Prince Albert’s dismissive comments regarding Tom Glavine have been repeated far and wide, and The Genuis Manager (who wouldn’t know a steroid if someone shot up right in front of him) believes it’s all been blown out of proportion. The New York Daily News’ John Harper, however, is dismayed that one of the game’s most dominant players has turned out to be, well, so very much like the Sultan Of Surly in more ways than one.
Apparently St. Louis, no major media market, is good cover for such boorishness. Actually, St. Louis reporters aren’t all that fond of Pujols. One said he hoped Pujols would “get exposed” with these comments as a less-than-friendly presence around the Cardinals, despite mostly adoring coverage.
Tony La Russa, meanwhile, resorted to blaming the media for Pujols’ comments, saying reporters should have used “common sense” and basically dismissed them because they were said in “the heat of competition.”
Right. Like Pujols is the only fierce competitor out there, so he should get a pass for saying something so unprofessional. La Russa knows better, but he’s accustomed to having his way in a one-newspaper town.
Besides, if that were the case, Pujols had the chance to take back his comments about Glavine when he was asked about them on the field before last night’s game.
“Isn’t that what I said?” he replied. “Okay, then keep that one.”
He didn’t make himself available after last night’s game, at least not until past newspaper deadlines in New York.
So what’s up with Albert, anyway? He has to realize that as the most feared slugger in the game, he’s going to be the focus of media coverage, particularly in the postseason.
Yet on the day before this series opened, Pujols didn’t want to go to the interview room, saying he would do interviews in the tight quarters of the visitors’ clubhouse at Shea. When reporters surrounded him at his locker after the workout, he complained openly, saying, “You all are a pain in the (butt).”
Pujols seemed even angrier to find reporters at his locker after Game 1, flipping a chair out of the way that hit one reporter in the leg.
Whatever. If Pujols wants to act like Bonds with the media, that’s his prerogative. It’s hard to believe he’d want to go down that path, considering all that has gone on with Bonds the last few years, but then again, Pujols has never been suspected of steroid use, so maybe he isn’t worried about anyone digging any skeletons out of his closet.
Someone should tell John Harper that sarcasm is the lowest form of humor. Nice final paragraph, just the same.