Gavin Floyd wins on two fronts

Lighten up people, no one harmed. Just a big boost for sports scribes , sports shows they love the stuff as Mariotti take a inch and go with it higher than the Sears Tower...Nothing at all to get riled about..Petty, petty Jayphew Marriotti and and Carol (the void of stories ) Slezak...Thats all.

Roman responds: Don, it became a national story on SportsCenter and Outside the Lines. Someone just told me he was watching CNN and the weather guy referenced it.

"Don, it became a national story on SportsCenter and Outside the Lines"

Of course we all know about the journalistic integrity of espn!

So fine..it's getting a LOT of mileage. Who exactly should be put out by this?
- the team..yes, they acted like immature college kids. but can you imagine the stuff that goes on there that we don't hear about?
- women? this I really don't get. Slezak's comment "Do you think the players respect women? I'm not so sure about that." How do blow-up dolls and respect for women go together? Should we also assume anyone who has EVER flipped through a Playboy or watched an x-rated movie has no respect for women?
- the fans? people...they are baseball players, not teachers or doctors. When my son begins to look at them as role models I know I will have failed as a parent.

ughh

Roman responds: I can understand a female reporter being offended by the stupid display. C'mon.

Roman responds: I can understand a female reporter being offended by the stupid display. C'mon.

By everything I've read, there weren't any female reporters in there...incuding Slezak. Again, how can she possible draw the inference that these guys have no respect for women? I'm not saying these dolls aren't stupid...I'm saying her drawing this inference is big time stupid.

It's pretty obvious who (Dirty 30) was behind it & I'm sure he didn't get permission before he did. He probably felt the clubhouse was private enough.

I find Slezak's & Moronitti's column more offensive.

Who is Slezak preaching to? Is she oblivious to the porn culture that exists in America? Is she blind to how women are portrayed as sex objects in network programming & ads? How about sexually suggestive dialogue which is pervasive on all networks? You can't even watch Nickelodeon to avoid it any more. So it seems hypocritical of her to villify the WSox & not say a word about the rest.

As for Moronitti, well the Sun-Times just lost more $'s from me. I don't read any of his stuff on-line & I've seen all I need to see from the excerpt. When he writes crap like that about the WSox I boycott the Sun-Times for a while. I hope other fans do the same.

Thank you Ozzie for finally mixing up the lineup. While the Twins are not the Jays pitching-wise, I can't help but think we might have had a winning road trip if you had done it sooner. Congrats to Floyd. He's pitching like an ace so far.

Ozzie had accomplished more by the time he was 10 than Mariotti will if he lives in his despicable little self flatulating world to 100 - talk about an embarrassment, ask a Chicago sports fan about the lil cynic that slithers and the true Chicago fan will let you know that they wouldn't let the city w/big shoulders allow this punk to wash its underwear...

I wasn't offended by the act and I'm not saying that any punishment needs to be levied here, but I certainly don't see why so many people are rushing to the defense of the Sox for the blowup dolls issue. Yes, there are bigger things to worry about in society but that doesn't change the fact that the Sox were wrong. I'd like to see the organization act a little more contrite about this, especially Ozzie. His comments the next day were ridiculous, suggesting that "people making a big deal about this don't know much about baseball." Ozzie, you're an idiot and a statement like that validates what Mariotti writes about you. You could have diffused the situation significantly by just acting a bit humbled and assuring media and fans that while this act is not the end of the world, it will not happen again in your clubhouse again either. He'd be appeasing both sides of the issue with a simple statement like that. But no, he feels compelled to remind the world how feisty he is. What a belligerent counter-productive approach he takes at times. He makes every issue a personal one when in this case as the Manager, he should be stepping up to be accountable for the players' actions. Be a leader, apologize on behalf of the club, and move on. Don't insult those people that were actually offended by the act by suggesting they're wrong for feeling that way.

From Rick Telander...

Before the game, four female Chicago news gatherers stood talking in the Sox clubhouse: the very pregnant Peggy Kusinski of WMAQ-Channel 5, WBBM-Channel 2's Megan Mawicke, Comcast SportsNet's Kerry Sayers and Fox-32's Jill Carlson.

