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

[Leann Onopa]

Ok Manny, so you pretty much got away with murder. Shame on you. Suspended for 50 games was a slap in the face for Dodger fans and teammates. So have fun milking that money you take from fans. Will it be a surprise if you don’t win the big game?

[KB]

This is not a submission for the tickets, but rather a mere 4 words for Steve Lopez:

You should be fired.

KB

[RMRamos]

Banish those who use steroids,
Kick him out to the curb.
Cut off his dreadlocks and take his cap,
I don’t care if he never comes back.
So, it’s root, root, root for the Dodgers,
The ones who can actually play.
For it Kemp, Blake and Ethier,
Who can win the game.

[Roob III]

Lasorda's Sermon to Manny

You are NOT a Dodger; I know because I bleed Dodger Blue! Heard of Gibson, Scully, Robinson, Hershiser? Of course NOT Manny, your play exhibits your disrespect for the spirits of Chavez Ravine. Grow up, stop cheating, hustle, and maybe the Dodger greats will forgive you.

[Brett Olsen]

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Period.

[Erik Chaffino]

Mr. Ramirez

TRY, try like i try to scrap together enough money to sit in the upper deck.

TRY, try like i try to finish college, so maybe someday i can sit a little closer.

TRY, try like i try and you will win. JUST TRY.

[Eric Somers]

Hey Manny, there are no apologies necessary. When baseball owners rewarded rampant steroid abusers for over a decade, they tacitly encouraged you to bulk up and hit ‘em out. If Eric Karros had wanted to win badly enough, we Dodger fans might not have suffered a twenty year championship drought.

[CT F.]

I am Lopez

Manny-man, Manny-man
Are you a cheater Manny-man?

I am not a cheater, Lopez-man

Do you like to cheat the fans?

I would never ever cheat the fans.

Would you, Could you get some hits
if you went back to into your steroid fits?

I was never in a "steroid fit"
I just needed to feel more feminine.

[Mike]

You wanted him? You got him. Now deal with him. -- signed- All of Boston--

[Liz Brown]

Manny came to the Dodgers from the Boston Red Sox

With his surly attitude and his flying dreadlocks

I have no idea why he has the support

Of Dodger owners Jamie and Frank McCourt

Without a why, a where, a what or a who

If given your tickets, I'd be glad to yell "boo!"

[Susan Bernard]

For one hundred and seventy
thousand a game,
You’d think your excuses
would not be so lame.

“The fault was my doctor’s.
Now it’s the boos.”
My advice Mannywood
is, “Man-up when you lose.”

“Stop whining, start hustling.
Show that you care.
Play from your heart
if there’s anything there.”

[Alex Padilla]

I tell my family to be honest. I try to accomplish this by setting a good example. Apparently, Manny did not get this lesson in life. Too bad, since he is considered a role model.

Those dreadlocks are keeping Manny from seeing the things in life that really matter.

[Darryl]

Manny who? You know that lazy guy with dreadlocks on the Dodgers. Dodgers? The guy that got caught dopping. I stop watching baseball years ago I don’t even watch highlights because of the cheaters. My wife tries to like it. Do you want the tickets? No Thanks.

[Darryl]

Manny who? You know that lazy guy with dreadlocks on the Dodgers. Dodgers? The guy that got caught dopping. I stop watching baseball years ago I don’t even watch highlights because of the cheaters. My wife tries to like it. Do you want the tickets? No Thanks.

[Jim Pack]

"There might be a kid in the stands who has never seen me play, or would never see me play again. I burned to be the best for them, to leave them with a good memory of me."
- Joe DiMaggio

"I'm sorry my Dr. gave me female hormones."
- Manny

[Ted Goldman]

S orry to see Manny fail
T hat he used drugs to little avail
E veryone should take pity on him
R eal athletes do not trim
O ne wonders about his prior feats
I mprobable unless he was a cheat
D o not wonder his return to earth
S teroid users have little worth

[Sun Lee]

Manny, where is the man in your name? Under the deadlocks, baggy clothes, you are an athlete that is too prideful to rundown balls and be involved in a game. Don’t give us your hype, we want your heart and desire for the game. Manny, man-up!

[A.D. Vasquez]

"One-hundred, seventy-five thousand dollars" and no sense.

An idea, suggestion, or prompt,
Let’s do like Manny and sit this one out.

I love baseball, the Dodgers, and wish Manny well,
Should I win, they’re mine to sell.

The proceeds to those that still hustle,
Youth sports; using their god-given muscle.

[Eddie Barker]

Manny-the no good tobacco chewin',
Traveling secretary abusin',
Way too long dreadlock havin',
Warning track power blastin'
Not running hard to first base loafer,
Who can't catch a fly ball, coaster,
Suspended for 50 game violator,
The unabashed, un-apologizer,
But I forgive you,
And, (Steve) you should too!

[Eddie Barker]

Manny-the no good tobacco chewin',
Traveling secretary abusin',
Way too long dreadlock havin',
Warning track power blastin'
Not running hard to first base loafer,
Who can't catch a fly ball, coaster,
Suspended for 50 game violator,
The unabashed, un-apologizer,
But I forgive you,
And, (Steve) you should too!

[Eddie Barker]

Manny-the no good tobacco chewin',
Traveling secretary abusin',
Way too long dreadlock havin',
Warning track power blastin'
Not running hard to first base loafer,
Who can't catch a fly ball, coaster,
Suspended for 50 game violator,
The unabashed, un-apologizer,
But I forgive you,
And, (Steve) you should too!

[Jeff Hackney]

You don't have the career Manny has had if you "don't care." Give me the evidence that he is "lazy."

Go Manny. Go Dodgers.

[John]

50 words is too many for Manny; how about a 14-word haiku, instead? Based on Steve's favorite Manny Moment:

Bat cracks and ball flies
But dreadlocks dream: green leaves sway
Dodgers, Fall, Manny.

[John L. Rodriguez]

If steroids be the food of homeruns, inject on.

You are not wrong who deem that Manny's days were but a dream within a dream.

Two roads diverged in Mannywood and sorry I could not travel both, and be but one fan, long I stood, and glad I didn't go to Mannywood.

Never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for Manny.

[Jose Chavez]

You are a disgrace to all the Dodger greats, to the Dodger tradition. Coming from a huge Dodger fan-Giant Hater-Barry Bonds Basher, you are a million times WORSE than BARRY BONDS!!! Apologize and go somewhere else, we don't need you, we don't want you.