Rob Parker blasted by ... [Archive] - MotownSports.com Message Board

DennisDubay

04-27-2007, 10:20 AM

Buster Olney:

Per ESPN:
Rob Parker stands by his statement that Hank Aaron is a coward. I disagree on so many different levels, but here's the main point: The assertion that someone who waded through racism to play earlier in his career and through hate mail late in his career is a coward is patently absurd, and even inappropriate. For me, it's like calling a World War II veteran who had the courage to step into the surf at Normandy a coward because he's not saying now whether or not he supports the decision to invade Iraq.

tater6

04-27-2007, 10:26 AM

Yoda

04-27-2007, 10:28 AM

It's sells papers and you are commenting about it. Unfortunately Rob got what he wanted.

Being dumb and obnoxious doesn't sell papers. People don't buy that paper to read him. Quite frankly, it's amazing to me that he still has a job, because he's a horrible writer who rarely makes sense.

Yoda

04-27-2007, 10:29 AM

Oh, and "being commented on" doesn't help a writer when all of the cemments are negative. That's a popular theory that I don't believe is actually true.

Euphdude

04-27-2007, 10:54 AM

Oh, and "being commented on" doesn't help a writer when all of the cemments are negative. That's a popular theory that I don't believe is actually true.

I believe it's true, but because the unfortunate truth in our society is that any publicity - beit positive or negative - is good publicity. Parker knows his schtick and plays up to it, and thus far it's had decent results career-wise. His challenge is not to take it too far, and the Aaron comments may have done just that.

Naggs

04-27-2007, 11:03 AM

You are correct, Euphdude.

Also, everytime someone clicks the link to one of his dumb rants (same goes for Drew Sharp), the paper just counts it as a hit and charges advertisers more to be on their page.

DTroppens

04-27-2007, 11:39 AM

Wow,
he really wrote that?

DET Mr Malefic

04-27-2007, 11:42 AM

Wow,
he really wrote that?

Yep, I would show you the link, but I don't want to promote him. Suffice to say, he wrote it.

DennisDubay

04-27-2007, 11:46 AM

It's sells papers and you are commenting about it. Unfortunately Rob got what he wanted.

And i'm not commenting on what Parker said. I don't read Parker's columns. I have a deep, deep dislike for Parker*. I was commenting on Buster Olney's comments. I respect Olney, and thought it was great that he took another columnist to task over his salicious, pugnant, ignorant comments.

* I had the displeasure of meeting Mr. Parker on opening day, 2002. We were in the press box, and HE THOUGH he was the show. I believe it was CoCo Crisp? that lead off the Indians with a HR in left field, I believe? Anyways, Parker, sitting in the front row of the press box, stated loudly enough:

"New year, same ol' Tigers... What a joke" . Now, I know, the Tigers were bad. I'll grant ya that. But your supposed to be there as a PROFESSIONAL. Show some class.

Anways, I shared a nice moment with WJRT-TV newscaster, Ed Phelps. As Parker was talking, Mr. Phelps looked at me and just rolled his eyes; then shucked a peanut, and shook his head in dismay.

chasfh

04-27-2007, 11:47 AM

I'm missing some context here -- why did Rob Parker call Hank Aaron a coward?

Lbh24

04-27-2007, 11:50 AM

I'm missing some context here -- why did Rob Parker call Hank Aaron a coward?

Given Olney's comparison of a WW2 vet not commenting on Iraq, my guess would be the issue is that Aaron won't comment on whether he believes/supports Bonds.

thewave84

04-27-2007, 11:58 AM

DennisDubay

04-27-2007, 12:01 PM

Olney doesn't even address the issue in this blurb, which is Aaron's stance (or lack thereof) on Bonds breaking the HR record. Buster Olney is just as bad as Rob Parker. Talk about the issue, not who called who what name.

