Scoop Jackson, Dusty apologist.
Dusty Baker is a pathetic, whiny, no-heart coach. He needs to leave Chicago. The sooner the better in my book, because I’m tired of hearing his bumbling comments and recycled excuses for the performance of the Cubs. I’m tired of his voice. And most of all, I’m tired of the endless, disgusting tautologies that drip out of Dusty’s toothpicked mouth.
ESPN contributor and Chicago resident Scoop Jackson evidently likes Dusty Baker because he’s black. This is, in a word, fuckingpathetic. It’s even more pathetic that ESPN, the architect of all that is wrong with sports in the 21st century, is linking Scoop’s crap columns from their homepage. In this day and age, it is utterly distasteful and disgraceful that this Johnnie Cochran shit passes for legitimate sports commentary.
Scoop Jackson, you’re a disgrace to Chicago. Get out. Dusty Baker, your excuses-at-all-costs mentality does nothing for the Cubs. Get out. ESPN, you’re already in Bristol, Connecticut. Stay put.
August 3rd, 2005 at 8:53 am
As much as we can criticize Dusty for his managing or public relation skills, he does bring the talent into the club. Known as a “players manager,” guys come to the Cubs to play for him. Plus it looks like he will give the Cubs their first three consecutive seasons above .500 in a long time.
August 3rd, 2005 at 9:48 am
I view him as the beneficiary of Jmi Hendry’s hard work rather than the actual architect of anything. I used to have a mild respect for Dusty. But his complete inability to control or reprimand his players during the Steve Stone debacle last year, coupled with his turn-the-other-cheek mentality about Sammy’s neverending temper tantrums, made me lose respect for this so-called “players’ manager.”
August 5th, 2005 at 10:56 am
Weeee, the Cubs may have 3 winning seasons in a row.
Weeee, Dusty’s a players manager that more than compensates for the fact that his tatical baseball acumen is lower than plankton.
Weeee, players love to play for him because he doesn’t hold them accountable.
Weeee, Spudart is happy with mediocrity!
August 20th, 2005 at 1:51 pm
Scoop,
I’ve listened to reporters rant for a couple years now about T.O., Barry Bonds and a few others. I’m really beginning to think its Pure hatred on some reporters part. I’ve yet to hear you or them be impartial to some athletes especially T.O. I’d like for you to take a moment to hold the Pure hatred and total dislike for T.O. for a second and do a column from the other side. Let’s skip T.O.’s antics for this moment I request and put the tell, tell truths out there. Let’s defend T.O. as if he were innocent child being mistreated. (Not that, that is the case but for the sake of this column.)
Let’s first go back to last season after T.O. went down with an injury. Donovan and a few others stated publicly they didn’t need T.O. to win (Superbowl) as if they had won 3 of the last 4 or even made it without him. Now, that may have been a mistake and a public diss to T.O. especially after he was probably the difference in the Eagles being 13 - 3 instead of 10 - 6 or even 9 - 7 truthfully speaking. Oh yeah, how do you ask the guy to sign a waiver before the big game absolving the Eagles of any liability. Same guy you telling play under current contract or don’t play.
Let’s move to the Superbowl where Donovan came out scrambling, fumbling and throwing two picks all in one drive. Later, whether you are a fan of Donovan’s or not (which I am). Whether you even like football or not. You had to be blind not to see something was wrong in the final few minutes of the Superbowl. Now, was it Donovan? Was it Coach Reid’s play calling? Was Donovan puking, befuddled, confused or just choking right before the world? Hmmm.
Now, let’s skip to post game interviews where one offensive lineman implied Donovan was sick and throwing up in the huddle, like we didn’t see it on national TV. One wideout (not named T.O.) implied he came into the game with a play from Coach and Donovan couldn’t even call the play and that he (one wideout not named T.O.) had to call the play himself in the huddle. These comments coming to light led reporters to T.O. for commentary and he let it out in defense of a team that didn’t need him to win the Superbowl because they didn’t. They needed a guy who could come through in the clutch, when the heat is on, who could stand in the huddle when the pressures on. You do know Donovan choked and puked a few times in big games at Syracuse.
Now Donovan tried to dispel the talk of being sick and only attacked T.O. telling him to keep his name out his mouth when he wasn’t even the one who pulled him on the carpet. This season he’s not speaking T.O.’s name. He publicly stated Brian Westbrook (who by the way was holding out at the time) was the best player and key to the team’s success. More public dissing of a guy who helped you to your best statistical season to date.
OK, let’s get to some meat and potatoes. In 2004, T.O. whose base salary is only $660,000 had a signing bonus of $2.3 million and earned $6.2 million in other bonuses and incentives. Now T.O. after getting hurt recognizes he is vulnerable an in a position to get his money up front like others. He asked for a renegotiation or revision to his contract. He didn’t ask for more money. And since when do owners/ management come out and try and punk athletes, you play for the contract or don’t play.
The average fan is smart enough to understand nonguaranteed contracts that if you have a five year deal worth $30 million. A five year $25 million contract with a $5 million signing bonus which is prorated over each year of contract at $1 million a year. The first year you get $3 million next $4 then $5 and so on. In the last year if the team feels you ain’t worth $7 million they can cut you, no if ands or butts. You’re contract was not worth 5 years $30 million but 4 years at $23 million. Just ask, Lawyer Milloy, Troy Brown, Peter Warrick, Jerimiah Trotter or even Ty Law. Scoop, we have a problem! Slandering him in the media because some of you got a pen or a soap box to spew from is just as demeaning to him as you say he is to the team chemistry. If the media was fed up, then don’t cover him, don’t talk about him, don’t give him any air time …. Not!
As a pure sports fan, without biases, Pure Love for the game, I’d like to here folks like you, Skip Bayless, Wilbom & Steven A. (who I had a conversation with in an elevator, I don’t think he would ever win a conversation at a inner city barber shop) give both sides there due. Express for the athlete who can’t actually put it into the columns, morning pizza or 30 minute shows on ESPN like you can.
Signed,
Pure fan
September 29th, 2005 at 2:39 pm
Scoop,
I read a recent article “Down the Stretch They Come” on ESPN Page2. Would love to speak with you concerning that article. Maybe you could be a guest on my show “The Sports Riot” on WJOB radio where I have been doing “The 1st Race from Preacher Park” for several months. Would like to forward you a copy of one of my races. I believe you will find it quite intresting if those other guys (also broadcasting out of Hammond, IN) claim that is their bit. I am getting lots of phone calls concerning this topic.
Love your style. Look forward to speaking with you
The “Preacher”
wjob/wims Radio Hammond, IN
March 30th, 2006 at 1:15 am
I can’t stand Scoop Jackson. I remember listening to an interview on ESPN Radio with Jackson a couple years ago; his kid was pestering him, and all of a sudden, the kid starts wailing because Jackson smacked him while on the air! Big jerk: I’ve disliked him ever since.