I am well aware that Kirby Puckett was a great ballplayer whose career was tragically cut short. I am also well aware that Puckett once threatened to KILL HIS WIFE while in front of their children. On the karma scale, which matters more?

Levine stated on Saturday's BB365 show that he was going to personally call Brooks Boyer and suggest the White Sox have a day to honor a one of the South side's own. Screw him and screw that.

I don't understand why reporters, Levine in particular, tend to give more creedence to how a player treats them in the context of their job instead of how the player is in REAL LIFE. Levine mentioned how great Puckett was because he always had a smile on his face, loved the game of baseball, and always had time for an interview. I guess the fact that he once whacked the missus with a telephone doesn't figure into the equation at all.

Bruce doesn't hold anyone accountable for anything, except his own teammates. He'll rail on Dolgin or Silverman, but Baker gets a free pass. Being on Baker's good side can further Bruce's own standing in the baseball community, "f" his coworkers.

On Saturday's show, Levine also mentioned that first and foremost, he's a reporter, not a talkshow host. And, I think he's a great reporter when it comes to breaking stories and being "in the know." Maybe he shouldn't host a talk show ever again? Let JD or DeFalco or JHood or Dolgin get some more airtime. At least they have a slightly higher level of objectivity than the love child of Don Cherry and Foster Brooks (see the Love Child thread for the brilliant pics), at least none of the aforementioned ESPNers also cash a check from the Tribune Co. (Conflict of interest, anyone?)

I haven't seen the Puckett topic discussed much, and I'd like to know how the wind is blowing on this one.

O.J always had a smile on his face before and after he slashed his wife's neck. I wonder if Levine would sing Pucket's praises if he abused his daughter the way he abused his ex wife and others.

Well said LJH. Kirby Puckett was my favorite MLB player for a long time. When I read of his off the field transgressions, I realized he was a piece of shit with one good eye. Bob Ryan's parting shot on the Sports Reporters focused on Puckett. He stated Puckett had a "dark side", but that wasn't the Kirby HE would remembered. What a fucking cop out! They'll pile on the guys they don't like, but they give the buddy pass to others who were "there for them" or always "had a quote" What a hypocritical, Mark Twain-looking pompous prick!

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"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." ~ H.L. Mencken

Bruce doesn't hold anyone accountable for anything, except his own teammates. He'll rail on Dolgin or Silverman, but Baker gets a free pass. Being on Baker's good side can further Bruce's own standing in the baseball community, "f" his coworkers.




I think that's your answer to this and all "objectivity" questions regarding the Levine's and Offman's of the world. That's' why, when I start to hear anything resembling an opinion and not pure information coming from them, I reach for the dial as quickly as possible.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding.

Levine? Talk about a bad reporter, he's the Jewish Lawrence Holmes! (I was going to say he's the white Lawrence Holmes but since Holmes acts white it doesn't fit as well) Levine has a bad radio voice / bad delivery/ bad diction / bad humor / bad inflection / shoulda been fired long ago. Maybe he can get Mitch Rosen as his spokesman for the cause, since Mitch has spoken for Dave Duerson & Neil Steinberg.

Why must we only remember someone for their worst days. Yes, Kirby's life after baseball was f*ed up, but does that negate all of the best days of his life. Give KP some slack. Imagine what it would be like if everything you worked for in life was taken away before it's time and in the matter of 4 months.

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Homer: "Asleep at the switch"? I wasn't asleep, I was drunk!
Bart: I believe you, Dad.

So the domestic abuse and wife beating don't take the lustre off of the rose, eh?

What happens off of the field is more important in measuring a man that what he does on it.

I do know of Puckett's charitable donations and work in the community. But, he was obviously a much different person when the spotlight wasn't shining on him. Some might say that makes him a hypocrite.

Regardless, this thread is just as much about Bruce Levine's comments about Puckett than anything else.

Speaking of the white haired wonder, what's Bruce saying about Mark Prior's injury today? The "new" injury that just popped up. Who are the Cu crappin'?

Listen, Kirby was no saint. Far from it. But ... does that negate what he did on the field, or that it seemed that he was getting his life back in order? 15,000 fans came to his memorial service up here in Minnesota (I'm a Chicago transplant living in Minnesota). His ex-wife was there, so were his two kids. The ex has publically said what happened was in the past, that she moved on and so did he. Not forgotten but maybe forgiven.
Hey, maybe we can do the same. No, he wasn't a God, and does not deserve such status. He was a person, though, flaws and all.

Great point, very well said. Tell this to Bruce Levine next time he waxes poetic about what a great guy he was.

wow! i didn't know we could use that that logic! Just forget what OJ Simpson did off the field and just look at him on the field; wow! he's not a double-murderer after all - he's still a great football player!! oh boy thanks for clearing that up.
and ya know, i still love Michael Jacksons Thriller - what's diddling a few little boys got to do with anything?!?
and i guess i could become a pedophile off the field - as long as i do good on the field!!! Hello, Lolita...

