Monday (Inexplicable liking) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on June 30th, 2008 – 8:31 AMBy Michael Rand
Back in the day, a friend of ours had what would come to be known in the parlance of today as a “man-crush” on Mark Grace. This friend had no other affiliation with the Cubs, and there was no real reason to explain why he enjoyed the baseball stylings of their handsome, singles-hitting first baseman. He didn’t even really try to explain it. He just liked Mark Grace. After watching the most recent NCAA hoops tournament, we felt the same way about Kevin Love. And so on draft night, while we had nothing personal against Ovinton J’Anthony Mayo (except for the fact that his suit looked two sizes too small and that his body copy of his Wikipedia page lists USC losses with the smaller score first), we pined for Love and we were eventually rewarded. Where is this taking us: to yet another commenter draft. This time, we’re dealing with players who are inexplicably loved, either by you or the general populace.
These are, after all, the doldrums of summer we’re veering toward. No more Euro 2008. Four days at the U.S. Women’s Open have come and gone. Wimbledon? Nah. NFL training camp is a ways off. Just baseball and idle chatter. So let’s get this draft going. Mark Grace and Kevin Love are off the board. The rest of the sporting world is fair game.
Fasola-link! Whenever Matt has nothin’, which he claims is the case today, he delivers some Muppets.
27 Responses to "Monday (Inexplicable liking) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
With the second pick of the RandBall ManCrush Inexplicable Love Draft, fasolamatt selects
Duane Kuiper, 2B, Cleveland Indians (1974-1981, before most of you whippersnippers were born).
I have an autographed ball, and wore out my replica jersey.
Kuip hit one career home run. He’s now a play by play guy for the Giants. His brother produces the games, and his other brother does A’s games.
If the majority of draftees are “gritty” white guys, I’m leaving this site for good.
And here I was just about to say Denny Hocking.
My actual first-round choice: Andrew Toney, Philadelphia 76ers. I grew up a Sixers fan, because of Dr. J and the lack of a MN franchise. However, they could never seem to get past Boston in the East until Andrew Toney just rained jumpers down on the C’s. I loved him for that.
For me, it’s all Shane Mack, all the time. With full-season career highs of .315, 18 HR and 75 RBI, he was more than a role player, but less than a superstar. That’s probably why I liked him. Shane Mack, why did you have to go to Japan?
As the inspiration for this post, I read it with great interest, and have now been able to understand something about myself — why I don’t like Joe Mauer that much. After Mark Grace, I realized I could never love another hits-left-throws-right, big, strapping singles-hitter-who-should-hit-for-power baseball player as much ever again.
BJ Armstrong/Craig Hodges/John Paxton/Steve Kerr. They’re all really the same player aren’t they?
Wait I have received a trade offer and I am now trading the Bulls undersized shooters for this guy:
http://www.startribune.com/local/22709089.html?location_refer=Homepage:highlightModules:7
It’s hard NOT to cheer for a guy who gets drunk and runs from the cops.
Does Jeter qualify for this?
I am a southpaw, so I often liked people solely based on our shared lefthandedness. Rickey Henderson, because he batted right and threw left like me, Thomas Hill from Duke, Harold Miner (though liking him in college wasn’t inexplicable), among others.
OK, THIS should have been the link of the day.
A bunch of people who comment on a blog get together to watch a sporting event. Whoda thunkit?
Al Newman was my favorite Twin growing up. How’s that for you Brandon? A scrappy black player.
During interleague play in ‘02 I saw him beat the Philly Phanatic with a bat. That was probably the only time in my life I ever got to cheer Al Newman for success on the field.
I never heard a real reason why he left the Twins organization. Anybody know?
17. Neil Anderson
As much as it pains me to say, I loved Chuck Knoblauch…In fact, I have always worn #11 on my baseball and softball teams since…I was 11 when he won ROY and he was a favorite until he was traded to the Yanks.
If the majority of draftees are “gritty” white guys, I’m leaving this site for good.
Does that mean I can’t say Kurt Rambis? It wasn’t his short shorts so much as the rec specs. Those were sweet.
Brandon: but you can’t leave. You have 14 guest posts to do during the Wolves season. It’s in your contract.
31. Ed Cota- UNC PG from 1996-2000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Cota
One of the best passers I have ever seen. As a Point Guard growing up, he was one of my favorite players.
A fun fact- Ed was born on the same day as NBA star Kevin Garnett.
It pains me to say this, but if I were forced to choose an inexplicable liking (and Shane Mack was off the board), it’d have to be Jason Kubel. I stuck up for that guy through the lean years, so much that every time I see him succeed now, I cheer like he’s family. It’s inexplicable in the purest form.
I also have a huge man-crush on Allen Iverson. That “practice” rant tickled me pink.
“That “practice” rant tickled me pink.”
Maybe that could explain what happened to Paula Creamer yesterday.
I’m not sure pick it actually is, but I’m taking Chad Johnson. Maybe I shouldn’t like him because he’s a bit of a primadonna but I can’t help drafting him in just about every fantasy league I’m in. I even own an actual “Ocho Cinco” jersey and he didn’t have to hit a homerun for me to get it.
35. Sherman Douglas
Apparently I thought Syracuse point guards were awesome. Or maybe I just loved his floater in the lane.
I thought Paula decided to go the Sergio route. Wearing bright colors and fading down the leaderboard on Sunday is right out of his playbook.
Mike Madano I still love this guy. He needs to come back to Minnesota and play for the Wild.
Those steely eyes… sigh…
Don’t kill me… Nick Punto.
Hosea Crittenden.
I can’t believe Shane Mack is off the board. He was the first one that came to mind, I thought surely he’d still be available.. I guess I’ll just have to take the next best player available–Jon Casey.
