Ever since I became a teacher I have gotten a ton more respect from umpires. The VAST majority of students I teach are incredible, good kids who either want to learn or at the very least respectful that they need to do their best and not cause big disturbances. Then there are a few Miltons.
For those living under a rock Milton Bradley became biligerent at an umpire yesterday, coming unglued so fast that he had to be restrained by his manager who had to wrestle him to the ground, causing him to tweak his knee and therefore be out for the season.
Originally Milton was angry that the ump said he saw him flick his bat toward the home plate ump's back after a called third strike. Any rational response would be "Sorry you were mistaken," or, better yet, just don't say anything and play the game. What was Milton's response: "why is it always about me? why were you looking at me?"
Uh, Milton that's his job. Yours is to play baseball without showing up or endangering the other team or umps. Milton's defense is like a convict telling a judge he shouldn't go to jail because the police shouldn't have caught him doing something wrong. Keep in mind there is no punishment to Milton here, only the ump thought he saw something.
But evidently the potential bruise to Milton's ego was too great and so it degenerates into namecalling on both sides with Milton calling time so he can charge the ump. Even with a coach and manager out there Milton is so out of control he has to be wrestled him to the ground. Season over.
Milton the Padres are in the middle of a pennant race, you were not only the best bat in the lineup, but arguabley the only consistent one. We now have only a small chance to make the playoffs and microscopic one to succeed if we get there. All because you had to get the last word in an argument you shouldn't have started in the first place.
Congratulations Bradley, go buy some prozac to celebrate. And how about a mirror too? The only person you have to blame is yourself.
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You forgot to mention the part where the Ump was pushing bradleys bunting. The coaches said the ump was out of line, the players said the ump was out of line, and the MLB is investigating it because THEY THINK he was out of line.
Milton Bradley is FAR from an idiot. Get both sides of the story.
EFB **** THE MODS!!
Jim Edmond's Ville, QQ
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The ump called Bradley the n word u idiot.....But that's ok, huh??? Stupid.....
djroxalot: Welcome…
South Central Los Angeles, CA
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JFK
He has tried since he left Dodgers and unlike most athlete's, TO, Moss, he has a bipolar disorder......FACT
djroxalot: Welcome…
South Central Los Angeles, CA
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Helton heard it all and will be the major factor in clearing this up.....Fleming has been out to get Bradley for a while......
djroxalot: Welcome…
South Central Los Angeles, CA
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Bradley overreacted, that's a given.
However, the Padres first base coach and 1st baseman Todd Helton both acknowledge that the conversation with the two was pretty colorful. If I were Bradley, I likely would have had a similar reaction, although it certainly would have been diminished.
Basketball Jesus:…
Mc Lean , VA
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Hey, that one NBA official challenged Tim Duncan to a fight, and Duncan maintained the stability of his limbs when it was over. Why is that?
Bradley has been a hot-head his entire time in the league. Arguing with the umpire is a part of the game, and I don't think the "entitled" label quite fits, but at the same time, I'm not exactly going to carry a flag for him either. Maybe he didn't get what he deserved, but, hey, sometimes bad things happen to bad people.
Steelercooz
St. Paul, MN
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It does appear that the ump should get at the very least fined and suspended if not fired outright. An umpire should not be baiting players by calling them names, nor let themselves get baited by the player.
But that still doesn't stop Bradley from being an idiot.
It will be interesting to finally find out what the ump said, but I doubt it was the n word because the first base coach in the Union Tribune would not come out and say it was a racial slur, just that it "smacked of that tone" (i.e. not something directly racial).
But even if he did, shake your head, turn around, report him and watch as the jerk gets fired. You have three witnesses (yourself, the first base coach, and Todd Helton) plus Lord knows how many videotapes of the whole exchange. If the umpire is a racist **** he will be publically humiliated, vilified, and most likely fired. There is no need to go down as well.
Good teammates realize it is all about the team. Selfish people only think about themselves. Stay in the game, do your best to win, and then fry the ump later.
Going balistic mid-game is just childish at best and has ruined both Bradley's and the Padres' seasons because of it.
prkeith
San Diego, CA
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