Because I leave the less important shit to other people, Bokolis spends as much time as practical trying to get people to stop mindlessly spouting the baseball adage good pitching stops good hitting.** Because I don't have time to be individually explaining shit to every idiot that says it, I usually just replay with no, great pitching stops good hitting...and nothing stops great hitting.
With the playoffs just passing its most frenetic period, every pitchers duel elicits utterances. Bokolis is going to set y'all straight.
Generally speaking, the teams hit at a lower average than during the regular season. Someone might try explaining that away by saying that the hitters are facing better pitchers than they did during the regular season. But, by that logic, the pitchers would also be facing better hitters (on average). If that logic held, the pitchers would suffer like the hitters and wouldn't have better ERA and WHIP than the regular season. Of course, the pitching and hitting stats can't both be worse.
Therefore, the conclusion is that it's not good hitting that's being stopped; at least, the hitting is not in as good a state as it was during the regular season.
There are quite a few things at play here. The most important tangible thing is that the strike zone is bigger. It's not bigger in the Eric Gregg-ring-'em-up if-it's-in-the-batting-circle-sense, but bigger in that the umpires give both the high and low strike- as opposed to either/or- and will call the inside pitch, which they don't do in the regular season so as not to encourage the pitchers to throw inside. They are giving every nook of the strike zone, calling it almost as it's written; that zone they're showing on TBS is wider and lower than the written zone. As the broads, once they've caught it, will finally attest, size- an extra inch here and there- does matter. In this case, a bigger zone is making for almost 1960's-style anemic batting.
All of that confers an expectation of higher level of pitching than the regular season. It further and confers that erstwhile good hitting isn't good hitting when it can be consistently shut down. Now, Bokolis will make it messy, by telling y'all it's the jitters as much as it is the pitching.
Of course, the battle isn't as pitched as it was back then, mainly because hitters have so many more resources at their disposal, and, on the whole, the hitters look more clueless than helpless. But, why? These pitchers are throwing the same crap they threw during the season. Guys are still productive, but it is often not the top-class hitters leading the charge. Derek Jeter- considered "clutch"- plays to his career average in the playoffs, but A-Rod sure as hell doesn't. Reggie Jackson slightly bettered his career average (including strikeouts) but, on the strength of his world series performances, has the legendary status and nickname.
Consider the game that cemented Reggie's legend. His first HR was off the same Burt Hooton who, in the middle of a quite productive seven-year stretch, shut down the Yankees four games earlier (Jackson went 0-4,with 2K and a GDP). His second was off Elias Sosa, who was lights thefuck out in '77. The black-seater was off Charlie Hough...hmmm - an average pitcher with a crap record in '77 who went on to win 216 games (and lose as many) with his knuckler.
Hooten was again bombed in '78 in the Bronx after a credible start in LA (where Reggie drove in all three runs, but famously struck out against Bob Welsh with two on to end it; even Reggie's failures were spectacular). Hough again mopped up and, unlike the previous year, when Reggie was the only mark on an otherwise unremarkable outing, he also was roughed up. Reggie had a relatively unremarkable night and had little involvement in this beating.
If that all looks like noise, it is meant to be. Was Hooten a good pitcher when he handled Reggie and the rest of the Yankees, but not four days later when they handled him? Was Reggie a good hitter when he put it in the black seats against a Hough who handled the rest of the batters he faced, but not a good batter when he didn't partake while his teammates ran train on Hough?
Sometimes you tame the lion and sometimes you get eaten by the lion, usually while you're scared.
So. what makes for good hitting? Do the guys that perform rise to the occasion, like Reggie did? Do they live for the big moment? Do otherwise decent hitters simply have the disposition to remain calm in high-pressure match-ups where players considered to be much higher-caliber do not?
How about the not-so-decent hitters, like Bucky Dent, he of the .603 OPS in '78, only slightly lower than his career average? Bucky Dent won the World Series MVP in '78 with a 10 for 24 showing. Was he just playing harder? Maybe that'll work for Robinson Cano, who, it seems, can't be bothered to exert himself at more than 75%. After all, if the same effort that gets you 24 for your last 39 in the regular season only gets you 2-28 during the playoffs, you better step up your game, muthafucka. If you do that, they'll tell you you're pressing, a surefire recipe for failure.
