Bleacher Report - Articles by Claudio E. Cabrera

How Manny Ramirez Broke Every Dominican's Heart

Claudio E. Cabrera — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:23:46 -0400

Claudio: So I guess you heard about Manny?

Dad: Seguro que si (of course I did)…

His voice trailed off...

My father, who is Dominican, just like Manny, stopped putting stock in his fellow countrymen in Major League Baseball a long time ago.

First, there was the constant speculation surrounding Sammy Sosa; then there were the denials from Tejada and the subsequent positive test for steroids; after that came Alex Rodriguez. But even though we know “Manny for being Manny,” we never expected this. No one ever expected him to be smart enough to even know how to take a pill.

“Its sad when a kid you used to see on the stoop of 177th and St. Nicholas Avenue, after coming home from practice at George Washington HS, ends up with a story like this,” he said.

It’s a common fact in baseball circles that the country that produces more baseball players than any foreign nation is also responsible for close to 60 percent of the players who have tested positive for steroids since 2005. Almost 25 percent of players who have tested positive for PEDs have been Dominican, coming in second to American-born players at 46 percent.

But despite all his antics, Manny kept a special place in the heart of every Dominican for one thing: his honesty.

We knew you could depend on him when you needed him at the plate for a major at-bat. We knew he had no filter. We felt whatever came out of Manny’s mouth was the truth—that was then, though.

The rainy day in New York City dampened moods all over, but nowhere more than in the mostly Dominican Washington Heights and Inwood sections of Manhattan.

When I got off the 1 train at Dyckman Street, it was the topic of conversation on every milk-crate in front of every bodega. You would hear your “Who cares about steroids?” in broken-English from a few old-timers, but you could see it on everyone’s face; no one could defend this one.

The same folks who switched from Boston Red and Yankee blue to Dodger blue hats last year. The same folks who grew dreadlocks because they wanted to be just like Manny. The same folks who sat up for three hours and congregated at restaurants and city blocks to see Manny upset the Cubs and almost take his team to the World Series. These are the same people who sat shocked and bewildered by today's events.

Not even the players in the fraternity he belonged to could believe the news report that broke at 10 a.m.

Bonds, McGwire, and A-Rod were never given the benefit of the doubt by even their own peers. Numerous players came out and criticized all three of them and books have been written on two of them revolving around steroids. There has never even a single player who has questioned Manny Ramirez on steroids. The words "gifted" and "greatest" were always used to describe him.

But can we still use those words?

None of us were ever surprised by the revelation that Alex Rodriguez was using steroids considering his need to please at any cost. But Manny? He didn’t care about anyone. He believed more in his swing than Gwynn or Williams did in their prime. Why would he do this? Did he feel the need to fulfill a new contract from the Dodgers that he couldn't, fulfill on his natural ability?

When the news broke this morning, Manny said: “I've taken and passed 15 drug tests over the past five seasons." But what he fails to comprehend is that it only takes one - just one. Ask Clemens, Bonds, and McGwire, who have all had Hall of Fame careers and will mostly likely be excluded after being associated with steroids.

So who’s left? The two best players in baseball right now are, arguably, Hanley Ramirez and Albert Pujols. Two possible future Hall of Famers. Two guys who are on top of their respective divisions. What else do they have in common? They're both Dominican.

It seems like all our stars are tainted with the steroids and PED label. But if there’s anyone in the sky above, please spare them. Not for us to cheer for, but for Dominican kids across the globe to see that you can succeed without having to cheat.

Why Jeremy Tyler is Making the Right Decision

Claudio E. Cabrera — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:37:59 -0400

When I read the story of Jeremy Tyler skipping his senior year in High School and going overseas to play in Europe for big bucks at age 17, I really didn’t know what to think.

Instead, I went to my old job and asked my friend, Freddy, an older black male in his 70’s, what he thought about the "young boy’s" decision, as he called him.

"When will our black men learn that there’s more to life than just dribbling a ball? You need an education and these kids don’t seem to realize that."

He proceeded to ring off names like Korleone Young and Lenny Cooke, to name a few high schoolers who made the huge leap to the NBA and came crashing down in the same fashion.

But the names my friend Ricardo Bernard mentioned, like Martina Hingis, Andy Roddick, Serena Williams and Pele, were all examples of individuals who began their professional careers at young ages, didn’t go to school, and flourished.

Two opinions from two different generations. One insistent on the importance of an education and one that appreciates it, but understands it's not for everybody.

When you look at college basketball these days, most of these kids are one-and-done players. The only reason top recruits like Tyreke Evans (Memphis) and Derrick Rose (Memphis) went to school is because they had to.

Tyler may want to go to school—but he’s only 17. He has years ahead of him to complete a degree like Vince Carter and Shaq did.

Two years ago, the NBA implemented a rule where any player entering the NBA had to play college ball for one year to be eligible. They essentially eliminated what Reggie Harding created.

At the same time, the Euro was vastly outpacing the American dollar, and this gave European basketball teams a shot at going after American athletes. Players like Josh Childress and Jannero Pargo, who were solid ballplayers by our standards, were getting star money to play for Greek and Middle Eastern crowds.

But the one jump from America to Europe that stood out was that of Brandon Jennings.

Jennings, who initially committed to Arizona, withdrew his name and went to Europe for guaranteed money. Now, he’s playing a more advanced brand of basketball and looks more viable to NBA scouts, who may have thought less of him if he was battling in the Big East.

Jennings’ decision sent shockwaves through basketball and the media felt it was the beginning of a terrible precedent—but was it really? The same way Ricky Rubio, Tony Parker and Jennings followed their dreams at young ages, so has Tyler.

