How to handle an innocent question
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Oct 20, 2007 
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Pete, he didn’t insult the woman–he just expressed a little contempt for the Indians’ gamesmanship (and why shouldn’t he?)–would that somebody had done something to get Wang a little pissed off, things might have turned out better–
Pete,
What did Beckett say? Did he tell the world what it was that he screamed at Kenny Lofton?
He’s a heck of a pitcher, but he does seem a bit full of himself. Not only did he scream at Lofton, he also was yelling at Joba from the dugout during the Youkalis incident.
This is where it woulb be nice if the pitchers came up to bat in the American League. I think punks like Beckett would be handled better.
Regardless of classy or not, the Sox are already headed to the World Series and that bastard is going to be the MVP in the Series as well.
The Sox aint going anywhere if Schilling pitches like he did the last game.
When was this game?
I must have missed it with the wall to wall Torre coverage. lol
I absolutely detest Beckett. He’s an arrogant a$$. He has no class.
ok, dashes don’t seem to work. Too bed. How would Emily Dickinson have left any comments?
Pete, he didn’t insult the woman. He just expressed a little contempt for the Indians’ gamesmanship (and why shouldn’t he?). Would that somebody had done something to get Wang a little pissed off” things might have turned out better.
Wow. Thanks for the link Pete. I now feel my disgust with that little arrogant idiot is completely justified. Although I guess his self-righteous screaming at Joba after he threw over Youk’s head, that was followed (several games later) by Beckett pegging Giambi may have gotten me there. He is nauseating. And I wish he weren’t so good. I hope the Yanks beat up on him big time next year.
Finally, Pete, something we all can agree upon.
what exactly was the question, I missed the whole thing who sang the national anthem??
Hey, did anyone follow the YouTube link and hear Bert Blyleven drop the F bomb twice? It’s hilarious because he thought they were taping a segment and didnt know he was live.
nick,
What’s up? Pete didn’t say anything about the young lady. In your world is it classy to drop f-bombs in public or on tv?
Pete never said he insulted the woman. he just needs to learn how to speak to the press and stop sounding like a moron.
Can someone tell me what the clip is of? YouTube is blocked at work. I assume it has something to do with the Indians flying in his singer ex-girlfriend to sing the anthem.
But yeah, Beckett is white trash at their finest.
If Beckett was angry with the Indians for flying in an ex-girlfriend to sing the anthem, he should have directed it to the Indians, not the reporter. His response shows what a no-class lout he apparently is. Just a small example of some of the key differences between the NY (Torre)clubhouse and the Boston clubhouse environment. Was that where Joe Torre went wrong? Not enough cursing and boorish behavior in front of female reporters? Maybe it’s just me but I don’t think lowering yourself to barroom tough guy potty mouth in front of a female sports reporter constitutes a winning attitude, but then again I’m not a star pitcher from Boston.
That Bert Blyleven clip is funny because they’re all just silent for a good 3 seconds.
Not that us Yankee fans need more reasons to despise the Red Sox, but thanks Manny, Youk and Josh.
Did anyone ask the follow-up question:
“Josh, were you surprised that she left the stadium with Kenny Lofton?”
Jim Johnson: a reporter asks Beckett how he feels about the Indians having his ex girlfriend sing the national anthem and he says “I don’t get paid to make those F ing decisions” then goes on to say that they’re friends, and he’s actually glad that they paid to fly one of his friends out so she could see the game for free.
Beckett is on drugs. You can tell by the way he looks, like Giambi.
He didn’t insult the woman. The LoHud language policy does not govern the world, folks. And he doesn’t sound like a moron by swearing; just like Jeter’s corporate blandspeak doesn’t make him sound like a genius.
My bigger point is that I don’t think being the kind of interview that media types like actually prove anything: what it proves is that so-and-so gives the kind of interview media types like. Read Bill James on Steve Carleton in the historical baseball abstract; he makes the point very well….
Pete wrote in the last thread that “there’s a kneejerk reaction among blindly loyal fans to hate the media.” Fair enought, but it cuts both ways: the media have big blind spots of their own; Pete has his own kneejerk reactions….
Good one John from Ohio!:)
Drive 4 5:
Compared to Pukilis and Little Joshie Beckett, I’d take Manny out to Dinner.
nick: there’s an appropriate way to deal with the media and an inappropriate way. I’ve got pretty much the dirtiest mouth of anyone I know, so it’s not like I’m offended by that word, but you have to know when to say it and when not to.
nick:
It’s not about the lohud language policy. Is that how you talk? The issue is common courtesy and professionalism. MLB isn’t the WWF yet.
nick,
Are you sayig Josh Beckett wasn’t aware he was talking to the national media in spite of the fact he was standing at a podium in front at the front of stage with the ALCS logo behind him?
