Comments on: Read: Newsday on Acta, and Fraternization

By: Another Matt

Another Matt — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:06:30 +0000

I don’t think little league is a good benchmark for adult, professional sports.

The little-league ethos is more concerned with molding kids to be good little citizens, and shielding them from any possible “psychological scar” from losing big.

I’ll tell you this… I used to live in England, and there are no mercy rules in kids’ soccer or rugby leagues. It’s OK to win big, but you are expected to learn how to do it without disgrace. You’re also expected to learn that sometimes you lose, and sometimes you lose big, but you have to deal with that with class too. There are things that people aren’t good at, and at some point in their life, they have to learn to find something else they’re better at.

It really surprises me that in a country where it’s OK for hedge fund managers to earn $3.9 billion / year while people working multiple jobs still earn so little they have to choose between feeding their children or paying the heating bill, that it’s not OK to win a little-league game 20-0

By: TheIcon

TheIcon — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:06:30 +0000

I think it’s funny that everyone here jumps on the media for writing a “negative” story. This is not negative story. It’s legit, and as a former sportswriter, I would have written myself. I think it looks bad when the front office and players show that much attention to Manny Acta. If they like him so much, Acta should be the one managing the Mets, not Randolph and I think that is the underlying message in this whole thing. The actions of the front office especially give the perception that Acta is missed by the Mets because he’s the one who should be in their dugout, not Willie. I guarantee you is Willie fails and gets fired during the offseason, Acta will be back with the Mets.

By: rM teM

rM teM — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:36:36 +0000

I like the old school. Like last year when he started
the shaved head thing. We are very lucky to have him.

By: dave56dj

dave56dj — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:58:49 +0000

Did anyone notice in the 14th inning when Carlos Delgado was being intentionally walked he had a lengthy coversation (in spanish) with soeomeone in the Nats dugout. Probably nothing, but I would be curious as to what he was saying, my geuss is he was messing with acta but keith and gary never mentioned it. The talk went on through all 4 pitches, anyone see that?

By: VCarver

VCarver — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:48:49 +0000

You will be surprised to hear (as I was) that in 1969, Heyman ran onto the field at Shea Stadium after the last out to celebrate the Mets WS title! He said this recently in one of his radio interviews on the FAN. He didn’t explicitly say he was a Mets fan; he was just recounting some memories of Shea. But I think you have to conclude he was a Mets fan growing up.

Having said that, I agree that when he was with Newsday he was very negative toward the Mets … like Wallace Matthews, only Heyman did his bashing a little more intelligently. But since he’s gone on to SI.com, he has mellowed out a bit and treats them more fairly. I also have to say that he is a nice guy. Once I wrote to him to complain about his article on Grant Roberts, and he was nice enough to write back and give an explanation of his treatment of the story. I was impressed with both his civility, friendliness, and the time he gave to one of his readers. So ever since, I’ve had a generally good impression of him, regardless of any negativity he writes about the Mets.

By: wnymetsfan

wnymetsfan — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:46:13 +0000

As long as it doesn’t affect you play during the game I see no problem with it. Lets be honest Acta was welled liked by the players,coaching staff and front office. He only left to take a promotion. He left on good terms. Of course the guys are going to like seeing him and want to find how he is doing that is what friends do. You cannot expect someonetostop being friends with someone else just because he left the company. Heck Acta is still the 3B probably if he doesn’t take the Nats job.

It is the nature of the beast in today’s game due in most part to free agency as a lot ofthe players know each other at a much more personallevel.

By: wnymetsfan

wnymetsfan — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:42:48 +0000

Exactly the Mets won 3 straight from the Nats so there wasn’t anything negative to write about so Lennon has to come up with something. Than you have Beltran telling Reyes to be himself and to not care about the other team because his team needshim to be himself. Beltran was showing leadership skills which writers are always saying the he doesn’t do and he gets beat on for that as well. It is like they cannot bring themselves to be positive and write a positive article about the Mets. If Beltran or any of the other guys have ask permission to take Reyes aside or Scheinder to talk about hitting than it isn’t leadership it is the boss telling you to do something. I know where I work they would like seeing someone take the iniative to bea leader andhelp out a co-worker when needed withoutbeing asked or asking.

By: gomets6091

gomets6091 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:35:32 +0000

haha so true. Has any athlete’s stock ever plummeted so much in a single season? Right now he’s just about the most disliked athlete in NY, after being beloved a year ago.

By: phoola

phoola — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:24:30 +0000

I can see you have strong views about something that has nothing to do with what I was talking about. Part of good sportsmanship is to play your hardest and do your best, and work hard to develop your skills. I don’t care much for everyone getting trophies either. But character buiding is an essential part of sports – it includes understanding that it is a game and treating it and your competitors with respect. Anyone who rubs their opponents nose in it is just a spoilsport who suffers from such low self-esteem that they don’t belong on the field. Until, of course, they are being paid millions and then we glorify it. Such hypocrisy.

By: nrmax88

nrmax88 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:21:13 +0000

David Wright is not this perfect angel everybody thinks. He is a great baseball player, and he is also 25 and is one of the biggest stars in NY and I am sure he has fun. The thing about Wright, is that whether or not he believes anything is true or correct, (I am one who thinks that David thinks the fans who boo’d morons, much the same as Show or Wagner does), but whatever he believes he says the politically correct thing that the fans and media want to here. And he performs at an MVP level. Thats why he is loved. Much the saame as that Jeter guy. Its not what you think, it is what you say, and Wright always says the right thing, where as Wagner doesnt care and just says what he feels.