We all know what Gary Sheffield said, and for the most part, everyone -- especially Buster Olney, who's covered the Yankees as closely as anyone during Joe Torre's tenure -- has stepped up to defend Torre as, you know, not racist. Not Kenny Lofton. Lofton wouldn't say much before his Rangers took on Anaheim yesterday, but he did say this:
"All I can say is, Sheffield knows what he's talking about," Lofton told The Associated Press when asked to respond to Sheffield's comments about Torre. "That's all I'm going to say."It's important to keep in mind the nature of Lofton's year in Yankee Stadium, which one could describe as tumultuous at best. He hit .174 in spring training, had a habit of complaining to the media, and was generally seen as a malcontent during his short stay. Not only that, but, like Sheffield, he's been moved around the league incessantly in these late stages of his career.
Still, the question has to be asked: are Sheffield and Lofton the victims of pinstripe-tinted racism? Or just typically unhappy players blaming their issues in New York on race, when other factors are the real explanation?
ADVERTISEMENT
_thumbnail.jpg "NASCAR Cowboy Hats")
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 12)
1. I am so tired of this story about Joe Torre. I know Joe personally and this offends me as a friend and a Yankee fan. Sheffield is just angry he was of no use to the Yankees after they got Matsui since Gary didn't know how to catch a ball and become a first baseman. Gary and now Kenny are the RACIST HERE. Joe called him about in meetings because he was the one talking and bad mouthing the team behind closed doors, in many New York locations and the owners of the bars and clubs would inform Jerry S and he'd inform Joe. That is the issue here, Gary will next call Cox a racist then Leland racist. This is why the guy has been on so many teams. While Barry has never tested positive this BUM has tested positive TWICE for banned substances. *note to all this information is coming from a Black MAN so don't call me a racist* Gary is now the Al Sharpton of Baseball, meaning HE'S THE RACIST with mental issues.
Posted at 11:17AM on Jul 15th 2007 by ACE
2. TYPICAL MALCONTENTS... BLACK WHT GREEN BLUE THESE GUYS ARE SELF CENTERED ARROGANT ME FIRST GUYS AND NEVER SEEM TO FIT IN ALWAYS SOMEONBE ELSE'S FAULT. GO GET A JOB IN REAL WORLD
Posted at 11:18AM on Jul 15th 2007 by TIM
3. Shef and Lofton are good players with big chips on their shoulders. They have never been leaders and always seem to not fit in wherever they go. Compare track records and you'll see. This "victim" thing, like Sheffield and Lofton, is getting old.
Posted at 11:19AM on Jul 15th 2007 by David
4. IT'S SUCH AN EASY THING FOR ANY WHITE PERSON TO HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT RACISM WHEN THEY THEMSELVES HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED RACISM OR EVEN KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO BE DISCRIMMINATED AGAINST. TRY BEING IN SOMEONE'S SHOES FOR A DAY BEFORE YOU GO SPEWING OFF AT THE MOUTH ABOUT FACTS YOU KNOW NOTHING OF. I DON'T USUALLY GET INTO PETTY ARGUMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING AND I USUALLY DON'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO STUFF IN THE MEDIA, BUT IT REALLY IRKS ME WHENEVER WHITE PEOPLE IN AMERICA ARE SO QUICK TO SAY BLACK PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS USING THE RACE CARD. WELL WHAT THE HELL DO YOU EXPECT? I'M A VETERAN IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND I CAN RECALL BEING HARRASSED BY WHITE POLICE OFFICERS AND I WAS STILL WEARING MY BDU UNIFORM. I WAS IN KUWAIT FOR 4 MONTHS AND AFTER THAT INCIDENT WITH THOSE WHITE POLICE OFFICERS I KEPT SAYING TO MYSELF THESE ARE THE PEOPLE IN AMERICA THAT I'M DEFENDING. I'M DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF RACIST WHITE AMERICANS WHO THINK THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISRESPECT YOU BASED ON THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN. IT IS WHAT IT IS. AND THIS IS THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. BUT THE NEXT TIME I HEAR ANOTHER WHITE PERSON COMPLAIN HOW SO MANY BLACKS ARE USING THE RACE CARD WHY DON'T YOU TRY GETTING OFF YOUR FAT OPINIONATED COTTAGE CHEESE, DUNKIN DONUTS ASS AND GO DEFEND THIS COUNTRY THAT YOU CLAIM IS SO GREAT. YOU'D PROBABLY WET YOUR PANTS ONCE THE FIRST SHOT FLIES OVER YOUR NARROW MINDED HEAD..PEACE.
Posted at 11:50AM on Jul 15th 2007 by eanflix
5. Both have that "Victims Mentality" that host Larry Elder talks about. This mentality was and is generated by the racist Al Sharpton. It's time they all stop this nastiness for the sake of harmony between races. People like Lofton and Sheffield need to find a nice soft couch, take an aspurn and chill out or at least get some therapy.
Posted at 11:54AM on Jul 15th 2007 by TJ
6. ever hear of the 'caps lock' key? press it. please.
Posted at 12:00PM on Jul 15th 2007 by ray
7. Eanflix?? What the hell does your rant have to do with the blog other than "I'm the victim of racism too"? the blog's about comments made by Kenny "I'll be on your team soon" Lofton. He palyed, albeit, poorly for the Yankess, and when he was benched for his play got moody and basically quit on them. C'mon, we're supposed to take HIS word with any more creedance than we take Sheffields'?