Olneys ISSUE, was with what PARKER said. To say Olney is a bad as Parker, i don't know about that.

thewave84

04-27-2007, 12:52 PM

Actually I think Olney is worse in this case. At least Parker has a point. You really need to read Parker's article to understand the context of his complaint with Aaron. link to Parker's column (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070420/SPORTS08/704200362/1129/SPORTS0104)

Parker even says the following:

How ironic for Aaron, who was the pillar of courage during his pursuit of one of the most important records in American sports.

As he approached Babe Ruth's record of 714 homers, critics claimed Aaron played in more games than Ruth, in smaller parks and against watered-down pitching.And, don't forget all the hate mail and racism Aaron was subjected to.

And, did he forget then-commissioner Bowie Kuhn didn't attend the record-setting game in 1974?

If anyone knows what it's like to pursue a record while others try to ignore or discredit you, it's Aaron.

Now, Aaron, who didn't return several calls made to him, is doing the same thing to Bonds.

Parker also uses supporting quotes from Gary Sheffield and Jim Leyland:

Sheffield - "Being a player from today, you would want a player like Hank to be there and support Barry because we respect all the players before us, and we're trying to leave the same example," Gary Sheffield said. "Unfortunately, every time is different.

"For Barry to be doing what he's doing and has done for all these years, I would love to see Hank there. But he has his own reasons and maybe they're quality reasons. But from another player watching it, I would love to see him there supporting him because it means a lot to our community."

Leyland - "I can't speak for other people," Leyland said. "I can only speak for myself. I'm embracing it.

"I've never seen anything where Bonds has done anything wrong. I keep hearing all these accusations, but I've never seen anything where Barry Bonds tested positive. I've never seen any proof of that."

"But I think it's totally unfair that Barry Bonds has been a poster child for this mess," Leyland said. "I'll be one of the first guys to call him and congratulate him.

"I think it's a tremendous accomplishment."

ypsieast

04-27-2007, 01:01 PM

I think Parker describing Aaron as a "coward" was either 1) a really stupid choice of words or 2) a calculated method for generating personal publicity. Whichever it is, it makes me sick.

thewave84

04-27-2007, 01:06 PM

ypsieast

04-27-2007, 01:39 PM

So the problem that everyone has is just that Parker called Aaron a coward?

Pretty much.

If Parker had instead started the column with "Aaron needs to speak out about Bonds" and left the rest of the column the same, would that be ok?

It wouldn't be controversial and nobody outside of Detroit would have read it. Parker's name would not be broadcasted to nat'l audiences by Buster Olney, Mike & Mike... etc.

But I completely disagree with his premise that Aaron has to take an overt stance on the issue.

From the article:
Well, he needs to take a stand -- either denounce Bonds' attempt because he's been implicated in the steroids scandal, or embrace Bonds' accomplishment and show up. Playing middle of the road isn't fair -- to baseball, its fans or Bonds. Instead, Aaron has chosen the easy way out -- saying nothing.

Aaron doesn't have the responsibilty of (de)legitimizing the HR record. He doesn't owe MLB, Bonds or fans **** in that regard. If he wants to remain off the record and out of the limelight of the situation, that's his perogative.

jessman1128

04-27-2007, 01:41 PM

So the problem that everyone has is just that Parker called Aaron a coward? If Parker had instead started the column with "Aaron needs to speak out about Bonds" and left the rest of the column the same, would that be ok?

I don't agree with Parker calling Aaron a coward, but I also don't really agree with the whole premise of the article. Calling him a coward means that you think Aaron is avoiding the subject because he is afraid - literally afraid - of it, and of what might come of it if he talks about it. Personally, I think that's rather presumptuous. "Aaron doesn't want to talk about the issue. Oh, well, the only possibly reason for that is because he's afraid to talk about it." Umm...no. That's not the only possible reason. Maybe, like Aaron actually said, he just doesn't want to be bothered about it.
I don't want to be around that sort of thing anymore. I just want to be at peace with myself. I don't want to answer questions.If he offers his opinion, regardless of what it is, you can bet there will be all sorts of responses and questions about it and to him for quite some time. It seems to me like that could be quite a bother to somebody. "I don't want to be bothered" is quite different than "I'm afraid", last time I checked.

