average. And, after all, he was, again, voted Most Valuable Player. To be sure, he's had a couple of bad postseason series. In one of those, against Boston in '04, he churlishly knocked the ball out of an opponent's grasp. It was one play, unwise and unbecoming, but to hear tell, it would seem to define his whole career. Imagine if opera fans overlooked all Placido Domingo had sung because of that one sour note he hit back in '97 at La Scala. And finally, A-Rod has his foil, Derek Jeter, the sainted Yankees shortstop. It ain't easy playing alongside the George Clooney of sport. Everybody who hates the Yankees tells themselves they are really sportsmen, dear hearts, because they do admire Derek Jeter. Then they take it out even more on Rodriguez! Poor A-Rod. No, he doesn't have Jeter's charm, but he appears to be a good husband and father, of moderate demeanor. Well, my goodness gracious, he does like to play poker for money, but no one has ever whispered that he's taken steroids. And he is what he is, the best baseball player in the world. Can't we give the kid a break? I say let's start the season with three cheers for Alex Rodriguez. -- Wake Up, Right Now! -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 218.175.155.243