Steve Lopez gives up on Manny, and his World Series tickets

Times columnist Steve Lopez is fed up with Manny Ramirez. He's so disgusted with the Dodgers slugger that he's decided to give up his own World Series tickets. The Dodgers, of course, first must defeat two playoff opponents to reach what would be their first World Series since 1988, but if it happens, Lopez won't be joining them there:

So here I am with World Series tickets in my hand and a wave of hysteria sweeping the city. I'm sorry for being the cockroach in the punch bowl, but I can't bring myself to join the party. The only thing that could get me to the ballpark in the post-season would be if Manager Joe Torre were to staple Manny's dreadlocks to the dugout wall and play Juan Pierre in his place. I'd rather lose with a scrappy singles hitter like Pierre than win with a loafing slugger like Ramirez.

Maybe I'll be in a more forgiving mood next year and return to the ballpark -- I just don't know. But I'm giving my World Series tickets this year to the person who writes my favorite 50-word sermon to Ramirez.

Read the full column here. For Steve to consider your sermon of no more than 50 words, post it as a comment below by noon Pacific Daylight Time on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009.

Comments

[Abe Rosenberg]

Steve, don't let one spoiled brat ruin your enjoyment. Sure, Manny's tough to stomach, but staying home because of him is like boycotting the Times because of one article. Is he worth it? Go to the game, holler yourself hoarse, and if you want some company, I'm available.

[John]

My son Isaac turns five this October. My wife’s a Sox fan, so he was almost “Manny.”

Isaac loves baseball. He’s got a beautiful swing, a close-his-eyes-and-make-the-world-spin-around-his-heels swing.

I said you took medicine by mistake, were sorry and would work really hard to get better. So work really hard, ok?

[Brian S.]

Oh, somewhere in the U.S., the players hit the ball;
They love their fans, they run and sweat, they strive to give their all;
And somewhere fans are happy, all smiles and never frowns;
But there is no joy in L.A. - mighty Manny let us down.

[José Beltrán]

Manny,
When Cristobal Colón landed in what is now Santo Domingo in 1492 the Taínos could never have imagined what kind of destruction he would bring. When you arrived in Los Angeles, neither did the Dodgers. On the bright side your resume is perfect for governor of California.

[Kevin Shuai]

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the LA Nine last year.
Four games behind deep in summer; we feared.
Then came Manny, Mannywood, #99.
Magic last October, and though we lost, we didn't mind.
And yet now, in alarm, we shout,
For now it’s October and Manny Ramirez keeps striking out.

[clint]

Manni-pulated.

The deliverer from the east
Soon let us down in defeat
Yes, the one with long hair
Is just a Samson repeat
Do you not know
Have you not heard
It is a crime to cheat
So why do you feel
That you are so elite?

[Joshua K.]

Manny Ramirez’s impact on Dodgers’ fans has always had the flair for the dramatic. From the moment we heard of the season-altering trade last July, to his triumphant statement “I’m back” that served as the springboard to a season of hope, to the devastating news of his positive test for performance enhancing drugs, Manny’s footprint on the Los Angeles sports scene has been undeniable.

But as any Dodger fan can attest to, one responsibility of supporting the Dodgers requires us to deride the Giants. Exhibit 1, Barry Bonds. Not only did I, along with the rest of Dodger stadium, boo him lustily every time his name was mentioned, but the moment his name became linked with the BALCO scandal, Bonds became the poster child for all that was allegedly wrong with baseball. Despite his all-world talent, his surly attitude and perceived arrogance for anybody who questioned his credentials made him an easy target. Bonds made it simple to stand upon a soapbox and preach about asterisks, Henry Aaron’s true greatness and the Steroid Era. Further, no one rushed to his defense and those that did were considered delusional and simply dismissed as “Bonds apologists.”

Now the proverbial shoe is on the other foot. We find ourselves at a crossroads that has never quite presented itself. Beloved Dodgers like Eric Gagne and Paul Lo Duca, both who have been linked to HGH use in the Mitchell Report, have long been removed from the Los Angeles sports scene. Kobe Bryant’s sexual assault case in 2003 had a similar blindside effect but was easier to defend as Kobe was never suspended by the NBA and the charges were ultimately dropped.

Manny’s suspension has created the perfect test for any attempt at moral hairsplitting. Despite all the alleged baggage that Manny was supposed to bring over from Boston, he had been nothing but a model citizen. His happy-go-lucky attitude was refreshing and his caveman approach to hitting—see ball, hit ball into left field pavilion—became the highlight of our day. We loved Manny being Manny and showered him with curtain calls, Manny chants, and our attendance.

With Manny now struggling as the Dodgers enter the post season we are left to wrestle with the quagmire as to where do we, the paying fans, stand? For all the wide range of positions posited by the media on this issue, their opinions do not truly matter. The sports writers do not spend money on tickets, merchandise or concessions to watch Manny play—we do. Their purpose is to entertain or inform us in hopes that our eyes catch their advertiser’s wares. Thus, as the theoretical holders of the purse string, what we think ultimately matters.

As for me, I have decided that if I am to forgive Manny and support him, then it would be hypocritical for me not to afford the same grace to others. In my self-righteous rush to throw stones at all athletes who tested positive, it took my favorite player’s downfall to realize the true meaning that, “[w]e are all vulnerable, and we will all, at some point in our lives…fall.” There is no justification for behavior that brings detriment to the game that we all cherish and all consequences of such actions are well deserved. However if I, who once hypothesized that federal indictments should be sought against those who test positive for performance enhancing drugs, can find it in my heart to forgive Manny…and Barry, then perhaps others may as well.

Take us the promise land, Manny.

