Bleacher Report - Articles by Bob Miles

Deja Vu: Why Names Should Be Revealed

Bob Miles — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:46:34 -0400

With today’s developments revealing that both David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez tested positive for steroids in 2003, I felt the need to re-post an edited version of an article that was originally posted back in May.

Looking back on my days as a recruiter who specialized in placing candidates in the accounting field, I will always remember one candidate’s quote that “the numbers tell a story” and regardless of what you are being told the “numbers do not lie.”

With that said,
•47 players were named in the Mitchell Report
•16 players admitting to use of steroids and/or HGH
•32 players have been implicated for the use of steroids
•25 players (and counting) have been suspended by Major League Baseball

The numbers pertaining to the oft discussed “Steroid Era” are staggering, but none cast more of a black cloud over the game right now more than the number not listed above—and that number is 104.

One hundred and four players tested positive for steroids and/or other banned performance enhancing drugs in 2003. The test guaranteed the anonymity of all who tested positive.

If you were to browse the Internet you would find countless articles calling for action on behalf of Major League Baseball to release the names of all 104 players.

Each has their own agenda. Some are purists that do not like to see longstanding records broken by “cheaters”, some believe a player on their favorite team’s arch rival may be guilty, and others simply want to see all “cheaters” exposed as frauds.

I agree that it is time for the names to be revealed and have only one agenda for believing so—It would be good for baseball!!

Until today only one player of the 104, Alex Rodriguez, has been made public. This is a huge problem. It is not a problem because I am a fan of Alex, its because I am not.

Now with Ortiz and Ramirez named, the problem grows, further illustrating the need for closure.

The problem for Major League Baseball are the players who didn’t cheat and are guilty by association and the fans who truly want to move past this dark era and enjoy the game they love so much.

Looking at a time-line of steroid related event in MLB baseball you can trace it all the way back to June 7, 1991 when MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent issued a memo regarding steroid use which read:

"The possession, sale or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance by Major League players or personnel is strictly prohibited...This prohibition applies to all illegal drugs...including steroids." The seven-page document didn't include a testing plan—that had to be bargained with the union—but it did outline treatment and penalties.

A memo such as this would not have been issued had there not been a strong case to do so, and here we are 18 years later with the steroid discussion stronger than ever.

Each and every time a player has been identified we hear the clichés about wanting to move past the steroid talk and the repeated accusations of those who have not yet been confirmed.

It is safe to assume, that along with another 101 players worried that their name is the next to go public, there are countless reporters, bloggers, and investigative journalists doing everything in their power to break the next story.

In doing so they believe that they are providing themselves the glory of the next great headline and their own 15 minutes of fame.

When names of only three of 104 players that tested positive have been released to date, it is impossible to move on.

It is impossible to move on because this pattern of one player being identified periodically will continue for many years, possibly even after an identified player has already hung up the spikes.

If you were to continue to follow the current pattern with Alex Rodriguez being exposed in February 2009 and Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz subsequently exposed in July 2009, reporters and bloggers would continue to chase the story well beyond 20 years from now hoping to expose the name that puts their story on the front page.

Going back to the quote I had heard a few years ago, “the numbers tell a story” and regardless of what you are being told “the numbers do not lie.”

In this case the numbers are telling us that 101 names need to be revealed before Major League Baseball can move on and before the fans can once again enjoy the game— without it constantly being overshadowed by steroid accusations and reluctant admissions.

Is 500 Consecutive Sellouts Really As Impressive As It Sounds?

Bob Miles — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:14:03 -0400

I had touched on this topic last summer when the Red Sox surpassed the Cleveland Indians previous record of 455 consecutive sellouts and I am quite sure that being a Yankee fan I will be accused of being a Red Sox hater and biased in my writing.

To be truthful, I do hate the Red Sox. But you can see in my previous articles that I also give credit where credit is due. Deep down, as a fan of baseball, there are certain things that are true regardless of my opinion and I do not have issue with admitting and/or debating these things.