A lot of people, including Rob Parker, seem to think that Hank Aaron owes Barry Bonds, baseball, and baseball fans his opinion about Bonds breaking his record. I don't agree. Would I like to know Aaron's opinion about this? Yes, I would. Would I like to see Aaron there when Bonds breaks his record? Probably. But I don't understand how all of us wanting these things means that Aaron is obliged to give them to us.

DET Mr Malefic

04-27-2007, 02:08 PM

A lot of people, including Rob Parker, seem to think that Hank Aaron owes Barry Bonds, baseball, and baseball fans his opinion about Bonds breaking his record. I don't agree. Would I like to know Aaron's opinion about this? Yes, I would. Would I like to see Aaron there when Bonds breaks his record? Probably. But I don't understand how all of us wanting these things means that Aaron is obliged to give them to us.

I agree completely from the first word of the paragraph to the last.

Tyrus

04-27-2007, 03:58 PM

If he offers his opinion, regardless of what it is, you can bet there will be all sorts of responses and questions about it and to him for quite some time. It seems to me like that could be quite a bother to somebody. "I don't want to be bothered" is quite different than "I'm afraid", last time I checked.

I don't think Aaron's refusal to comment is because he is afraid, and I don't think it's because he "doesn't want to be bothered."

I think it's because he thinks the entire thing is a sham -- but he has too much class to get into a mud-slinging contest.

Class. What a concept, eh?

Shinzaki

04-27-2007, 04:09 PM

I think Parker's idiocies are so fare beyond the pale, so far outside the normal boundaries of intelligent discourse that he faces the very genuine risk of becoming looked upon as a parody of himself. People may read him now because some of the stupid things he writes, but in time they will regard him no more seriously than they do the village idiot who stands on the corner guffawing at the traffic passing him by.

Biff Mayhem

04-27-2007, 04:13 PM

MLB Credits Hank Aaron With 50 Lost Home Runs

April 27, 2007 |
MILWAUKEE—In what Major League Baseball officials are calling a "long overdue correction of a gross oversight," Commissioner Bud Selig announced Tuesday the discovery that Hall of Famer Hank Aaron had in fact accumulated 50 previously unaccounted-for home runs during his illustrious 22-year baseball career, bringing his once record total of 755 to an even higher 805 and putting the all-time home-run record perhaps forever out of reach.

"Hank Aaron is a hero, an excellent man, and a great ambassador for the game of baseball," Selig said during a press conference to announce the findings. "We're proud to have finally set things right, hopefully once and for all. And I have to tell you, some of the home runs that we discovered were just monster shots. One was hit off of [Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher] Harvey Haddix that went 576 feet, and Hank wasn't even that big of a guy. Just naturally strong and gifted, I guess."

Haddix was unavailable for comment, as he passed away in 1994.

More at site. (http://www.theonion.com/content/news/mlb_credits_hank_aaron_with_50)

LeFlorean

04-27-2007, 04:37 PM

I agree completely from the first word of the paragraph to the last.

Thirded. Aaron does not owe baseball a single thing.

Not going speaks for itself, though. It is a kind of stance.

thewave84

04-27-2007, 04:49 PM

I want to second Jim Leyland's opinion. I believe that is the correct stance and far more classy than Hank Aaron's.

DennisDubay

04-27-2007, 05:14 PM

I don't think Aaron's refusal to comment is because he is afraid, and I don't think it's because he "doesn't want to be bothered."

I think it's because he thinks the entire thing is a sham -- but he has too much class to get into a mud-slinging contest.

Class. What a concept, eh?

CORRECTO MUNDO!