Something tells me you were all giddy for Manny when he hit that meaningless home run and jumped into Big Papi’s arms.
The Red Sox are are front and center as the heads of the Slacker Nation.
Andrea,
You must be young, because when you get to a certain age (like when you become an adult, Josh Beckett!) it’s just not cool to swear anymore.
Thanks Drive 4 – 5
I’ll be here all week.
I’m in full agreement with what Buck Boston said. “Beckett is a combination of fool and tool”.
Attention fans !!! …. tonight is elimi[NATION] night in Beansville.
Joshie was a public figure from the day he signed his first MLB contract. This wasn’t his first interview. Hey, reporters ask questions and sometimes they even ask ones you don’t like. Sorry if she dared offend the Great Beckett, but taking his anger out on a lady reporter instead of the Indians is inexcusable. And it does matter that it was a female reporter. Springing x-rated language on a woman under those circumstances is done to intimidate her and make her feel stupid. It’s caveman behavior and verbal abuse.
mel: by no means do I think it’s cool, which was my point with saying that Beckett was inappropriate. I’ve actually got to work on speaking more appropriately.
Unnecessary language from anyone who calls themselves a professional in a business setting.
The only way that was an appropriate response is if the question was:
What did you f’in think of the Indians choice of Anthem singers?
Goat chinned Beckett=POS
I hate Beckett but I don’t think its really a big deal. The Indians pulled a cheap move by bringing her in. He shouldn’t have cursed, but saying “thanks for flying her out to the game for free” was pretty funny. Lighten up.
Now him yelling at Kenny Lofton is a different story.
Beckett is a complete @$$ that only survives in the AL because he doesn’t have to pick up a bat. One season, I’d like to see him last one season back in the NL when the opposing pitchers send chin music his way every time that redneck in-bred punk picks up a bat. NO CLASS JERK, headed HOME soon with the rest of his Idiot Teammates. Good Night Boston…YOUR SEASON IS OVER,,,PUNKS !
After the inning that Beckett walked Franklin Guttierrez, Beckett as he was exiting the field covered his mouth/face with glove and made comments to either Guttierrez or the first base coach of the Indians as they passed by Beckett en-route to the Tribe dugout. Could not tell which Indian it was as it happened so fast, but I surprised and was hoping the broadcast team would report and re-show that incident but did not and let it go. The highlight of any Yankee season for me is when they beat that blow-hard Beckett.
Beckett looks like a squirrel, maybe a chipmunck.
OK so he’s a jerk. I still wish some of the cows we send out to the mound could pitch like him.
posted from other thread:
PETE – serious question:
right before it was announced that Torre had turned down the Yankees, it was believed by EVERYONE in the media that he had flown down to Tampa to sign an extension. the terms of the offer were even public. this was on SI.com before Torre even got to Tampa (it has since been removed):
“The Yankees and Joe Torre appear to be closing in on a deal to bring Torre back as manager, SI.com has learned.
One source close to the situation believes the deal is for *one year guaranteed* and *could include an option year*. ”
how come before Torre turned it down, everyone assumed this offer was going to be accepted?? if it was SO INSULTING how come no one in the media called it insulting BEFORE Torre rejected it?????
why? b/c it didn’t fit the narrative.
if this deal was so OBVIOUSLY insulting, then why was it a HUGE surprise when he turned it down??
i gotta think a lot of people in the media are totally full of sh*t on this one. Mike and the Mad Dog were filled with glee that Torre was coming back on a one year deal with an option year. then all of a sudden they were totally caught off guard that he refused it.
why is that Pete?????
Thanks Pete! I know it felt good for me to vent some anger Beantown’s way instead of Tampa! I’m sure others feel the same.
I think it’s hilarious that Beckett is the guy always whining about players “playing the game the right way”, yet the Red Sox show up opposing teams more than any other team in baseball. How come he has nothing to say about Manny and Ortiz posing after HR’s, Papelbon having seizures when getting saves, and Pedroia and Youkalis whining after an umpire dare call a strike against them?
It looks like pubic hair under Beckett’s chin.
You know Beckett has the biggest mouth when he sees other players/teams do things he doesn’t like. But I would be willing to bet that he never said anything to Manny about the way he stands at homeplate after he hits a homerun. And I’m tired of hearing this crap that it is Manny being Manny. As if he doesn’t have a brain.
HMM, and it annoys the heck out of me that all these Yankee haters are trying to add fuel to the fire.
Peter, are you really surprised that anyone from” that team “does the outrageous? That’s how those showboat hot headed heathens act. The exception is Mike Lowell,of course!
If the Indians really knew she was Becketts ex, that is pretty funny. It didn’t work but really funny!
