In the news from Surprise, AZ just what in the hell was he thinking land, Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington used cocaine during the 2009 season (he says a one-time occurrence) and will enter MLB’s drug program.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington apologized Wednesday for using cocaine during the 2009 season and will voluntarily submit to additional testing by Major League Baseball in the future.

Washington told the club he used cocaine and offered to resign as soon as he was randomly selected for a drug test by MLB. Club president Nolan Ryan, general manager Jon Daniels and other officials decided not to accept the offer after they were convinced that Washington had used cocaine just once.

“I apologize for a huge mistake I made,” Washington said in a prepared statement at a news conference Wednesday. “I’m not here to make excuses. I’m not here for sympathy. That would be asking too much. I’m truly sorry for my careless, dangerous and, frankly, stupid behavior last year.”

Washington immediately entered into the MLB’s drug program, which included testing three times a week. He completed that program a few weeks ago, but said he will ask the league to continue to test him in the future.

“I was in total shock. Then I was mad,” Ryan said of his initial reaction to Washington’s positive test during a chat Wednesday with ESPNDallas.com. “Then I was very disappointed. I went through an array of emotions.”

Really?  The 57-year-old manager of the Texas Rangers was caught in a random drug test using cocaine.  Seriously?  The manager?  Aren’t managers supposed to be the level headed ones?  The ones guiding the young players and steering them away from the drug about which Robin Williams once said, “Cocaine is God’s way of saying you’re making too much money.”  And his minions are making sh**pots full of money.

Just what in the wide wide world of sports was he thinking??  Especially with Nolan Ryan being the man in charge.  I’m surprised The Express didn’t do at the very least a Robin Ventura on Washington.

But cooler heads prevailed.  Washington apologized.  He offered his resignation. He talked to the boss.  If it’s a one time thing and it won’t happen again and Ryan thinks Ron Washington is the guy that can get the Texas Rangers to the promised land, then what the Rangers and Nolan Ryan did was the right thing.

I hope it works out.

Seriously, I do.  A big former ballplayer punches his common-law wife in the face and makes the news.  The Smoking Gun and other outlets are reporting that former Yankees and Twins 2B, Chuck Knoblauch, who knows how to weasel his way out of a good situation has been arrested and convicted of assault.

Former baseball star Chuck Knoblauch posed for this Harris County Sheriff’s Office mug shot in September 2009 after being charged with assault. The four-time All-Star allegedly struck and choked his common-law wife during an argument at their Houston home. Knoblauch, 41, was released from a Texas lockup after posting $10,000 bond. The ex-athlete, who has admitted using performance-enhancing drugs, spent 12 years in the major leagues, and won three World Series titles with the New York Yankees, and one with the Minnesota Twins.

Ol’ Chucky Boy, who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn throwing from second base when he was a player has the ability to hit his wife.

And make the news.

He wormed his way out of Minnesota by demanding a trade, which he got, to the Yankees.  He’s been known to shove children who have the audacity to ask for an autograph or to get close to him.

And now this?

I have never been fortunate enough to play ball at the level he did, but if I did, I know that I would appreciate the talents that life has bestowed on me.  The world was his oyster and he chose to be a butthead time and time again.  I’m a firm believer in Karma.  And I hope his world is turned upside down because of this.

Shame on you, Chuck.

(reprinted from DRSEA Newsletter – Volume III, Issue 5)

by Charles S. Farrell

Torii Hunter apparently never read Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus’ caution on stupidity. The Anaheim Angels center fielder gave new meaning to the phrase “dumb jock” when he claimed that dark-skinned baseball players from the Dominican Republic are not black but “imposters.”

“People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they’re African American,” Hunter said, according to an article in USA Today that examined the lack of African American baseball players. “They’re not us. They’re impostors. Even people I know come up and say, ‘Hey, what color is Vladimir Guerrero? Is he a black player?’ I say, ‘Come on, he’s Dominican. He’s not black.’ ”

African Americans made up only 9 percent of Major League Baseball rosters last season, compared to 29 percent foreign players, with the Dominican Republic contributing the largest share of that percentage.

The article also quoted Hunter as saying teams chase Latino players “because you can get them cheaper. It’s like, ‘Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?’”

While Hunter is right in his assessment that it is cheaper to develop Dominican talent, his marginalizing the ethnicity of Dominican players is absurd. I happen to know of one Major League Baseball team that is developing a couple of Ghanaian baseball players who I predict will one day be in Major League Baseball uniforms. By Hunter’s standard, those African players should not be considered black.

(more…)

(reprinted from DRSEA Newsletter – Volume III, Issue 5)

by Charles S. Farrell

Major League Baseball knocked one out of the park with its recent selection of Sandy Alderson to head a reform movement in baseball in the Dominican Republic.  Alderson headed a task force appointed by Commissioner Bud Selig to study problems affecting baseball here, including widespread allegations of age and identity fraud, skimming of bonus money paid to players, and the use of steroids among prospects.

Alderson delivered a report on his findings and will serve as a special consultant to Major League Baseball to implement those findings.  “Major League Baseball faces significant issues [in the Dominican Republic],” Alderson said when his appointment was announced. “But all of them can be resolved favorably through the cooperative efforts of the Office of the Commissioner, the major league clubs, and the government and the people of the Dominican Republic.”

(more…)

The World Wide Leader in Sports ESPN is reporting that John Smoltz is set to join TBS as an analyst for national and Atlanta Braves broadcasts.

ATLANTA — John Smoltz is joining Turner Broadcasting’s baseball crew as an analyst.

The 42-year-old pitcher says he isn’t sure whether he will play again.

Smoltz has 213 wins and 154 saves in 21 seasons, most of them with the Atlanta Braves. He played for Boston and St. Louis last season.

Smoltz will work on national telecasts on TBS and Atlanta Braves’ games on Peachtree TV in Atlanta.

He was a guest analyst for TBS during the 2007 playoffs and broadcast games for Peachtree TV and TBS following shoulder surgery in 2008.

Ernie Johnson Jr., a TNT NBA and golf broadcaster, also will call baseball for Peachtree TV. He broadcast Braves games with his father, Ernie Johnson Sr., on SportSouth from 1993 to 1996 and has done occasional Braves telecasts in recent years.

 

I say, “Bravo!”

Despite some rumblings that he could be a good fit to be a closer for someone like the Twins, Smoltzy has decided to hang up the spikes.

Again, “Bravo!” I say.

As I said last month, how cool would it have been if the Big Three of Greg Maddux, Tommy Glavine and Smoltz all decided to retire at the same time to go into the Hall of Fame together.  Not that you could predict what the writers asshats (like Mariotti) from the BBWAA are going to do.

Good Luck, John, and here’s looking at you in Cooperstown five years from now.