Big Lead Sports Bar

8/02/2008

MONDESI SAVES THE DAY

As you've probably figured out by now, this site is named in honor of former Pittsburgh Pirate Raul Mondesi, a talented yet troubled outfielder whose Bucco career lasted all of 26 games.

I won't rehash his legendary story, as I've told it many a-time on this site. But I do like to update the audience on what my inspiration is up to from time-to-time.

With that as a backdrop, you can only imagine the web reaction when a site as large as The Big Lead decides to devote a post to everyone's favorite Dominican Congressman:

I'm not sure what is going on in this story, but it seems that a rapist/murderer held his wife hostage for several hours, during which a priest, police officers, and Raúl Mondesí tried to reason with him.

271 career home runs, the 1994 NL Rookie of the Year award, a reported $66 million in career earnings, 26 games in Pittsburgh, political success, and inspirations for blog names all pale in comparison. We can now add "hostage negotiator" to this lengthy and colorful resume. I applaud you once again, Raul.

2 comments:

darnay85 said...

What is really next, Derek Bell for President of the USA????


In spring training 2002, while with the Pirates, Bell, who had hit .173 the previous season, did not feel that he needed to prove he was worthy of a starting job.

On March 18, Bell told reporters:

"Nobody told me I was in competition. If there is competition, somebody better let me know. If there is competition, they better eliminate me out of the race and go ahead and do what they're going to do with me. I ain't never hit in spring training and I never will. If it ain't settled with me out there, then they can trade me. I ain't going out there to hurt myself in spring training battling for a job. If it is [a competition], then I'm going into 'Operation Shutdown.' Tell them exactly what I said. I haven't competed for a job since 1991."

Bell jumped the team on March 29, was released on March 31, and never played in the majors again. The Pirates ended up paying him $4.5 million not to play for them.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports columnist Mark Madden summarized the incident with "Derek Bell becomes the ultimate Pirate: Lives on a boat and steals money."


LMAO

darnay85 said...

I'm sure you all know the Derek Bell rundown but I do have to say I cannot stand Mark Madden, however that comment is priceless.....