Bob55,
you forgot in your descriptionof Beckett,he has legs like a red rooster(knocked kneeded)no chin (hence the gotee,)and what woman would stay and be pecked to death,by those chicken lips!
SO if Joe couldn’ ride on his 4 WS rings and keep his job.
Will Jeter be able to continue to get away with all his DP’s and still stay 2nd in the line up. Will the new GM move him to a different position too? Just asking!
Yeah Beckett should be classy like Wang. Now the Wanger, that’s a real ace with the 2007 post-season ERA of 19.06.
16 baserunners in 5 2/3 innings.
ACE !
Wow, Peter. You are getting pretty pathetic here. Are you that bitter? You think Roger’s always nice and never swears? Oh, wait, he just likes to throw broken bats at people. Maybe you should be covering the Rockies and their “Christian” organization if you’re so offended by swearing. It was a lame question and Beckett gave the question and the reporter the respect deserved. He’s not paid to answer ridiculous questions. He is paid to win when it matters. Something no Yankee was able to do this year.
If Beckett was a free agent, the yanks would try to get him.
Beckett, gave the only answer he could for his mentality!
You don’t have to be smart to play on that on “that team.”
HE CAN’T HELP IT!
li, and lose their fan base,too!
Pete – that was just weak. He cursed, so what. Does cursing make you not classy? I guess Torre has never cursed then. Also what does it matter that he cursed in front of a female reporter? Has she never heard a curse before? And I thought people were supposed to be equal. If so why does it matter whether it was in front of a male or female reporter.
Last time I checked, it was production, not class, that wins world series. You can have your class – it’s gotten you so far in the last seven years, hasn’t it? Was Billy Martin classy? Was George Steinbrenner classy in his treatment of Dave Winfield, or when he was banned from baseball for being a convicted felon? Was the Mick classy when he flushed his talent down the toilet with alcoholism? Is Giambi classy? Judge not, Peter. This whole obsession with ‘class’ has gotten as tired as ‘mystique’ and ‘aura.’ Humans are humans and are ALL fallible.
Catya – I guess the yanks lost their fan base when we signed Damon, who hit the backbreaking homer in game 7 and was the main “idiot”…oh wait that didnt happen at all. Sorry I was under the impression that your post had a basis in reality. My bad.
Reality – I couldnt agree more. Yes I would like to win with only classy guys but first and foremost I want to win. Id rather win with a jerk or two then lose with all classy guys. As you said Martin wasnt classy. Reggie was a loudmouth. I assume Pete thinks Paul O’Neill constantly throwing fits when he made an out was the height of classiness. Its just such a joke. Lets worry about winning first.
“if it was SO INSULTING”
Perhaps because, at that time, no one knew that it included both a pay cut and incentives to “motivate” Joe…implying that he hasn’t been motivated to win the last few years. Which is offensive and ridiculous.
Also, usually an initial offer is an initial offer. There’s negotiation. A starting offer of one year + option could easily turn into two years with a little negotiating. But, they weren’t actually interested in bringing him back. Just looking like they were.
Helno51, that was a coup’d tat on beantown,we “Stole him while beantown was sitting on their hands,right from under their Big Noses,REMEMBER!Hahahaha Sweet
Hate all you want….if the Yankees had Beckett they would be in the world series this year.
Giambi. Now there is a guy who brings great honor to the game of baseball.
I’m not a Beckett fan, but that’s really not a big deal. It sounded more like an F-slip than an F-bomb.
“Perhaps because, at that time, no one knew that it included both a pay cut and incentives to “motivateâ€? Joe…implying that he hasn’t been motivated to win the last few years. Which is offensive and ridiculous.”
and yet his previous contract contained incentives. that’s odd.
i guess incentives are only insulting when your base salary is $7M not $5M.
HELNO51 ,
Johnny came from the gutter but look at him Now he’s a YANKEE.It’s amazing what a great contract,shave,haircut, and a bath will do for you.When he put on the pinstripes he cleaned up so good ,we didn’t know who he was.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....l#comments
Reality check, I think both George, Billy and Giambi have provided NY sports writers with plenty of ammunition to feed to the public over the duration of their time with the Yankees and have not gone on un-noticed. Mickey Mantle’s life story is tragedy that played in an era before 24 hour news coverage as did the sexual exploits of JFK during the same period for an example. What we are seeing from Mr. Beckett is a very thin skinned athlete who has continued to display a lack of class both on and off the field, and quite frankly does not look like he will change or grow-up anytime soon.
aaron,
If the Yankees had “Chicken Lips Beckett” we’d be looking at Just our 2nd world series in 86 yrs,no thank you.
yeah, this argument is kindof dumb.
not all Yankees are “classy”. and sometimes it’s stupid and hurts your team to be “classy” like when Torre refused to bunt on Schilling’s hobbled ankle in the 2004 ALCS.
