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Author
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Topic: Sosa and media over-reaction
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Dad Vishus
Gearhead Posts: 483
From: Moscow, Iowa, USA
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 06-05-2003 10:01 AM
   
For the last 2 days I've been listening to and reading about how the corked bat incident has tainted baseball and ruined Sammy's reputation forever.Am I the only one that thinks this is NO BIG DEAL? Seems to me like the press is trying to make this into way more than it should be, as usual.  My message to the press is: GET OVER IT! Sosa is a great ball player and this doesn't in any way shape or form diminish his tremendous accomplishments. Corked bat or not, you have to be a great hitter to do what he's done. I'm really sick of the press. They try to sway opinions to match thiers and I darned sure don't agree with about 99% of their jaded opinions. If the press had their way, we'd sure have a different lifestyle and lose many of our freedoms, like the freedom to own firearms. Report the news, and leave your mindless opinions out! ------------------
63 Falcon 377 Cleveland stroker Flying Toilet alchohol injection. 6.19 @ 110 MPH 1/8 mile
2002 Ranger FX4 daily driver
2000 F350 PSD Crew cab dually - Like commuting in a B52!!
98 US Cargo Phantom II 28'
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Buster
Gearhead Posts: 663
From: Orlando
Registered: May 2002
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posted 06-05-2003 10:07 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Dad Vishus:
Report the news, and leave your mindless opinions out!
Amen
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senzstang
Gearhead Posts: 106
From: perry, oh, usa
Registered: May 2002
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posted 06-05-2003 10:31 AM
Maybe it is just me but, I thought cheating was an accepted practice baseball - stealing signals, spitballs, corked bats, and many others. The slogan "It's not cheating until you get caught!" is burned into every sport's fans brain. When did baseball become such a sanctimonious religious experience? Heck, if I am not mistaken, Gaylord Perry is in the Hall of Fame and his whole career was based on illegal pitches!!!I won't even talk about cheating in ALL forms of racing, football, horse racing, etc... Sammy has definately become the media whipping post. America loves a winner but we seem to enjoy knocking them off the pedestal we built for them more. Whew--I better stop my rant now!  Phil
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senzstang
Gearhead Posts: 106
From: perry, oh, usa
Registered: May 2002
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posted 06-05-2003 10:32 AM
Hey - I'm a gearhead!!! Whoo hoo!Phil
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BlueMule
Gearhead Posts: 753
From: Kent Island, MD USA
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 06-05-2003 10:56 AM
They cut up a whole gob of his bats and none were corked. I tend to believe him when he says it was used by mistake. But then, on the other side of the argument, shouldn't practice bats be loaded 'heavy' so your game bat feels lighter?------------------
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johnmustang
Gearhead Posts: 4088
From: Vancouver Island , British Columbia , Canada
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 06-05-2003 11:09 AM
Bottom line is cheating is cheating, is that the proper way to win anything ? I agree that the media is over reacting , and this over reaction is being perpetuated because of "WHO" was caught cheating. If it was a non-descript utility player who was caught it may not have even made the news, but since it was Sosa it is news worthy. When you are a superstar and put yourself in the public eye you also open yourself up to microscopic scrutiny and are held to a higher level of morality, sportsmanship and leadership. Plain and simple he cheated, got caught and now must suffer the consequences of his superstar status. In the end it will all work out for the him because ultimately it is the fans that will exonerate him, because it seems that in todays day and age the superstar sports celebrities are held to a standard set by the paying public and they want to see Sammy play and win. JOHN  ------------------
65 2+2 FASTBACK
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kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 4251
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 06-05-2003 11:34 AM
Here's the opinion from a true die hard "wait til next year" Cub's fan.
I do not think he used that bat on purpose. But it was cheating, even if it was accidental. He should be punished since it was cheating. But, his reputation should not suffer because the media wants to make out like he has used corked bats his whole career. He claims he had it to use for batting practice so he could put on a show for the fans. I beleive him since it was the only one found. Anyone want to bet Mcquire [sp?] used one for batting practice also? He made a mistake, and after he serves his forthcoming suspension, the media will find a new whipping boy to kick around and they will forget all about Sammy and his corked bat.
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69 Sportsroof
Gearhead Posts: 1138
From: Valley, Alabama, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-05-2003 12:11 PM
What most people dont realize is that whether the bat is corked or not doesn't increase a persons ability to stike a 9" sphere traveling toward them in anything but a staight line at 90 + mph. That requires a skill that only a few posses. A corked bat also doesn't increase the distance a person can hit a ball. That requires extraodinary power, strength and conditioning. The only gain is having a slightly lighter bat which gives a batter a 10 thousandsths of a second longer look at the ball before he has to swing. Agreed - he broke the rules and was caught and will have to face the penalty handed down. That's the way it goes. Some get caught but most dont. As far as I'm concerned, he's still a fascinating person to watch play the entire game of baseball.[This message has been edited by 69 Sportsroof (edited 06-05-2003).]
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 5629
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-05-2003 01:29 PM
Have been a Cub fan as long as I can remember. No self-respecting (Ex) Chicagoan wouldn't!!!! LOL!!Is there another team in Chicago?? Wrigley Field to me is the classic ball park. Can't get WGN on cable overwise would be watching them in the afternoon.But...........cheating is cheating. A comment made by a Sportcaster. Every pro knows his/her racquet, clubs, and bats!!!