I am also sure I will receive comments pertaining to the many empty seats at the much ballyhooed Yankee Stadium in the Bronx as well as the atmosphere, the history, and all of the other intangibles of Fenway Park.

I have attended games at Fenway Park and enjoyed the games as well as the atmosphere inside the ball park. I even sat atop the Green Monster and took in the views of what can arguably be called the “best seat in baseball.”

Even with my Yankee hat on I was treated with respect and some good natured ribbing. I enjoyed the banter with the Red Sox fans in my area and even video taped the traditional singing of “Sweet Caroline” because I thought it was a fun moment that I wanted to share with others

With that said, last night the Red Sox celebrated their 500th consecutive sellout at the historic Fenway Park and I find myself asking, “is this truly the achievement Red Sox management and MLB are laying claim to or is it more indicative of the need for a bigger ball park?”

The consecutive sellout record of 455 games was previously held by the Cleveland Indians and was surpassed by the Boston Red Sox on September 8, 2008. In this span of 455 sellout games, the Cleveland Indians had 2,988,056 more fans through the gate than the Boston Red Sox. This is an average of 6,567 more fans per game in Cleveland.

Stepping back even further, over the course of the record which started on May 15, 2003, the Red Sox have never ranked higher than eighth in average attendance and are an average of 13,841 fans per game behind the league leader.

Currently, Fenway Park has the smallest seating capacity in MLB. Seating in Fenway Park is awkward in spots and although some would lay claim to the “charm” of the stadium, others would be quick to point out it's less than desirable quirks.

Boston, as I have witnessed first hand on multiple occasions, is a city that is passionate for their sports teams, especially the Red Sox.

Red Sox management often voices its desire to make decisions driven by the fans’ needs. Not having more seating available is a disservice to those same fans that are forced to either miss the opportunity to cheer on the team they love or pay ridiculous prices to make their way into the stadium.

Either way, laying claim to a sellout/attendance record while ranking tenth in average attendance seems like a contradiction that should be addressed.

The 103 Names: Why They Need to be Revealed

Bob Miles — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:40:12 -0400

Looking back on my days as a recruiter that specialized in placing candidates in the accounting field I will always remember one candidate’s quote that “the numbers tell a story” and regardless of what you are being told the “numbers do not lie”.

With that said,

47 players were named in the Mitchell Report
16 players admitting to use of steroids and/or HGH
32 players have been implicated for the use of steroids
25 players(and counting) have been suspended by Major League Baseball

The numbers pertaining to the oft discussed “Steroid Era” are staggering but none cast more of a black cloud over the game right now more than the number not listed above and that number is 104.

104 players tested positive for steroids and/or other banned performance enhancing drugs in 2003, a test that guaranteed the anonymity of all who tested positive.

If you were to browse the internet you would find countless articles calling for action on behalf of Major League Baseball to release the names of all 104 players that tested positive for steroids in 2003.

Each has their own agenda, some are purists that do not like to see longstanding records broken by “cheaters”, some believe a player on their favorite team’s arch rival may be guilty, and others simply want to see all “cheaters” exposed as frauds.

I agree that it is time for the names to be revealed and have only one agenda for believing so. It would be good for baseball!!

To date only one player of the 104, Alex Rodriguez has been made public. This is a huge problem. It is not a problem because I am a fan of Alex because I am not.

It is a problem for Major League Baseball, the players who didn’t cheat themselves and are guilty by association, and the for fans who truly want to move past this dark era and enjoy the game they love so much.

Looking at a time-line of steroid related event in MLB baseball you can trace it all the way back to June 7, 1991 when MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent issued a memo regarding steroid use which read:

"The possession, sale or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance by Major League players or personnel is strictly prohibited ... This prohibition applies to all illegal drugs ... including steroids." The seven-page document didn't include a testing plan—that had to be bargained with the union—but it did outline treatment and penalties.”

A memo such as this would not have been issued had there not been a strong case to do so and here we are 18 years later with the steroid discussion stronger than ever.