Nostradamus,
Why do you have to lump Kirby into the same pile of shit as OJ and Michael Jackson? Yes, murder and child molestation are horrible, and yes I don't think much of either personally or professionally because of what they did (of course, OJ is still looking for the real killers and Michael was never found guilty).
But, like I said before, Kirby was no saint, but it seemed like there was much more room for forgiveness with what he did or did not do. The accusation against him for allegedly sexually assaulting the woman in teh bathroom at the restaurant was dubious at best. The police and the state's attorney took a long time before charging him. Surprisingly, it had less to do with him being Kirby Puckett and more to do with the consistency of the evidence, witnesses, and the bizarre behavior of the woman in the hours preceeding the alleged incident.
I understand what you're saying, you make good points. I just want to tell you where I'm coming from.

Nostradamus, the problem I have is that I don't know the former Mrs. Puckett or much about Kirby's life after baseball.

What I can piece together leads me to believe the man suffered from a severe depression. Did his wife not support him, threaten to leave him, etc? The point is I don't know and neither do you. So I will remember the Kirby I saw in centerfield.

Last question:
Would you feel the same way if Kendra Davis made the same allegations on Antonio Davis? My guess is "NO" since we know that "B" is a sociopath.

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Homer: "Asleep at the switch"? I wasn't asleep, I was drunk!
Bart: I believe you, Dad.

There is no justification for hitting a woman, ever, regardless of how big of a C-U-Next-Tuesday she may be. Period.

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It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a goddamn shame.

http://www.TheCommittedIndian.com/

AGREED.

I just don't see why we should take a critical eye to one incidence in his life and let that destroy everything else the man did.

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Homer: "Asleep at the switch"? I wasn't asleep, I was drunk!
Bart: I believe you, Dad.

Oz, this wasn't a one time thing, there was a long history of physical and mental abuse.

I wonder if the race card is playing a part in this thread? I could be way off, but I still wonder.

Yeah I think your right. I guess if you hate a black wife beater that makes you a racist.

First of all, Ozmodiar sounds a lot like Jason Goff to me.

Secondly, I don't think that abuse of all kinds is restricted only to African-Americans.

Comparing Kirby Puckett to OJ Simpson? C'mon lets be real here. If any of our lives would be put under a microscope, could we stand the scrutiny?

Everyone makes mistakes in their life. But some things are worse then other things. Wife beating and murder are pretty bad things. I have no forgiveness for that. But hey Kirby smiled at the ball park and hit line shots into the gap. So for some that makes up for everything.

When you lump Puckett in with OJ, then I think the race card issue has to considered. But nastradamus makes good points. We treat these athletes like Gods. We throw money at them, as well as our bodies, our souls and some of them (not all) give us shit in return. Money and fame are great, but can corrupt. Of course, if anyone wants to test that theory on me, I'll be more than willing.

If anyone wants to test it on me, I'll settle on money only. You can keep the fame.

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"It's not exactly a rocket surgery." D.J.

In my best Farmio voice, "Uh....no."

You've picked 2 chronic domestic abusers who happen to be black. Race card, no? Asshole wife beater card, yes.

If Kent Hrbek or Conrad Dobler had the same issues, I'd have similar feelings about them. I echo Stinkfinger's comments that there is NO REASON TO EVER HIT A WOMAN. (Or slash her throat in OJ's case.)

After thinking about this, my new hero is Chuck Finley. His C-U-Next-Time wife beat the bejeezus out of him, and what did he do, NOTHING! Well, he called the cops and had her arrested which is what he should have done.

pick a white offensive lineman on any team.....
you hear about those meatheads quite a bit.

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@audioidkid

Sure Nas, he has been looking at every golf course and titty bar in America. Still no luck.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

I just hope he doesn't have any knives in his house.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

Matt O'Dwyer, Jumbo Elliot, and Keith Millard seem to be coming to mind for some reason, though I can't pinpoint what their troubles were (if they were woman beating incidents or not), and I know Millard was a D-Linemen, and WTF is in the water in Minnesota that it always seems to be up there...Millard, Puckett, Warren Moon, the Boat Trip....

Additionally, Andres Lilja of the Red Wings, and Joe Corvo, an Oak Park native on the LA Kings have in the last couple years had incidents with women, and both are pieces of infectious human waste because of it. Race has nothing to do with this issue.

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It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a goddamn shame.

http://www.TheCommittedIndian.com/

Add former Bear Paul Grasmanis to the list...

This is a fun game. Know your white, wife beating, athlete.

Bobby Hull comes to mind

Christian Peter. Also I have no proof Mongo cuffed his ex around, but I do know her next hubby Stone Cold Steve Austin did. I wonder if alcohol was a factor?

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"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." ~ H.L. Mencken