Posted on 08/10/2016 11:38:21 AM PDT by TBP
The grander point was missed then. The most popular athlete in the world wanted to play baseball. If he defied all odds and succeeded, great, then the most popular athlete in the world was playing baseball. And if he failed, he a) brought attention to the game; b) used his very loud megaphone to profess his love for the sport to his millions of fans around the world; and c) accentuated just how tough it is to play major league baseball, because the greatest athlete in the world would have failed at it.
But even if it was a publicity stunt, so what? It was a valuable one.
If he moves a bunch of kids to want to play or attend a game who otherwise wouldnt, great. If he makes it, great, another terrific/popular athlete in the sport. If he fails, great, a reminder of just how skilled you have to be to make the majors.
I felt this way about Jordan. I felt this way in the spring of 2014, when I spoke to Tracy McGrady about his post-basketball attempts to make the majors. I felt this way when Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson have indulged their baseball passions. Heck, I felt this way in spring 2015 when Will Ferrell was allowed to play 10 positions for 10 teams in one day of Arizona spring training.
This is a moment when lots of parents are questioning whether they want to let their children participate in football because of potential damage to the body and to the brain. Here is a popular ex-quarterback shifting to baseball. It is a moment for the institution of the game to embrace.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
If he can’t hit an off speed-pitch, I don’t care if he’s the nicest guy in the world, there’s still no place for him in MLB.
No he didn't, he took a year off from the NBA to take the heat off what could have been a major gambling scandal resulting from his golf/gambling debts..........
He did the NBA and ESPN a favor by taking a year vacation thus giving them the opportunity to fuggetaboutit rather than show their hypocrisy by covering for the popular black guy.......
Bo [Jackson] knows football.
Bo [Jackson] knows baseball.
I agree with both statements. Bo Jackson was a quintessential, multi-sport athlete...hands-down!
Why not Tebow?
Could it be because of his melanin content?
Great athletes tend to shine in every sport at a high school level and even at a college level. Perhaps the jump can be made, but late teens and early 20s are crucial for mind/body coordination. Tebow is beyond that. I wish him well, but I doubt he’ll transition.
If he truly is seeking team...if that’s what he misses...then he should go with the Army or Marines as an slightly older lieutenant.
:: hit an off speed-pitch ::
The 2 greatest pitches ever developed:
(1) Circle Change
(2) Split-finger
The fastball is now considered a “set-up” pitch. In Dizzy’s day, it was the go-to pitch.
Let us not forget Gaylord Perry, the “dead-ball” pitcher of his day [and, yeah, he cheated..].
” ... you could be the greatest player in the world in the minors and it still comes down to the subjective judgment of someone else to send you upstairs.”
I think the point that I would make, and others have made, is that professional baseball is a very competitive, largely objective, meritocracy. If some director of player personnel decides, subjectively, that you are not major league material and, objectively, he’s wrong, then you are most likely going to be given another shot by some organization. There aren’t too many guys sitting at home who could play in the majors but who aren’t (druggies and complete head cases excepted, of course).
I like Tebow...does he have any kind of baseball background?
Some organization might offer him a minor league contract and give him a shot. He has tons of fans and would put butts in the seats, which minor league clubs are always looking for.
Who knows, I always thought his throwing action looked more like a pitcher's windup?
Jordan played baseball to avoid a suspension the NBA didn’t want the bad PR for giving him. There was nothing there for baseball to profit from, and they’ve got nothing to make up for. If Tebow has the skills good for him. But he probably doesn’t, and he should be willing to play in the minors if he doesn’t. But we saw in football he wasn’t willing to do that, and he probably still won’t be. The guy has turned into a bad circus, he really needs new advisers, people willing to say he isn’t amazing at everything, because it turns out he’s human.
Why yes, yes I can.
It's spelled: S M A R T..... M A R K E T I N G.........Smart Marketing
Next question
I don’t know about “hubris” but I know there’s no “d” in privilege.
I wonder if Tebow has thought about being a pitcher?
He has a strong left arm and the big leagues are always looking for left handed pitchers.
After four years with the tigers, he was put up on waivers and no other teams wanted him so he spent the majority of his career with the Tigers.