Posted at 12:10PM on Jul 15th 2007 by WILDMAN
8. EAN flix, What a shining example of our military men and women. You are exactly what Sheffield and Lofton are; Racist, and full of excuses. Must be nice to float through life with a built- in excuse for everything.Ohhhhhhhh it's all the white mans fault, poor me, no white man has ever faced hardship... Man up, and take responsibility for your own actions and place in life, and QUIT WHINING...
Posted at 12:24PM on Jul 15th 2007 by stw
9. Eanflix........Shef and Lofton are malcontents no matter what color they are. never happy, and can never be given enough credit. They have both been very good players (even considering steriod allegations)but its not enough for either they need sympathy for being black. I for one am tired of the race card. I am a retired marine I fought for the white guys on the couch and the and the blacks that lived off of medicare, social security and didn't want to fight for this country so please don't look for sympathy for your color and your service. Joe Torre has been managing for along time but yet it took someone of no class like shef to claim racism, I'll wait till you find a better source to believe it.
Posted at 12:29PM on Jul 15th 2007 by Mbiggmiike
10. Thank god the Braves got rid of these two also. Those 2 calling ANYBODY a racist is like the pot calling the kettle black. When all else fails, use the racist card!!!!
Posted at 12:30PM on Jul 15th 2007 by roy mercer
11. Lofton always came across as a typical self-centered jerk when he was a young player in Cleveland and increasing age and diminishing skills haven't improved his maturity or demeanor.
Posted at 12:37PM on Jul 15th 2007 by michael J
12. I have met Joe. I have a client who knows Joe very well...sees him quite frequently..knows his personality...Sheff and Lofton are expressing opinions for which they have every right. I hope that Joe and the Yankee organization give those opinions the responses which they deserve. Which is zero response and acknowledgement. Like Bonds and Kent, like the dozens of other incidents that no one recalls off the tops of their heads, Sheff and Lofton's comments will be forgotten about by everyone by next week.
Posted at 12:39PM on Jul 15th 2007 by Max
13. The responses to this major/minor issue reveal the degree of dissonance that exists between our races and it appears that they are both to hyper-extremes. Not only does it appear that anyone who is nonafrican american will ever be able to identify with the day to day struggle to just breathe air in this country. How will we ever know whether what is stated is the truth or just implied. Given our duplicitous history as a country is there any wonder why our conditioned perception creates this sometimes admittedly overly paranoid reality. You literally have to have two minds to figure this stuff out....I know one thing, I sure haven't.
Posted at 12:40PM on Jul 15th 2007 by owtspokn
14. People like EANFLIX are the perfect example. If something can't be achieved by them, he blames slavery and THE MAN! I AM A BLACK young MALE and I am not a BUSH fan but he's hasn't stopped ME nor will anyone. SLAVERY was many years ago and I appreciate those that went through it to get me to this fine day. I LOVE BEING IN AMERICA. Where ANYONE regardless of RACE can make their dreams come true. STOP playing the RACE CARD. RACISM might still be in America but every issue is not tied to RACE. Gary and Kenny have been problems on every team they have ever played on. For Gary to say what he said about Jeter shows he has some RACIAL ISSUES. GARY and KENNY are using sad excuses for mediocre careers. Sheff had a good run but he's like Canseco w/o the ROIDS he's NOTHING !!! Stop playing the RACE issue Sheff and MAN UP its 2007
Posted at 12:43PM on Jul 15th 2007 by ACE
15. Torre should sue both of them for slander. As a matter of fact, anyone accused of being a racist without justification should sue the accuser until these idiots stop playing the race card.
Posted at 12:46PM on Jul 15th 2007 by deelt17
16. As I said before, what kind of credibility can Sheffield have since he never apologized for dogging it when he played for Milwaukee. He wanted to be traded. He purposely failed at the bat and in the field so he would be traded. He admitted it! Now he wants us to believe his tired old rant. Why is he traded or released so much? A pure malcontent on and off the field. Ignore him and his comments.
Posted at 12:50PM on Jul 15th 2007 by Larry
17. Have you ever thought about how hard it is to go through life always wondering "what they really meant by that." Let me tell you its not easy. Its not my intent to defend Kenny or Gary;their big boys with alot more money than me so I figure they can handle what's dished out. However, that doesn't change the paranoid perception that is created by the conditioned reality that comes along with being a person of color. It's hard! It's hard even having to try and always figure out who's racist and who's not. And contrary to the popular belief on these post, they are out their, and I'm pretty sure that Gary and Kenny have met a few in their time and have even played on the same team as some. That does not mean that Joe is one. But unless you sat in that locker room you will never know the conditions or encounters that influenced them to come to these conclusions.....I wasn't there....But I have been there.....know what I'm sayin?
Posted at 12:52PM on Jul 15th 2007 by owtspokn
18. why don't we seperate? all white and all black leagues. this goes for football and basketball too. they can have all black coaches, players, fans. then when something doesn't go their way it's not whitey's fault. it can start with elementary school and finish in college. same for the white folks
Posted at 12:53PM on Jul 15th 2007 by richard
19. That's Right White people never had to deal with racism eanflix. All this time when I was the only white kid in school I thought I was dealing with racism but it couldn't have been that, cause black people are never racist. When they would yell kill whitey they weren't trying to beat my ass cause I was white they jsut wanted kiss me with there fist. At the same time I met some great people at the same school. So don't tell me racism only comes from white peopleIt's a two way street
Posted at 12:54PM on Jul 15th 2007 by bryan
20. Ace- thanks for the insightful comments.
Posted at 12:58PM on Jul 15th 2007 by David Cochran