Playing The Well Worn Race Card......Again

Here we go again!

How many misrepresentations? How many instances? How many unqualified and unsubstantiated stories? How many times can this stupid racism card get played before someone has the stones to say “ENOUGH”!

The latest in what has become the never ending parade of poor black men suffering under the cruel yoke of racism comes from an area particularly close to my heart, my beloved Chicago Cubs.

The obviously emotionally unstable and equally mentally challenged 30 million dollar man Milton Bradley is giving the local press all they could ask for and more by turning his all too common vilipend tirades toward Cub fans, claiming he is the victim of their racist heckling. Of course when questioned for details or specific instances Mr. Bradley has none. He intentionally dodges questions as to why he has never asked for security to remove an unruly or racially abusive fan. He pouts like a 4 year old and blames the media for even asking the questions and claims they are well aware of both the answer and the instances.

Chicago Cubs security has confirmed that Bradley has never contacted them about any instance of racial slurs or over-the-top fan behavior.

Are there fans in the stands that make racial slurs towards players? In all the times that I have been at Wrigley Field over the past 55 years I cannot recall one instance of racial intimidation. But still, I’m guessing it happens. Any time you have adult males, alcohol and sports you will have some nitwit that wants to show off for his buddies by doing something completely stupid. I watched with shame and anger a few weeks ago as someone in a Cubs cap threw a full glass of beer of an opposing player as he attempted to catch a fly ball near the left/centerfield wall. It was a despicable act carried out by an obviously drunken clod. Security was on the scene immediately to eject the beer-filled bozo and I had hoped he might receive a little Chicago-style tune-up on the way out the gate or at least a free ride in a police car and a night in the drunk tank where he could spend a romantic evening with some other equally IQ challenged revelers.

My beloved Cubs are falling apart at the seams. Only weeks ago they were in first place and now they will need a miracle to get into the wild card playoff spot. It’s not that they lack talent. It’s that they lack stability and heart.

Players like Milton Bradley are like a cancer for a team. They are carriers of bad vibes. It doesn’t even matter that they have great ability and limitless potential. They drain the very lifeblood from the team like a vampire so they can steal as much personal time in the spotlight as possible.

Bradley complained about being in a restaurant and hearing the waitress make disparaging remarks about him at another table. Hey Milton, welcome to the big leagues! Countless people are going to be jealous of a guy that makes more every year than they could hope to win in the lottery. Plus, performance on and off the field matters a lot more than your color, especially here in Chicago.

Mr. Bradley, I suggest next time you take the field if you can pull your head out of wherever you have been keeping it you might want to glance up at the flags of retired numbers of Cub heroes. Number 14 Ernie Banks, Number 26 Billy Williams, Number 31 Ferguson Jenkins. There isn’t a Cub fan worth his salt that wouldn’t trade his first born for a chance to associate with these great Cub players who also just happen to be black.

Your shtick is getting old Milton. And if you think you can claim racism just because it will get you some extra attention or maybe deflect criticism from your lackluster play you picked the wrong ball park to do it in.

Take your money, go away and have a nice life.