Each and every time a player has been identified we hear the clichés about wanting to move past the steroid talk and the repeated accusations of those who have not yet been confirmed.

It is safe to assume that along with 103 players worried that their name is the next to go public there are countless reporters, bloggers, and investigative journalists doing everything in their power to break the next story.

In doing so they believe that they are providing themselves the glory of the next great headline and their own 15 minutes of fame.

When only 1 of 104 players that tested positive has been released it is impossible to move on. It is impossible to move on because this pattern of one player being identified periodically will continue for many years, possibly even after an identified player has already hung up the spikes or is managing.

If you were to continue to follow the current pattern with Alex Rodriguez being exposed in February 2009 and Manny Ramirez subsequently exposed in May 2009, reporters and bloggers would continue to chase the story well beyond 20 years from now hoping to expose the name that puts their story on the front page.

Going back to the quote I had heard a few years ago, “the numbers tell a story” and regardless of what you are being told the “numbers do not lie”.

In this case the numbers are telling us that 103 names need to be revealed before Major League Baseball can move on and before the fans can once again enjoy the game without it constantly being overshadowed by steroid accusations and reluctant admissions.

The "Earlier" Years of Alex Rodriguez: The Lost Notes of Selena Roberts

Bob Miles — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:29:59 -0400

We have all seen the reports on Selena Roberts’ “The Many Lives of A-Rod” in which she goes to great lengths to probe into not only Alex Rodriguez’ life as a baseball player but the formative years that made him the man that he is today. Roberts’ portrayal is the result of unmatched investigative journalism, uncovering tales of steroids in high school, his tipping habits at the local Hooter’s franchise, and the infamous “Bitch Tits” moniker bestowed upon him by his Yankee teammates.

One might ask, if Selena Roberts is such an incredible investigative journalist, why did she stop there? Why did she spare him the embarrassing details of his youth?

The answer? She didn’t!!!!

What you are about to read are the lost pages of Selena Roberts’ recent journalistic masterpiece in which she chronicles the details of a childhood that only she could uncover. Ms. Roberts traveled far and wide, speaking to numerous unnamed pre-school classmates and unconfirmed neighbors of Alex Rodriguez and the Rodriguez family. This excerpt ends as Alex ends his two years at the Kendall Academy and heads to the very high school where Roberts was able to uncover an unsubstantiated claim of high school steroid use.

According to unnamed sources with whom Alex Rodriguez attended pre-school, Alex's insecurities were very evident at a very early age. According to these classmates who choose to remain anonymous, Alex benefited greatly on the playground from the family business.

The Rodriguez family owned a shoe store in Washington Heights, which was run by his father. According to unnamed toddler sources, Alex was looking for an edge on the playground even at the age of four. Persistent rumors throughout the neighborhood revealed that Alex persuaded his father into inserting steel toes into his Converse All Stars, a move that gave him a decided edge in the recess kickball games.

"The impact he has exhibited kicking the ball as a child are consistent with the "steel toe" theories running rampant on playgrounds throughout the country."

Based on the sudden improvement in Rodriguez' kick distance, and "in conjunction with the reporting that that was conducted with his pre-school teammates, it would make it irrefutable, not a "may have," that "Rodriguez placed steel into the toe of his Converse All Star."

The “steel toe” suspicions were abuzz throughout the neighborhood causing severe stress on the Rodriguez' family. Although it never seemed to amount to anything worth reporting to the school, the family was feeling the pressures of the cover-up.

The general consensus among other pre-schoolers and their parents was to just shrug it off as “Alex being Alex.”

The family, however, could not shrug it off. At an early age and possibly due to the playground suspicions surrounding Alex, Victor and Lourdes moved the Rodriguez' family to the Dominican Republic.

The chicanery did not end in Washington Heights for Alex. While they did not know it at the time, the move to the Dominican was a move that was likely a precursor to his steroid use later in life.

It was at this time that Victor and Lourdes Rodriguez opened a pharmacy.

