Odds And Ends: Manuel, Simers, Gordon, Rally
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).
