Comments on: Finally, a retired player says not everything was better 40 years ago

By: TF in Tampa

TF in Tampa — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:02:59 +0000

No, I’m not shocked at all. Lets face it, in order for Grimsby to get to where he was, the most watched news anchor in NYC, he had to be cutting edge, and he was the ringleader on his broadcast,
all very entertaining. Ratings, ratings, ratings. And yes, Tex did himself in with his untimely rape comment.
Talk at ya later.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:17:20 +0000

Bill was kinda the straight man, though, and Grimsby, may the Buddha cause his countenance to shine upon him, was the provocateur. And when Grimsby was on his mephistophelian schtick, Bouton picked up the vibe and became as cheerfully subversive as the rest of them. Tex Antoine was the one who got himself in the worst trouble, joking about rape – but then he used to show up for work stoned and no doubt that helped him torpedo himself.
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It will, I’m sure, come as a great shock to you when I say that Grimsby was one of my formative influences.

By: TF in Tampa

TF in Tampa — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:28:14 +0000

When I was a young lad growing up in Queens, NY, and getting hooked on baseball, I watched, studied and admired Jim’s pitching motion. He was the only one I remember who’s fast ball delivery was directly from overhead. Most pitchers threw 3/quarters or sidearm.
I duplicated his pitching motion starting in Little League, then thru high school, into college and a brief stint with a local semi-pro team with modest success. I struck out a few with my overhead fast ball, and gave up some dingers as well. Thanks Jim for getting me started and for the great games you gave us.
Gator , you forgot to include Roger’s co-anchor Bill Butell. When they adlibbed, they got themselves in more trouble than the network could take, hence they became no more.

By: Jason @ IIATMS

Jason @ IIATMS — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:43:18 +0000

Charles,
My personal views (which don’t count for diddlysquat) is that there is a happy medium somewhere between old school (Bouton) and new school.
I love celebrations. I want to see joy, pain, frustration, elation. I don’t want to see showboating. These players work their collective asses off to succeed and I don’t think it’s bad to celebrate something. So long as it’s not done towards the pitcher/other team.
Sure, it’s a fine line but personally, I have an idea where MY line is and it’s probably different than yours.
So watch out for the beanballs!

By: Jason @ IIATMS

Jason @ IIATMS — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:40:14 +0000

Dude, you DO know that was merely a copy/paste from Bouton… not me. Right? Um, hello?

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:08:52 +0000

Bouton got most of his showboating in on his book tours and later, as a hysterically funny sportscaster for ABC’s Eyewitness News in New York, where he was protected in the lineup by the immortal Roger Grimsby and the somewhat less immortal Tex Antoine, and a merry crew of eccentrics. A gashouse gang for those last years when you could sort of believe what you heard on television.
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He also put in a tasty turn as a con man in The Long Goodbye. Elliot Gould: Yeah, I even lost my cat. Bang! Bouton: dies and falls in the pool.
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He definitely should have done more acting.

By: moreflagsmorefun

moreflagsmorefun — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:04:21 +0000

The only SPORT you don’t HAVE EMOTIONS is Jumping Rope, I have a feeling you fellas were good at jumping Rope.
Adios

By: Seth

Seth — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:35:22 +0000

Had to laugh at Bouton griping about showboating. Has he ever seen a football game? A big, fat guy tackles a smaller guy, then flexes and struts like he just captured Bin Laden. At least baseball players only do it when they do something *significant*.

By: Charles Gates

Charles Gates — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:35:05 +0000

Jason, I’m with you (assuming you agree with Bouton’s remarks). I’d like to think that if I were playing MLB, I’d approach the game with a quiet dignity. But then, I remember that the more I get my face on Sports Center, the more money I can bring in via endorsements.
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Not that I think a lot of these egotistical celebrations are premeditated marketing campaigns…but that being said, I have a hard time believing that agents/PR managers are trying to get their clients to tone it down a tad. You know, IIAMTS after all…

By: moreflagsmorefun

moreflagsmorefun — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:23:24 +0000

Get a life, get loss, you sound like a miserable jerk!!!!!!
I pumped my fist while typing the above, I hope it bothers you!!
By the way it’s called Cadillacing ………..
I wonder if you get pissed when The Big Unit pumped his fist……

By: GimmeSomeSteel

GimmeSomeSteel — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:18:02 +0000

You’re right–DOB 3/08/39. He was a rookie in 1962, so there’s no way he’s only 60 now.

By: Jason @ IIATMS

Jason @ IIATMS — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:16:06 +0000

Craig, but you omitted his classic “in my day” part of that interview…
[i]“I wish the players today were more respectful of the game, were more humble. Not so into themselves. When Mickey Mantle hit a home run, he put his head down and ran around the bases as fast as he could so as to not show up the pitcher, went in the dugout, and sat down. Now, a guy hits a home run, oh my goodness, his hands go up in the air, he’s going around the bases, he just found a cure for cancer you’d think. He takes his time. He’s pointing to the sky. He’s kissing jewelry. Gets to the guys in the dugout, he takes a big bow. Then he goes in to sit down. Then he has to come out for a curtain call…and this is all in the second inning!
“I don’t know who these guys think they are. They’re just baseball players, and home runs have been hit before. I don’t like the over-inflated thoughts of themselves that you have with today’s athletes. There’s just no humility what-so-ever; no self-awareness; no modesty. There’s just no respect for the game or the opposing team. If they did that in my day, the next time up, he’d be on his ass. Believe me, he wouldn’t be doing that any more. (Bouton chuckles.)[/i]

By: stroboy51

stroboy51 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:12:11 +0000

Jim Bouton expended so much energy on each pitch that his hat continuously flew off his head. And by the way, Bouton is over 70 years old now.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:02:52 +0000

No pitchiing coach or manager would ever suggest a pitcher throw every pitch as hard as they can. In fact, every one I’ve ever met/read about/saw an interview advocated exactly the opposite.
Don’t throw hard, but get movement on the ball. Randy Johnson became successful when he learned how to pitch, not just throw it as hard as he could. Same with a guy named Koufax and thousands of others.
If Bouton was throwing the ball as hard as he could every time, it’s no wonder he threw out his arm. But if he would have backed off some he could have thrown the innings he did. Or not been as good as pitcher as he was. If had to throw that hard every pitch, then he was overachieving and wasn’t going to last much longer regardless of the innnings.
And I’m a Bouton fan, by the way.