My problem with this issue and the Astros is that I don't believe Lugo was treated fairly or respectfully. He may well have been guilty, in law and/or society, I have no idea. Nor do I believe it is relevant. The organization should have suspended him, at worst, until his situation was through the system. The fact that he was unceremoniously cut was a signal that he was guilty in the organization's eyes. And I believe Lugo's ethnicity was a big part of it. That is why I don't trust the Astros. I root root root for the home team. I love guys who perform on the field, or arena floor, or gridiron -- wherever and whether they are Chinese or Venezuelan or caucasion American is irrelevant. I want them to be ok people and great competitors. Great talent is nice. I see no issues with any of the Houston sports franchises -- except in this incident. It smelled racist to me. If it smells once then it can probably smell again.
mrpaige.. that's what I figured to be the case... It seems that the percentage of african americans in baseball (if you count only the american born players) is still about the same as the percentage of americans who are black overall.. just like in classes that were random growing up.. there are times when you are going to have a class with no african americans in it.... when you are deailng with a number as low as 10%.. there always a chance that one team will have 4 or 5 players and one hvae none... I dont think this is something that is intentional
The Astros were exasperated with his subpar performance on the field and the incident was a perfect excuse to cut him loose. I promise that if Jason Lane did the same thing, he'd get shipped out too.
Please name me one team that would even consider taking on Bagwell's ridiculous contract. He still has years left on that thing. NOBODY in the league would even get near that thing unless the Astros agreed to pay almost all of it.
Are you ****ing kidding me??? He slammed his pregnant wife/girlfriend against a car in full public view. And he SUCKED. He had way too many errors and he could barely hit a fly. Lugo was and will be worse than Vizcaino, Everett, and probably even Bruntlett. I HATED Lugo as a player; one of the biggest chokers I've ever witnessed. In other news, I've notcied a lot of people with Astros caps, at least this past weekend when I was in the DC region. I guess they look nice.
Check the history and timing of both players. Lugo may have stunk. Lugo may have been guilty. Lugo was gone, and quick. Too quick, and handled poorly IMO. And IMO it was issues other than on field and at home.
How long after Piakowski is drafted in the expansion draft before people start complaining that Les Alexander is racist bc his basketball team only has 2 white guys left?
He was losing his spot on the field, and then he bashed his wife around in the parking lot - your opinion is wrong.
So if it was issues other than those on or off (what I'm assuming you mean by "at home") the field, why was he released?
Lugo had been sucking it up on the field for some time, they were looking for a reason to let him go for that, not because of his race. He did himself in.
Man, this is rediculous! Seriously, his contract and crappy play is what got Hidalgo off the team. I am sure, if they find a talented guy that plays a position they need filled then no matter what his race is he would be picked up.
What I dislike about this issue: 1. it assumes the absolute worst about hunsicker and/or mclane. seriously, big money sports owners, in 2004, are concerned about one color: green. among the most marketable players in the game are black players...if mclane could broaden his fan base, i think he would; 2. it ignores the fact that black guys aren't playing baseball at the younger levels right now. hunsicker was on the other day and said, "hey, we'd love to have more black guys on the team...show me where they are!" anyone else watching the college world series...it's like a day at the Gap there. stark white. 3. it ignores the fact that there aren't a ton of teams in MLB with a big black representation.
i don't know...they were the first to have an academy in Venezuela. they have vizcaino...dotel...just traded hidalgo. again...i don't think this has anything to do with race. by the way...who in their right mind would rather have Lugo playing than Everett? if you just raised your hand, please put your crack pipe down. thanks.
At Drayton McLain's office, Carl enters DRAYTON: May I help you? CARL: I'm the exterminator. DRAYTON: Oh, yes of course, come in. CARL: Why didn't you want me to bring my equipment or wear my uniform? DRAYTON: Yes, well, if the other people in the office saw that I called an exterminator, they would just panic. Besides, this is sort of a friendly visit. Carl, right? CARL: Do I know you? DRAYTON: Yeah, sure, we met at Jerry Hunsicker's apartment. When you fumigated for fleas over there. CARL: Hunsicker... Oh yeah, funny white guy, right? DRAYTON: Jerry? Yes, I suppose he is white. You know, I never really thought about it. I don't see people in terms of color. You know, there's someone I'd like you to meet. Hand on... (To phone) Is Richard Justice in? PHONE: Mr. Justice left for dinner. DRAYTON: He left... huh... Carl, you hungry? later on........... DRAYTON: (To Carl) Oh, by the way, order anything you want, it's all on me. Just do me a tiny favor: pretend we're old friends. Oh my God! Richard Justice! What a coincidence, it's Richard Justice. Richard, I want you to meet a dear old friend of mine, Carl. CARL: I'm the exterminator. (Justice confused) DRAYTON: That's... what we used to call hiDm in high school, the exterminator. He's a linebacker. Oh, did we have some wild times.
Justice is on one hell of a role. It's pretty clear that the Chronicle doesn't have random drug testing.
Just a note about the Lugo issue... His wife said publicly that the "Beating" incident never occurred. Could she have been saying that to get him off? Sure. The point is that nobody knows what happened. Also, Lugo is having a fine year.
