Lester embraces leadership role (Journal)(Only Ian Browne at MLB believed both men took their respective shares of blame.)
Unapologetic Beckett cites "lapses in judgment" (Journal)
Jon Lester regretful, Josh Beckett resentful (Herald)
Jon Lester now Sox' main act (Herald)
Josh Beckett comes up lame (Herald)
Beckett: At least it's a start (Globe)
Lester: "I take complete responsibility" (ESPNBoston)
Hot Button: Did Beckett say enough? (ESPNBoston)
The building up and subsequent tearing down of athletes in the sports media is nothing new. It's as common baseball as runs, hits, and errors. There is apparent demand that athletes who have wronged us debase themselves publicly and beg for forgiveness. That's what we need so we can have "closure".
Is it possible that Lester has a clearer understanding of PR and is simply mouthing better-sounding platitudes? Could Beckett be heartsick about how he performed last September and truly sorry about his mistakes? Of course, it's possible. Maybe Lester finds it easy to publicly take "complete responsibility" and perhaps Beckett's hard-ass personality means that what he confessed to yesterday is the full admission of guilt certain writers and fans feel is essential to hear. But I honestly have no idea.
I do not know the inner workings of either man's mind and heart. And neither do you. And, despite their daily proximity to both pitchers, neither do Steve Buckley nor Peter Abraham nor Gordon Edes. Those writers can make far better guesses than we can - and that's why most fans will believe their accounts as gospel - but they don't actually know for sure.
[Beckett's] level of accountability for the Sox' September collapse at least was greater yesterday than in his recent MLB Network interview ...
Lester has shown the most accountability of any player for the transgressions of the starting rotation last season. He was outstanding again yesterday ...
[I]n his own way, Beckett at least took some steps yesterday.
You guys know Jon Lester had cancer (and beat it!), right? So obviously he's good.
ReplyDeleteBut Beckett is such a total bad ass, cancer is afraid to inhabit his body. Point, Beckett.
ReplyDeleteon Lester had cancer
ReplyDeleteThat was my first thought, too. "Beating" cancer (as if he did it himself!) will keep you in good media graces for a very long time.
I think it's a little strange that fans want and expect these apologies in the first place.
ReplyDeleteBut but but they play a kid's game - for millions! They must be grateful all day every day!!
ReplyDeleteHighlights and lowlights of Wakefield's career
ReplyDeleteJeez, when will these guys move on to something really interesting like compensation from the Cubs for Theo?
ReplyDeleteI think it's a little strange that fans want and expect these apologies in the first place.
ReplyDeleteAre the fans truly looking for that, or does the media perpetuate that idea? It's along the same vein as Buckner's error, which fans forgave long ago but mediots like CHB and the staff at NESN.com keep rehashing.
Good rundown, though I don't need the media to tell me Beckett's kind of a douchebag. I just need to look at his facial hair for that.
ReplyDeleteSomeone should write a guide to MLB players' facial hair, what each configuration signifies.
ReplyDeleteSomeone with more time on their hands than me, that is.
Someone should write a guide to MLB players' facial hair, what each configuration signifies.
ReplyDeleteHandlebar mustache: easily coerced into making decisions, good or bad; for example, will accept $300 to look like player from late 19th century (see: Rollie Fingers)
"I think it's a little strange that fans want and expect these apologies in the first place.
ReplyDeleteAre the fans truly looking for that, or does the media perpetuate that idea?"
You nailed it. And once the media plants the seed, suddenly every fucking yahoo is calling up the radio seriously suggesting the players/team should be apologizing to us, leading the team to think that's what they need to do to stay in the fans' good graces. And the media loves every second of it.
L, was watching MLB network earlier today and there was a commercial for a special airing later tonight - "Top 25 facial hair in MLB" or something like that. Right up your alley, too bad you don't get the channel.
ReplyDeleteAnd once the media plants the seed, suddenly every fucking yahoo is calling up the radio seriously suggesting the players/team should be apologizing to us...
ReplyDeleteThe yahoos do have the option of thinking for themselves.
The yahoos do have the option of thinking for themselves.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the option but not the ability.
"Top 25 facial hair in MLB" or something like that.
Aw, and I had to miss it! Just as well, it might give me nightmares.
Just as well, it might give me nightmares.
ReplyDeleteThis guy would give you nightmares?
King Kelly
ESPN Page 2
The yahoos do have the option of thinking for themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe Bruins are losing because Tim Thomas distracted the team!
Politics have no place in baseball, so don't criticize the government. I watch sports to get away from that stuff! They should always play the national anthem at every baseball game. Players who don't stand are traitors.
The Red Sox lost last year because the pitchers ate chicken.
The only reason Tim Wakefield pitched in 2011 was because Francona wanted him to get his record in wins.
Widescreen is better than fullscreen because it's in keeping with the director's original wishes. So watch me be an idiot with no observational skills and stretch an image that was originally in the 4:3 aspect ratio to fit a 2:35 widescreen setting. I won't notice that everyone is a horizontal oval because it turned out when I was saying that crap about respecting a director's wishes I had no idea what I was talking about but just repeating a meme I heard without any real belief or understanding in what I was saying. Also, please take movies like Gone with the Wind, Fantasia, Anne of Green Gables and the Secret of NIMH and cut off the top and bottom of the images to fit my new widescreen TV, because widescreen is better because it respects the original director's wishes.
(Sorry. I had to throw the last one in there.)
King Kelly
ReplyDeleteNo, more like Dustin Richardson.
Dave Zirin recently wrote an excellent response to the "keep politics out of sports" people: Is CBS Columnist Gregg Doyel really proud to know nothing?
ReplyDeleteESPN Page 2
ReplyDeleteI would have said no way, but Randy Johnson is in there! I've had nightmares about him for years.
No, more like Dustin Richardson.
AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! Now you've done it!
AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! Now you've done it!
ReplyDeleteI have others.
E-freakin'-NUFF!!
ReplyDeleteE-freakin'-NUFF!!
ReplyDeleteFacial hair giving you nightmares, too?
You guys know Jon Lester had cancer (and beat it!), right? So obviously he's good.
ReplyDeleteTo this thread late, but I could't resist linking this classic bit from the Onion.