Note: Willie’s Pre-Game Comments
Prior to today’s game, Willie Randolph told reporters that his remarks from Sunday regarding SNY, race, etc, were ‘tongue and cheek,’ while talking to a reporter, Ian O’Conner from the Bergen Record, who he has known for years.
To watch video of Randolph’s comments, click play below:
He said the Wilpons hired him not because he is black, but because they thought he could do the job at hand.
Admittedly, he said he probably should have thought more about what he said, because it has nothing to do with race and all about winning ball games.
He is not upset with SNY’s portrayal of him, though he does believe they only focus on him when something negative happens, not when something positive happens.
“When you win and do well,” he said, “All of this kind of stuff isn’t talked about.”
…Update…12:45 pm…
…i don’t know, man…to me, willie is starting to seem very, very paranoid, super defensive, and he’s talking and looking like a guy who can’t handle the pressure of managing in New York…
…in year one, the team did well…in year two, it did great…things were pretty easy for him then, in terms of fan support and media attention, and so all was well…
…however, since the end of last season the heat has turned up, and as such, the heat under his collar has seemingly gone up as well…it doesn’t help that he is rather defensive by nature, according to people who know him professionally, and so if fans start booing and media start swirling, whether he’s right in how they portray him or not, it makes sense that he would become defensive with us and beat writers and SNY, etc, as well…
…it’s weird, because, having lived through the Bronx Zoo, who better than him to know what New York fans and media are like…that said, maybe that experience also trained him to be paranoid…
…don’t buckle, willie…don’t fight the fans…don’t fight the media…because you’ll never win…just stay strong and for pete’s sake, stop talking…
