04/23/24
July 13, 2007
Sheffield calls out Torre, Jeter, Bonds in HBO interview: Gary Sheffield has strong words about New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, former Yankees teammate Derek Jeter, San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds and steroids in an interview with HBO's "Real Sports" that will air next Tuesday. Sheffield says Torre treats black players differently from white players and says Jeter, who is from a mixed-race marriage, "ain't all the way black," during the interview with Andrea Kremer, as reported by Newsday.
Sheffield: "I tell myself every offseason I'm not going to say anything crazy. I'm just going to have a peaceful season ... Can't do it." It took until the end of the article, but I found something Sheffield said that made sense. A guy with a mixed-race son should be aware of why it's so offensive to make a point off Jeter's background.
posted by rcade at 08:16 AM on July 14, 2007
When Sheffield says Jeter isn't all black,what does that mean?And whatever it means its like Clemens saying Jeter isn't all white.Typical idiocy from a star.
posted by sickleguy at 09:28 AM on July 14, 2007
When did we begin starting to pay attention to the personal views of athletes on anything but sports? Do folks really care what super stars like Gary Sheffiled really think about economics, politics or social issues? This fan just enjoys the artistry and beauty of the on-field, -court, -arena, -track, -etc. action. When I want opinion on sports, of course I look to the athlete. Period. On the more important issues of life I go to the experts. We should stop paying attention to these athletes and ignore the sports reporters who seek opinions or answers to questions outside of the sporting life.
posted by tbocce at 10:13 AM on July 14, 2007
On the more important issues of life I go to the experts. I keep looking for these experts on life and I continue to be disappointed. I'm glad there weren't more people like you around during Jackie Robinson's era. I guess I feel like athletes might just be capable of contributing outside the lines, and I would think some athletes are likely to be pretty upset to find that they were being kept in their place because Gary Sheffield says some pretty crazy things.
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 10:24 AM on July 14, 2007
Tbocce: Read the article. Sheffield isn't pontificating on the overall issue of race; he's talking about the Yankees locker room.
posted by rcade at 10:36 AM on July 14, 2007
Sheffield is a chump with a big fat chip on his shoulder. His appetite for the spotlight can only be fed by opening his big mouth these days. His ball playing ability alone, is not enough to garner the attention he craves.
posted by ggermanctl at 11:23 AM on July 14, 2007
Sheffield seems to be the one hung up on race. Why aren't his racist comments dealt with? John Rocker looks like a piker compared to Sheffield.
posted by water1 at 11:56 AM on July 14, 2007
"if I took what Barry Bonds took, why don't I look like him?" He also says that he never took steroids because "the bottom line is steroids is something you stick in your butt -- period." the Tigers' outfielder says Bonds scoffed at him when he was using vitamins. Sheffield says he then got substances from BALCO, claiming not to know they were steroids. Sheffield allegedly told a grand jury that he used steroid cream on his legs and "clear" under his tongue, but didn't know they were steroids. Sheffield is an ass to begin with, but to be making remarks like this about not only the racial shit, which I will not even justify, to admitting using steroid creams and the clear (sublingually) makes him an even bigger ass. It is too bad this man can't just keep his mouth shut and earn his pay check, because he does that very well.
posted by jojomfd1 at 12:28 PM on July 14, 2007
Another season, another Sheffield story that involves race. As a Tiger fan, his joining the team has been wholly positive, so I cant really complain about him to much right now. But there was something he said about how being a Yankee was all about business, and their wasnt a sense of family there that stood out to me. I mean, how could that have been a surprise? Everyone knows what is imporant to Steinbrenner, he is a much less senial Al Davis, winning has always been everything to him and in the city of NY, with their know-it-all ultra judgemental media, that shouldnt have been so surprising to him. Anyways, I hope hes happy with Leyland and the Tiger organizaton, we wouldnt mind him staying for a while...but not complaining anymore would be nice as well.
posted by dezznutz at 01:45 PM on July 14, 2007
Crafty, I guess you're right about how athletes may be able to contribute outside of sports to society, but i'm not sure what you're getting at with the Robinson comparison, at least i hope you're not making the analogy that i think you are, b/c it would be a tough sell i think. However, i do agree that athletes can contribute to more than just sports entertainment. On the other hand, it would seem pretty counterintuitive to hold a life-long athlete's economic opinions as highly as someone teaching economic theory for 30+ years. It seems that this isn't an either/or situation, but a both/and. We listen to all, but it is naive not to consider their background when discussing societal issues. However, education, or the lack there of, isn't an automatic deciding factor. Some of the most ridiculous ideas in the history of man have come from men and women who have PhDs.