Outfielder Brian Anderson approached Sayers, whom he knows.

''Did it offend you?'' he asked of the doll thing.

''I thought it was funny,'' the reporter replied.

nuff said...

I like Seans post, but I certainly don't think there was any intentional offense. A blow up doll is a huge leap ladies. I have never heard a woman being offended by such a thing.

And Bubba's Mom is right of course. Women are half-naked everywhere. Men are exploiting them, but MOST of what you see is free will.

Telander should get Jay's space in the paper. Get him to sign a 24/7 deal.

Jesse Jane's Decadent Love Doll:$435.95
Aria the Italian Love Goddess:$234.95
India Nubian Love Doll:$26.95

Moronitti would say Telander insulted Italy & India by singling them out. Slezak would say he's sexist for not including a $50 Big Joe doll for the ladies.

I say Telander didn't go low enough. For less than $20 you can get a life-size Jill Kelly Ashton Moore or Sophia Rossi love doll. Now that's a real bargain.

The power of Oz: He says the dolls cost $500, & MLB fans across the nation rush to search the web to see if it's true :D

Dearest Keith LTSS -

I cannot resist the temptation to mince your post into little pieces. Forgive me in advance.

"A blow up doll is a huge leap ladies." -- A huge leap from where? Outer space? Another planet? 1948?

"And Bubba's Mom is right of course." Translation is either (1) -Bubba's mom is always right, or (2) Bubba's mom is stating the obvious. Of course you mean (1), right?

"MOST of what you see is free will".

REALLY?

If Slezak wants to write a column on a baseball player doing something offensive, how about a column on a 28 year old superstar pitcher having a relationship with a 15 year old.

It was all over ESPN NATIONAL radio today.

At first i thought not a big deal, no bigger than them stripping off [peaces of clothing in the movie Major League, but after your comments Roman, in particular about putting a racial twist on it, I would have to agree, that it was assinine and immature....and borderlines sexual harrassment.

I also think that Baseball Players have the most tendancy to have that "good ole' boys club" mentality. I know the Baseball Players I went to school with certainly fit that bill, and that was whether I was at NEIU or down in Kentucky!

But...where does an athletes privacy end and the media get to start?

Thats my question? Do they get ANY?

Should we be able to look in their computers and check in their Medicine Cabinets and read their emails and follow them home and watch them play with their kids in the backyard?

I mean, didnt they find McGuires andro by snooping around in his Locker?

n case you ever wondered what does irritate sports-loving women, here's my list:

(1) My young son reading the sports page and being bombarded visually with "THE BEST SEX OF YOUR LIFE!" advertisements.

(2) My young son watching a college bowl game and being bombarded with cleavage shots during commercials.

(3) My young son and I listening to either the Score or AM 1000 and being bombarded with advertising for Polekatz and Atlantis, and invitations to dial toll-free numbers to get little pills that will make you harder and longer.

And we're all supposed to be horrified by blow-up dolls. Right.

~BUBBA"S MOM

GREAT COMMENTS!!!!

You also forgot Cheerleaders and Ballgirls!!

Roman sez: "And before this becomes strictly a gender issue, imagine if there were racially insensitive jokes or images in a slump-busting stunt. Would that make it different?

My personal opinion? ... I'm fed up to HERE with the entire concept of Political Correctness, "here" being only 5'6", but more than far enough for me.

I'm offended by people who seem to spend their entire lives in search of personal slights, and making it their life's mission to point out everything that offends THEM!!!

They can all take a flying leap as far as I'm concerned. And if my opinion on this subject offends them even further; so much the better.

Show me where it is written that I have to like or approve of what everyone else says or does ... because I certainly don't expect the general populace to give their blessings to all (if anything) that I say or do.

My experience has been that the people who agree with me on a regular basis can be counted on one hand; and would be well advised to seek professional help for doing so.

And my advice to these cry babies:

Stop suckling on mamma's teet, learn how to change your own diapers, and grow a thicker skin.

