Rick's Rants: May 2009 Archives

Tommy Lasorda really said Manny Ramirez is the most popular Dodger since the team moved from Brooklyn?

That's what I heard, and immediately thought, "What a shame that senility has hit the former Dahhdger skipper (as Vin Scully would say) so hard."

Tommy was there when Fernando Valenzuela took Southern California by storm and became a national sensation. And what about (once upon a time) Mr. Squeaky Clean Steve Garvery, who helped the team win a World Series as I recall?

What's Manny done except help the team beat the Cubs in one lousy playoff series. Hell, that wouldn't even make the resume of any self-respecting major leaguer over the past, I don't know, 100 years or so, would it?

Sad days for LA LA Land.

So with the 50-game suspension of LA's Manny Ramirez, I guess "Mannywood" now becomes "Anywood."

Baseball fans have to be asking, who wouldn't? when it comes to the use of performance enhancers. Maybe Jose Canseco is right, maybe the number of users is 100 percent. But I still doubt it.

Manny being Manny was very big news. Yes, even Wow news. But did it really shake you to your core? Guess it's the cynic in me. Always thought wild and wacky Manny could be entertaining, but Thursday's news isn't any more surprising than any 90s headline that featured the word "Rodman."

For a long time, the likes of Ken Griffey Jr., Greg Maddux and Frank Thomas were thought to be squeaky clean and beyond reproach by most baseball fans. Listening to talk radio the last 24 hours, it's clear that may no longer be the case.

Can you come up with a list of five players that would really ... REALLY ... shock you if you were to learn they had been found guilty of violating MLB's policy like Manny?

Overheard as I walked the dog past John Madden's house last night ...
"Brett Favre! Brett Favre! Brett Favre!"
Oops, better make that ...
"BRETT FAVRE! BRETT FAVRE! BRETT FAVRE!"

As ESPN.com's John Clayton reports, it's springtime, so Favre is once again mulling a return to the NFL, with the Vikings, and planning a meeting with Aurora's own, Vikes' coach Brad Childress.

Be still my heart. NOT!

He may never leave the league. And that's fine, if someone will have him, more power to him. But, please, Brett, just quit retiring.

Even scarier, though? This probably means Madden won't be far behind. Bet he's soothing the pipes right now, chugging honey-laced hot tea to soothe the pipes, getting them ready for a Keith Jackson-like unretirement party.

Whoa, Nellie!