Another Name, Another Gift, Another Curse

The New York Times first reported, then the rest of the sports world went crazy as we learned, to no real surprise that Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, both then teammates, tested positive for steroids in 2003. Another pair of names linked to the "list" once believed to be anonymous until the Feds got involved.
I feel for the players a little here considering they were told these tests were just for "measuring" the need for a testing policy, but in the end all the guilty parties knew they were guilty, yet still refuse to come clean. You've had your shot, not take it like a man.
Manny Ramirez might in fact become the first player in baseball history to have the results of two failed performance enhancing drug tests released in the same season. First it was the HCG back in March, now the 2003 results come popping up. Can't say I feel for Manny, after A-Rod every player on the '03 list knew eventually they would be outed, and he didn't take the chance to come clean. For Manny it could be another case of his self-centered foolishness telling him he can get through anything. Good luck with that, even MannyWood has it's detractors now.
Onto David Ortiz, who's surprised here? The guy goes from averaging 40-50 HRs a season from 2003-2007, now he's got 13 going into August. Can't say we didn't see this coming. I can tell he's not on anything now, but during those two Red Sox runs to the title, it was a different story.
As much as this harms Ortiz, it takes away from the magical Red Sox run of 2003, their first World Series title that lifted "The Curse of the Bambino." Now, 6 years and another championship later, the curse has returned, this time in the form of a list that says their two biggest stars were cheats...I think the Yankees will have a field day with this one.
It really is a shame. I recently watched an excellent HBO special about Ted Williams, what a natural hitter he was, a perfectionist, a two-time war hero and man who dedicated his life to baseball and the art of hitting. Despite not winning a World Series, Ted was revered as a legend in Boston until his passing in 2002. I wonder what Teddy Ballgame thinks today as he spins in his cryogenic tomb in Arizona.
A shame for the Red Sox, another shame for baseball, another gift for sports talk radio. I enjoy these days and I loathe them. What makes my job easier as a professional, makes my heart heavier as a baseball fan.
I always have and always will love the game of baseball, it's just a damn shame that every memory I have over the last 20 years, now contains a mental asterisk.

Taking this Seriously...

I chuckled when I learned Bakersfield Jam owner Stan Ellis wanted select members of the media and season ticket holders to 'vote' for the new head coach of his NBA D League team. Then I was honored when I found out I had the only radio vote, now I'm acting like I'm hiring someone to run my own company.
I received all the resumes, the bio information and my official ballot. At first I thought it kinda gimmicky, then I came to the realization after talking to Stan, the team will really weigh my vote heavily. As Stan put it "we wanted to take all the knowledge the media who covers this stuff has and put it to use." He also went on to say "then if it doesn't work out, I can blame you!" Very funny, but very true.
I always wondered what the process was like when a GM or owner had to hire a head coach, what they looked for, what they were seeking...now I sort of know.
I have a packet of resumes on my desk, a computer running with background info and history up in another window of some of the candidates. I sort my favorites like I used to sort baseball cards, then I resort and sort again. I'm looking at everything from coaching experience to success, franchises they've worked for and what those teams were like when they were there. Regional location is important as well, a coach closer to Bakersfield might be a little happier considering his family isn't so far away. I don't think whoever gets this job is going to be relocating the fam to Bakersfield on the salary they're going to be paid. Absence may make the heart grow fonder but I want whoever is coaching to be worried about his offensive system and not about missing his daughter's dance recital.
The pressure is on, I want whoever I select to not only get the job but be successful as well. Then again they could be a complete train wreck, and I won't be asked to vote again.
The list is down to 10 candidate now that one has dropped out and accepted another job, I guess my vote just got easier. Oh wait, I gotta re sort now, my top five just got shifted.