I didn't tell Rakes. How do you explain to a 5 year old his favorite player (he still doesn't quite understand the whole concept of Manny being a Dodger) got suspended for 50 days for using PED's?'Course he wouldn't understand PED's so I guess I'm worrying about nothing; still, it made me sad when I heard Manny got popped today. Part of me suspected something like this was coming, given the Bonds, Giambi's, Clemens, and Palmiero stuff that has happened over the past few years.
However, the kid in me just didn't want to believe that one of MY guys would be caught with his hand in the cookie jar; just another lesson life decided to teach me I guess. Mind you; I'm not passing judgement just yet. Maybe Manny hit that point in life where those football through the tire swing and duel bathtubs in the backyard really hit home enough for him to take a drug (allegedly) that helps produce testosterone.
Or maybe he took so many 'roids he had to manufacture it to make up for what he lost. At this point I don't know and really don't care. What's done is done and you can't go back and change the past. All I know is I'm gonna choose to remember Manny for his goofy actions, epic home runs, and high fiving that dude in the stands in Baltimore.
And for taking a bathroom break in the middle of the game to go take a leak inside the Green Monster while Schill did a slow burn on the rubber. He could set Joe Torre on fire and I'll still laugh every time I think about it.
Trust me. I'm not turning a blind eye to his faults. But as a parent, I can't stop loving Trot just because he treats his pants like an outhouse or disown Rakes when he takes a steak knife to the $400 dollar chair we bought when we were young and child less. So that's the way I'm going to mentally deal with Manny.
You screwed up and I'm not happy. Take your punishment, do your time, and show me you've learned your lesson and I'll forgive you.
Finally, for all the people who are shouting from the mountain top that 2004 and 2007 are now tainted and don't mean anything? Nothing short of Manny and Papi being covert op's with Al Qaeda can take the joy I received from those 2 years away from me. Show me EVERYBODY else was clean and you've got a point.
For now? I think I'll tell Rakes about the dude wearing #44 and playing LF for the Sox tonight and see if I can get him on board the J Bay bandwagon.
5 comments:
make sure to tell Rakes that Bay is from my neck of the woods ;)
I'm with you on all of that, Ted, especially the bit about deflecting Rakes towards JBay.
I think we got the best of Manny.
I watched most of an episode of Supernanny the other because the subject kid could have been Rakes' twin.
You may be pleased to know that, by the end of the show he was no longer beating up his playmates and throwing tantrums!
Will do, Tex. Sometimes I forget your Canadian heritage. ;)
John, I think your right; we got the best of Manny. And that is encouraging about that kid; although there is only one Rakes.
I loved Manny when he was with the Sox. Loved the whole, "Manny being Manny" thing. I could be mistaken but I thought Manny passed the last 13 drug tests without issue, so I'm not sure how valid those 2004/2007 naysayers' complaints are. Also, I read somewhere that what his doctor gave him was for erectile dysfunction. I know he's accountable since it had a banned substance in it, but still...if that's true, a little context can change our understanding of the situation...just a thought.
Will, Manny did pass several drug tests and I loved Manny. Still do. It just makes me sad that the game I grew up loving as a kid isn't going to be the same feeling for my two boys.
But I'll get over it. Thanks for taking the time to comment and come back anytime.
Post a Comment