damning with faint praise

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   my dislike for barry bonds is well documented.  i wrote a letter to the commissioner of baseball, asking him to avoid being present when a thief, stole a record.

       i wanted him to ignore the outlaw, if he could not prevent the crime or arrest the crook.

       the commissioner topped anything i could have asked for-- his letter of congratulattions was a masterpiece of  twisting the knife -- i am proud of his damning with faint praise approach. 

       i guess bonds and his devoted supporters, now regret that mister selig was at the game.

             they pressured him to be there, so he returned the favor with a brutal letter of congratulations -  I can't imagine how mister selig could have expressed his and my position any better. 

National League West Division Team

                                       W       L                     Pct   

 Dodgers                      56      46                    .549 -

Padres                          54      46                    .540

 Diamondbacks           55      48                    .534

Rockies                         51      50                    .505

Giants                            42      57                     .424

"I don't know what the goal is here anymore," Giants right-hander Matt Morris said last Thursday after a 9-8 loss to the Cubs. "To win games?"

Morris spoke not only for many Giants, but also for other players who grow disenchanted when star teammates pursue records or milestones that overshadow team goals.

The issue is less of a problem when a team is winning -- see Sammy Sosa in 1998 or Bonds in 2001. But when the losses mount, the extreme focus on one individual can be grating.

Baseball, above all, is a team game.

*YOU HAVE A FOOTBALL TEAM IN GREENBAY.

*THE TEAM WAS GOING NO WHERE.

*THEY GOT A NEW COACH.  WHICH SHOULD MEAN A NEW START.

*THEN THEY SPEND MOST OF THE YEAR, ASKING AND BEGGING A  SHOT QUARTERBACK TO RETURN TO THE TEAM AND LEAD THEM TO THE CELLAR FOR  OLD TIMES SAKE.

*THIS SHOT QUARTERBACK, FINALLY AGREED TO RETURN TO A GAME HE CAN NO LONGER PLAY VERY WELL AND SECURE THIS TEAM AND THEIR FOOLISH "LEADERSHIP"  A  HORRIBLE SEASON.

  *THE TEAM COULD NOT ENVISION USING THIS DOWN TIME TO DEVELOP A YOUNG QUARTERBACK  FOR THE FUTURE. 

 [  YOUNG - ROMO - MANNING - LEINHART  - CUTLER - VICK -

                            SENECA  WALLACE - JASON CAMPBELL ]

*THAT IS DUMB, BUT WHEN YOU CAN FILL THE STANDS WITH DOPES  WHO THINK THIS MAKES SENSE,  THEN THE DOPES IN THE STANDS ARE THE REAL PROBLEM.

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CHRIS ROCK SAYS, WHEN YOU ARE MAKING A MISTAKE,  YOU SHOULD TELL YOURSELF --->>

                           WHOA  - SLOW DOWN -- BACK UP

HOW IS IT THAT NONE OF THE FANS IN THE STANDS ARE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO SAY --                            " WHOA   -- SLOW  DOWN   -- BACK UP    ---------->> WE ARE GOING IN THE  WRONG DIRECTION FOR AT LEAST THE SECOND SEASON IN A ROW."

 *THERE IS NO FUTURE IN GREENBAY -- IT WAS  GIVEN AWAY LAST YEAR, FOR A  QUARTERBACK THAT WILL BE COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY THE NEXT TIME THE PACKERS SEE A WINNING SEASON. THE GREENBAY FANS WHO ACCEPTED KEEPING THIS SHOT QUARTERBACK  LONG AFTER HIS EXPIRATION DATE, HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME,  BUT THEMSELVES.

 The San Francisco Giants declined to offer salary arbitration to Barry Bonds before Friday night's deadline, prompting his agent to say the team has not made bringing the slugger back a priority.