So, in the future, IF Bonds is found to have used steroids, Hank would be justified in not congratulating Bonds? Screw dat, as the kids say. If Hank thinks its a scam, than that's his damn prerogative. Hank broke the record Steroid free, and was being threatened on a daily basis. He paved the road, like so many before him ... and Bonds, Sosa, etc. PISSED on that road. So, if he doesn't want to shake Barry's hand, congratulate him on a Cheat Well Done, then i salute him.

jessman1128

04-27-2007, 05:32 PM

I want to second Jim Leyland's opinion. I believe that is the correct stance and far more classy than Hank Aaron's.
I have no problem with Leyland's opinion on this either. It would appear that he feels differently about the issue than Aaron, and he's willing to state his opinion. Fine by me. He's also not exactly in the same boat as Aaron though, so I think comparing the willingness of Leyland and Aaron to share their opinions about this subject is somewhat akin to comparing apples and oranges. I'm not in favor of comparing the two, but I'll try anyway.

You believe Leyland's stance is "correct" and "far more classy" than Aaron's. In my opinion, the only way a stance regarding this issue can be "correct" is if that stance is in accordance with what that person believes, and in that sense I believe both person's stances are correct. Far more classy? Depends on how you look at it. If Aaron thinks Bonds cheated in getting to where he is, and he says so, it very possibly could evolve into a media-&-fan-fueled "mud-slinging contest", as Tyrus mentioned. Refusing to be drawn into such a mess shows just as much class as a person much-more-removed from the situation stating their opinion shows, again IMO.

Also, if I remember correctly, Leyland and Bonds have some history together. I think Bonds played for Leyland when with the Pirates. So you could definitely argue that Leyland might be biased towards Bonds on this issue. We don't know that but it's certainly possible. Yet another reason why it's not fair to compare Leyland's stance to Aaron's stance.

eastside billee

04-27-2007, 06:29 PM

I think it's because he thinks the entire thing is a sham -- but he has too much class to get into a mud-slinging contest.

This is absolutely correct Tyrus.

I support Aaron 100 percent. I wouldn't support Bonds and I personally will never admit that Bonds owns the record. He has turned the entire record into a gigantic joke. How baseball will get it back, I have no idea.

jessman1128

04-27-2007, 07:14 PM

This is absolutely correct Tyrus.

I support Aaron 100 percent. I wouldn't support Bonds and I personally will never admit that Bonds owns the record. He has turned the entire record into a gigantic joke. How baseball will get it back, I have no idea.

Baseball already got it back.
http://www.motownsports.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48166

ewsieg

04-27-2007, 07:46 PM

Aaron does not owe baseball a single thing.

Exactly, it's not like baseball ever did anything for him. :dead:

LeFlorean

04-27-2007, 09:59 PM

That's right. All Aaron has done his entire life is take, take, take from baseball.

atomicrod

04-28-2007, 12:19 AM

I don't think Aaron's refusal to comment is because he is afraid, and I don't think it's because he "doesn't want to be bothered."

I think it's because he thinks the entire thing is a sham -- but he has too much class to get into a mud-slinging contest.

Class. What a concept, eh?

Great Point Tyrus.

With a major sports network taking the time to blast Parker, I guess he can rule out the next big time job he leaves Detroit for.

I don't know what event I was looking more forward too. Parker getting ran out of another large market because he's a hack, or the long puff piece from whichever local paper rehired him. Guess we are stuck wtih him either way.

The local papers for the most part have good sportswriters and in a couple cases really good ones. It's a shame our pentance is having to see Parker and Album bylines every so often.

LeFlorean

04-28-2007, 12:49 AM

My favorite Albom articles almost always involve inanimate objects speaking to one another.

IdahoBert

04-28-2007, 10:50 AM

Hank Aaron probably thinks that the "player's code of silence" on steroids does not apply to him or his all-time home run record. He probably doesn't feel like playing the "see no evil hear no evil" game that relies on protocol to deny the obvious fact that Bonds--and maybe as many as half of all players--distorted records with performance enhancing drugs.

Aaron most likely thinks he achieved his record fair and square and that Bonds has not. Aaron suffered through death threats on his quest to break the record. His record is charged with a lot of emotion and pride and it probably pains him deeply to see his moment in history surpassed in such a manner.

I'm not aware that he has spoken out against Bond's "alleged" use of steroids--so he is living up to the code of silence that much--but he has decided not to feign ignorance about the fundamental truths of this situation and to play along at a celebration he can't stomach.

