Thursday (Who do you like?) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on May 15th, 2008 – 9:02 AMBy Michael Rand
There are two kinds of unpredictable players in sports: the kind people seem to like because of the excitement factor (see Carlos Gomez) and the kind people seem to dislike because of inconsistency and perhaps the perception that said player wouldn’t have to be so unpredictable if they tried a little harder (see Ricky Davis). Sometimes, though, a player skirts those two neat categories to the point where you just can’t figure him out. For us, one of the prime examples is Manny Ramirez. He undoubtedly has immense talent. He’s certainly eccentric (check out this play from yesterday). Sometimes he doesn’t hustle. Sometimes he forgets how many outs there are. At the end of the day, it adds up to the phrase, “Manny Being Manny,” which is about right but still leaves us unsure of what exactly to think of him. But he’s not the only one who fits this category, dear readers, and we’d like to play a gut reaction game where, on a scale of 1-10, you decide how much you “like” a certain athlete and. Ready? Go:
Manny Ramirez.
Randy Moss.
Jason Kubel.
Shaquille O’Neal.
Phil Mickelson.
Marian Gaborik.
This should be fun, but maybe not as fun as the Fasola-link! on ice cream wars.
16 Responses to "Thursday (Who do you like?) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
Fun? Fun is looking at this and seeing which team is on top of which other team.
Now, to the question at hand:
Manny Ramirez: money grubbing deserter. -3
Randy Moss: thug with bad attitude. 1
Jason Kubel: mediocre talent. 4
Shaq: entertaining, past his peak. 6
Phil: just another golfer. 5
Marian: ask me after he signs his next contract. 4
Manny Ramirez. 3
Randy Moss. 7
Jason Kubel. 9
Shaquille O’Neal. 7
Phil Mickelson. 3
Marian Gaborik. 8
Yes, I like Jason Kubel more than the rest of these athletes. Apparently, ability doesn’t equal likability with me.
Manny Ramirez bugs me. I don’t know I guess I think he gets kind of a free pass for being flighty because he’s on the Red Sox. Carl Crawford is talented and makes boneheaded plays (see every stupid, self-centered play he’s made against the Twins), but, for some reason, I don’t think he’ll get the leniency that Manny does.
Randy Moss stopped playing hard for a team that wasn’t trying to win. He was being blamed for Daunte’s inability to throw accurate passes during the end of his time in Minny. He had to play in the absolute pit of mediocrity that is Oakland. I think his play with the Vikings at the beginning of his career and his play last year with the Pats are the reality of his ability. For some reason, I like Randy. Maybe it’s because everyone dislikes him for not wanting to try when he’s being blamed for everything.
I really believe that Kubel was going to be the real deal before his knee injury. I still see flashes of the hitter that the Twins thought he would be. And he just seems like a humble, down-to-earth guy. That’s hard not to like.
Shaq - I get tired of some of the bravado, but overall, I’ve liked Shaq throughout his career. He seems to be candid more often than not, and that’s nice to see from a high profile athlete.
Phil Mickelson - I can honestly say that I’ve never wanted Phil to win a tournament. It’s one of those difficult to describe dislikes. Maybe it just comes with being a Tiger fan.
Marian Gaborik - I like Marian. But, as a fan, I get tired of his hot/cold performance. I wish he’d just buy-in to the system and shut up, rather than pouting. Really, “Be Like Koivu” should be the Wild motto.
Manny - 3
Moss - 2
Kubel - 9
O’Neal - 5
Mickelson - 7
Gaborick - 7
Manny is a liability in Left Field. How dare he discrace my position in High School, and current position in Softball.
Moss is a Jerk. Suddenly he has this break out season because he knows he’s playing on a Championship caliber team. Just think if he would have tried that hard in Oakland and here on his later years in MN.
Kubel is tops on this field. He plays hard every time. Doesn’t make excuses. If his team is doing [redacted], he’s still trying to improve and do his best.
O’Neal suddenly playing “well” when he went to Phoenix? Miami was going in the crapper and so he tanked it to get a trade. He had a great run at the begining of his career, but with as fat and out of shape as he’s continually going to get, there is no way he’ll be able to play until he’s 60 like Mutombo.
Mickelson is left handed. I eat, shoot pool, and fish left handed. That makes him an OK guy. Plus he beats Tiger once every solar eclipse, and that’s good because Tiger’s wife is way hotter than any girl I’ve ever dated or been shot down by, and that’s uncouth.