[Ryan H]

Dear Mr. Ramirez:

I have been a Dodger fan my whole life (37 years). When you came to the Dodgers, I was excited. At the same time you came to LA, I was denouncing Barry Bond's for his ongoing criminal behavior. Thus, your involvement with banned substances and lackluster attitude since that event was annoying & distressing, to say the least. In any event, you're not my favorite Dodger - far from it. More importantly, my son (4 yrs) has said he doesn't root for you 'because you cheated' (I was forced to explain your prolonged absence). He is only 4, and he is the next generation. Do you really want to be remembered by these young ones in this way? Please get it together so the young fans CAN root for you. You certainly can at least pretend to care.

[Daniel Nowell]

Fall is here and the L.A. leaves rustle,
October, now he really should hustle!
He was great, but lately he’s been sour,
His ad is there near Seventh and Flower.
I walk by it daily to take the bus,
I make ten bucks an hour but I don’t fuss.

[Warren Yeager]

Dear Mr. McCourt:

I congratulate you and the Dodgers for your NL West Championship.

It is apparent to all who have watched the Dodgers this year that the team has little chance of getting past the Cardinals this week, so I have an idea which will benefit you financially: Put me in left field. As a 49 year old man who played major college baseball, I would charge you only $75,000 per game and could promise to play defense and strike out on a par with Manny. I'd even wear the dread wig.

Sincerely,

Warren Yeager

[Warren Yeager]

Dear Mr. McCourt:

I congratulate you and the Dodgers for your NL West Championship.

It is apparent to all who have watched the Dodgers this year that the team has little chance of getting past the Cardinals this week, so I have an idea which will benefit you financially: Put me in left field. As a 49 year old man who played major college baseball, I would charge you only $75,000 per game and could promise to play defense and strike out on a par with Manny. I'd even wear the dread wig.

Sincerely,

Warren Yeager

[Pamela]

Manny,

I clip coupons, brake soft, and make my own coffee. But I gladly pay $15 for parking, $5.75 for a Dodger Dog, and idle in traffic on the 110N - just to watch my beloved Dodgers. And to pay your salary.

We deserve better. All 56,000 of us.

NOW.

[Carlos A.]

Anyone with a bat can call himself a player
But, only few can answer our prayers.
Manny did.
He breathed life into a hopeless city.
Swings taken last July still propel our spirits.
I had never seen a playoff win. Now I have.
I’d like to see a title too.

[francisco rodriguez]

Well to start off manny has been a gold digger sice he was in the east now he want to take our la fans and our money with him. He should have some guilt in his 50 game suspension for doing what he was aware of.....manny u put all la down at least u put me down.....

[Christina L.]

My 50-word sermon is to you, Mr. Lopez:

Dad introduced me to Vin’s voice, to beloved games on radio. He, too, disillusioned. But if Manny corrodes my belief in the game’s sweetness, he wins. And I lose what Dad once loved. Naïve? Maybe. But don’t let Manny win. Believe in what baseball sometimes still is. Touchstone. Memory-giver. Sweetness.

[Mike Grimaldi]

Manny,

You symbolize everything that is wrong with baseball.

Your utter disrespect for your fans is appalling.

Yet, in this backwards world, you still have fans (and a high-paying job) even though you would have been kicked to the curb in any other profession.

Figure it out.

[francisco rodriguez]

I'm going to be hones I was really exited when manny came to la and he was hitting a homer almost every day, but when he had the 50 game suspension he had the down fall of the whole season. As well as all the dodger fans. But now forget about the so called "manny". There are better players than him like eithier, kemp.furcal.pierre., and of course our newly listed jim...who is not known much but I can say that he has done a better job than manny.....but regardless. I'm a dodger fan till death!!!

[CardsFan in SoFla]

Steve, it's nice that you are willing to give up something you don't and will not have. Cards in 4. Manny 2 Hr's, 6K's. After all it's all or nothing with Manny. Joe Torre Sooo Over rated. Might be a weak entry but Steve you got nothing to give.

[CardsFan in SoFla]

Steve, it's nice that you are willing to give up something you don't and will not have. Cards in 4. Manny 2 Hr's, 6K's. After all it's all or nothing with Manny. Joe Torre Sooo Over rated. Might be a weak entry but Steve you got nothing to give.

[Dan S]

Dear Manny,

A haiku for you:

Cleveland and Boston
Were your homes, now its Manny-
wood... why didn’t you stay?

I don’t blame Angelinos for their praise
They expect superstars like Magic and Kobe
But I rather watch under-praise diligent players
Than ungrateful fertility-drug-dopping girls.

[Joseph Choi]

As you came up to bat we would chant your name, but now we chant boos, so loud that you don't even hear the called strikes and as three balls pass by, you don't even realize that you're out, out of the game and our hearts.

[Joseph Choi]

As you came up to bat we would chant your name, but now we chant boos, so loud that you don't even hear the called strikes and as three balls pass by, you don't even realize that you're out, out of the game and our hearts.

[scooplew]

A LAMENTATION FOR MANNY RAMIREZ
(With apologies to The Shields and The Shangri-Las)

You cheated, you lied, when you said that you loved us fans.
You cheated, you lied, as you treated us like bedpans.

Oh, Manny, here’s what we’ll do,
Those of us who bleed Dodger Blue.

With a fertility drug, you proved untrue
So we’ll give birth to a continuous boo.

[mark d]

For the minor leaguers edged out of their chance. For the ballplayers getting by on grit. They are what those “silly” ideals of fair play, integrity, respect are for. They are your peers you need to apologize to. For us, we apologize to Pierre. For you, I turn my back.

[Joseph]

Sadaharu Oh is my favorite slugger. He hit 856 homeruns.

But I remember him mostly as a decent man.

Even while fighting cancer, he managed Team Japan to the WBC championship.

Manny, one day, you'll be in your death bed.

What will be your legacy?

Do the right thing.