Keeping it Real

ZBU: I had originally intended to throw this topic up at the end of our Court Storming post but later decided the subject deserved its own spot. So who is keeping it real? Well in my opinion, its Ian Kinsler, the infielder who is now a member of the Detroit Tigers. Ian made some news worthy statements recently when being interviewed by ESPN the magazine. He is quoted calling the Texas Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels "a sleazeball" and saying he hopes his former team goes "0-162" this season.  Kinsler felt slighted by his former team's G.M. because he found out about being traded for Prince Fielder well before actually being told in person and he apparently had various other issues with the team's front office. Kinsler is of course being ripped by various media outlets for his comments now but let me be one of the few to say I LOVE IT! I'm so sick of the politically correct, garbage statements that most athletes make. I am especially sick of the "buddy-buddy" attitude many athletes have toward each other. This is why I loved when Kevin Garnett shunned Ray Allen in their first game against each other after being teammates for 5 years in Boston. Ray went to go shake his hand and make small talk before the tip and KG just looked the other way. You are now the enemy. This is competition and your career not some Sunday over 40 church league. Bird and Magic would never have played grab ass before a game started. Pete Rose ran over the catcher in an All-Star game that meant nothing!  I say good for Ian Kinsler. You're not a Ranger anymore. They traded you because they believed they could upgrade. Instead of saying thank you for the time spent in Texas, why not say screw it I hope they lose every game this year because they are now the enemy. If your boss swapped you with another employee at another company would you put on a smile and thank him for having you at the company or would you say the hell with them and use it as motivation? I know what I would do...I'd keep it real.

Pav: This sort of reaches a larger subject for me. People are more and more guarded about what they say in general. I think people should say exactly what they think or keep their mouths shut. I'm obviously not condoning anyone walking out into the world and shaming everyone they know because they are in a bad mood. What I mean is, when someone asks you a question or your opinion about something, just say what you really feel. I would much rather interact with someone who is up front and completely hates me than someone I can't figure out. It's not fun to guess at peoples emotions and motivations. It's a waste of time and energy I'm not willing to engage in.

I think Ian Kinsler is going to catch some more shit because of this silly incident, but he is totally entitled to say what he said. He felt slighted and acted accordingly. He should be respected for that. He was treated like a commodity like athletes often are and he should be mad. I hope it motivates him.