Jim Rice Is Out Of Line With Latest Comments

"You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod, you see [Derek] Jeter ... Guys that I played against and with, these guys you're talking about cannot compare" -Jim Rice

Back up a second. Manny Ramirez a bad influence? Check. A-Rod a bad influence? Check. Derek Jeter a bad influence? You've crossed the line, buddy.

Rice criticized Ramirez, A-Rod, and Jeter for being bad examples. There are a million people he could have used instead of Derek Jeter. How about Boston's own David Ortiz? Or Mo Vaughn? I mean steroids are a worse part of the game than money. It's odd that he chose Boston's enemies for bad examples.

But I'm sorry, Mr. Rice, you're the bad example for baseball. Your barely borderline Hall-of-Fame career (which is another debate to be had) doesn't give you the right to go and bash a player who has done nothing wrong.

Derek Jeter is a great role model for kids. He plays the game the right way, with class, and upholds the duties of being a captain like he's supposed to. Sure, Jeter did sign a big contract. Has he played like he deserves it? Yes. He's stuck with one organization and guided them to four World Series Championships (which is four more than Jim Rice has).

Rice went on to say, "What you see right now is more individuals, it's not a team...Now you have guys coming in, they pick the days they want to play, they make big money....The first thing they see are dollar bills."

Really Jim? I mean, you seriously don't have the right to criticize when "the players you played with and against" were disgusted with the amount of money they made. Contract negotiations are part of the game, get over it. How about spending over $50 million just to negotiate with Daisuke Matzusaka, why don't you criticize that?

Or how about that Rice made more money in his declining years than Cal Ripken Jr., Rickey Henderson, George Brett, Robin Yount, and Eddie Murray? Rice got overpaid, but he sure as hell didn't talk about that.

Rice just seems like a bitter old man who thinks he's the greatest thing ever. Derek Jeter is a class act and one of the best players of this era, whereas Jim Rice's reputation takes another blow every time he speaks. Rice was a jerk during his career, and continues to act like one after.