How about Nick Swisher, who seems like the poster boy for the argument? If an average hitter with above average power qualifies as good hitting, hey, you've found one.
Maybe they need to better focus...because it's only the playoffs and they got better shit to do. After all, the NFL season has started and setting up their fantasy teams may weighing on their preparation. Wait, preparation? As in, getting in the cage and taking so many swings that it ain't no thing to be at the plate. As in, reading the boat loads of stats and scouting reports on opposition that you will be exclusively playing for the next 5 or 7 games? Yes, so you know what they got and when they're going to bring it.
Preparation is so that you're not lost at the plate, so you don't give away at bats, you know the play to make. That leads to being self-assured. If you don't have that, you have nothing. Was it the same Kenny Rogers that was standing on the mound in Atlanta in 1999, looking- before he'd thrown a pitch- like he wanted his mommy, as the one that pitched 23 innings of shutout ball in the 2006 postseason? Granted, he was self-assured because he was cheating. But, if he wasn't self-assured, the cheating wouldn't have helped.
If you are self-assured, you will make positive things happen. That's all the fuck I've got.
** - Bokolis will concede that the a situation will occasionally present itself during the regular season that is consistent with the adage, but not nearly consistently enough to make the adage hold water.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Igotit, Igotit, I...
Major League Baseball has once again found itself with cum on its face due to the WWF-style officiating it typically offers up for playoff games.
First here's a little reference material, shamelessly lifted from BuzzFeed
Here's what the Official Rules of MLB (2.00) considers an infield fly:
An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare “Infield Fly, if Fair.”
The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.
If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.
Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly) Comment: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder—not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire’s judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately.
When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05 (L). The infield fly rule takes precedence.
This was the type of play where you'd be screaming, there's shit in your eye or, watch out for the truck! That's what Bokolis does; I don't know what y'all do at baseball games.
None of this should give you the impression, as you've been misled to believe, that the umpire is obliged to call Infield Fly at the ball's apex. He can call it wheneverthefuck he wants to call it. The overriding, if unofficial, criteria, however, is that the infielder has to be camped under the ball. If it hasn't become apparent by the time the ball is at its apex, there is very likely no need to protect the baserunners against a double play.
That's the part that Sam Holbrook, the left field umpire, didn't consider. The infield fly rule is does not exist to give the defense free outs; it is there to protect the offense.
To illustrate, ESPN, strangely doing something to live up to its self-annointed appelation- don't get too excited jagoffs, you had an ex-umpire offering insights who didn't fully understand the rule- offered that there were 6 instances where infield fly was called and the ball was not caught. For the longest of these, the ball traveled 171 feet; on the play in question, the ball traveled 225 feet.
225 feet is ordinarily a can of corn to left, not an infield fly. This one was hit high enough that it couldn't even be considered a can of corn, much less to an infielder that had to backpedal about 100 feet. There was no way, even if he had the savvy, that shortstop Kozma was going to gull the Braves into a double play from 225 feet out in left field. Even when left fielder Holliday picked it up, all he knew to do was to flip the ball to Kozma. Bokolis thinks they were no better than even money- stoned as they were- to throw the guy out at home.
Let's review the fuck-ups:
Think about how shit a call has to be to get notoriously disinterested and misinformed Braves fans, who'd rather be at a football game or a NASCAR race, amped up to throw crap on the field. Aside - good for them for throwing crap on the field, lest the people be deluded by the corporatist propaganda, which tells you, more or less, to pay up, sit down, shut the fuck up and take whatever product we give you. Nah, muthafuckas, you'll take what we give you.
Bokolis has been conditioned to expect some kind of half-measure from Bud, who has been stealing money and office space. Get ready for 2 out of 3 wild card, so that it doesn't come down to one blown call...yeah, if you can keep it to only one.
MLB might want to call up this guy for the next series.
First here's a little reference material, shamelessly lifted from BuzzFeed
Here's what the Official Rules of MLB (2.00) considers an infield fly:
An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.
When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare “Infield Fly, if Fair.”
The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.
If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.
Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly) Comment: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder—not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire’s judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately.
When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05 (L). The infield fly rule takes precedence.
This was the type of play where you'd be screaming, there's shit in your eye or, watch out for the truck! That's what Bokolis does; I don't know what y'all do at baseball games.
