Odds And Ends: Manuel, Simers, Gordon, Rally
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sat, October 11, 2008 01:02 PM | Comments: 15
Posts
Some odds and ends after the game two victory, while you recuperate:
- Absolutely gorgeous piece of writing by Bill Lyon about Charlie Manuel, mourning his mother’s death.
Lyon dips into Manuel’s past — his father made him the man of the house on his suicide note — and sculpts Uncle Chollie as a hard-working, big-hearted man who’s fought to stay alive, mainly because his mother gave him that fight. Lyon doesn’t write much anymore for the Inquirer, but read this, and you’ll see why he’s a journalistic treasure.
- Then you go to the other end of the spectrum — the nothingsense of TJ Simers. The LA Times writer who recently called Philadelphia “Angryville” starts his piece by rallying around Manny Ramirez’ call for Crown Royal shots to loosen up the team, then takes his shots at Philly by painting us as a violent, war-hungry bunch.
He goes on to say we’ll likely burn the city down if the Phils win the World Series. Oh, and he referenced HotdogGate. Whatever, Simers, just know that you spent your professional career writing garbage while great journalists are doing the memorable work.
- Tom Gordon is with the team, but in a cheerleader role. He’s pulling for his boys as they run through the NLCS.
Gordon said he wants to return to pitching, and would love to do it as a Phillie. The Phils have a $4M option on Gordon for 2009, which they’re likely not to exercise. That’s business. But it’s great to hear from “Flash.” Seems like years ago he was setting up Brad Lidge.
- There will be a free rally at Penn’s Landing at 8 p.m. Sunday.
“The Rally by the the River” will feature a showing of Sunday night’s game three with the Phillie Phanatic and Phillies ballgirls. There’ll be food and refreshment (beer if you’re over 21).
Posts: 0 dan
I had no idea Charlie had been through so much. I just gained a lot more respect for an already very respected man. Here’s hoping he’s with this club for many more years.
Posted: 01:14 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 NEPA
Wow, that Lyon article is pretty amazing. I had no idea about all that stuff.
On the other hand, Simers continues to write complete trash.
Posted: 01:20 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
Yeah, Lyon’s article, as well as the other one written about Victorino’s loss, were both great pieces. It’s nice to see the human side of the journalists once in awhile instead of their incessant rambling and angry hate-filled diatribes when things aren’t going the Phillies’ way. I hope both Charlie and Vic are able to stay with the team for games 3, 4, and if necessary 5, but I’d certainly understand if they weren’t. I am sure the team will rally around them and step up to lead them to victory.
Posted: 02:25 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 Sct
I did love reading Blake say, “I’m tired of hearing this place is a bandbox.” It must be discouraging to hear that, hell, anyone should be able to knock it out here.
Posted: 02:40 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 G-Man
The Angryville comment from Simmers just refers to passion. He just doesn’t understand it because he watches baseball games while drinking his Chi Tea and talking on his stupid cell phone! People don’t get the excitement in Philly. When you go to other stadiums, it’s boring…like church, or golf.
As for Charlie, he’s a great man. I’ve met him over 10 times and each time he talks like we have been friends forever….good man, just hard to understand.
Posted: 03:47 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 Sean
Simmers is an arogant asshole. he wrote an article saying that if the phillies win the NLCS they’ll “ruin” prime time tv because no one will care who wins the world series. class act, right there.
Posted: 04:07 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob
I took it upon myself to personally respond to Mr. Simers fantastic article and sent him an email directly. Stay tuned for a response (Although I sincerely doubt the coward would even back himself up) See below.
T.J.,
I often wondered what your initials stood for, but now I’m rather sure of the answer… “Total Junk”.
Your recent article in the midst of the Dodgers embarrassing performance at Citizens Bank Park Friday afternoon has proved to me that you are just as sore and angry as the phans who make up your ever-so-clever “Angryville, USA”. Ask yourself this… if the Dodgers hadn’t lost the first two games of this series, do you really think you would have written such a silly article? Your story is total junk.
I guess this is what we phans in Philadelphia just have to get used to. This constant stigma that has been attached to us has all but lost meaning nowadays and has turned into nothing more than a silly cop-out for opposing fans to cling to when our Philadelphia teams get the best of them. All in all, my response to your garbage article pleases me. I welcome your disdain. It only proves my sentiments to be true. Dodgers win? Who cares about Philadelphia. Dodgers lose? The phans are angry! Violent! They’ll burn the city down! If you want to talk about class, let’s not constantly take our anger out on Philly phans. Let’s talk about being gracious in defeat. How about this… rather than writing your garbage, why don’t you write something memorable and come up with something clever all on your own. That would really be something, but I guess it wouldn’t live up to your name.
Warmest Regards and Best of Luck in the remaining games of the NLCS.
Sincerely,
Angryville, USA
P.S.. I would challenge you to respond. I look forward to hearing from you.
Posted: 04:26 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 Clare
I like it with the assumption that the “best of luck” is completely sarcastic.
Posted: 04:43 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 gplad
Let take a look at what major american city has hosted the most riots and arson in the last 3 decades. ….Ahem…
Posted: 05:14 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 Jamie
Good for you, Rob. I also felt like responding, however it would not have been anywhere close to yours. Also, some profanity may have made its way in there.
Posted: 06:49 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 Amanda
Wow, I had no idea all that stuff Charlie had been through. He’s a strong man.
Posted: 08:51 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Can you bring beer to the thing at Penns Landing? I know it says bring beverages, but can you bring beer?
Posted: 10:52 PM on October 11, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
Rob, good for you. I dobut he gets back to you, but thank you for expressing what we all feel. Charlie Manuel is a great man and a great motivator and I’m sorry for ever doubting him. Tom gordon is nothing but pure class. I wish him nothing but the best and I’m glad he’s supporting the team (unlike freddy garcia ’07). Go phils!
Posted: 04:21 AM on October 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Pheverish
I know this is a little off topic, but did everyone catch this piece:
Mets are legends in their own minds
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spwallyx1012,0,2425085.column
It made me feel a little better after reading Simers’ crap.
Posted: 03:29 PM on October 12, 2008
Posts: 0 Phils2008
I just have a funny little feeling that something good is going to happen!!!
Posted: 10:25 PM on October 12, 2008