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I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO AVOID DEALING WITH THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF BASEBALL AND NEGLECTING THE POSITIVE SIDE - THE NEW PLAYERS WHO ARE BRINGING BACK CREDIBILITY TO THE SPORT - BUT IF SEEING THAT THERE IS NO "GIANT" MARKET FOR AN AGING CRACKHEAD, IS SURPRISING, I HAVE TO WONDER IF THE AGENT IS A CRACKHEAD TOO.

I AM NOT HAPPY WITH MYSELF FOR MENTIONING THIS GUY,  I HAVE FAILED TO IGNORE HIM, AS I SHOULD HAVE; SO,  PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR  TIME COMMENTING ON THIS NOTE -- I REGRET EVEN POSTING IT.

Rodriguez hasn't lived up to his $252 million contract in the clutch. He's 1-for-11 in the first three games of the best-of-five series, hasn't driven in a run in 11 playoff games dating to 2004 and is batting .116 (5-for-43) in his last 12 postseason games.

"Tomorrow is the whole season," he said. "Nothing else matters. We have to go out and win a game."

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******

   you can't say anything bad about this very nice guy, this decent man,  who chokes at the sight of a pitched or batted ball any where in his general proximity.

   if you dare point out that the guy can't take the slightest amount of pressure - his defenders will  tell you about his great numbers.

       when you play in nyc and win the mvp ( undeserved  and an insult to big papi ) and your own fans and teammates don't want to see you up with the game on the line or even close in the late innings --- that speaks volumes -- that tells you that the only numbers that matter are listed above.

  did anyone notice that after doing nothing in the 5 game sweep of boston - k-rod went on a tear, after the division race was basically over -- a tear that ended when the playoffs started and the element of pressure returned.

Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, told the newspaper:

 "Barry's going to play in 2007. I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league 

[ NOT PRISON ]  uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."

************************

           I AM NOT WRITING THIS AS A CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER, A MEDICAL DOCTOR, A CHEMIST, A PSYCHIATRIST, A CONTRACT ATTORNEY,  OR A THEOLOGIAN .

                 I FREELY ADMIT THAT I NEVER MET MISTER BONDS IN PERSON -- I NEVER LOOKED INTO HIS EYES  - I DON'T KNOW HIS SOUL -- I NEVER READ HIS MANY BIOGRAPHES -- I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO HIS HOUSE -- I NEVER DATED HIS SISTER, IF HE HAS ONE - WE NEVER TOOK LONG WALKS ON THE BEACH AND DISCUSSED THE FLAWS IN HEGELI.AN PHILOSOPHY.

              I KNOW THERE IS A CERTAIN ELEMENT ON THIS BLOG THAT WOULD LIMIT OPINIONS  IF THE ABOVE GUIDELINES ARE NOT MET  -- AND I AM THANKFUL THAT I AM NOT WRITING ABOUT LINCOLN, EINSTEIN  OR MANDELA--- SINCE I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THE STANDARD REQUIRED TO HAVE AN OPINION OF THESE MEN.

          I AM JUST  STATING MY SINGULAR, SOLITARY OPINION CONCERNING A BASEBALL MATTER.. 

            IT IS MY HOPE THAT THESE DISCLAIMERS WILL INSULATE ME FROM SOME OF THE PASSION OF THOSE WHO FEEL MISTER BONDS IS OFTEN MALTREATED AND IT IS THEIR HIGH CALLING AND SOLEMN DUTY  TO RIGHT ANY INJUSTICE DONE HIM, REAL OR IMAGINED.

                       AS TIMIDLY AND MEEKLY AS POSSIBLE AND HOPING I HAVE THE RIGHT AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE CRIMINAL JUST ICE SYSTEM;  I  POSE THIS  OPINION / QUESTION,  CONCERNING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MISTER BONDS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE --->>

                                            WHO GIVES A ####.