Steroid use is the elephant in the living room of the all-time home run record and he is acknowledging it in his own way. Today's players made their own beds by using performance-enhancing drugs and they have to sleep in them. Aaron has decided not to join them.

BFK

04-28-2007, 11:06 AM

Parker is the Rosie O'Donnell of the Detroit Media. He's shallow, and has managed to burn so many bridges that the only way he's going to generate any reaction when his name is mentioned, other than thigh-slapping laughter, is by writing controversial columns deriding sports icons. That's all he has left.

rhinocrash

04-28-2007, 12:06 PM

I personally do not like Parker's columes. He's very narrowminded, and cannot see the forest because of the trees. Earlier this week, he refused to return calls to ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning show for his remarks about Aarron.

Even though there are issues where Aarron and I disagree, the man never did anything to disgrace the sport of baseball itself. Personally, I believe "The Hammer" is handling the situation with class. Even though it has never been proved, there is enough circumstancial evidence on the Bonds using steriods issue. For Aarron to say nothing more then that he will not be there tells me he doesn't want to ruin Bonds' moment with his opinion of how he played the game!

I am old enough to remember when "The Hammer" broke "The Babe's" record. He never had any cloulds of speculation hanging over his head on that April night in Atlanta in 1974. Bonds clearly cannot say the same!!! I tip my hat to Hank Aarron for taking the high road on the matter!!

As far as Parker's column goes, well, consider the source, and then hang on to it in case you run out of toilet paper while vacationing in Northern Michigan this summer.

Domino

04-28-2007, 01:02 PM

It will be a matter of time before he gets fired from the Detroit News ... just like he did at 97.1 as well. He is THE most clueless sports writer in the nation.

chasfh

04-28-2007, 02:34 PM

I'm not sure I agree that Aaron is a coward -- I don't necessarily think he needs to take a verbal stand, although he is taking a stand with his intended action -- but I do think Hank Aaron is petty for not showing up for the record breaking. To me, he's coming off like someone who's sore that he's not going to have his precious record anymore.

It's as Leyland says: Barry Bonds has tested positive for nothing. I'm not saying I believe he didn't take steroids -- he may very well have -- but until he tests positive, he's all right by me. He is the greatest hitter of our generation, and I've enjoyed seeing that. If he's personally an *******, well, so what? He's never been an ******* to me -- just mostly to sportswriters that I don't have much respect for, anyway.

Besides, I'm not so sure that the only substances Hank Aaron was fortified by were Wheaties and Ovaltine.

Biff Mayhem

04-28-2007, 04:49 PM

I've read a lot of people's thoughts on this but I think Bert said it best.

ToledoTigerFan

04-28-2007, 06:48 PM

I didn't read any of the responses, but here's my thought. It's pure speculation based on absolutely nothing. Having qualified it properly(I hope), perhaps Hank is being quiet because possibly he used whatever "stimulants" were going around at that time and figures if he opens his mouth regarding Bonds, someone who he played with will appear and say "yeah, but......".

kajoreh

04-29-2007, 02:18 PM

exactly bert...
aaron has decided not to join them...

he has made his statement...

in much the same way rosa parks said i'm not going to move to the back of the bus...

she didn't hold a press conference...she didn't call al sharpton...or all the other things we do today...

she was tired and just told the driver that she wasn't moving...
she certainly wasn't a coward...
she had a position and she took it...

irregardless of the media...

and that in many ways is the problem that the media has with this...

that their need to have him invoved in this discussion is trumped by his irrelevence to their opinion...

that he won't play the game...

their game...

hank is a man of that generation...
a man of positions and principles...
and it's about what is and isn't correct for him...

not what sells papers or fills talk radio time or makes any writers career...or feeds baseballs own ego at the expense of his own convictions...

he just doesn't care...

and you also don't have to shout things from the mountaintops to have it heard...

hank sez he ain't comming...
he ain't comming...
he's taken his ball and gone home, thank you very much...

whatever you read into that is your business...

and it probably sez more about you than it does about him...

(just to clarify...i mean that as a generic you...not you yourself bert)