posted by brainofdtrain at 01:54 PM on July 14, 2007
Just for the record, if any of you guys want to pay me 8 or 10 million dollars a year, you can treat me like a piece of shit. I promise, I won't say a word.
posted by MGDADDYO at 07:45 PM on July 15, 2007
i'm not sure what you're getting at with the Robinson comparison, at least i hope you're not making the analogy that i think you are, b/c it would be a tough sell i think. I hope I'm not making the analogy you hope I'm not making, but I'm not sure what analogy that is. My point was simply that athletes -- in general now, I'm not talking specifically about Sheffield because tbocce's point extended out to "we should stop listening to anything any athlete ever says" -- are capable of providing important contributions outside their respective arenas, and dismissing what they say out of hand is ridiculous. I could just as easily have used Mohammad Ali, Billy Jean King, Magic Johnson, Hank Aaron, Tiger Woods -- any athlete whose words or actions might at one time have carried greater weight than their victories. Sports often reflect society (and vice versa), and to imply that what any athlete says should bear no weight shuts out their ability -- and their historical success, collectively -- in changing and shaping our culture. As rcade pointed out, tbocce's complaint about Sheffield's views beyond sports is irrelevant in this case but I thought his broad sweeping dismissal of the athlete-as-citizen does a great disservice to those who have stepped outside their realms to make important statements.
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 10:22 PM on July 15, 2007
I'm not ignorant enough to think that racism and/or preferential treatment doesn't exist in the clubhouse and in society as a whole, but it's hard to take anything seriously from this horse's ass. This is the same guy who purposely booted balls in the field to force a trade out of Milwaukee, has whined about money his whole career, has demanded more money and/or a contract extension in virtually every trade that he was involved in, and is an admitted steroids user, "unknowingly" or not. He just needs to go away...muzzled.
posted by 742Mouth at 11:57 PM on July 15, 2007
I think the funniest thing in this whole article has been buried beneath the rest of Sheffields ignorance. Not only does Sheffield sound ignorant and racist himself, he also makes a beautifully hilarious homophobic statement talking about not wanting to take steroids because "the bottom line is steroids is something you stick in your butt -- period.". Is he really comparing a needle going into the fleshy part of his arse to jailbird sex? Or did I misinterpret?
posted by Ricardo at 09:02 AM on July 16, 2007
When Sheffield says Jeter isn't all black,what does that mean?And whatever it means its like Clemens saying Jeter isn't all white. It sounds like Sheffield is describing how lighter and mixed race black people are treated differently than darker black people. It's not just white people treating them differently either, Spike Lee did a whole movie about it ages ago. I imagine Jeter wouldn't like talking about it in the media, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know it happens. I like Sheffield. I like people who say whatever is on their mind and don't worry about saying the right thing. I would take Sheffield any day over Jordan and Tiger who seem more concerned about endorsements than reality. Anyway, Lofton says that Sheffield does know what he is talking about in regards to the Yankees locker room, so maybe everything Sheffield says shouldn't be automatically dismissed.
posted by bperk at 09:36 AM on July 16, 2007
Anyway, Lofton says that Sheffield does know what he is talking about in regards to the Yankees locker room, so maybe everything Sheffield says shouldn't be automatically dismissed. Lofton didn't exactly endear himself to the organization when he was there. i remember him constantly bitching about playing time, even blaming an injury on the fact that he wasn't playing every day. so yeah, he was probably treated differently. but i would guess it had to do with his attitude, not his race. i'm not saying that either Sheff or Lofton said should be dismissed completely. but i take Lofton's statement with a grain of salt.
posted by goddam at 09:59 AM on July 16, 2007
Not only does Sheffield sound ignorant and racist himself, he also makes a beautifully hilarious homophobic statement talking about not wanting to take steroids because "the bottom line is steroids is something you stick in your butt -- period.". Is he really comparing a needle going into the fleshy part of his arse to jailbird sex? So all homosexuals have "jailbird sex" or everyone who has ever been arrested is homosexual? Way to call someone out for making homophobic statements with a stereotypical one of your own.