For Barry Bonds, being able to tie Hank Aaron's NL home run record in the same city where Aaron started and ended his career was special. Bonds' only regret was that he hit his 733rd homer Friday night at Miller Park and not Milwaukee County Stadium, where Aaron connected many times during his 22-year career. "It would have been kind of cool in the old ballpark because it is where he actually played his games," Bonds said. "Nevertheless, it is still in Milwaukee and it is still great.

******************************

    THIS JERK WOULD BE ABOUT 200 WARNING TRACK CAUGHT "HOMERUNS" BEHIND AARON, IF HE DIDN'T VISIT THE DRUG STORE SO OFTEN,  AS HE ENTERED HIS LEAST PRODUCTIVE YEARS -- HIS OLDER YEARS.

       EVEN WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE, I CAN'T CLAIM ANY GREAT INTELLECTUAL GIFTS, BUT I DID STAY AWAKE IN MY HIGH SCHOOL  BIOLOGY CLASS, LONG ENOUGH TO LEARN THAT AS YOU GET OLDER, YOU GET WEAKER.  UNLESS,  YOU TAKE A LOT OF FLAX-SEED OIL.

        THIS GUY HAS NO CONSCIENCE, TO SIT THERE, STEAL A RECORD AND PRETEND IT WAS  "COOL."      

    * I LOOKED UP THE WORD CONSCIENCE IN THE DICTIONARY - A FEELING WHICH TELLS YOU IF YOU HAVE DONE RIGHT OR WRONG.

       ONE MORE THING -- WHY DOES ESPN ACT LIKE THIS GUY IS THE SECOND COMING - THEY DEMEAN THEMSELVES BY GETTING IN BED WITH THIS GUY AND ACTING LIKE THERE IS SOME JOY IN SEEING A CHEATER SUCCESSFULLY CHEAT THE GAME.

        IS THERE A FATHER IN AMERICA WHO WOULD WANT HIS SON TO GROW UP TO BE LIKE BARRY BONDS ?

 The 36-year-old said he'd only consider playing elsewhere if the Packers decided they wanted to rebuild without him.

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 I WAS BORN ON THE PLANET EARTH - A PLANET THAT HAS AN ELEMENT CALLED REALITY. 

 IS THIS ELEMENT NOT FOUND IN WISCONSIN?

BRETT FAVRE IS SHOT, HE WOULD BE LUCKY  TO GET A JOB PLAYING FOR  WAL-MART'S  SATURDAY AFTERNOON FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM, AT THE LOCAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL FIELD.

WHY GUYS WHO ARE LUCKY TO HAVE A JOB, LOVE TO TALK ABOUT NEXT YEAR, WHEN THEY WON'T GET THRU THIS YEAR, AMAZES ME;

FAVRE CLOSES HIS EYES AND THROWS THE BALL DOWN FIELD, WHILE INVOLKING THE NAMES OF SOME GODS OF LUCK AND  GOOD FORTUNE.  THOSE GODS NO LONGER LISTEN AND THUS, FAVRE IS A SHOT QUARTERBACK.  GREAT ARM, BUT BRAIN DEAD.

 LARRY HOLMES USE TO BLINK AT THE END OF HIS CAREER -- BLINK AS IF THAT WOULD MAKE THE PUNCHES GO AWAY --- FAVRE IS DOING THE SAME THING AT QUARTERBACK AND NEEDS TO TAKE A SEAT ON THE  BENCH.  COLLECT A PAYCHECK AND DREAM OF PAST GLORY. 

THE GREENBAY ORGANIZATION IS NUTS TO HAVE FAVRE AROUND -- HE IS OVER THE HILL AND FAR DOWN IN THE NEXT VALLEY.

SPORTS IS ABOUT LATELY AND FAVRE HAS NO LATELY.

HIS 29 INTERCEPTIONS  OF LAST SEASON, ARE A MILESTONE HE COULD EASILY PASS BY MID-SEASON,  IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.

I AM REMINDED OF THE MOVIE --

        " THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY ?"

 THE SAME FATE MAY AWAIT BROKEN DOWN QUARTERBACKS, WHO HANG AROUND TOO LONG.

