Posted on 10/05/2006 11:46:23 AM PDT by Daniel T. Zanoza
After the Chicago White Sox were eliminated from participating in post season play, many fans were asking "why?" Why did the team with the most talent in the game play mediocre baseball for the second half of the season? How did a team that was 27 games over the .500 mark in July reverse course so quickly and end up being one of the greatest disappointments in baseball history?
Who was responsible for this monumental collapse of a team that was supposed to repeat as World Series Champions? I think I have the answer to these questions, but it has nothing to do with the way the game was played on the field, at least directly, that is.
In July, the White Sox were rolling along, like a well-oiled machine. But, during the dog days of summer, baseball writers often look for stories that might add spice to a very long season. That's what happened with the White Sox. Manager Ozzie Guillen began a verbal sparring match with Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti. The subject of their disagreement isn't important. However, it was the way the feud was played out in the media which really mattered.
Guillen, who holds dual-citizenship in America and Venezuela, does not have the greatest command of the English language. The White Sox manager certainly does not grasp the less than subtle nuances of American political correctness either. Guillen paid for his failure to be culturally astute, in a number of ways. He was fined and suspended by Major League Baseball for calling Mariotti a derogatory name. Guillen's faux pas also prompted White Sox General Manager Ken Williams to send Guillen to sensitivity training.
But like most of us, Guillen did not understand what "sensitivity training" is all about. Is it something like the re-education camps of the former Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, where people were thought to "think right"? But I digress. However, I do not think this was Guillen's primary problem with Williams punishment, though it well could have been. The truth of the matter is Guillen's boss did not fully appreciate Latin culture. Williams misunderstood how the actions taken against Guillen could be seen as being highly disrespectful by those raised in Hispanic society. Guillen, who usually brought a fiery demeanor to the game, noticeably changed after the incident and the fortunes of the White Sox also plummeted with the manager's spirit, during the second half of the season.
The record tells it all, for those who need confirmation of this theory. It's clear to me, for the first time in the history of baseball, the season may have been lost off the field of play--instead of on.
I blame political correctness for a myriad of things today...
...but not for the White Sox' return to suckdom.
The White Sox simply fell off as teams often do. The Tigers played .675 baseball for most of the season then played .400 ball in September. It's that simple.
Tigers are tied up with the evil empire at this moment.
I blame Steve Bartman.
Tigers prevailed over the evil empire today.
That's one hostile crowd too. Yankees fans beat up on their own players let alone the vising team.
"Who was responsible for this monumental collapse of a team..."
Hey! Welcome to the wonderful world of the Red Sox fan...
Huh? Unless I'm very wrong, game one isn't until tonight...
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