Remember when Telander was afraid to be in the Bears locker room because they were turning the lights on and off? That was great.

You guys should really look into adding a "Political Correctness" section so Telander, Mariotti, and (the Queen of PC) Slezak would have a proper channel to spew their BS.

After this I'm done. I swear.

Villano says: "Stop suckling on mamma's teet."

I am channeling Seedy B. here.......

According to wikipedia: "TEET Kask (May 8, 1968) is an Estonian-born ballet dancer and choreographer. In 1978, he joined the Tallinn Ballet School, where he studied Vaganova classical ballet.
At 18 years old, he had leading roles in the Estonia National Opera. A turning point for Teet came when he was engaged by the Royal Swedish Ballet, in 1989, as the first Estonian ballet artist to work full time in West before the Iron Curtain fell in 1991."

Culzie, thanks for the amen. We forgot the Blackhawks ice vixens.

Now I'm done. Really.

I just clicked on the Sun-Times web page and saw this:
Mariotti: Rude, crude embarassment.
If you're trying out a new name for his column, that's the one that gets my vote. Nice to see honesty returning to journalism.

Mariotti: Rude, crude embarassment

I second that.

It was a stupid display, but this thing has gotten so blown out of proportion it's scary. If this is this worst thing going on in the Sox locker room, I'll take it. What does this even have to do with "political correctness" anyway? The locker room is a private place - not for the general public. As far as I'm concerned, they have the right to pull a stunt like this. It was supposed to lighten things up and it did not hurt anyone (except Ms. Slezak's fragile feelings). The general public reads the Sun-Times, so let me ask you this - is Elliott Harris' column politically correct? The answer is no, never. You don't even have to read one word of his garbage to know that. Just look at his picture on this website. If you are going to be offended by the blow up dolls, then surely you would be offended by his daily sexism that is blatantly displayed in the paper and on this website. What does Ms. Slezak think of her co-worker's ability to get his column with pictures of practically naked women printed every single day? His comments about how he'd like these women to shovel his driveway are way the hell more non-politically correct than the blow up dolls.

Roman responds: It's a legitimate argument. I don't know for sure, but I doubt Carol is a big fan of some of Elliott's pictures. And if she would have thought of it, she probably would have included it. I don't think it takes away from the fact the Sox display was stupid and could offend someone.

I'd like to suggest a follow-up column for Ms. Slezak, although I'm sure she is way too thin-skinned to read this blog. Four White Sox players have dyed their facial hair pink for Mother's Day to raise awareness and money for breast cancer, and they are doing the same thing next month, blue for prostate cancer awareness. Does the good stuff even make the paper any more?

Roman responds: C'mon Julie, you know better than that. At least one of our writers has been accused of being too friendly with the Sox. We write the good, the bad and the inflatable.

Elliott's pictures are offensive because your paper allows him to print them. Carol hasn't thought of that? They're in there no less than 5 days a week. And all over this website, and have been for a very long time. I believe she has thought of that, but has chosen not to address it in her column. How does she decide what offends her and what doesn't? What's offensive to me is that she could be so general in her assumption that the entire Sox organization must be sexist because of this incident. My nanny's friend is A.J. Pierzynski's kids' nanny and she was just telling me how he and his family are so wonderful and how generous and down-to-earth A.J. is. Carol Slezak is employed by a paper that, as an organization, must be sexist by her standards, so what does that make her?

Roman responds: It's a valid point. My opinion is I would have included the fact that we do things some would consider sexist and probably offend some people. That doesn't take away from her opinion that what the Sox did was troubling. Does it?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080508/SPORTS06/679137260/1005/SPORTS

Since Roman brought in the "national" perspective I felt we needed that in this blog. Notice how nicely this writer framed the event around the scene in MLB. Likewise noticed how they left out details so as not to offend readers.

Then compare that to the articles by Jay, Slezak, & Moronotti. Care to defend your colleagues Roman? You don't think they offended a LOT more people w their articles than the WSox did their with their display?

Roman responds: Washington Times?