posted by Bishop at 10:55 AM on July 16, 2007
Not saying homosexuals have jailbird sex ... vice versa ... jailbird sex is homosexual. My wording may have been a bit off, and anyway, I just said it was a funny statement. I wasn't calling him out for saying it. Just found the comparison wildly amusing.
posted by Ricardo at 11:07 AM on July 16, 2007
I've noticed that while this is one of the more bright sports blogs out there, the discourse tends to go down the toilet when it comes to race. Once again, an African-American accuses of a sports franchise or league of racism. Once again, "yeah, there's still racism". Once again, "I don't think so in this case". I agree that the Sheff is quite the live wire. (Wake me up when Jeter tries to play Nat X, Gary.) And I wish he could articulate his comments better than he does -- especially if he's going to go off so much. At the same time, I'm wondering what he did at age 22 (his oldest in Milwaukee) has to do with his comments now. While I understand MGDADDYO's take in terms of what you're able to give up (France sounds nice after watching "Sicko"), there's also something to be said for not being treated like a piece of shit, especially if others aren't. (If that's what GS is saying.) Could go on and on with this, but another time.
posted by jackhererra at 01:04 PM on July 16, 2007
I didn't see the homophobia in that statement either. It seemed to be an attempt to clear his name rather than see it creamed in the steroid scandal.
posted by yerfatma at 01:06 PM on July 16, 2007
I also think it was an attempt to clear his name. What I hear is "Obviously I would never do steroids because I would never, ever stick anything in my butt". So I clearly think he is showing homophobia as a clear alibi.
posted by Ricardo at 01:33 PM on July 16, 2007
Once again, an African-American accuses of a sports franchise or league of racism. Once again, "yeah, there's still racism". Once again, "I don't think so in this case". Are your quotes intended to be a recap of (your perception of) the downward-spiraling discourse in this thread, or are they your good angel and bad angel speaking, or what?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 03:15 PM on July 16, 2007
It sounds like Sheffield is describing how lighter and mixed race black people are treated differently than darker black people I was always under the impression that indivuals of mixed race had a harder time finding acceptence in the black and white communites. Gary kind of proved that with his "all the way black" remark. I don't think Sheffield is stupid or racist but I think that was a total foot in mouth comment. Also, in my expierence there is a phenomenon know as "the right amount of black". Too light=bad, too dark=bad. I never really understood it but I have seenit first hand. It was also illustrated in the Paperbag episode of The Cosby Show I still like Gary more now than I did when he tried to play first base.
posted by HATER 187 at 12:04 AM on July 17, 2007
It was also illustrated in the Paperbag episode of The Cosby Show That's too funny because I actually remember that episode. It didn't get any better than chilling in front of the TV watching the 'Cosby show'.
posted by BornIcon at 07:09 AM on July 17, 2007
It didn't get any better than chilling in front of the TV watching the 'Cosby show'. That statement is so wrong on so many different levels. There was always something more fun to do than watch "The Cosby Show." Although, it did introduce the world to Lisa Bonet, which I suppose has to be worth something.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 11:20 AM on July 17, 2007
Ok, I'll bite. Why in the world was my statement "so wrong" There was always something more fun to do than watch "The Cosby Show." Considering that when "The Cosby Show" started at the time in 1984, I was just 7 years old and it was on primetime. Since I had to get home when the street lights came on, that was what to watch. Next thing you know, watching the "A-Team" or "McGuyver" was a crime. BTW, Lisa Bonet in 'Angel Heart' was the shit.
posted by BornIcon at 11:45 AM on July 17, 2007
Ok, I'll bite. Why in the world was my statement "so wrong" Well, perhaps if you didn't take things quite so literally, you'd understand. See, the point is, "The Cosby Show" sucked, and even at seven years old, you could've found something better to watch. Two words: Miami. Vice. All the cars, and pretty colors, and explosions, hell, it was made for seven-year-olds! Also, as far as Lisa Bonet in "Angel Heart" is concerned, I almost used this picture earlier. Of course, I thought long and hard about this one, too.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 06:03 PM on July 17, 2007
For as much as everyone is saposed to think we have made strides with the race issue, well we aren't there yet. Blacks and whites still bring up the race card to get attention. Sad but true. As far as the Bonds thing goes, he will break Hank's home run record. But he just isn't a Hank Aron type of guy. As long as the steroids tag is hanging on him, he might as well have an * by his name. Because it became a meaningless record! And I'd say that about him whatever the guys skin would have been.