“That was just one of those things between Philly and New York again,” Shane Victorino said. “Him choosing Philly over New York and taking less money, I think, had an impact on the way the fans felt. You put yourself on a different pedestal when you do things like that.
“He’s a great pitcher, that’s the first thing. But it’s about the person he is, too. Taking less money, I think, exemplified what his time meant here in this city with the fans. How he embraced all that I think all correlates into the popularity.”
Professional athletes at the top of their game rarely return to play in Philadelphia. The people that do come back are embraced but typically near the end of the line, such as Iverson and Jeremiah Trotter. Then there is Lee, respected as no other, at least these days in Philadelphia.
"To avoid criticism: Do nothing, Say nothing, Be nothing" - Fred Shero
"You hear players, media people say it's tough to play in Philly in front of these fans. To those people, I say, you didn't have the guts to succeed here." - John Kruk
The Red Sox are on track for the worst season in the history of baseball. And the Pirates and Orioles are going to the World Series. And Pujols can't hit. Just ask La Russa.
Say what you will about Oakland, but Chavez Ravine is worse than many prison yards. And besides, the Raiders only got their gangsta rap reputation during the time they were in LA. (Speaking of which- nice Warriors win over the Lakers last night).
I hate all this bullshit I'm hearing now about joint statements from the Giants and Dodgers organizations telling fans of both teams to take the rivalry down a notch. We shouldn't have to pretend that there's as equal amount of violent thugs rooting for each baseball team in order to be "good sports" or something. There hasn't ever even been a single report of any graffiti in a bathroom at AT&T Park (literally). Some types of people commit objectivelymorecrime than other types of people. And Los Angeles is filled with the former.
Chimneyfish wrote:And the Pirates and Orioles are going to the World Series.
I'm old enough to remember not only when something like this could happen, but did happen.
Now it just seems like crazy talk.
Willie Stargell, baby!
"Man i once bought $101 worth of insect candy because it was free shipping on orders over 100 bucks." -- ThirstyDrunk
"I wanted a shark high on crack dumped into a piranha tank! I wanted college AD's to pull their human faces off, then dive at each other's lizard throats!" -- waahoohah
I remember the 1971 World Series between the Orioles and the Pirates. I probably saw the whole thing on the TV. Stargell was one of my favorite players when I was a kid, but my favorite, then and now, was Roberto Clemente.