None of this should give you the impression, as you've been misled to believe, that the umpire is obliged to call Infield Fly at the ball's apex. He can call it wheneverthefuck he wants to call it. The overriding, if unofficial, criteria, however, is that the infielder has to be camped under the ball. If it hasn't become apparent by the time the ball is at its apex, there is very likely no need to protect the baserunners against a double play.
That's the part that Sam Holbrook, the left field umpire, didn't consider. The infield fly rule is does not exist to give the defense free outs; it is there to protect the offense.
To illustrate, ESPN, strangely doing something to live up to its self-annointed appelation- don't get too excited jagoffs, you had an ex-umpire offering insights who didn't fully understand the rule- offered that there were 6 instances where infield fly was called and the ball was not caught. For the longest of these, the ball traveled 171 feet; on the play in question, the ball traveled 225 feet.
225 feet is ordinarily a can of corn to left, not an infield fly. This one was hit high enough that it couldn't even be considered a can of corn, much less to an infielder that had to backpedal about 100 feet. There was no way, even if he had the savvy, that shortstop Kozma was going to gull the Braves into a double play from 225 feet out in left field. Even when left fielder Holliday picked it up, all he knew to do was to flip the ball to Kozma. Bokolis thinks they were no better than even money- stoned as they were- to throw the guy out at home.
Let's review the fuck-ups:
- Holbrook decided about 5 seconds into 6.0 seconds of hang time that it took ordinary effort for the shortstop to go out to left field to catch a fly ball. He called Infield Fly about 5.4 seconds into the 6.0 seconds of hang time.
- The league, through its impromptu spokesperson- Joe Torre - at its impromptu press conference to poorly explain itself, refuses to admit that it was probably a shit call. This, on the heels of the NFL refusing to admit to a shit call that was so shit as to impel labor peace with its officials.
Think about how shit a call has to be to get notoriously disinterested and misinformed Braves fans, who'd rather be at a football game or a NASCAR race, amped up to throw crap on the field. Aside - good for them for throwing crap on the field, lest the people be deluded by the corporatist propaganda, which tells you, more or less, to pay up, sit down, shut the fuck up and take whatever product we give you. Nah, muthafuckas, you'll take what we give you.
Bokolis has been conditioned to expect some kind of half-measure from Bud, who has been stealing money and office space. Get ready for 2 out of 3 wild card, so that it doesn't come down to one blown call...yeah, if you can keep it to only one.
MLB might want to call up this guy for the next series.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Greek Style?
The three stooges involved are members/representatives of fringe political parties. The two birds are from different left-wing parties- the dark-haired is from the communist party and the blonde is from a similar, but different group- and the man is from the suddenly quasi-relevant right-wing extremists. Bokolis can't be bothered with specifics.
He is always the aggressor in the argument, at one point calling one of them the equivalent of a pinko commie. The flashpoint was when the blonde said that the people that his party want to bring in will set the nation back 500 years (forgetting, of course, that modern Greece has been independent less than 200 years and something other than a banana republic for about 30).
That’s when he slung the water at her.
His strikes showed awful form; he ignores Rocky Marciano’s point that you should be aiming for the back of their heads so you can punch through your target. As it shows, his blows had minimal impact. Also, in throwing wide and wild as he did, he left himself open to the straight right hand.
On the other hand, the brio with which he said go to hell, more in the context of aw, fuck off, was mildly impressive.
As some may know, in nations not in the western world, which includes Spain, Italy and the Redneck Rectangle, there are only two defined roles for women; that of the mother or that of the whore. Because most men, like this character, have trouble processing departures from that, women who do so run the risk of encountering the Albanian Bouquet.
Too bad for him that he doesn’t know how to lay it down.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Do you ever feel...
Why not share?
Y'know how people- when they are not too intimidated- just love to come up to a lone wolf, as if to see just WTF is going on with this muthafucka that he's in the bar by himself. This happens to Bokolis all the fucking time.
I'm in the bar recently, after the fun job. The place is crawling, so just getting to the bar is an issue. The bartender knows me, so the drink is getting made before I get there. I sense some drunk bird- tall, above average looks, carrying about 15 pounds of winter weight; Bokolis wouldn't throw her out of bed, but wouldn't go out of my way to bag her, either- is eyeing me. But, I'm feigning being oblivious and not letting on. Besides, I've already noticed that she's got radar lock on another dude. Despite her advances, this dude is hanging back, waiting for it to fall into his lap rather than do anything that would fuck it up. After all, birds are just as lonely, horny and desperate as guys, but they are usually more coy. Not this one; might she be looking to trade up?
