The Editor's Inbox

Sometimes during our day, we get to hear the friendly chime of the Inbox (in my case is it is the gavel - dun, dun - from Law & Order) from which we get to hear the masses (all 10 of you) speak to us for once. Hey, this is all about freedom of speech, right? So, please send us your thoughts an we just might post them. And, in the interest of lawsuits, my cute lawyer friends from Brooklyn tell me I need to say that any letters/emails to the editor posted on 'athletes in action' are not necessarily the view and opinions of the writers/creators of this blog, (unless you are slandering A-Rod.) Also, the editors of AIA have to right to refuse to post any letters/email they see fit. Hey, we love free speech, but we are the ones doing all the work here. Thank you.

Practice Makes Perfect,
mjunior, PhD - Bracketology

Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2006 22:21:09 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Kirby Puckett

Ok, I need to vent somewhere. Why are they making Kirby Puckett out to be Mother Theresa just because he passed away. Obviously, I feel bad that he probably passed before his time, and yes he was a Great ballplayer and I always admired the way he approached the game. But lets not forget that this man had problems with violence, he was violent towards his wife and towards his mistress (lets not even go into the fact that he had a mistress, that's a whole other can of worms).

Here he is a hall of famer, and now all we hear is how great he was now that he is no longer with us. These are the same baseball writers that have condemned Pete Rose for gambling. Now I agree that Pete should not be in the Hall, but to my knowledge he never beat a women. And I can certainly say I am much more likely to forgive someone for gambling and tax evasion then I ever would for violence on women.

I guess it just makes me mad that there are so many great former ballplayers that were also great people too that don't get recognized, like lets say Jim Rice, Dale Murphy, Orel Hershiser and the list goes on and on. But I guess these guys didn't have the infectious smile of Puckett and the also didn't have the right hook he has either. For once I would just like the media to speak the truth about an athlete.

Ok I am done venting now. I hope you are doing well.

Take Care,
Chris

Chris, you make a fanstastic point. Let me say right up front that I don't have much of a feeling about Kirby Puckett either way, but it is fascinating how the media does build someone up, to rip them down again. However, when tragedy strikes, all will be forgotten. We see it in athletes, entertainers, polititians, etc. It will be amazing to hear what the media comes up with when Barry Bonds* is gone because if they center squarely around the numbers, will they remind us that they are tainted? Stay tuned.
-mjr