Ramirez caught in the tainted era of baseball
Jimmy Golen- AP
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: Sports
Reaction ranged from shock to self-interest across the sports world and beyond after Major League Baseball suspended the slugger for 50 games for violating the substance abuse policy. The commissioner's office did not identify the banned substance; Ramirez said it was not steroids, but a medication that a doctor had given him.
"Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility," he said in a statement released by the players' union. "L.A. is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about this whole situation."
NBA star Shaquille O'Neal Tweeted, "Dam manny ramirez, come on man Agggggggggh, agggggggh,agggggh." White House spokesman Robert Gibbs called the development a tragedy and a shame.
"I think it's a disappointment to anybody that's a sports fan," Gibbs said. "My sense is, it's a great embarrassment on Major League Baseball. And you hope that each time this happens that others will recognize, if they are doing it, and stop. But, regrettably, it happens over and over again."
At Fenway Park, where Ramirez played through his prime and became Boston's first World Series MVP, the writer of his authorized biography happened to be giving a lunchtime talk when the news broke. Jean Rhodes, the author of "Becoming Manny: Inside the Life of Baseball's Most Enigmatic Slugger," painted Ramirez as a quirky craftsman who gave off an air of apathy but was diligent in his preparations.
That's also what Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo saw when he played with Ramirez on the 2004 team that ended Boston's 86-year World Series drought.
"It's kind of shocking that he got caught up in anything, honestly," Arroyo said. "Manny likes to play stupid, but he's a pretty bright guy. And he's definitely aware of a lot of things that he tries to act like he's completely oblivious to."
When Boston's clubhouse opened Thursday afternoon, TVs were giving the latest developments and few players milled about.
"Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility," he said in a statement released by the players' union. "L.A. is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about this whole situation."
NBA star Shaquille O'Neal Tweeted, "Dam manny ramirez, come on man Agggggggggh, agggggggh,agggggh." White House spokesman Robert Gibbs called the development a tragedy and a shame.
"I think it's a disappointment to anybody that's a sports fan," Gibbs said. "My sense is, it's a great embarrassment on Major League Baseball. And you hope that each time this happens that others will recognize, if they are doing it, and stop. But, regrettably, it happens over and over again."
At Fenway Park, where Ramirez played through his prime and became Boston's first World Series MVP, the writer of his authorized biography happened to be giving a lunchtime talk when the news broke. Jean Rhodes, the author of "Becoming Manny: Inside the Life of Baseball's Most Enigmatic Slugger," painted Ramirez as a quirky craftsman who gave off an air of apathy but was diligent in his preparations.
That's also what Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo saw when he played with Ramirez on the 2004 team that ended Boston's 86-year World Series drought.
"It's kind of shocking that he got caught up in anything, honestly," Arroyo said. "Manny likes to play stupid, but he's a pretty bright guy. And he's definitely aware of a lot of things that he tries to act like he's completely oblivious to."
When Boston's clubhouse opened Thursday afternoon, TVs were giving the latest developments and few players milled about.
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