All seemed well with life in the Dominican, except for the fact that a young Alex was becoming nauseated on his daily bus ride to school. While numerous sources would not confirm on the record that they suspected Alex was using the family business as his own personal playgorund, my exhaustive research into steroids and their side effects reveals that "large oral doses can cause stomach ache, nausea, and vomiting."

The evidence seems to debunk the school bus theory and point more toward Alex’s access to the family pharmacy as the root of his nausea?

Again facing the scrutiny of those around them, due largely to Alex's mysterious nausea, the Rodriguez family once again decided to run from the controversy and returned to the United States.

Upon returning to the United States, Victor soon abandoned his family, never to return.

Alex was feeling the burden of his father’s departure. Having been the cause of two scandals in which his family has to pack up and leave their pasts behind them was quite a cross to bear for Alex. To have his father leave would soon leave a young Alex and his fragile psyche with even deeper insecurities. Insecurities that could surely drive him to the hedonistic lifestyle that he lived out later in life.

By the grace of God, Alex was introduced to the game of baseball. His new love of baseball was seemingly able to fill the immense void left behind by his father. One could only hope that at such a fragile time in a 9-year-old's life baseball would be enough that his adolescent insecurities would not bring back the Dominican demons that caused the nausea.

The demons that reared their ugly heads when the family was in the pharmacy business. As an investigative journalist, it would be irresponsible to overlook such an overwhelming coincidence.

Baseball was Alex's escape, and in the seventh grade, he enrolled in the prestigious Kendall Academy. Alex performed well through two years at Kendall without any major issues. Aside from numerous rumors of his passing notes to other boys' girlfriends in study hall and being less than polite to the lunch lady, Alex seemed to be fitting in well with his new school, according to unnamed sources that chose not to be identified.

It seems that as he enters high school, Alex has finally been able to separate himself from the suspicious tales of his youth.

Or has he?

REALLY? The Questions I Have Heading into the 2009 MLB Season

Bob Miles — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:48:12 -0500

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I hope that Seth Myers agrees as I make an attempt at my version of the popular "REALLY" segment of "Weekend Update"

1. 89 players named in the Mitchell Report, 104 players test positive in 2003, several players including Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Paul Byrd, and Rafael Palmeiro are all implicated yet Bud Selig declares that Alex Rodriguez has “shamed the game”……………………….REALLY?

2. Today is the second day of spring training and Carl Pavano has not hit the DL yet…………….REALLY?

3. It has been reported that Bud Selig was paid $18 million in 2007 to serve as the commissioner of Major League baseball…………………REALLY?

4. People constantly complain about the absurdity of baseball player salaries yet no one says a word about Oprah making $385 million in 2008……………..REALLY? To bring this point closer to the top MLB salaries, Miley Cyrus earned $26 million in 2008…………….REALLY? I will rationalize the world class athlete over the talentless teenage redneck any day of the week………..REALLY!

5. The 1969 Mets earned the moniker the Amazing Mets. Now, 23 years removed from their last World Series victory and coming off successive final stretch meltdowns, New York sport writers still refer to them as the “Amazins”………..REALLY? Those melt downs were AMAZIN……..REALLY!

6. Another season of baseball upon us and we Yankee fans who cheer for the highest payroll in baseball are forced to listen to another year of Michael Kay, Suzyn Waldman, and John Sterling………REALLY? The richest team in baseball and we get this?.............REALLY?

7. Roger Clemens’ DNA has been identified on the syringes and gauze pads provided by Bryan McNamee and he still professes his innocence……………REALLY! REALLY ROGER?

8. Andy Petitte is not worried about being on the list of 104 players that tested positive for steroids in 2003 because, as he put it, “I have never done a steroid”………….REALLY ANDY, REALLY? Is that how you rationalize it? By pointing out the fact that HGH is not a steroid?...................REALLY?

