Jim Rice is a Schmuck

From the AP via the Journal News (hat-tip to PeteAbe):

Jim Rice’s advice to Little Leaguers: Don’t use today’s major-leaguers as role models.

Speaking to players before the start of the Little League World Series, the new baseball Hall of Famer said today’s major-leaguers are too focused on individual goals and getting big contracts.

“You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez), you see (Derek) Jeter ... Guys that I played against and with, these guys you’re talking about cannot compare,” Rice said to Little Leaguers gathered in the cafeteria.

The former Red Sox outfielder played 16 seasons in Boston, batting .298 with 382 homers before retiring in 1989.

Now I complete understand what he's talking about when he mentions Manny and A-Rod, they both are known cheaters and because of that have been part of a major problem that has hurt the game a lot. We all know this. But how the hell could this moron mention Derek Jeter in the same breath as those other guys?

There has never been the a word spoken about Jeter that tied to him anything but playing the game the right way, being a great teammate, a great leader on and off the field, and role model. Jeter has never opened cared about his personal performance in fact he's the exact opposite. He hates talking about himself, and would much rather stand in front of the media and praise a teammate.

Pete Abe puts it best:

Reality to Jim Rice: Jeter was at the center of four World Series champions (four more than you were) and has never once been accused of being anything but a team player. You owe him an apology.

But wait, there's more. The idiot goes on to say, “We didn’t have the baggy uniforms. We didn’t have the dreadlocks,” Rice said. “It was a clean game, and now they’re setting a bad example for the young guys.”

Baseball players wore baggy uniforms long before Willie Mays and Tito Puente went to tailor in San Fran and had their pants tailored back in the 60's. Were several generations of players setting bad examples of how to play the game? Was Lou Gehirg, a man who went to Columbia, lived clean and played hard, and gave one of baseball most inspirations speeches setting a bad example to kids?

And while he may not like dreadlocks, they are hardly a reason to believe that a player is a bad role model. It's a freaking hairstyle for Christ sakes.

Asked later at a news conference to list current players worthy of the Hall, Rice suggested Seattle Mariner outfielders Ichiro Suzuki and Ken Griffey, Jr., and Chicago White Sox slugger Jim Thome.

So besides foolishly making Derek Jeter sound like a cheater and a selfish player, he also apparently doesn't believe he's a hall of famer. Right Jim, Derek Jeter isn't a hall of famer but somehow you are? He probably even believes he actually deserve to be there, which he doesn't. The only reason this undeserving doubchebag is in the hall is because he spent his career in a silly ballpark with little league dimensions in left field. If you want proof of that let's take a look at Rice's home/road splits. Home: .320/.374/.546; Road: .277/.330/.459.

But good job, Jimmy. All you've actually done by opening your stupid mouth is confirmed what most people have always thought about you; that you're a schmuck.

Pete Abe asked Jeter about Rice's comments and said, “I didn’t know I was like that. That’s a first for me.”