                BARRY BONDS HAS DEMEANED HIS MANAGER.

                MISTER ALOU IS NOT TRYING TO WIN GAMES, AS MUCH AS HE IS TRYING TO NURSE AN OLD AND BROKEN DOWN HORSE, TO THE FINISH LINE, WHILE LETTING THE TEAM DRIFT INTO LAST PLACE.   

                 ALEX RODRIGUEZ IS DOING THE SAME TO JOE TORRE. 

                 TORRE, IS NOT SERVING THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TEAM, IN BATTING THIS HOLLOW SHELL OF A PLAYER, THIS SOFT AS BUTTER, NO HEART, NO GUTS,  MELT IN THE BATTER'S BOX  FRAUD, HIGHER THAN EIGHTH  IN THE ORDER. 

                      I ASSUME, THE FRONT OFFICE ORGANIZATION WANTS THIS FAKE PLAYER TO BE IN THE LINE UP -- BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE TEAM  AND WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP,  WHY LET HIM BAT  HIGHER THAN NUMBER EIGHT IN THE ORDER?

                        IT PAINS ME TO SAY  "BAT" -- HE DOES NOT BAT - THAT WOULD IMPLY ATTEMPTING TO STRIKE THE BALL WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MALICE --

               A-ROD, IS JUST STANDING THERE UNTIL THE UMPIRE CAN CALL  HIM OUT OR HE CAN FIND A WAY TO CAUSE A DOUBLE PLAY AND END ANY RALLY THE REAL YANKEE PLAYERS ARE MOUNTING - THE PLAYERS WHO KNOW HOW TO WIN.

                       A-ROD IS A NICE MAN, IN THE WRONG BUSINESS AND IN THE WRONG CITY.  DRAGGING HIM AROUND IS NOT GOOD FOR THE YANKEES OR A-ROD.  

                   HE IS A MENTAL CASE AND GIVEN ENOUGH TIME, HE WILL SPREAD HIS  ILLNESS.

            IF YOU CAN'T SHIP HIM OUT OF TOWN, BAT HIM IN THE NUMBER EIGHT  OR NINE SLOT. 

            JOE, DO WHAT YOU CAN TO REDUCE HIS SUICIDE AT BATS.  

             I WON'T MENTION HIS FIELDING,  THAT IS WORTHY OF IT'S OWN JOURNAL OF HORRORS.

   Criminal Negligence: a gross deviation from the standard of care expected of a reasonable person.

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/p>

 YOU  HAVE A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM.

   YOU HAVE 25 PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS ON THE TEAM.

   THEORETICALLY,  THE GOAL OF THE TEAM IS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS AND

WIN A PENNANT AND A WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP,

            ONE OF THESE  25 PLAYERS  IS :

             A SLUGGER WHO IS 42  YEARS OLD

             A  SLUGGER WHO IS A DRUG USER 

              A SLUGGER WITH 14 HOMERUNS LAST SEASON

               A SLUGGER WITH 14 HOMERUNS THIS SEASON

               A  SLUGGER WHO CAN'T PLAY IF IT IS  -- RAINING OR A DAY GAME AFTER A NIGHT  GAME OR  A  GAME IN CERTAIN PARKS  OR A GAME AT LOW ALTITUDE  OR A GAME WHERE THE WIND IS BLOWING IN TOWARD HOME PLATE

                 A SLUGGER WHO HAS MISSED ABOUT 25 OR MORE GAMES  ALREADY AND ONLY PINCHED HIT IN SEVERAL OTHERS

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**********************************************>

         NOW, THE AVERAGE PERSON, IS AVERAGE.  THE AVERAGE PERSON IS NOT A GENIUS.  THE AVERAGE PERSON IS NOT PAID MANY HUNDREDS  OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO RUN A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM. 

