Great SI Article on Joba - Talksox

TheKilo · 10-06-2007, 08:02 PM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...008/index.html

I could do without the fist pumps or the constant shots of his crying dad on YES, but this article gives me newfound respect for the guy.

And he's actually really fun to watch, if you love baseball. Dude's flat out nasty and it's unfortunate (

) what happened to him last night, but to his credit he never made any excuses.

a700hitter · 10-06-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKilo

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...008/index.html

I could do without the fist pumps or the constant shots of his crying dad on YES, but this article gives me newfound respect for the guy.

And he's actually really fun to watch, if you love baseball. Dude's flat out nasty and it's unfortunate (

) what happened to him last night, but to his credit he never made any excuses.

I thought the article was way too long. His father had a very sad life, but the worst parts happened before Joba (Justin) was born. He raised and nurtured his son while suffering from his disabilty. Is this a story because he was raised by his father rather than a mother? Thousands upon thousand of mothers and grandmothers raise and nurture their children without fathers while enduring poverty and sickness. Is it a story because his father is a Native American? If so, why? Is it some collective national guilt with regard to a race of people upon whom genocide was committed? I am interested in why people think this story is so compelling. When it comes to sports, I will admit that I have little interest in seeing human interest stories. There is enough drama in my own life, and if I need any additional human interest drama, I'll watch WE or Lifetime with my wife.

TheKilo · 10-06-2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a700hitter

I thought the article was way too long. His father had a very sad life, but the worst parts happened before Joba (Justin) was born. He raised and nurtured his son while suffering from his disabilty. Is this a story because he was raised by his father rather than a mother? Thousands upon thousand of mothers and grandmothers raise and nurture their children without fathers while enduring poverty and sickness. Is it a story because his father is a Native American? If so, why? Is it some collective national guilt with regard to a race of people upon whom genocide was committed? I am interested in why people think this story is so compelling. When it comes to sports, I will admit that I have little interest in seeing human interest stories. There is enough drama in my own life, and if I need any additional human interest drama, I'll watch WE or Lifetime with my wife.

I think it's very easy to say something like that when looking on the outside.

I cannot begin to comprehend what he and his father have gone through, what with Harlan's disability, their extreme poverty, him overcoming tremendous odds, etc. I think the relationship between Joba and his dad is really touching in a way, and it's a feel good human interest story.

Tell me this, if Joba had a big red "B" on his hat, would you feel different?

How did you feel about Jon Lester this year?

a700hitter · 10-06-2007, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKilo

I think it's very easy to say something like that when looking on the outside.

I cannot begin to comprehend what he and his father have gone through, what with Harlan's disability, their extreme poverty, him overcoming tremendous odds, etc. I think the relationship between Joba and his dad is really touching in a way, and it's a feel good human interest story.

Tell me this, if Joba had a big red "B" on his hat, would you feel different?

How did you feel about Jon Lester this year?

When I watch sports, it is an escape for me, so these stories have little interest for me. The drama of the game is enough for me. I am not a stone. When I hear these stories, I'll listen. It's not that they offend or repel me, but on the other hand, I don't look forward to the made for TV version of these human interest stories. Also, once I have heard them once, I have littlle need to learn more about it. I felt bad about Lester when I heard about his cancer. That was different not just because he had a "B" on his cap, but because it threatened the young man's life. Due to the privacy concerns of Lester and his family, the reports of his progress against the disease were periodic and not constant. The amount of information we were given about this was just right. Had it not been for the wishes of his family, I think the press might have made it a 24-7 story overwhelming us and the news of the season. The press will exploit anything and anyone for a story.

TheKilo · 10-06-2007, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a700hitter

When I watch sports, it is an escape for me, so these stories have little interest for me. The drama of the game is enough for me. I am not a stone. When I hear these stories, I'll listen. It's not that they offend or repel me, but on the other hand, I don't look forward to the made for TV version of these human interest stories. Also, once I have heard them once, I have littlle need to learn more about it. I felt bad about Lester when I heard about his cancer. That was different not just because he had a "B" on his cap, but because it threatened the young man's life. Due to the privacy concerns of Lester and his family, the reports of his progress against the disease were periodic and not constant. The amount of information we were given about this was just right. Had it not been for the wishes of his family, I think the press might have made it a 24-7 story overwhelming us and the news of the season. The press will exploit anything and anyone for a story.

Would you say the same thing if Joba was a Red Sox? I don't think you would...

a700hitter · 10-06-2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKilo

Would you say the same thing if Joba was a Red Sox? I don't think you would...

Yeah, I probably would. I was on the way to Yankee Stadium in 1986 when the Yankee pre-game radio show cut to Suzyn Waldman in the Red Sox locker room with "tragic news about Wade Boggs." When they cut to Suzyn, she told the audience that Boggs' mother had been killed in a car accident. I exclaimed "thank god Boggs wasn't in the car." My friends called me a cold-hearted bastard. I replied, " Hey, I feel bad that his mother got killed, but she doesn't play third base and lead off." That about sums up how I feel about sports. If I hear a sad story while watching sports, I'll acknowledge that it is sad, but I have no interest in hearing it. It doesn't matter if the Red Sox are involved. I'd rather hear some intelligent debate about game strategy.

