Lady Loves Pinstripes

Manuel Aristides Ramirez Onelcida, also known as ‘Manny’, is a baseball player; who dominates sports headlines as the baggy pants, Bob Marley style dreadlocks ex-Red Sox turned LA Dodger outfielder.

As a player, Manny’s stats are staggering, with 500+ home-runs, 21 grand-slams, 9 silver sluggers, 12 time all-star, holds the post-season home run record of 28, has two World Series rings with the Boston Red Sox.

The list goes on about his athletic endeavors, but Manny is also known for just being himself.

‘Mammy being Manny’ is notoriously repeated as the explanation for the well-known antics, of the only MLB player busted for performance-enhancing drugs.

There is no denying that Manny is reckless. He is legendary for his careless statements and prima-dona behavior, but at the same time it is comic relief.

Manny takes bathroom breaks during games and in Fenway Park the Green Monster was also his office as he used his cell phone in between innings.

As a Dodger, Manny got ejected mid-inning of a game. He left the field and the stadium, to go have dinner.

In 2005 and 2008, the Red Sox were invited to the White House by the President to congratulate them on winning the World Series. Manny was a no-show both times.

President Bush even joked around about Manny’s repeated absence and same reason, “I notice Manny Ramirez isn’t here, his Grandmother must have died again”.

To say Manny likes to get his way is an understatement. It’s a consistent theme of being the bad-boy, but Manny’s talent makes him a badass.

Hearing a new ‘Manny-ism’ is always a Sportscenter highlight.

His infamous ‘shower’ in the ninth of Game four of the NLCS got more attention than the Phillies come-back win or the Dodgers being down 3-1, instead of tying up the series.

Dodgers Joe Torre’s response was, “He’s a cool customer, but he certainly didn’t have any lack of respect because of that. I think the way it turned out, it probably doesn’t look good. But it’s nothing different than he had done before.”

Manny was busted last season for taking female hormones, which are used to balance out the high testosterone steroids cause. Or Manny was trying to get pregnant; either way he served a 50-game suspension.

This looked to be the last straw for Manny because logically it crushed other players who were not caught in cold blood.

Well, I bet those players wished they lived over in Mannywood, where no press conference happened and you can leave the next day for Miami for a few days.This is a far different reaction than Alex Rodriguez dealt with, and the agony Andy Pettitte had to endure. Even Mark McGuire, who isn’t active but had to give an almost mandatory public explanation.

Upon returning after time served Manny stated,

“I didn’t kill nobody, I didn’t rape nobody, so that’s it, I’m just going to come and play the game. I’m happy that they support me, that they love me here. They know I let them down but I come back, I make it up and we move on. That’s all I can do.”

That is a pretty simple statement; no drawn out drama, and only Manny gained more popularity again.

Is it respectful? No. Is it arrogant and selfish? Yes.

Manny fans anticipated his return, and the media miss his entertaining, yet ludicrous shenanigans.

For me, it made me dream foe a second my answer to the famous question, “Hey Kate, What’s next?”

Without a doubt I’d scream, “I’m going to Manny-land!” (but NOT the Japan location)