I work in the advertising industry for a start-up company with a unique perspective on business and life. Every six months we create “Vision” boards and cut out objects we aspire to own and goals we plan to achieve. Each Monday and Friday we have church-like meetings lasting 3-4 hours, and a couple of times we have had new employees compare the company owner to a cult leader.
Last week we were given the task of finding and writing about who we aspire to be like. I immediately began to look back at my former “heroes” and saw nothing but drug addicts, cheaters, liars, and thieves. It was my goal to one day work at Beckett but in reality, I don’t know if I would fit in. Topps Company and Upper Deck would be a dream but at this time it’s unrealistic.
Here I was, a twenty-eight year old husband and father with no clue on what I wanted to achieve in life. That night I went online and began doing research on the upcoming Jose Canseco fight. Here was a man who 15 years ago was on top of the world and today was broke and stuck fighting in low-budget celebrity fights. What a terrible downgrade. How can I ever respect him again?
While doing the research I stumbled upon Sports Illustrated’s archives and found a story written by Rick Reilly in 1990. It was the best thing I have ever read in my entire life (relating to sports) and gave me a clear understanding of what it is I should be trying to achieve. In this article, Mr. Reilly reminded me of why it was that I fell in love with the character of Jose Canseco as a nine year-old kid so many years ago. I have read it over at least five times since then.
If you were watching the Home Run Derby last night than you are probably aware of the comments made by Reilly that like most things, have been taken out of context. He said about Josh Hamilton’s constant reminder that he has been saved , “it’s a lousy night to be an Atheist”. Oh, no! He also made a comment about there being “too many white people” at the Home Run Derby.
I don’t know about you but I am certain this was a joke. It may be a little hard to tell but Rick Reilly is white! Are we really so “politically correct” now that we can’t even make a harmless joke without upsetting the masses? What ever happened to having a sense of humor?
I’ll gladly take Reilly’s jokes any day of the week over anything Peter Gammons has ever done. I swear to God if I ever see that man playing his guitar on Baseball Tonight again I will personally hunt him down and strip him down to his Red Sox thong. Seriously, ugh!!!
I like Reilly’s columns, but his commentary last night left a lot to be desired. He said Justin Morneau didn’t deserve to be in the Derby, and he ended up winning. He rambled, and was just generally distracting.
I’m a huge fan as long as he sticks to writing.
Reilly was great last night, and his comments while in jest were right. (GASP!) He still can’t hold Gammons’ Red Sox thong though.
I’m a Gammons guy myself (even though he slurps on the Sox too much). And remember, we’re only 2 years past Gammons monster brain hemmorage. I don’t think most of us - reilly included - would be in the condition Gammons is in.
I didn’t care for his comments about “all the white guys” in the HR Derby, but I really liked it when he said, “well, I guess tonight isn’t a good night for athiests.”
I think Reilly is very witty and funny.
I’m kind of torn. I did not find Reilly’s comments offensive, but I didn’t find them funny either. I am glad that he wasn’t trying to be politically correct (which has destroyed open and honest communication in this fine nation), but at the same time I just don’t think he’s as witty as he thinks he is.
I remember reading parts of that Jose article when I was a kid. What I don’t remember is realizing what a collasle prick Jose seems to be. I guess as a kid you just can’t seem to look at anything other than your awesome Bash Brothers poster and 86 rated rookie (and the Fleer with Eric Plunk). Things were a lot simpler when all I had to love a guy for was what he could do on the field.
By the way, how great is the SI Vault? I think I’m going to go read about Sidd Finch. It’s been a while. Too long actually.
As an atheist, I can tell you that it wasn’t a lousy night at all! It was an amazing and memorable athletic accomplishment, and I think that it seems even more impressive if you give Josh Hamilton credit for what he did, and not a deity. That said, I didn’t think that Rick Reilly added much value to the broadcast. Overall, I think the ESPN guys did a great job, but I was really confused by Reilly’s rambling about Justin Morneau not deserving to be there. He seemed out of his element in the broadcast booth.
I used to subscribe to Sports Illustrated when Reilly had his weekly column on the last page of every issue, and I always wondered how so many of his columns that had nothing to do with sports found their way into a magazine about sports…
People are just overly sensitive and insecure. End of story.
It’s just one guy opening his mouth and giving his opinion. Who cares?
Hell, I think he is a talented writer, and yes… I do think there were too many white people there.
Reilly was wrong about the contest having “all white guys.” Grady Sizemore is biracial. His father is black.
If you want a great book from Reilly read “Death Threats Form Cheerleaders” it’ll make you laugh and cry. It’s a best of from his writings.
Forget it Reilly, you’re out of your element!
Reilly’s best stuff was from the mid 80s to mid 90s. He has just kind of coasted from then. For the money though, Tim Krikjen of ESPN is not one of the best writers, but also one of the most knowledgeable baseball guys out there.
Reilly’s a good writer. I didn’t realize that was him with the “8 white guys comment.
If you take out Timmy, then Peter Gammons probably knows more about baseball than every human being whose ever lived combined. The stories he could tell and the knowledge he could drop could up your baseball IQ tenfold and you still wouldn’t have even scratched the surface of his knowledge.
Reilly is clearly a better writer than talker. He kinda comes off as an intelligent fan in a crowd of professionals when he speaks, since he’s not so politically correct and a bit of a smartass. That’s not a bad thing though. It can even kind of refreshing, though that depends on the situation. His humor doesn’t translate from page to voice better than decently from what I’ve seen of him so far, and he does ramble a bit, but he does have enough presence to hold his own and seems fairly comfortable talking, so he’s got something going for him.
PS: Thanks for that mental image to go to sleep on…
How is what he said even remotely witty? I found it, frankly, quite idiotic.
There is no excuse for the atheism comment. It not only doesn’t make any sense, but it needlessly disparages an entire group of people. A lame attempt at a joke by a guy who just isn’t funny.