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Sports, or should I say competition in general brings out the best and worst in people. People who've known me for a while remember how back in junior high gym, I was the person no one wanted on their team. I broke my fair share of badminton rackets and yelled for no reason really, arguing this call, saying this was bogus or that my teammate better get their act together or else. I even remember playing freshmen football and getting a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty for spiking the ball after what I thought was a bad call. Those were the days and people who know me now still might see that competitiveness every once in a while, but I'd like to say I've mellowed out.
If you didn't catch Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano's crazy tantrum yesterday, you must check it out now. This guy might be the most bonkers athlete out there right now and I'm so incredibly proud he is part of my beloved Cubbies...not. Seriously, who else is up there with this guy in terms of crazniess? Would you want to rile this guy up?
I find it quite comical when athletes, coaches, managers, or anyone else associated with sports goes on one of these tirades. I really think to myself if it's all an act or not. Remember that guy who threw the bucket of baseballs on the field? Or any manager getting inches away from an umpire, saying just nonsense the majority of the time? Is this what sports is about? People slam sports figures for being role models but rarely do we point to these foolish behaviors that happen on the field of play.
The anger these guys have built up is insane. I consider myself quite a peaceful person and could never imagine going looney over a play in front of millions of people. Yes, I have acted in some stupid ways but again, I believe I've learned a thing or two over my lifetime and I'm 21 compared to Zambrano who is almost 28. It's one thing if you're Troy Polamalu and you're aggressive on the field playing a position in a sport that demands that aggressiveness. It's another thing if your Milton Bradley or Carlos Zambrano and you lose your head over a call here or there (by the way, that was a good call Z so shut it). I try to imagine myself in these athletes' shoes; knowing I'm being paid millions of dollars to perform and I need to be doing everything I can to be the very best. At the same time however, how does Big Z look at himself after watching how he acted yesterday? Does he say that's just how he is and we need to deal with it? That's how he expresses himself? Hogwash!
Going specifically to Zambrano, yesterday was a prime example why this guy will never be a true ace. I will never feel confident with this guy on the mound in a crucial game. "Mike & Mike" were talking about him this morning with Tim Kurkjian and they all said the same thing. Cubs fans, how can we feel good about this guy? It's people who are mentally unstable like this that make us the butt of jokes. We are lacking the kind of attitude you see of championship teams. Sure, you can point to championship teams littered across the ages and find crazies but those are the anomalies and I'll pass. I'll take a professional team that goes out and competes and that is honorable over a group of maniacs any day of the week.
It's annoying to watch this kind of behavior from a player on one of the teams I support. The public needs to get more on him. If he doesn't want to change his behavior, then I personally don't want him wearing the Cubbie blue. Call me crazy but please don't call me BIG Z crazy.
1 comment:
The biggest problem is that he's going to get suspended and likely cost himself a start, something the Cubs didn't need.
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