           YET,  IS THERE ANYONE READING THIS MISSIVE, WHO WOULD STAKE THE FATE OF THEIR TEAM ON A SLUGGER WITH THE FLAWS OUTLINED ABOVE? 

                 IS THIS THE GUY YOU WOULD PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BE THE SLUGGER ON YOUR TEAM  - THE ROCK OF YOUR ORGANIZATION ?

               SO,  IF THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN CLEARLY SEE THE ERRORS IN JUDGMENT  ASSOCIATED WITH THE EMPLOYMENT OF THIS "SLUGGER"  -- HOW IS IT THAT THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE TEAM,  HAVE ALLOWED THE EFFORTS OF 24 PLAYERS TO BE UNDERMINED BY THEIR CATERING TO ONE, OVER THE HILL,  .240 BATTING AVERAGE,  NON-CONTRIBUTING  "PLAYER."

                THE COMMISSIONER SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION - IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF BASEBALL,  TO HAVE A MAJOR LEAGUE ORGANIZATION TANK THE SEASON, FROM DAY ONE -- AND STARTING A 162 GAME SCHEDULE WITH THIS DOOMED PLAN OF ACTION IN PLACE, WAS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. 

                   I HAVE NAMED NO NAMES -- BUT THERE ARE 30 MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS AND ONLY ONE FITS THIS DESCRIPTION -- THAT TELLS YOU A GREAT DEAL ---  THAT IS DAMNING TESTIMONY AGAINST THIS ORGANIZATION.

                 FOLKS ARE RUSHING TO DEFEND A-ROD.  THEY ARE USING HIS GREAT STATS AS PROOF OF HIS ABILITY.  THIS IS AN ERROR.  THOSE VERY SAME STATS SHOW THAT HE IS A PAPER TIGER WITH THE GAME IN THE BALANCE. 

        A-ROD IS A NICE GUY.  A-ROD IS A GOOD MAN, A DECENT PERSON, A SUPPORTER OF CHILDREN'S CAUSES.  A GENTLEMAN.

           A-ROD HAS TALENT.  A-ROD HAS MANY VIRTUES, ON AND OFF THE PLAYING FIELD.

             HIS MAJOR FLAW IS A FATAL ONE -- NOTHING IN HIS RESUME CAN OUTWEIGH HIS INABILITY TO HIT WHEN THE GAME IS ON THE LINE.

            STATING THIS FACT, IS NOT AN ATTACK ON A-ROD - IT IS AN ACCURATE EVALUATION OF THE MAN. 

              A PILOT  THAT CAN'T LAND THE PLANE IS FATALLY FLAWED.

               ALL HIS OTHER SKILLS AND TALENTS ARE OF LITTLE OR NO VALUE, IF HE IS

UNABLE TO LAND HIS CRAFT SAFELY AT THE END OF THE JOURNEY. 

               A-ROD IS ABLE TO DO MANY THINGS, BUT AT THE MOMENT OF CRISIS, THE MOMENT OF HIGH DRAMA,  HE CAN'T PERFORM AT A SATISFACTORY LEVEL, NOT A GREAT LEVEL, JUST A DECENT ONE.

                 ALL PLAYERS FAIL AT TIMES --- I HEARD A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION ON THE MIKE AND MIKE RADIO SHOW, WITH TREY WINGO --  THE IDEA WAS THAT REGGIE JACKSON OFTEN STRUCK OUT IN KEY SITUATIONS AND NO ONE WENT  AFTER HIM, LIKE THEY GO AFTER A-ROD.

                    THE POINT WAS MADE THAT REGGIE STRUCK OUT LIKE A WARRIOR IN BATTLE AND A-ROD  GOES DOWN LIKE A LAMB GOING TO THE SLAUGHTER.  STRIKING OUT LIKE REGGIE WAS MAKING A STATEMENT, EVEN IF THE OTHER TEAM WON THAT TIME - THERE WAS GRANDEUR IN REGGIE'S STRIKE OUTS AND A MESSAGE THAT, THE OTHER TEAM DODGED A BULLET - REGGIE'S STRIKE OUT WAS A WARNING FOR THE NEXT TIME.