BACKGROUND: I pick the place I do because it provides an easy escape. I'm not there to bag broads. For me, it is happy hour; I've probably been working for the better part of 15 hours, so I'm looking to shovel down about 3 drinks and a shot to relax before heading home. However, it is the weekend, so the amateur revelers are out and the place is usually a little more bustling than what I'd consider optimal for my therapy.
After a bit, some space- not enough for comfort- opens up right next to her. I need my drink. I can just tell something is going to come out of her mouth when I pull up alongside. Fuck it, I'm swooping in.
I say hello to the bartender and take my drink. The bird is looking at me- first, like, howthefuck did you get there?, then, like, this guy is good-looking; I'm going to say something clever.
The song playing in the bar is Christina Aguilera's Genie in a Bottle. The video is on, too, which had me thinking, she looked good as jailbait...WTF happened?! Why does that matter, you ask. We're looking at each other, dead in the eyes, and she says, "Do you ever feel like a genie in a bottle?"
I guess I was supposed to reply with some variation of, I gotcha three wishes right here, shweetaht, oh! Or, something a bit more suave. It went through my mind, too. But, fuck that; I let out a Hah!, intentionally too loud to be cool, and walked away. I was indignant, and it got the best of me, but I felt I had the right. I mean, if the roles were reversed there, and I said that to her, she would have rolled her eyes and given a puhleez! Fuck that shit!
I'd've fucked her anyway. The real problem was that she was too drunk to perform. Given that the last bird I'd bagged up in a bar wanted the dick so bad that she tried to choke herself on me, Idon't want to deal with some ain't fuckin' wit no catatonic drunk. If you remember the beer goggles post, Bokolis told you that, "if we put the average hottie on 5 drinks, with the time-release effect of alcohol, there's a good chance she will be non-functional before you get in position." I'm certain that Bokolis would've wound up walking out of her apartment because she was KTFO.
All that, just to relay that a drunk bird used a horrible pick-up line on me...and that we all need to find more birds that are willing to choke on the dick. I'll bet somebody is out there thinking, jerkoff, hit the roommate... different night, different story and I can't tell you how much shit that caused.
Y'know how people- when they are not too intimidated- just love to come up to a lone wolf, as if to see just WTF is going on with this muthafucka that he's in the bar by himself. This happens to Bokolis all the fucking time.
I'm in the bar recently, after the fun job. The place is crawling, so just getting to the bar is an issue. The bartender knows me, so the drink is getting made before I get there. I sense some drunk bird- tall, above average looks, carrying about 15 pounds of winter weight; Bokolis wouldn't throw her out of bed, but wouldn't go out of my way to bag her, either- is eyeing me. But, I'm feigning being oblivious and not letting on. Besides, I've already noticed that she's got radar lock on another dude. Despite her advances, this dude is hanging back, waiting for it to fall into his lap rather than do anything that would fuck it up. After all, birds are just as lonely, horny and desperate as guys, but they are usually more coy. Not this one; might she be looking to trade up?
BACKGROUND: I pick the place I do because it provides an easy escape. I'm not there to bag broads. For me, it is happy hour; I've probably been working for the better part of 15 hours, so I'm looking to shovel down about 3 drinks and a shot to relax before heading home. However, it is the weekend, so the amateur revelers are out and the place is usually a little more bustling than what I'd consider optimal for my therapy.
After a bit, some space- not enough for comfort- opens up right next to her. I need my drink. I can just tell something is going to come out of her mouth when I pull up alongside. Fuck it, I'm swooping in.
I say hello to the bartender and take my drink. The bird is looking at me- first, like, howthefuck did you get there?, then, like, this guy is good-looking; I'm going to say something clever.
The song playing in the bar is Christina Aguilera's Genie in a Bottle. The video is on, too, which had me thinking, she looked good as jailbait...WTF happened?! Why does that matter, you ask. We're looking at each other, dead in the eyes, and she says, "Do you ever feel like a genie in a bottle?"