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, of course Roman. Sticking a bat up a doll's plastic butt is disgusting, but calling the entire Sox organization sexist because of it is ridiculous. It happened in a private locker room, and she wasn't in it at the time. I just think it's self-serving to pick and choose when you are going to be offended. She gloms onto these issues that seem to get blown way out of proportion (like the G-reg rap song), but doesn't address the blatant sexism that is right next to her every day. That's just bad journalism.

Todd Helton of the Rockies was like...its stupid, players walk around naked in the locker room and he said nothing is more offensive than that.

Julie B - I think you are right on. I'm not sure I'd lay everything at Carol's feet on this one - I think the organization is at fault. It's hypocritical. And obviously so.

It appears as though Julie B. and I agree on something. (at least on a remedial level)

This is scary.

You might want to seek out a qualified therapist to resolve this issue if it even remotely envolves endorsing any of my opinions.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Julie, my sentiments exactly.

Who is it that needs therapy exactly? You are agreeing with MY opinion, hence endorsing it. And what's remedial about it? Uhhh, let's see.....2+2 = 4 and Carol Slezak is a hypocrite. Good one, Mark. At least I know how to spell "involves." No wonder you're scared. Most everyone fears the Pit Vipress.

" No wonder you're scared. Most everyone fears the Pit Vipress."

You're right.

I'm quaking in my slippers over here. My hands are shaking so much I can barely type, and I think I'll need a Bloody Mary just to settle my nerves.

It's all your fault.

Roman responds: It's a valid point. My opinion is I would have included the fact that we do things some would consider sexist and probably offend some people. That doesn't take away from her opinion that what the Sox did was troubling. Does it?

I think it does.

She writes for, and represents the same publication that Elliott does; and giving him a pass for pictures and sexist statements that many people consider to be far more offensive and juvenile than what the Sox did, is indeed a double standard.

You can't have it both ways.

Your own sexist jerk doesn't get a pass simply because he works in the office down the hall from you, and gets his paycheck cut from the same employer.

Righteous indignation is a bunch of garbage when you decide to apply it selectively, especially when it involves similar offenses.

Is it me, or does anyone else notice that Villano spends a lot of time trying to interject himself into conversations that he has not part of, and then..to make it worse, nobody actually responds to him..(except me of course).

Julie:

I understand that you're Jewish, and I'm not all that familiar with the customs and language of your religion / ethnicity ... so I have a question:

I believe there's a Hebrew (Yiddish?) phrase that refers to someone who is still living, though being considered, "Dead to me".

Are you familiar with this phrase, and can you explain it to a Gentile like myself?

The rough translation, (as I understand it) means is that this particular individual is no longer of any significance to the person who now looks upon him or her as being totally irrelevant, insignificant, and for all intents and purposes this individual no longer exists as far as they are concerned.

I think that Jerry Krause once used this phrase while discussing his feelings about Phill Jackson.

Enlighten me.

Sorry Mark, I don't know that one. I only know "kish mir en toches," which means "kiss my tushie." So you could probably use that one too.

Julie:

I was being serious there.

There is a Hebrew ritual that doesn't merely disown someone you no longer care about ... for all intents and purposes it pronounces them dead, (insofar as the offended party is personally concerned)

I'm dying to know the exact terminology , and history of this ritual / phrase.

As far as kissing your tushie is concerned; there are numerous respondents on this blog who would be more than willing to do so, mot to mention those who have don it on a continual basis; but I'm running a bit low on Chap Stick myself.

Hmmmm....... I don't know of any ritual or phrase like that. My Yiddish is very broken. I know you were referring to Culzie anyway, but it's still better just to kish mir en toches. I'll ask around though and see if I can find out for you. Usually when you piss off a Jewish woman, she just won't speak to you ever again. No forgiving, no forgetting - just complete alienation. My sister-in-law probably knows, but I can't ask her. That would entail me speaking to her fat tush.

Here is my limited Yiddish:

"A vecher balkon dir in kop"

May a soft balcony fall on your head

Hope this helps.

I fully understand,