You would've thought that with all of the media attention, especially from ESPN, on Manny Ramirez Thursday, he was a famous statesman or dignitary.
I mean, the same MLB film clips of him were played over and over.
Well, Ramirez, who once played for the Cleveland Indians, is just a ballplayer of course, serving a 50-game suspension for a drug violation. The only question I have is, what's he going to be doing from now until July 3 when he'll be allowed to resume play for the Los Angeles Dodgers? I mean, he's probably going to get pretty bored counting all of his millions of dollars.
Here's a few suggestions:
1. He could come to the June Reds Legends Camp in Marietta. Even though he never played for Cincinnati, I don't think Mike Wagner would mind.
2. He could go to Cooperstown, N.Y., and mow the grass around the Hall of Fame.
3. He could launch a search, or comb for all of the flyballs missing in his hairdo.
4. He could try reading Jackie Robinson's autobiography, "I Never Had It Made."
5. He could become a Charles Barkley-like commentator with Joe Morgan and Jon Miller for ESPN baseball.
6. He could hook up with Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens on a Hollywood film lot for the sequel to "The Three Amigos."
7. He could become Bud Selig's or A-Rod's gofer.
8. He could return to Cleveland and become the Indians' batboy. He could do the same in Boston as well.
9. He could give the commencement address at George Washington High School in New York City. GWHS is where he played his prep baseball.
10. He could study film of his at-bat against New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera last summer, and try to figure out why the bat never left his shoulder.
11. He could work on his golf swing with Charles Barkley as his mentor.
12. He could visit O.J. at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nevada.
13. He could start a Raggae group with Shaq, and do Bob Marley covers with Susan Boyle as a backup singer on American Idol.
14. He could enter a hotdog-eating contest with Tommy Lasorda.
Ramirez certainly will have lots of time on his hands, and he might as well enjoy his "vacation."
Of course you have. All were right-handed-hitting swingers and much better hitters than Ramirez, who is considered by some misinformed baseball people to be the best of all time.
Ramirez is pretty good from the right side of the plate - but not that good.
Anyways, Ramirez was wearing the "loudest," flowery sweat pants I ever saw. He was also listening to music on earphones.
Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor, and can be reached at 376-5441, or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com