I guess I was supposed to reply with some variation of, I gotcha three wishes right here, shweetaht, oh! Or, something a bit more suave. It went through my mind, too. But, fuck that; I let out a Hah!, intentionally too loud to be cool, and walked away. I was indignant, and it got the best of me, but I felt I had the right. I mean, if the roles were reversed there, and I said that to her, she would have rolled her eyes and given a puhleez! Fuck that shit!
I'd've fucked her anyway. The real problem was that she was too drunk to perform. Given that the last bird I'd bagged up in a bar wanted the dick so bad that she tried to choke herself on me, I
All that, just to relay that a drunk bird used a horrible pick-up line on me...and that we all need to find more birds that are willing to choke on the dick. I'll bet somebody is out there thinking, jerkoff, hit the roommate... different night, different story and I can't tell you how much shit that caused.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Nothing lasts forever
From Entertainment infographics via Ritholtz
Enjoy.
The decline came far before these graphics indicate. Because the perspective is on hits/sales, rather than street cred, it ignores that, Wu-Tang was primarily intended as a vehicle to launch the respective members' solo projects/careers.
Having expected the group to be disbanded by the time of Wu-Tang Forever and, drunk off their solo careers, tired of taking shit from RZA and no longer compelled to do so, they approached the follow-up as if it were home repairs to be done- with MTV and the label playing the nagging wife- the morning after a bender.
Wu-Tang Forever's sales are indicative of the breadth of anticipation and not of the quality of the work. I mean, fuck, you heard the output.
The shit wasn't meant to be a brand, but Wu-Tang saturated us with all manner of cross-branded products. By the time Chappelle got around to goofing on the extent of its branding endeavors, a couple of them felt compelled- they were THAT irrelevant- to take part in their own lampooning.
At the same time, hip-hop was slipping further into its Puffy-infused malaise. The Stretch Armstrong show had seen its best days. Biggie got clipped and Nas was bored, so we were resigned to idolize Jay-Z, all the while waiting for Premier to drop mixes.
So, by the time these graphics indicate that people were, like, Aw, man, WTF?!, as if the ceiling were leaking on their $100 t-shirts, Bokolis had long-sinced signed the divorce papers. Once in a while, I bring the alimony by and coax a cookie out of the ex-ol' lady, but never when Kanye is at the house.
Enjoy.
The decline came far before these graphics indicate. Because the perspective is on hits/sales, rather than street cred, it ignores that, Wu-Tang was primarily intended as a vehicle to launch the respective members' solo projects/careers.
Having expected the group to be disbanded by the time of Wu-Tang Forever and, drunk off their solo careers, tired of taking shit from RZA and no longer compelled to do so, they approached the follow-up as if it were home repairs to be done- with MTV and the label playing the nagging wife- the morning after a bender.
Wu-Tang Forever's sales are indicative of the breadth of anticipation and not of the quality of the work. I mean, fuck, you heard the output.
The shit wasn't meant to be a brand, but Wu-Tang saturated us with all manner of cross-branded products. By the time Chappelle got around to goofing on the extent of its branding endeavors, a couple of them felt compelled- they were THAT irrelevant- to take part in their own lampooning.
At the same time, hip-hop was slipping further into its Puffy-infused malaise. The Stretch Armstrong show had seen its best days. Biggie got clipped and Nas was bored, so we were resigned to idolize Jay-Z, all the while waiting for Premier to drop mixes.
So, by the time these graphics indicate that people were, like, Aw, man, WTF?!, as if the ceiling were leaking on their $100 t-shirts, Bokolis had long-sinced signed the divorce papers. Once in a while, I bring the alimony by and coax a cookie out of the ex-ol' lady, but never when Kanye is at the house.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Shake on it
In case you didn't know, to invoke Simon Phoenix, the world has become a pussy-whipped Brady Bunch version of itself. that is to say, it's well-stocked with squirting cunts- and not the good kind, either.
Over the weekend, we saw said cunts in full spew over the Luis "Handball" Suarez- Patrice Evra non-shake. We've got all manner of pundits cum etiquette experts villifying Handball. We've got Rednose saying that Handball is a disgrace and doesn't deserve to play for Liverpool FC. Leaving aside that I happen to agree with him, albeit for different reasons, Ferguson should keep his fucking mouth shut about Liverpool FC.