To me it's a copout. He knew! While it may not mark the end of Sammy, it does throw doubt on the man, and why shouldn't it. Some fans will wonder just how far he'd hit the ball without it. Fans are not interested in cork bats, they want home runs, but believe that most want them above board and not subject to doubt. Of course, that doesn't include the "fans" who run out and choke an umpire! Pro sports has too many scumbags. (not calling Sammy one!) When you look at football and basketball(not for me!) and then read about these "capers" many of them hold themselves out to be special and not subject to rules. On a local level, I look at Jose Canseco and his twin brother, beating up people, drugs, ramming his wife's car not far from my house, and other sh*t! Wonder how Carruth is doing these days? So......maybe there is some sportscaster hype, but like many, will not view him quite the same way as I did before. I wonder how the politico's in Washington are viewing him after giving him a favorable nod a week ago. When the late commisioner, Giamatti, kicked out Pete Rose forever, felt he got a bad deal but.........does he really belong in the Hall of Fame?? Will Sammy???? Anyway, will always be a Cub fan. And I loved to listen to Harry Kerry(sp)particularly at the 7th inning!
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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 1467
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 06-05-2003 03:44 PM
Take it with a grain of salt. For goodness sake, it's just sports. It's nothing that's going to change the world.But, as far as baseball is concerned, it's not what it used to be. It used to be a pitcher's game. To make the game a little more interesting, they've gone to making it a hitters game. The pitchers mound has been lowered from 15" to 10", the parks have been shortened to allow more homeruns. The strike zone is no longer from the chest to the knees. If it's not right at the waist, it's not a strike. The batters wear all sorts of guards that make it possible to crowd the plate with no fear... then if the pitcher throws one high and inside to back him off, they are in danger of being thrown out of the game. Bats are better, and the hitters are all pumped up with supplements and strength training now. There are also more teams, so the good pitchers are more spread out. Hitters (and records) of today and in the past just cannot be compared. It's a night and day difference. Sure, we have some good hitters who are setting records, but they may or may not be any better than the ones from the 'old days'. my $0.02 ------------------
Mike Burch
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 32648
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-05-2003 06:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by 69 Sportsroof:
What most people dont realize is that whether the bat is corked or not doesn't increase a persons ability to stike a 9" sphere traveling toward them in anything but a staight line at 90 + mph.
That's one big baseball!  ------------------
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mustangs68
Moderator Posts: 17504
From: Hampton,Virginia,USA MCA#39406 M&M #12
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-05-2003 06:25 PM
Dang...
I thought a Bowling Ball at 8 3/4 was hell to throw!good catch Steve..pun intended sam
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Toronado3800
Gearhead Posts: 319
From: St. Louis, MO
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 06-05-2003 06:38 PM
I agree with John and the others, cheating is cheating. The media thing is to be expected after they paid him soo much attention during the home run record chase a few years back. I do think it gets too much coverage on the "serious" news channels but what the heck else does ESPN have to talk about. Its not like they discuss where his weaknesses in the strike zone are or do anything but talk about his home runs in the sports pages.
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 678
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 06-05-2003 07:48 PM
You are all missing the point. Sosa is (was?)held in the highest esteem due to his fantastic accomplishments. An inspiration for others.
A corked bat for an average player or any other person is one thing, but for Sosa to even have one, let alone use it is the highest insult and disrespect that he could ever pay to his fans and the game in general.
Just like most professional athletes these days, he is a greedy, selfish opportunist who will bend whatever rules he deems necessary to get wherever he wants to be, regardless of the impact on the game or of those around him.
He's an a$$hole. ------------------
1971 'J' code 429 Mach 1
1976 'Starsky & Hutch' Torino (460)
1973 Grande
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Mustang Tally
Gearhead Posts: 2590
From: Winston Salem, NC
Registered: May 2000
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posted 06-05-2003 08:35 PM
Yeah...He CHEATED ! Cheaters get caught eventually...
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kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 4251
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 06-05-2003 09:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by cobravenom71:
He's an a$$hole.
So I take it you know him personally?
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GTRocks
Gearhead Posts: 2288
From: Lusby, MD, USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 06-05-2003 09:16 PM
Cheaters never win!
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69 Sportsroof
Gearhead Posts: 1138
From: Valley, Alabama, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-06-2003 12:56 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SteveLaRiviere:
That's one big baseball!
Major League Baseball rule 1.09 states The ball shall be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber or similar material, covered with two stripes of white horsehide or cowhide, tightly stitched together. It shall weigh not less than five nor more than 5 1/4 ounces avoirdupois and measure not less than nine nor more than 9 1/4 inches in circumference. 
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 678
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 06-06-2003 01:20 PM
No, I don't know him personally. I only know of him professionally, and in that regard...he's an a$$hole!
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 32648
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-06-2003 06:30 PM
quote:
Originally posted by 69 Sportsroof:
Major League Baseball rule 1.09 states The ball shall be a [b]sphere formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber or similar material, covered with two stripes of white horsehide or cowhide, tightly stitched together. It shall weigh not less than five nor more than 5 1/4 ounces avoirdupois and measure not less than nine nor more than 9 1/4 inches in circumference. [/B]
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