Over the past two days or so, the entire "Gary Sheffield Hates Latin Players" angle is being played up all over talk radio and in the papers around the country, etc. So, Sheff might be a racist. Whatever.
When the Tigs got Sheffield, they knew what they were getting into. He's a baseball player that happens to have many, many different opinions and enjoys voicing them often. It just so happens that the product he puts forth on the field is more significant than the controversy he stirs up off it. One of the reasons that this has become such a huge issue is that since the story broke after Sunday's game, Sheffield hasn't been on a field to get a story such as "Sheff quiets critics with big game" or something like that.
The point of what I'm saying is that I don't give two shits about what Gary Sheffield says. It's not that i disregard all his comments or whatever, it's that they don't bother me. As long as his words don't affect what he does on the field, I really don't care about them. It's like when he said "I don't enjoy playing baseball, it's my job" or something earlier in the year. Hit 30 home runs and I won't care what you like, what you don't like, etc.
The last thing that Tiger fans should get about this whole thing is pissed off. The Polanco-Sheff-Mags-Guillen stretch in the line-up is what is driving this team right now and the last thing that needs to happen is for the most experienced hitter in that group to get pissed at the fan base.
To hate Gary Sheffield, or to root against Gary Sheffield, from the fans of this organization would be so hypocritical it's not even funny. We are a people who recognize Ty Cobb (one of the biggest racist bastards ever to live) as one of the best players of all time. He's a Tiger legend. But not because of his attitude towards people or towards race- because he hit well and played hard. Well, Gary Sheffield hits well and plays hard. If we can cut a break for a white guy who wasn't afraid to speak his mind, then why can't we do it for a black man too?
It's a fucking game, guys. Chill.
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