In all this, hardly anyone came out to say, WTF are we doing shaking hands before the match, anyway? Since when did this become a schoolgirl operation? Can the player not have the autonomy of choosing whether to acknowledge his opponent? Say what you want, for many, sports serve as a proxy for war. If I want to search out a respected player and give him a pound, that should be up to me.
Mind you, this isn't to stick up for Handball. I held my nose when he transfered in, and they couldn't get rid of this muthafucka fast enough to suit me. When he knocked in Liverpool's goal on Saturday, Bokolis' response wasn't to cheer or to get excited at the prospect of salvaging a point from 80 minutes of crappy football and 5 minutes of god-awful football. I simply pointed out that Ferdinand- apparently busy thinking about what John Terry said about his brother- was showing his class there.
That's another fucking story.
From Handball's point of view, Evra is the rat who went and squealed on him, costing him some coin- for some bullshit that was between the two of them. So, even Handball has the right to take the stance of, fuck all y'all; don't tell me what to do. If I don't want to shake this muthafucka's hand, I ain't shaking it.
Evra chose to make it public. With Evra crying wolf, even in a she said-she said situation, they had to do something about it. At that point, the FA gets to decide- when the decision could've been Evra's alone- what's racist and what isn't. While the rational person would say that, it isn't what you say, it's how you say it, the FA doesn't have to play by that book. Not that it mattered much, as the how you say it part- go look up what was said, I'm not furthering such talk- was even worse than what was said.
Regardless, any racism shouts from anyone else are hollow shouts, coming from lazy muthafuckas that have no business shouting in the first place. These are two millionaires standing on level footing and the shit that was said was between the two of them. Evra could've handled his business. He could've called Handball out in the tunnel or wherever and stomped him the fuck out. Bokolis would've been the first one there telling Evra to fuck his ass up.
Leaving all that aside, Bokolis' position is that the players shouldn't be out there in a receiving line to shake hands. But, if they are going to line up, and Evra was willing to let it go, Suarez should've taken Evra's hand.
Over the weekend, we saw said cunts in full spew over the Luis "Handball" Suarez- Patrice Evra non-shake. We've got all manner of pundits cum etiquette experts villifying Handball. We've got Rednose saying that Handball is a disgrace and doesn't deserve to play for Liverpool FC. Leaving aside that I happen to agree with him, albeit for different reasons, Ferguson should keep his fucking mouth shut about Liverpool FC.
In all this, hardly anyone came out to say, WTF are we doing shaking hands before the match, anyway? Since when did this become a schoolgirl operation? Can the player not have the autonomy of choosing whether to acknowledge his opponent? Say what you want, for many, sports serve as a proxy for war. If I want to search out a respected player and give him a pound, that should be up to me.
Mind you, this isn't to stick up for Handball. I held my nose when he transfered in, and they couldn't get rid of this muthafucka fast enough to suit me. When he knocked in Liverpool's goal on Saturday, Bokolis' response wasn't to cheer or to get excited at the prospect of salvaging a point from 80 minutes of crappy football and 5 minutes of god-awful football. I simply pointed out that Ferdinand- apparently busy thinking about what John Terry said about his brother- was showing his class there.
That's another fucking story.
From Handball's point of view, Evra is the rat who went and squealed on him, costing him some coin- for some bullshit that was between the two of them. So, even Handball has the right to take the stance of, fuck all y'all; don't tell me what to do. If I don't want to shake this muthafucka's hand, I ain't shaking it.
Evra chose to make it public. With Evra crying wolf, even in a she said-she said situation, they had to do something about it. At that point, the FA gets to decide- when the decision could've been Evra's alone- what's racist and what isn't. While the rational person would say that, it isn't what you say, it's how you say it, the FA doesn't have to play by that book. Not that it mattered much, as the how you say it part- go look up what was said, I'm not furthering such talk- was even worse than what was said.
Regardless, any racism shouts from anyone else are hollow shouts, coming from lazy muthafuckas that have no business shouting in the first place. These are two millionaires standing on level footing and the shit that was said was between the two of them. Evra could've handled his business. He could've called Handball out in the tunnel or wherever and stomped him the fuck out. Bokolis would've been the first one there telling Evra to fuck his ass up.
Leaving all that aside, Bokolis' position is that the players shouldn't be out there in a receiving line to shake hands. But, if they are going to line up, and Evra was willing to let it go, Suarez should've taken Evra's hand.
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