9. Selena Roberts does not have an obsession with Alex Rodriguez, yet she has penned such beauties as:"A-Rod’s Properties and Charity Suggest Some Stinging", "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Rodriguez Is a Bauble A Champion Doesn't Need", "Splendor in the Park: A-Rod Is Posing a Problem", "No Longer the Prom King, Rodriguez Seeks a Role", "Rodriguez Is Getting Hits, to His Glowing Reputation"

REALLY? Not a hint of an obsession here, Selena? REALLY?

10. If players of the “steroid era” are going to be considered for the Hall Of Fame someday, Pete Rose should be considered as well…………………REALLY? (This opinion is free of sarcasm…………REALLY!)

Why I Love Baseball

Bob Miles — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:56:25 -0500

A couple of weeks ago I read an article on Six-Pound, Eight-Ounce Baby Joba written by Kevin S about his love for the game of baseball. After reading this article, I began to ask myself the same question.

Why do I love baseball?

This question has been going through my mind a lot lately and often those around me comment on my passion for a game that possibly goes beyond normal.

Recently being married and becoming a father to a 13-year-old girl, my life has changed considerably and easily for the better. Of all the changes that have taken place in my life, one thing has remained constant—baseball.

I have shared my love for the game with my new wife and daughter. They both have been very supportive of my habit and have even taken quite a liking to the game. One could say that they have grown to like the game, another may argue that they tolerate it because there are worse habits a husband and father could have.

Others might just say that it's not that difficult to get a 13-year-old girl to like Derek Jeter. In the end it doesn't matter why they watch, only that they do.

The question still remains: Why do I love baseball?

In order to get to the root of this question, I would have to flashback to my youth. Growing up as the youngest of six children raised by a divorced mother in her mid-30s with four of her children remaining in the household, times were often tough.

The '70s were not a time when "working mothers" existed and women had careers. For the most part, mothers were mothers and for that reason a single mother raising four children on less-than-moderate income can present many challenges, especially in the area of income.

In elementary school, I can remember approaching the end of the school year with a certain hesitant happiness. While any elementary-aged child looks forward to summer vacation, it was not as easy to be excited when the chatter amongst your schoolmates turned to their summer plans.

While most of those in my classes were preparing for the vacations and trips to the beaches and amusement parks, my slate remained clean. Sure, I would join in the conversation and grossly exaggerate my summer plans, as any child would, but the fact was our family just could not afford the luxuries of a vacation or a trip to the amusement park.

As jealous as I was, deep down inside I was fine because it was baseball season and when Little League ended, we would watch the Yankees on television.

As an adult, I have increasingly become aware of some of the strategies my mom implemented when I was young in an effort handle certain situations. I share them daily with my daughter because they are valuable lessons on how to treat people, material possessions, and how to work hard to get the things you most desire in life.

I now look back on baseball as one my mother's strategies.

Did my mother love baseball? I believe she did. Did my mother use that love of baseball as a way to compensate for those things that it was just impossible to provide? No doubt about it. I may even argue that she tricked us but in the long run, that is quite okay.

There were two things that took major priority on the Miles family television—that one time a year when the Wizard of Oz was on and the Yankees. I remember preparing for Yankee games by getting my score pad ready, pencil sharpened. I would then mark every ball and strike from the first pitch to the last. Sometimes I would laugh, others I would cry.

Watching the games, I was often confused by Phil Rizzuto's stories about his dear wife Cora and canolies from Brooklyn. My confusion would subside and I would jump off the chair in excitement when he would bark out is trademark "Holy Cow" or call someone a "Huckleberry."

I remember the excitement of watching George Brett rushing out of the dugout in a rage that I have never seen in a baseball game after having his potential game winning home run taken away in the infamous "Pine Tar Incident."

I was elated by the moments that have been captured and preserved forever.

I will never forget Bucky Dent crushing the whole city of Boston with one swing long before there was a Red Sox Nation. I marveled at Reggie Jackson destroying three straight pitches for home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers, not to mention the countless Reggie Bars that I ingested soon after.

With great joy also came the "agony of defeat," which never sat well.

