Comments on: Are we being too tough on Brett?

By: umpbump.com

umpbump.com — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 01:36:16 +0000

[...] Yesterday, Brett Myers pitched his first game in Philadelphia since he beat his wife, got arrested, and, after starting against the Red Sox less than 36 hours later, took a leave of absence from the team. The Boston fans, of course, booed Myers lustily. I mean, really gave it to him. Inhaled deeply and really let it all out, projecting from the diaphragm. What would Philly’s famously hardass fans do when Myers took the mound? As it turns out, not that much. A few catcalls here and there quickly gave way to cheers as Myers pitched well (but ultimately lost) against the Braves. And those waiting to hear harsh words from the city of Brotherly Love would be well advised not to hold their breath. Says philliesfanpage.com: Manuel decided to let Myers go out for the 9th inning. His pitch count was at 100 and he handled a Braves lineup that was without Chipper and Andruw Jones. But Myers gave up a lead-off walk and Renteria ripped a double to left field that rolled all the way to the wall… At least Myers went very deep into the ballgame. When he left, the fans clapped and cheered, acknowledging his effort. Myers returned the favor by giving his hat a little wave. In time, Myers’s one mistake will start to fade. [...]

Report this comment

By: Sarah Green

Sarah Green — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 03:13:56 +0000

I am really glad we are all dumping on Myers. It just feels so right, and good, and like what Jesus would do. Seriously. Normally I feel a teensy bit guilty about mocking people’s Unfortunate Facial Hair or general lameness or whatever, but I am fully enjoying our collective beat-down.

I also got confused when I read that Q and A about “a problem going forward” and the chalk lines. I was all, “Are there chalk lines in prison? What is he talking about?? Does he mean….is he saying that…oh my GOD. He can’t be. He IS!”

Report this comment

By: Jeb

Jeb — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 03:00:07 +0000

I referenced his history of violence above without backing it up. I’m trying to track down some reference to when he went haywire and beat up a former minor league teammate. I’ll post it when I find it if anyone cares.

(apologies if this is incorrect, but I think I’m right.)

Report this comment

By: Jeb

Jeb — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 02:52:59 +0000

I was in the Fenway visitors’ dugout the rainy day after Myers was arrested when he gave his statement to the media. Someone asked him, “Do you see this being a problem going forward?” He answered, “Naw- when you go out there between those chalk lines, its a whole different world.” I thought that the reporter was refering to BEATING A SMALL WOMAN.

The only question I asked was of Pat Gillick. “How is Kim doing?” He quickly said, “She’s fine,” before adding, “We haven’t talked to her, but I hear she’s fine.”

So many athletes that act as if the only rules that pertain to them are the ones on their respective field believe this, because its true. They are adulated because of athletic superiority at a young age, and never held to the same standards as normal people. For Myers, this reinforcement still comes from his boss and the fans. (In fairness, the vast majority of pro jocks are not wife beaters, druggies and so not throw firecrackers at kids- see Coleman, Vincent).

The idea that Myers can now finally “turn things around” is especially silly when you look at his record. I’m willing to ignore that he’s a former amatuer boxer who claims that “The Incredible Hulk” is his hero (no lie), but how about his history of inexcusable violence? You can’t “turn around” a guy who is destined for this kind of behavior, and then appeased when he explodes. You might as well ask him to throw lefty.

We never have to forgive the Mike Tysons, the Kobes, the Vinces, the Robert Parishes (tossed Mrs. Parish doen a fight of stairs), because they don’t need to be forgiven. The fans don’t matter to them, because the fans reflect normal standards of human behavior that these guys don’t subscribe to.

Report this comment

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 21:50:10 +0000

I’m with Sarah on this one. If you (not you personally, Coley) were arrested for beating a woman on the street, do you think that you’d be able to keep your job? If so, how much sympathy do you expect from your co-workers? If you are fired, then how easy would it be for you to find another job once your potential employer finds out about your arrest? The fans should have nothing to do with how Brett Myers ought to be judged because this isn’t a baseball issue. It’s a social one. He ought to be judged not from the perspective of the fans, but from the perspective of human beings. If he didn’t have the ability to throw a fastball by a major league hitter, then there’d be no reason for Conlin or Phillies fans to even consider cutting him any slack. Myers would simply be another wife beater and we’d judge him based on that. If knowing all this, you can still forgive him, then fine. But it’s pretty selfish to forgive the guy just because he makes you happy by winning games for your team.

Report this comment

By: Sarah Green

Sarah Green — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:27:44 +0000

Gee, is it even possible to be too tough on man who beats his wife?

He is literally a foot taller than she is. He weighs 240 lbs, she’s 120—half that. He dragged her down the street by her hair. He punched her–twice–in the face. No, I don’t think you can be too hard on him.

But this is what Bill Conlin writes about it:

“Dickie Noles made Brett Myers look like a Nobel Peace Prize candidate. And one important disclaimer: Myers is not an alcoholic or drug abuser. Brett pitched extremely well in San Francisco yesterday, by the way.”

So Myers gets a gold star now for the problems he *doesn’t* have? And gets extra credit for pitching well? Tell that to Kim Myers. Maybe that will help the swelling go down.

Then, reflecting Myers’ initial, clumsy half-apology (“I’m sorry it had to get public”—yeah, things do tend to get public when you do them in the middle of the street, Brett), Conlin writes, “The mishandling of the entire Myers incident and its aftermath was on the level of Abbott and Costello Meet The Three Stooges.” Yes, Bill (she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm) let’s compare a wife-beating to slapstick comedy, please. Maybe you could throw in a line about how after he dragged her by her hair and punched her in the face, Myers shouted “Nyuk nyuk nyuk!” and asked her who was on first. Yeesh.

Conlin concludes, “It is time for us all to step back a few hundred yards and let the best setup man in Phillies history do his thing.” But it wasn’t too long ago that police officers wouldn’t respond to domestic violence calls at all–because that was a “private matter” between a man and his wife, as if a woman gave up her right to be safe when she gave up her maiden name. And this column smells a little too much like that old attitude for me.

I don’t think Conlin is malicious, just a bit of a bonehead. Just because one player kicked his booze habit doesn’t mean another player should get a pass for assaulting his wife.

Report this comment