 |
Crack of the bat, crash of the ego Snub? What Snub?By Rick Horowitz
"I got a short statement here I can read to you first, and then maybe you guys can ask me a few questions, OK? Now -- " "Slammer, when did you find out you weren't -- " "You guys understand English? I said I'm gonna read this statement here first. First the statement, then the questions. Everybody got it?" "You're the boss." "OK then. Here it is: 'I found out that I wasn't picked for the All-Star Game during batting practice tonight. One of the clubhouse guys came up to me and told me Skip wanted to talk to me. I went into his office, and he gave me the news. He said he was real sorry when he heard about it. He said they told him it was a really close decision, but that it all came down to roster size. He said there's -- '" "Slammer, do you -- " "'He said there's only 30 spots on the roster, and they have to spread it around the different teams, so there's always gonna be guys having good years who are left off. I told him I understood completely, and that I was looking forward to having a few days off anyway.' That's it." "Slammer, do you feel -- " "Oh, and I also told him I know he was pushing for me to make it. So." "Do you feel you were snubbed?" "I don't know what you mean by snubbed. I never -- " "Passed over. Insulted. Disrespected." "I know what snubbed means. No, I don't think I was snubbed. You've got a bunch of guys putting up good numbers, somebody's not gonna get it. It just happened to be me again." "But you really thought this was going to be your year, didn't you? I mean, even though you didn't win the fans' voting, you really thought you'd be picked this time." "It doesn't matter what I thought. Ratso's the guy who decides -- maybe you should ask him. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to spending time around the house, and -- " "Do you think it was anything personal? You two have had some words over the years -- he thought you were insulting his pitching staff." "All I said was I always get some good swings in against Lefty, and I always get some good swings in against Righty, and I always get some good swings in against Amby. I was just being honest, I certainly hope he wouldn't hold that against me. We're all supposed to be professionals here, right?" "And when you drilled him in the ribs during pre-game that time? Wasn't that -- " "That ball got away from me! Look, if he isn't paying attention to what's going on on the field, that's not my fault." "He said his three-year-old daughter throws harder than you did." "He says lots of things. He's always saying things -- that's why nobody in the league can stand the guy. But look, I'm not gonna get into any back-and-forth with him. I'm happy to have the extra days off, and I'm really looking forward to spending some extra time with Kris and Kelli and Justin." "Jason." "Whatever." "So you don't -- " "I'm not the loser here. He's the loser." "You don't feel any -- " "And he'll always be a loser." "So you don't feel any anger?" "Hey, it's just a game!" Posted 7/5/01. Watch
Rick swat 'em out of the park twice every week!
|
  |
Rick Horowitz