Jose Canseco was a yankee. giambi, lawton, heredia, sheffield were all steroid users.
there is nothing classy about kyle farnsworth.
i love the yankees and i HATE josh beckett, but i just don’t see the big deal here.
and i also don’t see how rooting for a certain baseball team give you a moral highground. on either side.
this is dumb.
great pitcher….no class…..
I haev no respect for the likes of him and Curt Schilling.
As a Yankee fan I have always been very critical of Giambi and his abuse of steroids, as of course so has the NY media. I can’t wait for the leaking of the 100 names from the Mitchell investigation find their way into the public domain, just to see how the holier than thou crowd, if you know what I mean, reacts to the news and the names.
“If the Yankees had “Chicken Lips Beckettâ€? we’d be looking at Just our 2nd world series in 86 yrs,no thank you”
this doesn’t even remotely make sense.
It’s not dumb to point out that Beckett exhibits little or now class, it’s true. All the “yeah buts” denying that it is true is what I find dumb.
Hmmmm, my point exactly he’s not on our team for a REASON!
whether or not YOU understand.
When the marlins were trading, Cash could’ve gotton him he passed.
This thread is about Beckett’s recent profanity laced diatribe on public TV which by the way is watched by children. I find it hard to believe this man cannot express himself properly knowing that his interview is “live”, without using the “F” word. He deserves any and all criticism directed toward him for it. Forget about all the “yeah buts”. He has a history of being a jerk, I don’t care if he wins 30 games I don’t him anywhere near a Yankee uniform I’d prefer Kei Igawa.
Beckett can pitch on my team any day. Who cares how “classy” he is? I just want good players!
TimH, you are one funny kid, so you are saying no Yankee players have ever swore? You guys gotta be kidding me, if a Yankee pitcher did this, you would all say you love him, that is ofcourse if he was as good as Beckett is, you are just jealous he is a better pitcher, just admit it, its not a big deal, its normal.
Oh by the way, this LIVE press conference that so many kids heard and were completely offended by (lmao) was at 1 am, how many kids stayed up and saw this? Lets be real..
Chicken lips Bak! bak !Bak! Now repeat 5 tx’s
Jeff, I’m guessing the manner in which you deal with the criticsm here that Beckett already does pitch for your team.
The kids may or may not have seen him live,but Youtube is youth supported 24/7 .thank you very much!
Jeff, you are trying to defend in the indefensible. It’s on you-tube 24/7. Learn to pick your fights where you have better odds at winning.
“If the Yankees had “Chicken Lips Beckett� we’d be looking at Just our 2nd world series in 86 yrs,no thank you�
Hmmm – what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
It’s not only the word he used, but just look at the expression of contempt on his face. You’d never know he just won a game. Giving the impression that it was too beneath him to have to do this interview. Sorry. For millions of dollars, you have to stand and answer the questions, no matter whether you like them or not.
Back to the why didn’t the media think the contract was an insult before they knew the details – it was also before they heard Randy Levine describe what they offered first as bonuses, but then saying they felt they needed to move to a new model where motivational money was included. If he had stayed away from that word, “motivation,” which I’m sure he stupidly used to Joe Torre, it may have played out differently. Now, Joe Torre may still have turned it down, it may still have been a take-it-or-leave-it deal, but he would have turned it down because of the one year term and the undo pressure it causes his players. Sometimes it’s not what you say, but how you say it that bungles the intent. I know it’s semantics, but, semantics can be very important. Also, I wish Joe could also have said, the HE personally could not take the pressure of feeling his job was in constant jeopardy, not just that the players have to deal with it, but frankly, he has to deal with it, too. That would have been honest as well.
Maybe Beckett attended the Belichik school of media relations.
hmm–it makes perfect sense. If we had Beckett, obviously our world series rings would have been taken away. Don’t you know the rules?
Doreen
He did say that. He said if they were to have a losing streak, the questions would start coming to me and the players about my job.
lol Billy Madison. Best response ever. But it was Catya that originally said that, not Hmm. Hmm was merely responding.
“Hmmm – what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
i was quoting “CATYA”, i didn’t say that.
NIB HIGH FOOTBALL RULES!!
I hate Beckett, and dropping the F-bomb was pointless, but why not point out why he was upset? The Indians, unable to hit his pitches, trotted out an ex-girlfriend to “rattle him.” Savvy move there, guys. It really worked out. He just went right back onto the hill and dominated you again. I guess trotting out ex-girlfriends doesn’t make hitting his fastball any easier. It was a stupid ploy and the Indians look stupid for it. They look a lot worse than he does for dropping a casual F-word.
Doreen,
bottom line Torre made 7.5 m.il yrly.