Watching Reggie drop a simple fly ball in the 1981 World Series was heartbreaking, but nothing compared to the death of the Yankee captain Thurman Munson.

Equally painful was the tribute paid to him by his teammates a day later as they stood in their respective positions for a pre-game ceremony, the catcher's box noticeably empty. Our family gathered around the television as if he was one of our very own family members.

I remember Thurman's death well and remember it being the first time I ever saw my big brother, the brother who, to an 11-year-old was invincible, cry.

My love for baseball obviously did not end as I grew older. I relished in the aftermath of the 1996 World Series and three more to follow. I also felt the unimaginable pain of the hated Red Sox—not only coming back from a three-game deficit to beat the Yankees, but to go on to win the 2004 World Series.

Losing was one thing, but watching the Red Sox win was pain in a whole new category.

So, the question remains, why do I love baseball?

The answer has several layers, one part being the thrill of the game combined with the absolute uncertainty of the outcome—combined with the memories made while watching the games as a child and those I continue to create as an adult.

As a child, game after game would go by and I wouldn’t think about the vacations and amusements parks I was missing out on. Those things didn't matter because the Yankees were on and we were going to be watching. It would have been very easy for us as a family to concentrate on what we were missing out on, but truth be told, looking back on it I do not think we missed out on anything.

While it is true that those friends that I, as an 11-year-old, was once jealous of, have valued memories from their summer vacations, I have memories from my youth that cannot be replaced, and many of them were created watching baseball.

I have learned that where you were able to create the memory is not nearly as important as with whom it was created.

As an adult I still sit on the edge of my seat while watching baseball. Sometimes I am sitting with friends and sometimes with my family. Regardless of who is sitting next to me, I love the game.

I love that I am creating more memories but I especially love that it helps to keep the memory of my mother alive and reminds me of the strategy she implemented so long ago—a strategy to raise her children not to focus on what they didn’t have, but to appreciate what they did have and for us that was baseball.

Junie Browning and Mike Tyson: How Alike Are They?

Bob Miles — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:04:00 -0500

In watching last night’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter I was torn between the potential of Junie Browning finally getting thrown off the show and truly wanting to see him on the losing end of an assault at the hands of Efrain Escudero.

When Dana arrived to the house, it was immediately clear that he was once again going to give Junie a free pass and allow him to fight. On one level this bothered me, especially since Marlon Sims and Noah Thomas were expelled from the house after fighting with each other!

I sat wondering how it was possible that two grown men can get eliminated for willfully fighting each other while another commits an act that is essentially aggravated assault and suffers no consequences.

Thankfully, before I got too wrapped up in my thoughts, White pulled out some psycho babble and called Junie out for being a coward. He explained to Junie that he has “come to the conclusion that Junie would rather not fight and get kicked off the show and tell his friends at home that he would have won it if he hadn’t gotten kicked off.”

That’s when it dawned on me...We had just witnessed Dana White pull a Teddy Atlas on Junie Browning.

Teddy Atlas, for those who do not know, was best known as the trainer of a young Mike Tyson. Atlas was assigned to train Tyson by Cus D’amato but was summarily dismissed by the Tyson camp for angrily confronting Tyson by putting a gun to his head because Tyson had groped Atlas' teenage niece. It seems the Tyson camp did not appreciate anyone making him accountable for his actions!

It was well known throughout the camp that Mike had a fragile psyche and Teddy, more than anyone, was a capable of putting him in the right frame of mind for a fight. At 15, Tyson had quickly taken care of his first opponent at the Jr. Olympics but was crying outside the facility until Teddy Atlas coaxed him back in to continue with his next fight. Again, Teddy knew how to handle Mike and knew what was going through Mike’s mind.

Fast forward to 1997 as Tyson-Holyfield 2 approached, Teddy Atlas went on the record only days before the fight and said, “Tyson would discover that he could not beat Holyfield right away and before too long he would foul—he would butt or bite Holyfield, anything to end it with a disqualification.”

Days later he went on to say, "I called this one right. Not that I'm no freakin' genius, but I know human nature. I know fighters. I know this particular guy."

