I’m honored to post this clip of MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann nominating me as the third-worst person in the world for my Monday story (along with an uncredited David K. Li) on Jerry Manuel’s fertilizer comment. Pretty pompous stuff for somebody who ditches the pinstripes and dresses like a creepy homeless person when he skulks around the Shea Stadium press box during games. I was just bummed he didn’t rank me first. Oh, well — there’s always next time. Practice, practice.
Seriously, though, Olbermann claims that I was totally wrong but neglects to answer one very important question: If Manuel wasn’t talking about the fans, then what exactly was he referring to? The grounds crew?
Of course Manuel was talking about the fans. The question was ABOUT the fans and their booing of reliever Aaron Heilman. And if Manuel wasn’t aware that he was about to say something boneheaded, then why did he preface it repeatedly with “don’t take this wrong” and then add the same postscript?
Here’s the bottom line for Olbermann, the radio and blogger blowhards, one gutless, sycophantic counterpart (yeah, I’m talking about you, Adam) and all the cranks that have been filling my inbox with e-mails I never read and automatically delete:
Every reporter in the room at Coors Field laughed out loud when Manuel said the word “fertilizer.” I know this because I was sitting right there. You know why we all laughed? Because every one of us knew exactly what Manuel was talking about.
The fans.