This New contract took away 2.5mil ,added 3mil in incentives,that’s if Torre met the objectives.
THEY took what he was already making away,and added 2.5mil plus $500,000
If a cow gives you a bucket of milk .Then kicks it over what has he given you? Normally nothing. In Torre’s case a $500,000 xtra,only for all that hard work!!!
I love the people who are defending Beckett.
In the civilized world, one does not stand in a room full of people while representing yourself and your team and use such words to answer questions.
Quick story about Beckett:
i was covering the Mets when Al Leiter signed with the Marlins. So obviously it was a story when we went to Florida, to go see Al for an interview. Al enjoyed talking to us and, as we see now, became a member of the media. Most players, to some degree, have a friendly relationship with the writers they know. It’s just acting professionally.
Anyway, 3 or 4 of us were at Al’s locker in the Florida clubhouse just chatting about things. Beckett’s locker was next to his and he had this singing deer head thing hanging there. Kind of like those Big Mouth Billy Bass gag gifts.
He started it singing once to interrupt us. Ha, ha, very funny. Once it stopped, we started talking to Al again. Beckett kept hitting the play button until Al looked at him sharply and said “Hey Josh, enough, I’m trying to talk to these guys.”
Becket said something like “who wants to talk to the (expletive) media anyway? (bleep) them. He then unleashed a torrent of other filthy words.
Leiter just stared at him with contempt. Beckett finally slunk away muttering.
He’s a heck of a pitcher. But he’s not a very classy guy.
I swear all the time. But there’s a time and a place and I try always to treat women with respect.
Catya, do you realize that a lot of what you say makes zero sense?
look, there is no question that Beckett is a jerk. i can’t stand him. but i would still take him on the yankees.
there are millions of people who think Clemens is a jerk.
but i didn’t enjoy him throwing a gem to finish up the 1999 World Series any less b/c he is a jerk.
same goes for David Wells. he certainly isn’t the model of “class”. but i loved the perfect game and i loved it when he came up big in the playoffs for the yankees.
Wade Boggs wasn’t very classy. but i loved him riding that horse around Yankee stadium in 1996.
believe me, Cashman didn’t pass on Beckett b/c he is a jerk. he passed b/c the Marlins asked for Cano and Wang.
Hmmmm ,
Don’t PUT my Name in your equation,Buster! We all read what you said no back peddling allowed!You should “act like you got a pair” and own it,bro!
Andrea you have your opinions>
Wow, it seems you’d have enough to write about when it comes to the yankees, doesn’t it? Oh, I forgot, you’re not playing. But hey, classy way you handled the torre situation.
You’re a hack Pete and you really shouldn’t be talking about class.
“Don’t PUT my Name in your equation,Buster! We all read what you said no back peddling allowed!You should “act like you got a pairâ€? and own it,bro!”
dude, you are nuts.
i literally have no idea what you are talking about.
I think t he ex-girlfriend idea was funny. But its not that Beckett swears, he chose to say it in a national press conference, where athletes are supposed to handle themselves in a way that others could look up to them – young kids. You wouldn’t see any Yankees conduct himself like this for that reason.
It seems like the Boston way – act like a punk and be the trashiest, white trash in the sport (See Manny, Youkilis, Beckett, Pedroia). I hope they get their asses handed to them tonight.
Amen Peter
I DIDN’T think it was POSSIBLE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....&NR=1
Beckett makes Schilling look normal!
The Yankees have been able to contain the jerks though. Clemens is a mentor in the locker room. I never heard of Wells or Boggs being all Sheffield or Johnson-like. So perhaps if the Yankees got Beckett, he would be contained a bit. I don’t think, Catya, that if the Yankees got Beckett they’d only have their 2nd ring in a century.
hmmm, that’s what I sas saying, but he/she told me that I have my opinions. So I guess the fact that I have no clue what “catya” is talking about (not to mention that the use of quotes makes no sense) is just my opinion.
You’re missing the point, Peter. I think very few people here are personally defending him. I think he’s a horse’s arse and a fantastic, lights out pitcher. My argument is simply that class does not win championships – in fact, it wins absolutely nothing, except for, apparently, the respect of beat writers. Some people are jerks. I’ve worked with lots of them, and gone to school with lots of them, and even lived with some. That’s the way of the world. Large paychecks and an obligation (they actually have ZERO obligation, regardless of what people think) to speak to the media does not not change personalities. He is intense, as is the Rocket. I don’t want a meek/weak/bland personality on the mound for a game a seven – give me the a-hole any day. He’s a baseball player. Baseball players tend to be dirty, crass jock types.
I don’t think Pete’s point had anything to do with Beckett’s pitching ability. He was simply talking about him as a person and his relations with the media.
