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Speaking of Sports

November 16, 2007

I waited. And waited some more.

Nothing.

I watched. And watched some more

Still nothing.

I did not listen and that was because I have my own radio show to worry about and I have enough weirdness running around between my ears someone else's insanity just might make me sound sane.

Can't have that now, can I?

My wait was for the Tampa Bay media to grow a pair, show some outrage, stand up for something other than falling down on the job.

There are so many sports writers who think they work for the New York Post but have not awakened from the nightmare knowing they are paid by the St. Petersburg Times.

There are others who aspire to be part of the New York Times but would settle for the New York Post yet their bylines still appears in the Tampa Tribune.

There are other rags out there who call themselves newspapers and I find they have yet to measure up even to the level of the National Enquirer.

Now that I have made an enemy of every scribe in this region, we still have the television media.

Can't forget them.

Howard Cosell is dead yet there are those who try to emulate the man who told it like it was are nothing more than pale imitations. Some cannot even imitate the imitators.

Now that I have vented my spleen, I will admit, however, there are some good people doing good things in the Bay area. I will not mention any of their names for fear I may miss one or two just as I will not name those who still do not have a clue for fear I may call out too many.

So now you may ask, what has me so buzzed off. It comes down to two words: DELMON YOUNG. 

The Rays (sans Devil but still Tampa Bay) right-fielder finished second to Boston's Dustin Pedroia in the Rookie of the Year Award. It was not that he did not win it, it was by how much he lost it by and the bee in my bonnet went mad. My brain too.  

I am still trying to figure out how much better Pedroia was over Young to warrant a near landslide victory but I cannot find a single shred of evidence.  

If that wasn't enough, the media failed to show any outrage over the one-sided voting totals. Nary a whimper. Never mind, that would have been something.  

There was nothing.  

Young deserved better than he got.  

Was it the old Tampa Bay bias thing? The ghost of Vince Naimoli rearing its ugly head? Was it because Young was black? Was it because Young has a checkered past? Was it all of these and possibly more?

You be the judge but be honest in your evaluation. 

It was a yo-yo year to say the least. Out of spring training the buzz was about Young and a Japan import Daisuke Matsuzaka as being the early favorites. Then another player from the Far East, Akinori Iwamura, began to be noticed after a fast start.  

Not for nothing, but all the players were either Red Sox or Devil Rays. Goody for us right, because our local baseball team was finally getting positive press instead of headlines blaring like an American Express commercial, "Do you know me?" or "Mets' Scout Kicked out of Tropicana Field." 

Quietly, then not so, Pedroia's name started to make its way around the bigs as a possible all rookie candidate and deservedly so. By season's end, Dice-K had all but fallen off the award map, Iwamura, while deserving of a Gold Glove which he did not receive, never sustained the April success and the other hopefuls went from contenders to pretenders, Young and Pedroia emerged at the top of the heap by season's end.

Believe me, had DY lost to Pedroia in a close count there would not have been one word typed. But how can you justify eight voting members leaving Young's name off the ballot altogether.

For those who saw one of the brightest stars the Rays had to offer, eight deletions is beyond comprehension.

Those who were the beat writers for the team fell silent. Columnists suddenly had other things to write about. What, no curling tourneys to spew a few thousands words about?

No outrage, no voices of reason, nothing.

The media has taken on their counterparts many times on other voting issues, why not the Rookie of the Year. Why were the crazy-eight not challenged for their outright ignorance? Too small of an award to make waves?

Tell that to Delmon Young. Tell that to Tampa Bay Rays' fans.  

Had someone, anyone had the courage to call it like they sees 'em, we might have believed our "mainstream" media actually cared about something positive for a team that has lived so long on the negative side of town we still see the shadow of Naimoli at every turn. 

Delmon Young had a dream season and for the most part stayed away from the controversies that he carried along with him upon his promotion from triple-A Durham.  

He not only had the best season by any Rays' rookie, he may have put together the best all-around season by any Ray in the team's ten-year history. 

162 games played, .288 average, 13 home runs and 93 RBIs. Legitimate rookie award numbers. Want more? How about 16 outfield assists, an astounding number when you consider how much better it made the pitching staff because runners would not dare test his arm and when they did it came at a cost.  

Imagine how bad the Rays' ERA could have been, not that you could write home and brag considering where it finished up overall.  

Some would say that doesn't amount to a hill of beans with the rep carries around after the Naimoli-LaMar years, but it means a lot to a team in search of an identity and like it or not, Delmon Young is at the head of the Rays' class. 

My apologies to Mr. Carl Crawford because he could be in Houston or elsewhere before someone yells "Play Ball" in March. We have a shortage in the pitching department and he are coveted by a lot of GMs.  

Voters around the country may have had their reasons for voting the way they did but that still should not have stopped Tampa Bay media from expressing their outrage.  

They did not and that is a shame.  

Delmon Young was good this year in more ways than one but it appears our local people would rather see him throw bats than runners out at second and home. 

Simply put, Delmon Young deserved better.