                         NOW, A-ROD WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO MAKE WHAT I THINK MAY BE THE GREATEST QUOTE IN BASEBALL HISTORY --- REGGIE SAYING ---->

WHEN I STEP INTO THE BATTER'S BOX, THERE IS A MAN IN SCORING POSITION.

                   IT IS NOT IN HIS PERSONA TO BE SO BOLD AND THAT IS FINE - A-ROD SHOULD BE A-ROD -- ONLY GET SOME HITS WHEN THE GAME IS ON THE LINE.

                        A-ROD SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE MVP OVER BIG POPPY LAST SEASON -- A-ROD RUNS UP NICE NUMBERS AND THEN CRASHES THE PLANE -- BIG POPPY, PUTS OUT THE FIRE AND LANDS  THE CRAFT SAFELY, WHEN ALL SEEMED LOST.

                       IT IS TRUE THAT NEW YORK IS TOO BIG A STAGE FOR ALEX -- HE IS A BIG FISH, WHEN IN A SMALL POND - BUT PLAYING NEXT TO A MAN LIKE DEREK JETER,

A-ROD LOOKS SMALLER AND SMALLER EVERYDAY.

                         A-ROD IS A GOOD MAN, IN THE WRONG PLACE -- THE HEAT IN THE KITCHEN IS TOO INTENSE  IN THE BRONX.  HE NEEDS TO MOVE AWAY AND THEN CONTINUE TO RUN UP HIS HALL OF FAME STATS --- BUT I SEE NOTHING TO TELL ME THAT HE WILL EVER LAND A PLANE IN THE WORLD SERIES VICTORY CIRCLE.

 . I  AM 61 YEARS OLD.  I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN ATHLETE THAT WAS DISLIKED AS MUCH AS BARRY BONDS.

        MUHAMMAD ALI WAS CONTROVERSIAL AND HIS POSITION WAS  DISAGREED WITH BY MANY OF HIS FELLOW CITIZENS, BUT HE WAS NOT AS DISLIKED AS A PERSON, AS IS BONDS.

         THIS INVESTIGATION BY THE GRAND JURY AND THE TESTIMONY OF HIS FORMER "FRIENDS,"   IS PART OF THE NEGATIVE VIBE THAT HE CREATES.

            BONDS IS A SOCIOPATH - THAT IS WHY HE REMAINS ON THE STAGE, WHILE KNOWING THAT HE IS HEADED FOR A FALL,  YET DENYING THAT THE RULES THAT APPLY TO THE REST OF SOCIETY SHOULD APPLY TO HIM.

             WHEN BONDS SAT IN THAT MASSIVE PRESS CONFERENCE AND SAID THAT EVERYONE IN THE ROOM HAD LIED AND WAS A LIAR,  HE CONDEMNED HIMSELF.

              IT IS NOT A WISE DEFENSE TO REPEAT IN A FEDERAL COURTROOM, BEFORE A FEDERAL JUDGE, WHILE BEING CHARGED WITH PERJURY  --  WE ALL LIE, SO LET IT SLIDE.

            THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS HAVE DEMEANED THEMSELVES BY PROTECTING THIS WASHED UP  FRAUD,  THEY SHOULD CUT HIM LOOSE AND LET HIM SINK OF HIS OWN GUILT.  THE MAN TOOK STEROIDS TO MAKE WARNING TRACK POWER INTO HOMERUN POWER -- HE IS A MAN WITHOUT HONOR - HE DISREPECTS THE GAME  AND  THE PLAYERS WHO CAME BEFORE HIM.

          THE WAY HIS NAME WAS NOT MENTIONED AT THE ALL STAR GAME IS PROOF THAT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS HOPING THIS CANCER WILL GO AWAY BY IGNORING IT -- I WISH IT WAS THAT EASY.