Jim Rice Doesn't Like Lazy Longhairs Who Ruined Baseball

deadspin.com ^ | August 21, 2009 | Dashielle Bennett

[smokingfrog]

I think I'm gonna side with Jim Rice on this one. Of course, I'm a grumpy old man.

[cripplecreek]

I don’t know, I’m wishing Magglio Ordonez would grow his back.

[Jeff Chandler]

I think I'm gonna side with Jim Rice on this one.

What? And disrespect "Dashielle"?

[FlingWingFlyer]

Me too! I’m a baseball loving, grumpy old Jim Rice fan.

[Mr_Moonlight]

~~ PING ~~

[Tublecane]

Steroids or no, the average contemporary athelete could run circles around players of decades ago. Methinks old-timers are jealous. Plus, they forget about all the booze and whores Mickey and Babe consumed.

Talent and skill are other matters altogether. I won’t take anything away from DiMaggio, Rose, or Williams when their records are eclipsed. But just look at the footage. There are guys in the league with wrists bigger than Jim Rice’s legs. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but you get the point.

[Loud Mime]

Many players were bums; God Bless the good men.

[bruinbirdman]

"I think I'm gonna side with Jim Rice on this one."

I always liked the Dodgers when I knew the names of everyone on the roster. That was 20 years ago.

yitbos

[cripplecreek]

Steroids or no, the average contemporary athelete could run circles around players of decades ago.

Probably true. Better general health, better exercize equipment, better diets, better all around living. In fact the "longhairs" aren't real common in baseball. Most are pretty clean cut guys who tend to be far more educated than guys in most sports.

[muir_redwoods]

I think Rice is talking mostly about Manny and he’s damned right. Unlike the writer and his sympathy vote crap. Dolt!

[max americana]

I was listening to an ESPN affiliate in L.A. and they mentioned that Derek Jeter may’ be the only one who doesn’t take drugs but who knows.

Then someone in Seattle chimed in: Ichiro Suzuki who should be the first man to hit 200 plus in 9 seasons. Now that’s God-given talent.

[Glenn]

The agents ruined the sport.

They ruin every sport.

Most are lawyers.

Kindof like Congress and the President.

[cripplecreek]

I was listening to an ESPN affiliate in L.A. and they mentioned that Derek Jeter may’ be the only one who doesn’t take drugs

Based in sheer numbers of players alone, I'm calling that crap.

[FlingWingFlyer]

The agents ruined the sport.

Bigtime dittos to that! They've removed the loyalty of players to their fans.

[Wolfie]

Bring back the boozers and speed freaks! Greenies all around boys! And I want my Matlock!

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

I always liked the Dodgers when I knew the names of everyone on the roster. That was 20 years ago.

Up until ~1987, I could have told you the names of everyone on the Royals' roster.

Now it's just a bunch of imports from Latin America and the Caribbean who have no attachment to the hometown.

There's gotta be a way to clone George Brett, Frank White, and even Steve Balboni.

[FrdmLvr]

Magglio Ordonez should go back to Venezuela if he’s so damn fond of Hugo Chavez. The nerve of that guy. It’s easy for a multi-millionaire ball player who can escape back to the states to campaign for a tyrannt that the rest of his countrymen have to live with. Hey Magglio, do you spread your filthy, free-market, American dollars around your home country? Didn’t think so. Guess Communism is okay for everyone but you, eh?

[cripplecreek]

You must know something I don’t.

[nufsed]

How can you give someone a straight line like that? LOL!

[joejm65]

Rice was out of line when he mentioned Jeter. Derek has a huge amount of respect around the league for playing hard and playing the right way, and he’s earned a lot of respect from old-timers as well. And, Jeter isn’t going to wait 14 years to be inducted into the Hall of Fame like Rice.