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On May 1st, I attended the Tribeca Film Festival screening of The Zen of Bobby V, a film that documents a season in the life of former Mets manager, Bobby Valentine.
Three young directors from NYU followed Valentine around for all of last season, and were able to show how much of a baseball, and pop icon he has become. He is recognizable everywhere, and is often mobbed by fans. Between all of his many endorsements, he finds time to manage Benny Agbayani, and the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League.
The film also highlights Valentine’s determination to keep quality players in Japan since many are leaving for the potential riches of MLB. He likens Japanese baseball to the Negro leagues in regards to how they were once very popular, but eventually forced into extinction when the best players left for more money.
The few Q&A segments with Valentine give great insight to his perspective on life, and baseball, so I wish there were more of them, but overall it is a must-see for any Bobby V. fan.
The directors were in attendance and said the following about his popularity overseas:
“There is no one you can compare him to here in the states in terms of popularity…he is more popular there than any major league player, or manager is here by alot.”
The film will be aired tomorrow night at 9 pm on ESPN 2.
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Why is the clickable text red now?
Dont see any clickable red text here.
Thanks for the heads up for ESPN2.
I see the red link text…
The Bobby V movie was awesome. I saw the third and final screening and enjoyed every minute of it. Not only does it give great insight into the life of Bobby V, it really educates you on just how important baseball is to the Japanese people.
I may be in the minority, but I really liked Bobby V. as manager of the Mets and would take him back in a nanosecond.
The time he was ejected from the game and was hanging out in the tunnel with the fake moustache and glasses was priceless. The papers made fun of him but I think that it was hilarious and he proved to be a stark difference from the stoic, boring, unemotional Willie Randolph. Sure Bobby V. rubbed some people the wrong way. They said he acted like he invented the game. Well so what? He WAS a good manager and he DOES know a great deal about the game. Yeah he could be sarcastic. He’d answer a reporter’s stupid question with that big smile on his face, talking through almost-gritted teeth and burning a hole in the reporter with his eyes. Still, he knew how to manage, which is much more than I can say for the last two guys we’ve run through Flushing.
I find the fact that this individual maintained a disguise at the ready at his place of employment to be troubling. Who would think like that? I am very content to have B.V. living outside the continental U.S.
You failed to take into account Bobby’s resourcefulness. The disguise was (a) a random hat; (b) a Mets t-shirt; (c) a pair of sunglasses; and (d) eye-black made to look like a mustache. This is a man who will never say die.
It was hilarious – anyone who took that situation seriously really needs to chill out.
I alwayd liked Bobby V, but I’m sure it was easier to like him without having to deal with him on a daily basis.
Actually, I was a waiter at his restaurant during the summers of ‘99, ‘00, and ‘01. When the Mets were in town, he was there every morning doing random stuff (actual work for the restaurant, not just getting free meals). While there were moments I wondered how his ego ever fit through the front door, he was a pretty cool guy to work for. He genuinely seemed to care about the employees, and tried to make it a good experience for everyone.
i hope you’re not serious…..
…..replying to mr metster above…
I can’t wait to see this tomorrow
Bobby V is an ambassador to the game. I consider him a true Met and should the Mets consider a managerial change he should be there #1 candidate.
Japan is baseball crazed, it’s much more of a rabid, celebrity type obsession thing there than it is America, which makes it understandable that the directors of this film characterized him in that way. Not sure if they left that whole part of it out though. As for Bobby V likening Japanese baseball to the Nego leagues, I find that distasteful. The negro leagues were in existence because of segregation and racism, that was forced upon them, the japanese leagues are in existence because its a different country, there’s this geographical barrier known as the pacific ocean that kind of hinders all of Japan’s inclusion into the major leagues. If they want, any player is free to join the majors, and its their choice to do so. The negro leagues, while popular, shouldn’t have been in existence in the first place. Japan obviously should have their own league, but to be upset that players are leaving comes off as selfish to me. It’s the player’s choice.
I don’t think Booby V was making a comparrison between Japanese Baseball and the Negro leaugue in regards to racial segregation. If you read what he said (it amazes me how two people can read the same article and come away with two totally different conclusions) he was only trying to make the point (granted, unwisely) that Japan baseball resembled the Negro league in terms of players leaving one league for the other and as a result causing the extinction of the league which lost all it’s star players (Negro league). The racial card here is not valid. Just my opinion.
yeah, i don’t think the race thing plays directly into the point about the japanese league, my point was only that the situations are inherently different because the negro leagues were founded based on race, while the japanese league was founded because its in japan. There never should have been a negro league in the first place, i guess that was my point, along with the fact that I can’t get upset about players leaving japan to come to the majors, even if it hurts japanese baseball. I also find that Bobby V takes jabs at the major leagues whenever he can, like its not the players fault that they leave the japanese leagues, its the major leagues fault that they pay more money, or something like that.
Anyone know if it will be possible to buy this on dvd? I don’t think i’ll be able to see it tomorrow.
see comment below
a lot = two words.
The film will probably be on DVD sometime later this year or next year. THE ZEN OF BOBBY V will also definitely re-air on ESPN2 on May 19 @ 3pm with possible re-airs this month.
Bobby compares japan to the negro leagues purely in a business sense. the negro leagues had ballparks, fans, teams, etc just as japan does. instead of integrating those teams into MLB ala nfl and afl, they just took the best players and let those teams go out of business. bobby would like to see mlb some day incorporate the japanese league instead of taking their best (and now mid-rate) talent.