Again in 2002, leading up to the Tyson-Lewis fight, (a fight that was ten years too late), Teddy again went on record.

"I don't think he really wants to fight Lennox Lewis," Atlas said. "Mike has no idea who he is. He hates himself. He wins fights by intimidating the other guy, but I think he suspects he can't intimidate Lewis.

"I think Mike feels trapped. I have a hunch he will do something to get out of the fight while still looking like a tough guy."

Within 12 hours of those comments, the boxing world witnessed the melee at the press conference, where Tyson allegedly bit the leg of Lennox Lewis, putting the fight at serious risk.

Teddy Atlas was twice correct in predicting Tyson’s ploy to back from, rather than face a challenge. Last night Junie Browning tried to do the same and I for one, am glad that Dana did not allow it to happen.

Did The Philosophy Of George Costanza Influence Mike Mussina?

Bob Miles — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:41:38 -0500

Although their tenures with the Yankees do not overlap, is it possible that George Costanza was the driving force behind Mike Mussina’s timely retirement?

George Costanza is a perennial loser. Last seen, the self proclaimed “Lord of All Idiots” was sentenced to one year in prison for violating the Latham, MA Good Samaritan Law.

His shining moment in life was securing a job with the New York Yankees, serving as the Assistant to the Traveling Secretary. In spite of his complete incompetence, George was able to secure two promotions during his tenure with the Yankees before his shocking trade to the Tyler Chicken Company for chicken snacks and fermented chicken drinks for the concession stands.

As with most, it was not his successes that people remember about George Costanza but his failures. While with the Yankees George’s impact was, well, less than stellar.

Most notably, George:

• Discovered a way to sleep under his desk undetected to refresh himself during the work day. (His plan unraveled when the Steinbrenner grandchildren found him while hiding during a bomb threat.)

• Convinced the Yankees to change their uniforms from polyester to cotton after noticing a glitch in Danny Tartabull’s swing. (A decision yielding disastrous results.)

• During a period of abstinence designed to increase his intelligence, explained to Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams that, “hitting is not about muscle. It’s simple physics. Calculate the velocity, v, in relation to the trajectory, t, in which g, gravity, of course remains a constant.” (Advice that was less than well received.)

It was while working for the lesser known Kruger Industrial Smoothing that George realized that he was good for “one good comment during a meeting but by the end it's buried under a pile of gaffs and bad puns.”

When discussing his dilemma with Jerry, Jerry imparted his wisdom stating, “It’s about showmanship, George. When you hit that high note, you say goodnight and walk off.” Advice that George took and ran with.

Perhaps it was George’s realization away from the Yankees that will define him in the eyes of both Yankee fans and more importantly, Mike Mussina. Is it possible that the Yankee ghost of George Costanza passed along some wisdom to Mike Mussina, helping him make a decision that many professional athletes before him have failed to make, to exit while you are on top.

Mike Mussina walks away from the game after achieving his first 20-win season. Especially impressive is that early in the 2008 season, Mussina was openly criticized by Hank Steinbrenner and had most baseball writers and bloggers screaming for him to hang up his cleats, myself included. Mike pressed on to carry the Yankees pitching staff, posting his best season and capping it with another Gold Glove.

When walking off the mound for the last time in Fenway Park on Sept. 28, maybe Mike Mussina was reflecting on the advice passed along to him that originated with the former Assistant to the Traveling Secretary that he had never met in person. Just maybe Mike Mussina was thinking, “Alright! That's it for me. Goodnight everybody.”

Jared Shaw Once Again Embarrasses Himself on CBS

Bob Miles — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:37:40 -0400

I have never put much thought into the back and forth banter that exists between Jared Shaw and Dana White. Quite frankly, as promoters, their job is to promote their respective business and put asses in the seats. P.T. Barnum, perhaps the most well known promoter of all time was never shy when he claimed his primary goal was to "put money in his own coffers." Jared and Dana are no different in this regard.