TheKilo · 10-06-2007, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a700hitter

Yeah, I probably would. I was on the way to Yankee Stadium in 1986 when the Yankee pre-game radio show cut to Suzyn Waldman in the Red Sox locker room with "tragic news about Wade Boggs." When they cut to Suzyn, she told the audience that Boggs' mother had been killed in a car accident. I exclaimed "thank god Boggs wasn't in the car." My friends called me a cold-hearted bastard. I replied, " Hey, I feel bad that his mother got killed, but she doesn't play third base and lead off." That about sums up how I feel about sports. If I hear a sad story while watching sports, I'll acknowledge that it is sad, but I have no interest in hearing it. It doesn't matter if the Red Sox are involved. I'd rather hear some intelligent debate about game strategy.

Fair enough....but I think you then have to have some respect for the way Joba goes about his business.

Last night, Derek Jeter:

Quote:

"Just when you think you've seen it all, you see something new,'' New York shortstop Derek Jeter said. "I guess that's the home-field advantage for them -- just let the bugs out in the eighth inning. It worked.''

Last night, Joba Chamberlain:

Quote:

"They bugged me, but you've got to deal with it," Chamberlain said.

He also apologized for letting his team down, and didn't make any excuses.

Who's the one with class?

a700hitter · 10-06-2007, 09:24 PM

I was surprised that Jeter whined. He's not the whiny type.

**schillingouttheks** · 10-06-2007, 10:27 PM

Did anyone else think that the Yanks were making a much bigger deal out of it than it needed to be? Jeter was out there swatting his ass off, meanwhile the Tribe is out there just playing the game. Are the Yanks going to tell me that each of those bugs was mechanical and controlled by the Indians' FO?

ARod2212 · 10-06-2007, 11:03 PM

Midges are fucking annoying. They have them where my grandparents live in Ireland, and if the wind dies down (which doesn't happen often) you can't stand outside. I still have the image of my little brother, sitting in the grass next to a rock when the wind stopped, and within, literally 15 seconds, he was completely covered in black midges.

I've played golf over there when they are bad, and you can't square up and set a shot. In your eyes, ears, nose.. it is really difficult to concentrate even for a second. I honestly thought the umpires were going to delay the game for it last night. It artificially altered the game. I really didn't see it as anything different than a rain delay or the lights going out. (My opinion, regardless of how it affected the Yankees.)

Sucks to lose a game like that, but I still trust Joba with the ball in any spot. And I love the kid's background, makeup, story, and stuff. He's the complete package.

Thumper · 10-06-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schillingouttheks

Did anyone else think that the Yanks were making a much bigger deal out of it than it needed to be? Jeter was out there swatting his ass off, meanwhile the Tribe is out there just playing the game. Are the Yanks going to tell me that each of those bugs was mechanical and controlled by the Indians' FO?

Don't give them any ideas.

As to the Joba story, I hate the Yankee uniform, I hate the team as a team, simply because it's always been like that. But for each individual person, as to Joba, I think he's going to be one of the greatest pitchers this game has seen, and I think that what he had to overcome and how he finally overcame it, is a very touching story. I'd relate but I'd just get a "lulz" from TheKilo. But I'm glad Harlan got to see his sone play, and hopefully he'll see him play for a long time.

On a side note, is it just me or does Joba have a slight facial resemblence to Babe Ruth? If not full body, Joba's a big guy.

a700hitter · 10-06-2007, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schillingouttheks

Did anyone else think that the Yanks were making a much bigger deal out of it than it needed to be? Jeter was out there swatting his ass off, meanwhile the Tribe is out there just playing the game. Are the Yanks going to tell me that each of those bugs was mechanical and controlled by the Indians' FO?

TheKilo · 10-07-2007, 02:55 AM

The hilarious thing was that Granderson on the postgame for TBS mentioned that the bugs are attracted to bug spray and moisture.

So, in trying to get rid of the problem, the Yanks made it worse.

ARod2212 · 10-07-2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKilo

The hilarious thing was that Granderson on the postgame for TBS mentioned that the bugs are attracted to bug spray and moisture.

So, in trying to get rid of the problem, the Yanks made it worse.

Joba was screwed because he was a big fat sweaty guy. Mariano in that spot.. I don't think I've seen the guy ever break a sweat.

What if they sprayed Joba with like Raid and killed the bugs when they landed on him? Or is that extremely hazardous to his health?

a700hitter · 10-07-2007, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARod2212

Joba was screwed because he was a big fat sweaty guy. Mariano in that spot.. I don't think I've seen the guy ever break a sweat.

What if they sprayed Joba with like Raid and killed the bugs when they landed on him? Or is that extremely hazardous to his health?

I think that a bee keepers hat would have been effective.