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Slowtwitch Forums: Lavender Room:
Sammy Sosa retiring? Pespective/Opinion ...

 
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TripleThreat

Feb 17, 06 19:29

Post #1 of 5 (81 views)
Sammy Sosa retiring? Pespective/Opinion ... Can't Post
Well, the latest news posits that Sammy is going to retire rather than accept the contract with the Washington (DC) Nationals.

As someone that lives 1.5 hours from Chicago, this is a rather discussed topic. Never have I seen an athlete lose favor with the fans as quickly as Sammy has. The aloofness, the steroid speculation, the poor playoff performance in 03, the corked bat, etc. The guy went from "Slammin' Sammy" to Public Enemy #1 in 1-2 seasons.

Listening to talk radio, many commentators are guising "unbiased dialogue" by accentuating only the negative and practically begging callers to comment negatively toward an athlete, that for 5 years was the face of "The Cubs" (and well, Latin players).

The media did their part in creating the character known as "Slammin' Sammy". IMO, he received the "Mickey mantle" treatment during his dominating years. People only wrote about the good things and ignored the negative behaviors, because the created character was the hero everyone wanted.

As a Cardinal fan, I couldn't understand the resentment poured onto Sammy. The feeling among Cub fans that the franchise would be so much better off without Sammy befuddled me. As if superstars have to be the nicest or most unselfish guys on the team (re: look at what happened to Pittsburgh once Bonds left).

I don't buy the "steroid speculation" as a means of bashing Sammy, b/c during that span there are untold numbers of baseball players that used steroids. From 2 confessed MVP's (Canseco and Caminiti) to numerous guys that have sinced admitted *unknowlingly* taking steroids ... one in which has won more MVP's than any other player and may one day be the all-time home run king. Even compared to other drug users (if Sosa did in fact take drugs), his numbers are astonishing.

This 5-year span is what I'll remember most ...

1998 -- .308 - 66 - 158 (AVR-HR-RBI)

1999 -- .288 - 63 - 141

2000 -- .320 - 50 - 128

2001 -- .328 - 64 - 160

2002 -- .288 - 49 - 108

Unreal numbers. Unreal. Even counting the strikeouts, even those in the clutch ... the man is the only player in baseball history to have 3 60-HR seasons ... even compared to other speculated steroid users. He's 12 home runs shy of 600 and IMO has numbers that even biased sports writers cannot ignore come hall of fame time.

What are your thoughts on Sammy?

=======================

-- At 211 degrees water is hot. At 212 degrees water boils. Boiling water produces steam. You can power a locomotive with steam. Will you supply the extra degree that makes all the difference? ---



tryemdad

Feb 18, 06 5:51

Post #2 of 5 (69 views)
Re: Sammy Sosa retiring? Pespective/Opinion ... [TripleThreat] [In reply to] Can't Post
Sports-talk radio is certainly a double-edged sword. We get so much more in-depth info and access. But so much is blown completely out of proportion - just to fill air minutes. It's hard to feel bad for professional athletes - Lord knows they bring alot of the grief upon themselves - but still, some of the shows and pon-air personalities are out of control.

That aside - in today's market, $500,000 per for Sosa does seem like a slap in the face. I think that's what DC was offering, right?

I'm surprised that I'm not already hearing about an invite from the Mets. It's Victor Diaz vs. the new guy Nady for RF. Not exactly Aaron vs. Clemente. Omar and the Mets would no doubt add another figure to that number. I hope they don't.

Dan DeMaio
---------------------------------------------------------
Life is like riding a bicycle.
To keep your balance you must keep moving.
- Albert Einstein


Tridiot

Feb 18, 06 9:59

Post #3 of 5 (53 views)
Re: Sammy Sosa retiring? Pespective/Opinion ... [TripleThreat] [In reply to] Can't Post
Even factoring any potential steroids use in, Sammy was the most prolific HR hitter in the "juiced" era. I find it to be amazing as well.


My personal theory is that sports talk radio gave rise to the shrill environment in modern political commentary and discourse. The new political model, I believe, comes form the sports talk radio model of constantly racheting up the level of ridiculousness. Everything/one in sports is the greatest/worst _____ of all time

Once you realize what the model is for sports and political commentary (which I think/hope the majority of people are aware of) then you realize why people say what they say. Talk radio isn't the news, it's meant to be biased, ridiculous, flamboyant and incendiary.


SlayerHatebreed

Feb 18, 06 13:45

Post #4 of 5 (45 views)
Re: Sammy Sosa retiring? Pespective/Opinion ... [TripleThreat] [In reply to] Can't Post
This isn't directed to you, just a rant in general.

I've never understood why some sports fans shed tears or proclaim it a sad day when a sporting figure retires.. they played a game. They didn't change the world for the better.

I remember running into a friend who seemed a bit sad one day and I asked what was the matter, his reply: Don Mattingly retired. Are you kidding me? Nobody gives a crap that thousands of people die a day from disease, natural disaster, wars, and this guy is upset because some dude retired who could make contact with a piece of wood and a ball. They play games and they're treated like the Pope.

Don't get me started on those pickup truck drivers who have Dale Earnhard's #3 on their rear windows with slogans like "long live the king". The guy drove a car in circles fast.


TripleThreat

Feb 18, 06 15:10

Post #5 of 5 (36 views)
Re: Sammy Sosa retiring? Pespective/Opinion ... [SlayerHatebreed] [In reply to] Can't Post
I agree somewhat (actually agree in most cases).

Occassionally, along comes a player that stands out for the right reasons. It's a person that doesn't belong in Superstardom. They're not arrogant, they're not selfish, they're not a primadona. They're simply a mega-talented hard worker.

It was a sad day when Mattingly retired (seriously). It was sad that his persona would not be around anymore, that his attractive force would be missing, and the way that his career was cut short by things he could not control. Heroes are suppossed to ride off in the sunset, not have their doctor tell them they can't get on the horse.

A midwestern boy from Evansville, IN that made New York City stop what it was doing and watch him. Talent like that is so rare that it needs to be appreciated. True, Mattingly never cured cancer or fed the hungry (Who has?), but on how summer afternoons or evenings did he contribute to bringing together diverse people that had nothing more in common except for their love of the Yankees/baseball?

There are very few men of any discipline that earn universal respect. Those that do what they do in such a way that people seek to emulate it, however they can, in their own chosen field. "If he can do that, then surely I can do this".

Again, I'm not big on making characters out of real-life people ... but once in a while an athlete, a man rather, comes along that causes us to stop what we're doing and admire what they do. Those athletes & men are rare ... and when they walk away ... it is just cause for a pause.

Sports and athletes play a much larger role than I think most people recognize. I'm not talking about how people are fanatic about the sport. I'm talking about how people who have little else in common can be fanatic about something together. When I go to a game, I am amazed at the diversity I see there. More diversity than you would likely see at any other type of endeavor. More diversity than the opera, an art show, etc. People of various races, nationalities, genders, lifestyles, etc. Quite honestly, the large majority of those people are likely drawn to the same place to see simply one particular athlete (Albert Pujols, barry Bonds, Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, Renaldo, etc). Entire cities, and whole nations can identify and can be symbolized by one significant athlete. That's pretty impressive. The way people talk about the revered athletes, share their favorite moments, or read/hear what kids write/say about them, are all evidences of just how powerful the persona of a respected athlete is.

=======================

-- At 211 degrees water is hot. At 212 degrees water boils. Boiling water produces steam. You can power a locomotive with steam. Will you supply the extra degree that makes all the difference? ---



(This post was edited by TripleThreat on Feb 18, 06 15:22)