Beckett “isn’t ” on the Yankees he’s on a team that is currently waiting for their 2nd WS in 86yrs. If he were a yankee ther is no QUESTION we would win.Iknow that!
“Wow, it seems you’d have enough to write about when it comes to the yankees, doesn’t it? Oh, I forgot, you’re not playing. But hey, classy way you handled the torre situation.
You’re a hack Pete and you really shouldn’t be talking about class.”
Are we supposed to learn about class from someone that comes here stirctly to chastise a writer on his own blog?
Not to mention taking sarcastic swipes at the the fact that the Yankees are out of the race on a blog dedicated to their coverage. Honestly, what does it take to realize that resorting to playground bully-tyoe taunting is not impressive?
daniel, you don’t have a leg to stand on when you call someone out regarding class. It’s a good thing you didn’t you didn’t bring up maturity or you’d be looking twice as foolish.
This outburst is pretty funny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In0QYV7MwcY
Peter, great story about Beckett.
Professional athletes need to be responsible with media; as long as it is mutual. Especially in this age, where this is less protection for the athlete. Also, the $ earned today is related to the expanded coverage of their sport.
I don’t think the gender of the questioner is relevant though. I’m assuming every journalist in that room is a Pro, regardless of gender, and deserves the same respect.
Fans often overlook character and behavior of their teram’s players, as long as they perform well.
Clemens sure as hell wasn’t representing well when he “dealt” with Piazza.
I guess if want to be consistent, we should all be up in arms that Shelley Duncan wrote “Red Sox Suck” on that little kid’s baseball.
Oh wait. We’re in the world of juvenile fans. Anything said or done by those we like is “classy” and filled with “dignity.”
Anything said or done by those we dislike is “classless” and “undignified” (or “insulting”).
Peter – interesting story about Beckett.
We’ve spent way too much time on this guy and his attitude.
Now, can we discuss something of more importance, like who Mattingly is likely to ask join his coaching staff, or who the Yanks should package to Minnesota for Santana vs. just waiting for his free agency.
What a difference btwn Jaba and Beckett – and Jaba is a rook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjClWHyenVc
Can you imagine Beckett with Kim Jones.
LOL!
Kim: Josh, how did you guys keep coming back to win it?
Beckett: [monotone] because we’re paid.
Breaking News.
Gators are crushing Kentucky 27-17 in Lexington!
Andrea – I hear you. And I’ll rephrase my argument in simple terms – who cares? Honestly. I had a boss who yelled at people constantly. I sprained my ankle playing tennis a few weeks ago and yelled the F-Word with a boatload of kids around. Oops. But my ankle hurt.
It’s like George Steinbrenner mentioned ‘class’ at some point some decades ago, and after the Yankees started winning again in the late 90′s, the Yankees and their fans and writers picked up on the term and somehow anointed themselves the arbiters of class. Of taste and elegance and social status? What? This is a sport. These are athletes. They spend hours at a time spitting, scratching, adjusting in front of worldwide audiences. Have you ever been in a locker room or a dugout? It’s nasty. And regarding Pete’s story, maybe Beckett didn’t want a couple of people with whom he doesn’t even work chatting away by his locker. It’s not like the press is some sinless group of people whose charge is to do good in the world. Many, many, many, many athletes have poor relationships with the media. And I know that when people are chatting it up in cubicles near mine, I get angry, and sometimes tell them to cut it out. So what?
The Yankees and those who follow them recreationally or professionally do not own the notion of class, regardless of how often they toss around the word. Maybe the more they say it, the more they’ll believe it’s true. Ever been to the Bronx? Ever sat in the bleachers in the Bronx? The Bronx Zoo, and not the one with the animals in cages? I would consider the Cardinals and their fans to be classier than the the Yankees. I would seriously like to do some research and find out exactly when the obsession with ‘class’ began. That is what I have a problem with – not that Beckett is a good pitcher who happens to be a jerk. I am annoyed that yet again a Yankee writer has used the term ‘class’ as if they are somehow more qualified to judge what is good and right than are fans or writers from other cities.
“The Yankees have been able to contain the jerks though. Clemens is a mentor in the locker room.”
Really? You’re in the locker room? Or is that what pete told you to think?
“Are we supposed to learn about class from someone that comes here stirctly to chastise a writer on his own blog?”
Wolf, I don’t think you understand the word ‘BLOG’. The comments are open to discuss anything. It doesn’t say yankee fans only. Once you get that concept, we can talk.
daniel, Thank you for reminding people what a blog is suppose to be about! I just love people coming on the blog to be disagreeable and nit picky. The Lohud blog is open for discussion.
Reality Check, I suppose Beckett was annoyed by the group around his locker but, why are you making excuses for his boorish behavior?