So why do we criticize Tyler for following the same dream?

In the coming months, many questions will be asked about an athlete who is 7" tall and over 250 pounds, but is still a kid at the tender age of 17.

Will he be able to handle the culture shock? Will he be able to adapt to a new language? What about the racism many black athletes like Lewis Hamilton, Theirry Henry, and Samuel Eto face in Europe? Won’t he get home sick?

He may not be able to handle any of these things, but one thing he is for sure: He will be paid well.

The crime here isn’t Tyler leaving high school in his junor year or a European team paying a 17-year-old millions of dollars. The crime is an American system in which college athletes produce billions of dollars in revenue across a six-month season in both football and basketball and don’t receive a cent.

When you hear the stories of Reggie Bush taking money, O.J. Mayo taking money, Chris Webber causing the Fab Five to be expelled from the Michigan basketball record books for taking money, we immediately blame the players.

But our scorn is pointed in the wrong direction.

Like any other free-thinking human being, these men should know right from wrong, but they also come from poor backgrounds. A scholarship doesn’t give you money to eat, it gives you money to learn.

More than half of black athletes in college basketball come from poor backgrounds and don’t have checks coming in the mail from their parents for food, laundry, or leisure.

Tyler won’t have any of these problems and will travel the world—something most 17-year-old Americans don't get the chance to do.

In the end, an education is something Tyler can always get. It will always be there waiting for him. But the money won't be if a freak injury occurs.

Just remember: There will be no bailout for him if he fails. His name isn’t Jamie Dimon, Rick Wagoner, or Edward M. Liddy.

How Terrell Owens Can Rehabilitate His Image

Claudio E. Cabrera — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:54:00 -0400

I’m here for you, Terrell.

No, I’m not another writer crafting a piece bashing you. There have been enough articles focusing on that. What I am here for is to tell you what you need to hear. What your friends, agents, and the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles have failed to communicate to you throughout your career.

Last summer, after signing an extension with the Dallas Cowboys, you sat down with ESPN for a candid interview and you said: “The way the media and people view me is the reason I can’t land endorsement deals like other athletes.”

There’s the problem. You continue to point the finger at everyone but yourself. But all these years of blaming others has come back to haunt your bank account and public perception.

In regards to endorsements, an athlete of your caliber and extensive media coverage should have more than a deal with an energy drink brand named “Venom” and a headphone company named “Earsound,” both of which I've never heard of.

But even in the twilight years of your career, there is still some time to repair your image.

This upcoming season is your last chance. You’ve been thrown a lifejacket by the Siberia of NFL teams, the Buffalo Bills. Essentially, you’ve become the Manny Ramirez of the sport, and both of you need to prove that your behavioral issues are in the past to continue earning new contracts.

It’s gotten to the point where a receiver who is less durable and talented than you in Laveranues Coles just signed a four-year, $28 million contract. The same can be said about Michael Clayton’s deal for five years and $26 million.

So, as no one else has given you the PR you’ve needed, here are my Top 10 tips to rebrand your image and career.

1. Stop yelling at your coaches and teammates on the sidelines while on national TV. If you have an issue, keep it in-house (locker room), or discuss it in a manner on the sidelines where it doesn’t exhibit frustration, but poise.

2. Turn TerrellOwens.com into more than just a site about a football player, but a person with other interests who engages his fans. Start off by re-designing the site and removing the advertisements. Also, hold contests for your users and a weekly interview series with questions sent in by them. You should also upload pictures of your life on and off the football field, and launch your own personal blog.

3. Open a Twitter account to update fans, media, and friends on a more frequent basis. As for MySpace and Facebook, don’t just have social networking accounts to have them. Make sure you update them and engage with your fans on those mediums as well.

4. Become a fixture in the Buffalo community. It’s a depressed city with serious economic issues, and having a star show that he cares and contribute at local soup kitchens, shelters, and donate for good causes would be a welcome site. In addition, you can also hold a promotion for Bills fans where you pay the entry of a family of four to each game at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

With your arrival, there will be limited tickets available, thus making them higher-priced on ticket broker websites and unaffordable to many. A move of this magnitude would endear you to a struggling community.

5. Remember, making an impact in Buffalo won’t be enough to change your image nationally. In every road city you visit, you should hold a brief autograph session where you take pictures with fans.

6. Cut down on the interviews. Aside from those mandated post-game, give the press one exclusive pre-season interview. In that sit down, apologize for the issues you caused in your last stop and detail how you plan to move forward.

7. Keep pursuing your acting career if you so choose, but don’t pursue it if the roles offered force you to play the selfish athlete you’ve been throughout your career.

8. You already came out with a fitness book, so why not come out with a workout video? In this tape, you can take everyone inside your workouts, eating regimen, and exercise schedule.

9. Go on ESPN First Take and debate your biggest critic, Skip Bayless, before training camp begins. Inform him and the viewing public that your days of being a distraction are now over and you plan to prove to everyone that not only do you still have a lot of great playing days left, but will become a better teammate.

10. Don't listen to everyone who tells you to fire your agent, Drew Rosenhaus. He is disliked by the media as much as you are, but without his deal-making abilities, you would've never received that extension in Dallas or your current contract with the Bills. What I would suggest is to relate to Drew that you would like him to be more low-key when it relates to Terrell Owens issues.

Will these suggestions be taken? No one knows. But if you don't change the way you portray yourself, don't be surprised if teams treat you next season the same way they've treated Barry since he left the Bay Area.