07 October 2001
Dierker, the head ASStro
The Astros clinched the divison and home field throughout the NL playoffs today (which, if history holds true, will be long enough for another first round loss), and I could not care less.
I love baseball, but I don't consider myself a Major League baseball fan. Too many of the players are petulant, prima donna millionaires who tend to treat the fans like crap (does anyone remember the strike? I do, and I think that's still a huge source of my disinterest), and the ownership is not much better.
I've rooted for the Astros since moving here. But I couldn't help but agree with Joe Morgan's assessment of how the team handled Barry Bonds. It was gutless, and I share Morgan's criticism of Larry Dierker (who has never impressed me as a strategist or tactician, although 4 division titles in 5 years is a little hard to criticize). Even the Dodgers, who HATE the Giants, pitched to Bonds in the subsequent series (and, incidentally, the Dodgers beat the Giants, erasing their playoff hopes).
Morgan wrote that he wouldn't be a fan of the gutless Astros for their last three games, and I shared that view. Until Dierker came out and criticized Houston fans for cheering Bonds, whose record-tying homer was an historic achievement and deserved to be cheered. Dierker, the Houston Chronicle reported, was perturbed, infuriated, and really unhappy with Houston fans. How rich to criticize your paying fans!
Since I share the sentiment of those fans, I suppose I also am the target of Dierker's criticism. So I will promise the jackass this (not that he or the other prima donnas really care): I will not return to Enron Field for an Astros game while he's manager, nor will I call myself a fan so long as he remains. Instead, I'll spend more of my time at Cougar Field watching the college game. The folks at the University of Houston actually seem to appreciate the few hundred stalwart baseball fans who come out regularly. The players bust their asses. And I've NEVER heard Coach Rayner Noble criticize those of us who pay to come in and watch his team compete. I let my UH season tickets lapse last baseball season. I'll be sure to renew them next spring.
[Posted @ 06:32 PM CST]