Gaborick is Gaborick to me. Not a HUGE hockey fan by anymeans, but from what I hear, he has potential and being someone that’s just getting into the sport, that’s a good thing right?
RE: Mickelson. FIGJAM.
Manny - 6 - Been a fan since I drafted him early in his career in a keeper strat-o-matic league, and one of my fellow owners said “I was hoping he’d fall to the 5th (final) round.” I kid you not.
Moss - 2 - Yes, it was higher when he was a Viking, because yes, I will put up with more from local players. Deal with it.
Kubel - 5 - It’s almost impossible to outright hate a local player. Unless it’s Nick Punto, or whatever other below average middle infielder the Twins are trying to force into too much of a role. I’d like Kubel more if he would just win the DH job outright.
O’Neal - 5 - Yes, it was lower earlier in his career, but now he’s higher just for the comical value. And you have to admire the whole wanting to earn a sheriff’s job thing, even if it is just to try to find something to arrest Kobe for (shouldn’t be tough).
Mickelson - 4 - Why are the largest breasts in professional golf on Lefty and Daly?
Gaborik - 7 - See Moss. If he leaves, he drops immediately to a N/A. I enjoy the local team. I do not care about hockey once we’re out. Meaning I am like 98% of the US population.
Manny Ramirez: 8- Mostly because he was a stud in Triple Play 99. Undefeated season playing as Cleveland? YES!
Randy Moss: 6- Yes, he’s a bit of a clown, but he’s a crazy gifted clown who is fun to watch on the field.
Jason Kubel: 9- Total man crush. He needs to play every day.
Shaquille O’Neal: 3- Don’t care much for basketball, hate him a bit more every time he opens his mouth.
Phil Mickelson: 7- All but one of those points are actually for his wife.
Marian Gaborik: 9- He’s Czech, and that’s all I need to know.
Manny - 7, for comedy’s sake.
Moss - 7. I miss him.
Kubel - 6. Burned me too many times.
Shaq - 6. Entertainment value, I’ll say that.
Phil - 5. Only fun when he does crazy things.
Gaborik - 8.
Hey Rand-
Are we playing office baseball w/ the Twins today? I haven’t said “I told you so” in days.
I find it mildly ironic that we’re taking times out of our jobs to discuss the perceived laziness of other professionals in their jobs.
And with that, I need to get back to Simmons’s 15,000 word blog post.
Brandon, I don’t find that as ironic as, say, a free ride when you’ve already paid.
I think Gaborik left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth with his poor (read: invisible) playoff performance… But he clearly WAS trying then. I think he proved more this year by doing more (and actually playing the majority of the season).
As for Kubel, couldn’t agree more Jon. Every time I tell people I think Kubel’s on the brink of getting good, he burns me by spending two months batting .220.
Manny Ramirez - 2
Randy Moss - 7
Jason Kubel - 4
Shaquille O’Neal - 9
Phil Mickelson - 8
Marian Gaborik - 9
Odds that the (hopefully) upcoming post will be before 12:01 and NOT about the twins: 5-4
Any takers?
You look at these guys, Plaxico Burress included and wonder, if they would give 100% they could be amazing. But maybe it is because they make it look so easy that we think they are lazy. Guys like Craig Counsell work hard every at bat and don’t have the talent of these guys, but he is busting his but to make an effort (and we can see that), and the Manny’s of the world flick their wrists and bat .310
Manny Ramirez = 7 I was siting in the outfield when Boston beat the Twins that one game, and he was putting forth quite an effort in the field and coming up with some good plays. Not all of them, but there was more effort than I expected.
Randy Moss = 8 He did run a lot of long, deep routes, so when it wasn’t coming to him he’s ok to relax. But when it is man can he make things happen.
Jason Kubel = 6 Not sure of Hootie’s Man Crush” on him when we have Craig Monroe. They make a killer combo.
Shaquille O’Neal = 2 How can you not make a free throw… it is the easiest shot in the world to practice!?!
Phil Mickelson = 9 it’s all a mental deal with him, he works hard, but cracks under the pressure.
Marian Gaborik = 5 if I believe what Jaques says about him, (or can even understand it) he should be bringing more effort.
Oops…ment 1000-1.
No Gogo today. Bummer. I wonder how many 2 strike bunt attempts Tolbert will make.