“Consider The Source”
Umm, Beckett is a 27 year old male with vast quantities of attitude. Perhaps even vastly more attitude than your average professional athlete. And one F-bomb is news? Given the typical demographic — and behavior — evident on any popular sports blog including this one, it’s hard to see why anyone would waste any space at all on this. Either it was a horrendously slow news day (well, compared to yesterday), or Pete was just throwing chum out into the water for fun. I suspect the chum.
Beckett, thin skinned, like some of his fans.
ditto that TimH
the interviewer asked Becket if it bothered him that the Indians brought in his former girlfriend, (Danielle Peck, an up an coming country music singer) to sign the National Anthem.
He responded that “he doesn’t make those f–kin decisions and thanks for flying one of my friends here to watch the game for free, she’s a friend of mine.”
I don’t really think that they are friends as he didn’t look at her once while she was singing!
I’m not excusing it. I am asking why is it that the Yankees/Yankees Fans/Yankees writers are so obsessed with this notion of class. I’ve sworn at improper times. I don’t think that is a reflection of my class or classiness. Maybe Beckett has demonstrated boorishness enough to have his class called into question, maybe not. That is what I have a problem with – this recurrence of the term ‘class’ and how freaking judgmental Yankees fans and writers are becoming. Beckett swore, which was rude, coarse, profane, vulgar, improper, untoward, a thousand different things – why use the term class? It’s a bit too heavy a term to be bandied about so lightly. In the context of the Yankees and how often it is used, it is becoming a meaningless cop out word to describe unYankeeLike things. Peter is a writer, and usually a good one. He is more than capable of being a bit more elaborative than just using cliched, go-to terms and phrases such as ‘class.’ It is rapidly losing meaning as it can be found daily, nay, hourly, in so many headlines and ledes of Yankee stories. Forget Beckett. He is not the point. My problem is with Peter’s use of the word ‘class.’
Reality Check,
FCC regulations require no profanity on public air waves.Not just Yankees/fans.They FCC impose hefty fines for such words
Catya – Read the line Peter wrote. Then re-read my post. Then re-read yours. Then explain to me how your point addresses the issue of class. Are Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson unclassy because of the fines the FCC is attempting to levy as a result of the wardrobe malfunction? I would agree that the FCC is a slightly more suitable arbiter of class than the Yankees and Yankees writers. And FYI:
“The FCC defines indecent speech as “language that, IN CONTEXT, depicts or describes sexual or excretory activities or organs in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium.â€? The content also has to air between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., a time frame when children are likely to be listening.”
Reality Check if you wantt to defend beckett’s words in a live interview that’s on you ,It’s a moot point for me!
The Indians were busting Beckett by having an “ex” sing the National Anthem. He was miffed and swore when asked about it. This is a big deal?
The REALLY big deal is the myopic envy with which all off the anti-Beckett diatribe is being delivered. The guy is a fierce competitor, supremely talented, and does not spit the bit like all of the Yankee “Aces” have done in the 2000s (Wang, Johnson, Brown – need I go on?)
Face it. Every one of you Yankee fans with a sudden aversion to the F-word would KILL to have Beckett leading your rotation. You’d trade Chamberlain AND Hughes to get a proven big game pitcher like Beckett. And you’d give him an “incentive bonus” based on profanities per press conference, if need be.
So admit that the feigned offense at his language is what it is – envy and bitterness over the reality that the best big-game pitcher in MLB resides in Boston. Stop whining. It’s SO transparent.
HELLO!
I know I should have read the headline of the video but a Not Safe For Kids would have been nice Pete. I have a few that are huge Yankees fans.
Please. Explain to me how I am defending Beckett. I am not. I am calling into question the overuse of the term class, and whether or not people have the right to judge someone else’s class based on a small sample size of public behavior. I do not like Josh Beckett. I would not defend him. I would not urinate on him were he engulfed in flames. But, hey, I just realized I’m arguing on the internet, so logic and properly-crafted arguments do not matter. NIB HIGH FOOTBALL RULES!!!!
Brian,
I’m a die hard and I can appreciate the fact that Beckett doesn’t blow chunks when it counts, the only games BOS won are on Beckett’s innings…he’s a stud, obviously.
however, I think that just like many other now big name atheletes, people think he’s getting too big for his britches with his ‘tude. that’s all…and we Yanks fans love to bust any Boston’s chops – you know the same holds true for BOS fans bustin our chops…no harm, no foul, NBD
Jeter’s Future Wife …
Point well taken. The behavior pattern(s) for Yankee and Red Sox fans are tangibly similar. When we get a chance to stick the needle in (no PED allusion intended), we can’t help ourselves.
Probably pathological, but we are what we are.