Dana White is often criticized for underpaying his fighters, being outspoken, and downright cocky. Another thing Dana White is an unbiased observer at ringside, understanding that any fight, even a lopsided match up carries a human element in which anything can and will happen.

Some outcomes will surely benefit the organization better than others but as the promoter Dana never shows any favoritism while sitting ringside. It is safe to assume that while watching a Brock Lesnar fight, Dana is internally pulling for him, as he knows promoting Brock would bring countless rewards, but he wears his poker face regardless.

This brings me to Jared Shaw. In his first CBS main event, Kimbo was in trouble on the ground and while the punches from James Thompson were not doing much damage, there was action and Thompson did continue his assault. As the soft punches rained down, Jared Shaw could be seen at ringside, yelling hysterically at the referee to “stand the fight up” knowing Kimbo could not possibly win if the fight stayed on the ground.

Last night in the main event Seth Petruzelli had Kimbo in trouble immediately and again we have Jared Shaw in clear view at ringside yelling hysterically at the referee, complaining about blows to the back of the head.

If a promoter wants to bring a fighter along slow and make matches that play to his strengths there is not much we as the viewing public can do short of refusing to watch.

Jared Shaw sees the financial upside to Kimbo Slice continuing to win and this is no different than Dana White’s view of Brock Lesnar. This is however where the comparisons stop. While Dana sits at ringside in an unbiased manner, Shaw has now twice shown an over the top reaction to Kimbo being in trouble, going so far on both occasions to hysterically yell at the referee.

This public reaction is extreme favoritism at best, while trying to influence the actions of a referee is unethical and borderline illegal under most state athletic commission rules and should not be allowed to continue.

If Jared Shaw cannot control his favoritism and emotions he should watch Kimbo’s fights from the dressing room. In doing so, he will save himself the embarrassment of the inevitable slow motion replays showing him yelling hysterically at the referee.

Shawn Chacon Suspended Indefinitely While Manny Ramirez Apologizes

Bob Miles — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:29:02 -0400

Last week’s incident between Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon and Astros General Manager Ed Wade has been the talk of Major League Baseball. In Chacon's own words, "I grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. I jumped on top of him, words were exchanged."

This chain of events was the end result of a heated exchange between Chacon and Wade that ultimately ends with Chacon on the outside of MLB looking in, suspended indefinitely.

Recently Chacon was pulled from the starting rotation with less than stellar number (2-3, 5.04 ERA, 42 BB) and many people are now speculating that he will never be welcomed back into MLB for such a heinous offense as “assaulting” a team employee, especially a General Manager.

Would the punishment have been different had Chacon been putting up All-Star numbers? Ironically, this weekend in Houston Manny Ramirez reportedly shoved Red Sox Traveling Secretary Jack McCormick to the ground after a disagreement pertaining to Manny’s last minute request for 16 tickets to Saturday night’s game.

Following the incident McCormick and Ramirez met in a closed-door session in which Manny apologized. The apology was accepted and there is no further talk of any punishment. When asked of the incident Manny responded to reporters, “That’s over” and “we’re fine now.”

I guess that’s just Manny Being Manny (obvious sarcasm) but how is this action going unpunished? In one incident, Shawn Chacon is vilified for his reaction during a heated exchange, suspended indefinitely and left to wonder about his future. In the other Manny apologizes and Terry Francona’s response is, "Sometimes things happen, and when they do, we choose to handle them internally. I'm satisfied with how we handled this.”

My question to Terry given that fact that no punishment is to be handed down would be, “how you handled what?” Is an accepted apology properly handling what many would classify an assault? Perhaps if Ramirez was a fringe pitcher and not one of the best hitters in the game the reaction from the Red Sox organization would have been different.

Historically, Manny has been given a very long leash by the Red Sox and for the most part, it has been amusing though at times disturbing. There are obviously two sets of rules that are dictated by performance but this latest double standard is inexcusable. The entire Red Sox organization should be ashamed for allowing performance to make a player exempt from deserved punishment.