In comparing Gibson with Tebow, Gibson was a shaky outfielder in most of his early years and throughout his career. And until he got married, he was a party animal. IN fact, the big joke is that he and his buddy Dave Rozema married "The Flying Sklarski Sisters" who were strippers in a popular topless nightclub here in Detroit.
But I digress, Tebow has tremendous athletic ability, heart and motivation and being a quarterback, has tremendous arm throwing strength that an outfielder needs. And since he has a background in baseball, it should be no problem for him to regain any outfield ability he had while in college after a fall and winter instructional league.
As far as outfield defensive skills, what he lacks now, he will acquire after intensive training between now and next season.
So the real question about whether or not Tebow can succeed in the majors or at least "AAA", that will depend on whether or not he can become a proficient hitter...........Time will tell.
I will never speak negatively of anyone such as Tebow who has shown me to be a better man both mentally and spiritually than anyone else in modern day sports.
As my grandfather always said: "If you hang out with losers you become one, and the naysayers are those who never were"..............GO TEBOW!
Kirk Gibson is a first-class top-grade A-hole.
I have had personal experience with him.
Yes, I know he has Parkinson’s Disease. I am sorry and will pray for his health. But I can relay many stories from both here in Pittsburgh and people who were his neighbors in Michigan about the guy being a first-class jerk.
The name that comes to my mind is Rick Ankiel. Two years in the majors as a pitcher, then mysteriously lost all control. Went down and spent seven years in the minors learning to play the outfield, then returned to the big leagues at age 28. Went on to play six seasons.
You are preaching to the Detroit Tigers choir brother!
I grew-up outside of Jack-town Michigan and remember the 68WS. Lolich and McClain, Northrup, Stormin Norman, Kaline, The Gator, 23Horton, McAuliffe.. and the “also rans” that filled a place on defense Rodriguez, Wert, Price, Trezewski and Coach Mayo! Gads..I love baseball!
And, I fully agreed with drafting Gibson because I personally saw him “stripe” some very long dingers at MSU and CMU during his college career. And, yeah, I saw him decimate the CMU football team, too. (He is about 8 months older than me)..
Kirk Gibson was a fundamental member of the resurgence of the Tigers, culminating in the 1984WS.
He solidified his place on the HOF by stroking that “chop” homer for the Dodgers in the 1988WS.
Poetry in motion!
Sorry, I disagree.
I have met KG several times and his demeanor is “professional” but he does NOT reject serious fans.
I have inter-acted with KG since his (and my) college days (we are of the same age and grew up in the same region/college scene).
If you had bad experiences, sorry.
He has never been anything but a gentleman to me.
As a long-time resident of the Tampa Bay area, I remember another 2-sports name that broke our hearts, Bo Jackson! In 1986, even though the Buccaneers had drafted him #1, owner Hugh Culverhouse's STUPIDITY in tricking Jackson into losing his last half season of college baseball at Auburn lost him to the KC Royals.
Still, while I could see Tim Tebow helping attendance (BADLY NEEDED), unless he actually and honestly qualified, it would only be a publicity stunt and not worth it for anybody. It was one thing for Wade Boggs to join the rookie Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998, he gave the fledglings an old-timer's experience and a glance at a World Series (Yankees) ring. Tim does not have that resume. I thought he was making it at Denver and if Manning had not become available, he might have lasted. He has game and appears in every way to have HONOR! Wish him the best!
But...let us speak of “the jerk” who calls himself:
Kelly Tripucka...
Now this is a public ***hole who played for Detroit.
I can't argue with that.......I live in the Detroit area and he lives in Grosse Pointe.. I too know several people who have encountered him with their kids and when the kids attempted to get his autograph he brushed them off.
I play senior softball with a younger guy (Nick) who is now 58 who used to work for Gibson when he had a landscaping company out of Grosse Pointe and he told me about the times when they would stop into a McDonalds for lunch and kids would approach him for autographs which he wouldn't give.
There's other stories "Nick" told me about Gibson and cocaine but that's just heresay on his part despite "Nick's" own convictions for drug trafficking...........
Gibson was, is, and always will be a prick in my mind........
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