P.S. Good luck with the Hank, Harry, Levine show. Do you think they actually know what they’re doing? If they did, would Levine be in such sudden ascendancy? I’d be concerned.
“Face it. Every one of you Yankee fans with a sudden aversion to the F-word would KILL to have Beckett leading your rotation. ”
yes, i’d like to have him.
“You’d trade Chamberlain AND Hughes to get a proven big game pitcher like Beckett.”
but absolutely not. there is not a single yankee fan who would make this trade.
“Do you think they actually know what they’re doing? If they did, would Levine be in such sudden ascendancy? I’d be concerned.”
i’m not concerned yet. i don’t think Levine has ascended to anything.
i think the FO knew this was going to be a PR disaster so they let Levine bear the brunt of it. and judging by the comments here, it worked.
he’s the bad cop. he’s the Yankees’ Lucchino, except not as smart.
hmmm
Re: Chamberlain and Hughes for Beckett. It will never happen (obviously), but, as a Red Sox fan, I wouldn’t take it, either. We already know that Beckett (only 27 years old), is the real deal. Hughes and Chamberlain are still prospects.
But I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision.
P.S. If the Yankees want Santana, they’ll have to come up with something pretty similar. Decisions, decsisins …..
So who is Beckett’s ex?
Jimmy …. an ex-girlfriend …. some country western singer …. I don’t recall her name.
I thought this was a Yankees Blog… Btw, write about the JD granny now….
OH NO, he said the F-word! Run for the hills!!
Alexcabrera …. I thought it was a Yankee blog, too. But Pete decided to take a shot at Josh Beckett. I believe he plays for the Red Sox, so I must be mistaken.
Re; Drew …. it must be our year; the baseball gods are taking care of the Sox. There’s no other explanation.
He always take shots at Red sox players… he did it the other day with Manny too… I’d like him to post about how V.Mart watched his homer being 4-1 down… And yes, about goddam time we got some brakes!!
**I meant breaks =P
Just scanning some of the comments above. Some of you are throwing out the word class here, etc… These guys are jocks, not Wonston Churchills. People don’t like Schilling because he is one of the 5% of the players who can speak complete sentances and take a stand and opinion. Beckett is a punk when not on your team and if he was on the yanks, he’d be what…. outspoken, brash. I compare Beckett ’07 and playoffs ’07 to Larry Bird ’84-’87. Cocky and brash because you know what? He is backing it up… at the current time. Your Joba will be the same in ’08.
If Beckett was yelling at Joba when he threw at Youkilis’ head… and someone above called Beckettt classless for that… ummm…. lemme get back to you on that.
Players shouldn’t swear… gee, that’s a first. stop throwing mikes in front of these guys then.
And speaking of class, where class should be on display… the front office of your ball club represents The Office seen on NBC thursdays.
oh my god Fenwaysitter, please hit spell check before you post. It feels like I’m reading the writings of someone who is mentally challenged. Not that there is anything wrong with that. but it’s a bit rich to sit here and say Schilling is one of 5% of the players who speaks in complete “sentences” when you can’t even spell the damn word.
I don;t agree with your comparisons. I would compare Beckett to the most evil sentient being in the universe and I would compare Schilling to anyone out there who likes to hear the sound of their own voice.
Delta November Whiskey: I think you’re wrong and I don’t think the Sox can play head to head with a Colorado team that is peaking, while the Sox have been anything but dominant against Cleveland. If they do get by the Indians, they’ve got to negotiate using their pitchers in a hitters park, where Colorado has a definite advantage with their sinker ball staff and relievers! I don’t think the Sox have the right pitching staff matchup-wise to win in Colorado and they may not even get past the Indians!
Wrong, Goldberg. Next
ALCS MVP Beckett !
HA!
“Not to mention taking sarcastic swipes at the the fact that the Yankees are out of the race on a blog dedicated to their coverage.”
THEN F’ING COVER THEM!!!
To review:
Jeter failing to pay the parking tab for two floozies he spent the night with = OK
ARod cheating on his wife = OK
Pete making fun of Buchholz for a childhood transgression after his no-hitter = OK
Beckett swearing on camera after the
Indians tried to distract him by having an ex-girlfriend sing the anthem = classless.
Ridiculous.
No, Josh Beckett should not have dropped the f-bomb in a media interview, but the response here is completely irrational. I am disappointed as a Sox fan, to hear the endless “Yankees suck!” chant at Fenway, and think it is juvenile. (Yes, I wrote “suck” — get over it cupcake.) Players are human beings, and transgress like any of us. Please, enough with the false outrage/ (Unless of course you demonstrated the same refined sensibilities when Shelley Duncan gave a 10-year old Sox fan an autograph featuring the comment that “Red Sox Suck!”).
BTW, Sox over Rocks in 6